Vulcan500.com

I still have my stock 16-tooth sprocket, but have read where some switch to a 17-tooth sprocket to reduce engine rpm. Has anyone done this and if so, any drawbacks in performance?

I had the 17 tooth installed at my 500 mile service. I've put over 24,000 miles on the bike since then and I'm happy with it. I'm actually trying to find an 18 tooth now. I get right at 60 mpg with the current 17/40 sprockets I've got on the bike and I still have no trouble maintaining speeds or climbing any hill I've encountered and I live in the same region you do, NW Georgia. If I can find an 18 tooth that ratio (18/40) will be the same ratio Scootworks puts on the belt conversion kit for the 500, so I feel confident that it will still do the job.

I skipped the 17 and found an 18 that works great. It dropped my rpm about 20%. I had to find someone at the sprocket supplier that knew what I wanted to find the right one. Only had to use a thick washer to shim it out for a perfect alignment. Mpg went up to around 60-61mpg in combination city highway mode. Don't try to use 6th below 40 mph, however........Spockrider.

I've had my 17 tooth sprocket for about a year now. Stayed with this same tooth count when I replaced the chain and sprockets a few months back. With the 16 tooth I felt 1st gear was pretty much useless as I was looking for 2nd gear as soon as I got rolling. Now 1st gear is much more useful. Especially in stop and go traffic. I've gotten as high as 61.24 mpg and consistent 56-60 mpg lately. That's saying a lot as it's having to haul around my 6'3" 250lb carcass! Cruising and passing on the freeway are effortless. I've only taken her to 90 mph once but she still had more speed in her. For me the bigger sprocket is one of those MUST DO modifications. It's cheap too.

Spockrider: Seems everyone else has failed to find an 18 tooth sprocket for this bike. Can you post some more info on yours? You'll be a hero to many.

Joe

I FOUND IT FROM A SPROCKET COMPANY I NOTICED ON A POST on this forum. I think it was JR or JM sprocket...possibly from BIKE ALERT. I looked thru some old receipts and could only find the latter...good luck...I had to be persistant but some guy found one that would fit the spline. Just had to shim it out with a thick washer. +-$26.oo

OOOPPS! Just read my post up a ways....the 18 dropped my rpm by about 12%...not 20%...sorry.