SuzukiSavage.com - Chain Conversion thoughts !

strangeling

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Chain Conversion thoughts !
10/03/07 at 16:42:08

Hey,

I know quite a few on this site have had the chain conversion for a while now so I just wanted to get a few more thoughts on the conversion such as any problems that have occurred, what gearing people have ended up running, what highway speed is the Savage now comfortable cruising at and what effect to the bottom end has this had for around town riding.

Also is anyone with the chain conversion running Lancers carb or cam ?

Thanx

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Aviler Junior Member Offline American Rebel Dragon Pirate Posts: 64 McPherson, KS Gender:	Re: Chain Conversion thoughts ! Reply #1 - 10/03/07 at 16:54:27 While we're on the subject, would anybody be willing to clarify some of the positives and negatives of chain vs. belt drive?
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Demin Serious Thumper Offline We need more chlorine in the gene pool Posts: 2435 Warren,Ohio Gender:	Re: Chain Conversion thoughts ! Reply #2 - 10/03/07 at 17:09:20 Check the tech section,There are some threads started for different gearing,etc.
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Paladin.

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Re: Chain Conversion thoughts !
Reply #3 - 10/03/07 at 21:50:47

strangeling wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

....what gearing people have ended up running, what highway speed ... bottom end has this had for around town riding.....

I'm thinking of chain for the ease of switching ratios. Did this on my DT175 back in the '70's, dirt and street countershaft sprockets and I could just slide the wheel to adjust the chain between the two. On the Savage, the stock belt drive is 2.956:1. A 45 tooth rear coupled with a 14 and17 fronts would give me 2.647:1 for highway use and 3.214:1 for the city.

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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Chain Conversion thoughts !
Reply #4 - 10/03/07 at 22:54:24

I have yet to hear of anyoine who did the conversion whining that they thought it was just as good before, or beter before, all Ive heard is,, New Machine, better on the road, better MPG, if ya gain 15% in top end, ya should gain close to 15% in MPG & lose about 15% of bottom end, ( I am guessing, but surely someone will toss out better figures if they are handy) It accelerates well enough to lose some & trade that for higher cruise speed & MPG,, PLus, chain is a more efficient power transfer.

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Chain Conversion thoughts ! Reply #5 - 10/04/07 at 04:19:31 Why couldnt we get someone to make different sprockes for the belt drive? I think a lot of people here would buy them.
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Hutch

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Re: Chain Conversion thoughts !
Reply #6 - 10/04/07 at 05:57:17

bill67 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

Why couldnt we get someone to make different sprockes for the belt drive? I think a lot of people here would buy them.

Don't forget you will need a different belt. Neither will be cheap to accomplish. Sprockets and chains are abundant. Under $100 will get you where you want for your power preference. I don't regret going to chain one bit. Others said it was the best investment they ever made to the Savage. I agree. That is why, when I started the chain conversion, and so many thought I was crazy, I didn't quit. I knew others were waiting to see the benefits. There are many. Increased engine life due to fewer RPM"s at the same speed. Increased gas mileage. You can do as Paladin said and in just a few minutes change you bike for dual personality, and you don't have to pull the back shock loose to change anything once converted, just change out the front or rear sprocket.
I went with a 17/43 and it will run the interstate for long periods at 70mph with no problem, but still has plenty of torque for acceleration and passing, yes passing at 70mph. No down shifting to pass on the interstate either. I now run 3rd gear in town just like most of the cruiser and bigger bikes do. A 15% increase in gas mileage brought me to 70mpg. I have other front sprockets that I tried, but the 17/43 works so good that I just left it on. It's a win win situation. Not so nuts after all. You can fix a chain on the side of the road. You have to replace your belt when it goes south. I can't fit a belt in my pocket like I can a spare link for a chain. Try it, you'll like it. Hutch

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Chain Conversion thoughts ! Reply #7 - 10/04/07 at 11:20:04 You could go a certain amount without needing a different belt.
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Aviler Junior Member Offline American Rebel Dragon Pirate Posts: 64 McPherson, KS Gender:	Re: Chain Conversion thoughts ! Reply #8 - 10/04/07 at 16:34:49 So what kind of maintenance does a chain drive require? I don't have the history with motorcycles that some of y'all have
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barry68v10 Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 955 Maryland Gender:	Re: Chain Conversion thoughts ! Reply #9 - 10/04/07 at 17:34:04 I put an automatic chain oiler on mine. I use regular motor oil. I bought the cheapest chain I could find, $15...it hasn't "stretched" in the 2000 miles I've had it. As long as you keep them lubed, they can last a long time.
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strangeling Senior Member Offline Ex Savage Rider but always a SAVAGE Posts: 427 Salt Lake City UTAH Gender:	Re: Chain Conversion thoughts ! Reply #10 - 10/04/07 at 20:28:03 Thanks for all the information. I was going to sell my S40 but honestly everytime I ride it I remember why I have it, so the chain mod is going to be one of my winter projects. And maybe forward controls and Lancers Carb and Cam setup and 150 rear tire and ........??????
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Hutch

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Re: Chain Conversion thoughts !
Reply #11 - 10/05/07 at 06:06:35

bill67 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

You could go a certain amount without needing a different belt.

The front belt pulley would probably be the cheapest to reproduce, but you can't go any bigger because of lack of room. To increase mileage and lower rpm you have to go at least 10% to make any noticeable difference. If you do this with the back pulley(more costly to make).... the pulley would change diameter so much that the original belt would never work. On my 17/43 chain conversion, the 17 front sprocket is very close to the same diameter as the original belt pulley. The back 43 sprocket however is very much smaller than the stock belt pulley. The only way you can cheaply and easily get significant results is to go to a chain. The new products like CHAIN WAX makes the chain a lot less messy than the old days. I also have put lots of miles on my conversion and have not adjusted the chain but after the first 500 mile break in. Hutch

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rigidchop Serious Thumper Offline don't feed the drama llama Posts: 1105 ravenswood wv Gender:	Re: Chain Conversion thoughts ! Reply #12 - 10/05/07 at 06:48:34 i hate chain lube and usually have to change chains once or twice a year. it may be expensive but it's a whole lot better looking. imo. i will soon be doing the chain conversion on my 87, i really need more top end for the interstate.any ideas on a good ratio to use with a 4 speed?
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Hutch

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Re: Chain Conversion thoughts !
Reply #13 - 10/05/07 at 08:05:51

rigidchop wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

i hate chain lube and usually have to change chains once or twice a year. it may be expensive but it's a whole lot better looking. imo. i will soon be doing the chain conversion on my 87, i really need more top end for the interstate.any ideas on a good ratio to use with a 4 speed?

From all the information that I went through and received while coming up with the chain conversion, it seems the 4 and 5 speed are so close to the same ratio in top gear, that you would be able to go by the chart I put in the tech section. With my 17/43 sprockets I can cruise at 70mph at a rpm close to the same rpm as a big cruiser. My freind has a 1200 Sportster and we cruise together at almost the same rpm at 70mph. Please note that the suggested top speeds in those charts can only be reached if everything about your bike is perfect. I myself have not reached that top speed. I have not had to go to heavier clutch springs. The Savage has so much torque that it still comes of the line with no bogging, and you do not have to slip the clutch. Just ride and shift as usual. You will no longer be trying to shift into another "final" gear, that isn't there. I believe that Suzuki didn't gear the bike this way for one reason. They would have lost sales on the next bigger bike in there line up. You won't believe the difference this conversion makes. IMO it is a much more versatile and economical bike, with longer life as a bonus. One thing to note is your speedo will be off. I just add the % of gear ratio change to each "indicated "speed. I had it checked with radar and when mine says 60mph it is really 70. 80 indicated is close 93mph. I was going to see about recalibrating my speedo, but now I pretty much know what is happening. You will also have to remember you are putting more miles on than indicated. Change your oil accordingly. Hutch

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Savage_Rob

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Re: Chain Conversion thoughts !
Reply #14 - 10/05/07 at 09:58:29

Hutch wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

You will also have to remember you are putting more miles on than indicated. Change your oil accordingly.

I always do mine more often than required and use full synthetic but it would seem that the engine still gets the same number of rotations for the number of indicated miles as it did prior to the conversion, so oil changes could still be done using indicated mileage. I guess it has a little more grunt to do on starts but, as you stated, it has so much torque it makes little difference on that count. Am I missing something else?

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