Mechanic says 16T will have clearance issues on 08 FE450?

matikrimerman · Apr 1, 2016

I was thinking of going 16-48 for a long dual sport ride this summer (some highway, a lot of gravel roads, very little of any harder stuff). my local Mechanic is saying 16 will have clearance issues and even 15 might be too big.

can anyone give some feedback? I see the parts manual listing the 15T and 16T, just want to make sure they are safe to run without any modifications. I've also seen some FS guys on here run 16T but wasn't sure if there's any difference between the FS and FE when it comes to front sprockets.

If a clearance issue does exist, what rear sprocket will you recommend? is 40 or 45 too much?

thanks!

bushmechanic · Apr 1, 2016

17 fits it's just hard to get on

Once on there is no issue

16 and 15 are standard oem parts. The chain guard on the swing arm gets in the way of installing the 16 but if he can't do it he's no mechanic

WArdogG · Apr 2, 2016

First get a new mechanic...

Ive been running 16's on my BerGs, and they definitely fit with no clearance issues.
Just takes a bit of work to get it on, like Bushmechanic said.

OldMan · Apr 2, 2016

Mine actually came stock with 16-38, it now has 14-40.

Idle · Apr 2, 2016

Old man, he's on an FE450 I think.

40B32953-B9A8-4F04-ADA8-5F7E932B16FE-370-0000014E77C81196_zps2b4bd286.jpg

This is what I did to be able to swap sprockets without pulling the slider off.

I cut the slider, then glued the two pieces of it to to the swingarm with black rtv.
If you do this, make sure it's properly aligned and use tape to hold it fast until it dries.
Added benefit is that it stops the slider from slapping around.

I ran 17/47 on my 650 supermoto, had to file two teeth down a little bit to fit it.
I reckon 16/48 would be ok for dual sport use, but 15/48 would suit a FE450 better for all around riding.
Should be able to run 48 and a 14/15/16 with the same chain.

If you go too tall the gap between the gears especially 5th and 6th becomes annoying.

pollo · Apr 2, 2016

I'm running 16/40.

Just a little tight getting around the slider.

OldMan · Apr 2, 2016

Idle said:
Old man, he's on an FE450 I think.

Yeah, I noticed that. I thought those kind of things were exactly the same between FS and FE... Maybe they have different margins to play with?

Idle · Apr 2, 2016

A supermoto needs a 1 tooth bigger counter shaft sprocket to account for the smaller diameter...uh, circumference actually of the rear tire.
Thats with a 120/90-18 vs 160/60-17.

matikrimerman · Apr 3, 2016

Any input on why I should go with 16-48 vs say 14-40? I understand the difference in speed/Torque, but are there any benefits going one way or the other?

650Pilot · Apr 3, 2016

It won't stress the engine as much with 14/40, when you are on the highways.

Idle · Apr 3, 2016

Two reasons..umm, or maybe more.

Chain and sprocket wear is much greater when running a smaller countershaft sprocket.

Parasitic power loss from the chain having to bend more to get around the smaller cs sprocket.

You have more anti-squat with a larger rear sprocket.
It's easier to grasp if you imagine a really large rear sprocket, say a 56t... the chain will be pulling somewhat downwards on the sprocket, and it will press the wheel into the ground under acceleration.

Complete opposite scenario..imagine a 16t front and rear...
On acceleration, the chain is horizontal, and the chain is only spinning the wheel, there is no downward pull as with the previous setup. Less traction.

There's more to it than that I'm sure, and I'm probably under qualified to explain it, as I don't quite get it myself. But that's the gist of it.

A 16/48 is better than 14/42 because it looks cool.

Just kidding, the main reason is so you can swap fronts out without breaking the chain.
So you can ride single track one day, and go on a road trip the next day.

Depending on where your axle is located, you will be able to run a 14/50--15/50--16/50 with the same chain.

I still believe 16/48 would be too tall for a FE450, that's why I put the 50t in ^there^ for you.

Gearingcommander.com is a great site for determining what sprocket setups do what.
You may have to input your bike as an FE650e though (transmissions are the same as FE450e).

matikrimerman · Apr 3, 2016

650Pilot said:
It won't stress the engine as much with 14/40, when you are on the highways.

Thanks 650Pilot, I actually thought that it was better on the chain to have a big front sprocket, good thing I asked

pollo · Apr 3, 2016

16/48 is 3.0 ratio, same as the stock Fe650 15/45. IMO tall for a Husaberg enduro anywhere. And even more so for the 450 with less torque. The 14/40 is even taller at 2.87. Its Probably Ok for highway use but not much off road IMO
I was very comfortable with the 15/48 3.2 ratio on my 650.

pollo

bushmechanic · Apr 3, 2016

I run 16 45 on my 628

Average speed 30kmhr mostly use 3rd

I don't think the final ratio makes much difference to the engine.

The engine sees a combined ratio so as long as you are not always stuck in the "wrong" gear
it doesn't matter about the sprockets

Handling is affected by the size of the sprockets though

Hoosaberg · Apr 3, 2016

Interesting, I'm running 14/50 for single trail. Was thinking of going to 15/50.

Mechanic says 16T will have clearance issues on 08 FE450?

Help Support Husaberg:

matikrimerman

bushmechanic

WArdogG

OldMan

Idle

pollo

OldMan

Idle

matikrimerman

650Pilot

Idle

matikrimerman

pollo

bushmechanic

Hoosaberg

Similar threads

Register CTA

Recent Discussions

Recent Discussions