Hi Hutch
I did it and was driving today (200 km or125 miles) on different roads, small curvy ones to highway and town, I used the same sprockets that you did 17/43 and bought a SO530 Oring chain 110, did remove 2 links then it was done.
As spacer I used 7 splinced lockwashers, orderd 9 from the Suzukishop but needed only seven to take up the space, I did make a piece it stainless steel, 25 mm dia. in the hole and 40mm outside dia. The thickness of the spacer should be 7,5mm if making one. But ended up using the washers when I got them yesterday.
There was some problems about the Oring chain, its is a bit wider than the one you used so I had to remove the bracket to the chaingard on the swingarm, both on top and at bottom, not to bad at the bottom but the chain bent it backwards so I did remove that one to.
I can still use the chaingard if I want because I made a spacer that has a slice on one side so I can put it on the axel at the inner side of the suspension if I dont want the chaingard.
Its like you say totally diffrent bike to drive, a lot nicer but I think I will go for the 16 in front, going to bay that on monday and make a switch, I found it a bit difficult to find the right gear sometimes 2 or 3 when driving very slow in town, and I didnt have mutch use of the 5 gear exept on highway, gear 4 is now a bit higher then gear 5 was before.
So from the 14,5 % I will try 9,5 instead.
And I think it should have been better to use 17/45 instead of 16/43 because of the tight space to the swingarm at the fronpully, but I am to lazy to change both for the moment.
Final conclucion: I LIKE IT
GREAT
And thanks to Hutch and Tblam and the rest of you that start all investigation and made it possible for this swap.
Pics are comming later.
Sorry for the spelling, but its not my languish.
Odar in Sweden