Sprocket and chain question.

[fiddle mike]

My VLX is near ready for a chain, so I'm shopping around.  I see front or rear sprockets offered with fewer teeth than OEM. I've always gone with OEM replacent.

What is the result of using a rear sprocket with few teeth?

[quexpress]

My VLX is near ready for a chain, so I'm shopping around.  I see front or rear sprockets offered with fewer teeth than OEM. I've always gone with OEM replacent.

What is the result of using a rear sprocket with few teeth?

Higher gearing ... in other words less grunt at low end in order to go faster at higher end. I'm not sure that this is desirable with a VLX.... but I don't have one ... therefore this is only an opinion. 

[Warlock]

My VLX is near ready for a chain, so I'm shopping around.  I see front or rear sprockets offered with fewer teeth than OEM. I've always gone with OEM replacent.

What is the result of using a rear sprocket with few teeth?

A rule of Thumb. One tooth less on the front is like 3 less on the rear end or use 3 to 1 ratio. If you want more get up and go go one tooth on the front which will make more rpm's at cruising speed. One tooth less and better gas milage but less power.
David

[fiddle mike]

My VLX is near ready for a chain, so I'm shopping around.  I see front or rear sprockets offered with fewer teeth than OEM. I've always gone with OEM replacent.

What is the result of using a rear sprocket with few teeth?

Higher gearing ... in other words less grunt at low end in order to go faster at higher end. I'm not sure that this is desirable with a VLX.... but I don't have one ... therefore this is only an opinion. 

I ride the VLX in town, on the freeway, rarely over 75 mph. Lower rpm would be desirable.

Thanks, to you and to David for the feedback.

[Patrick]

Front sprocket,,Fewer teeth=more power, less speed.. More teeth=less power, higher speed..
Rear sprocket,, fewer teeth=less power, more speed.. more teeth=more power, less speed..

[Warlock]

Front sprocket,,Fewer teeth=more power, less speed.. More teeth=less power, higher speed..
Rear sprocket,, fewer teeth=less power, more speed.. more teeth=more power, less speed..

Thanks Patrick, read my post again and realized the 3 to 1 was right just had my sprockets wrong. One less on front = 3 more on back more power, one more on front =3 less on back which means better gas milage but no get up and go.
David