Hi all,
Im building an off road buggy using a VFR 800 engine (2003). I have everything I need to get going apart form the chain and sprocket, what I am wondering is are there any other honda models of bike I can grab a chain and sprocket off that would work for my project? I imagine they are likely to be similar but wanting to know if anyone can confirm this.

Thanks in advance

 

If its for a buggy you are going to have to rethink the amount of teeth on both ends of the chain, a stock front and rear sprocket is going to be way to long.

 

Do you mean rethink the gear ratio? the chain I can take links out of to make it the correct length.

Cheers

 

Sorry about that, gear ratio is what I meant. There are a couple of factors you have to take into consideration.

Wheel/Tire size is way off from what the stock bike had, if you use stock sprockets your buggy will probably be able to go a theoretical 250kmh or something crazy like that, since I doubt you are looking into going those speeds you are better off using a super high gear ratio that would allow the buggy to go 160kmh tops or something like that and have a lot more power down low.

Remember this is a bike engine moving something a lot heavier and it needs all the extra torque it can get.

Look into getting a smaller front sprocket and a big rear, theres tons of information on the web on how to calculate rpms vs speed @ diferent gear according to the gear ratio you have selected.
There are even some tools that do it all for you, I would look into that so you chose a smart or useful range of speed, and based of that, either try to get what you need off something OEM, or give sprocket specialists a call and have them custom make it.
Get a 530 chain btw, breaking chains is a pita.

 

Thanks for the advice, someone on a bike forum mentioned something about a 530 chain. Is that something to do with the strength im guessing?

I know with honda cars they tend to reuse certain things for different models so am wondering if I can use a chain from say a CBR, XR, etc. I guess I could ring a parts place and ask them to do a bit of digging about.

 

yeah 530 chains are a little heavier and stronger, thats why you see a lot of race bikes converting to 520 chains and sprockets because theyre lighter and give you better reaction from the throttle.

remember that if you go with a 530 chain you have to convert both sprockets to 530 as well.

 

i'm not sure if the VFR shares drivetrain parts with any other hondas, because it's a single sided swingarm--but, the difference in sprockets for a VFR and a CBR is going to be the attachment to the rear wheel (# of bolts/studs and diameter) or the front output shaft, and if you're making a buggy, you're probably fabricating something to attach the sprocket to the drive axle anyway, right?

with that in mind, if you only have to match the chain pitch (aka 530, 525, 520), then you can probably use any sprocket you want. 530, 525, 430, 520 are all chain pitches. generally, the higher the number, the stronger (but heavier) the chain.