Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Front Sprocket Noise

My chain & sprockets are about 34500km (a bit over 21000 miles) old, and WAY overdue to be replaced. Instead of going through the dealer I ordered new (incredibly hard) sprockets to be laser cut, and am going with an 18T front (of course) and a colour-matched green rear. They're slightly wider than standard and use a 530 chain instead of the standard 525.

Just for laughs I decided to ring the dealer and get a comparison price. He offered (and recommended!) aftermarket parts which actually would cost me slightly less than the custom made ones, and of course the original parts would have cost me 4 times the price of the custom ones. The parts guy & I were both stunned at the price of an OEM chain (AU$440!!) and he suggested they should come with a bikini-clad girl to fit them for you at that price. Of course I had to ask if she was a Triumph branded bikini-babe and if I'd have to wait for her to be shipped in from England.

He did however recommend going for the OEM front sprocket because it has a rubber bush in it that reduces the chain noise to a great degree, and told me a horror story of a guy who bought the aftermarket one, then brought his bike back the next day convinced by the noises that the crackcase was stripping itself. A change of front sprocket apparently cured it's ills.

So who here has an aftermarket front sprocket without the bush? (Anyone with an 18T does for a start.) Does it produce a significant increase in the noise levels? Any info is appreciated...

Matt

I used the 17 tooth from Brent which has no damper and I don't notice that much more noise.

Get a set of Thunderbike or Epco pipes and you won't hear a thing.

My America is the first bike I ever rode that had the muffled sprocket and I never experienced any exessive noise. Could that bloke have maybe installed his wrong side out so that it was missaligned with the rear?

I've probably got 7-8k miles on an 18t plain front (no rubber) and there's been no noise - no problem.

I've got maybe 5-6K on a plain 18T from Brent...can't say I've noticed any more noise or anything else amiss...I sure like it on the highway...there are times I'd like a little quicker getaway from a stop, but it's a compromise. I guess...and the lowered highway RPM's are worth it.

I just started riding with mine and I have not noticed any difference.

I haven't noticed any big change in the noise levels since I put my 18T on. I do hear it when I ride past concrete barriers or walls (when it's reflected back to me) but it's not as bad as the dealer's horror story makes it out to be.

I've been running the 18T for 5000 miles and haven't noticed any additional noise.

ditto the above.

Thanks guys... I'll go get the 18T after work today.

Matt

Other than the normal chain wash sound I noticed no difference without a bushing on my 18 or 19t over the oem.

I am more annoyed with the overhead cam noises and tappet ticks when hot than the chain and primary washing sound. Matter of fact thats a good question to ask, I think I will.