Hi all

I'm new to this HUBB thing and may I say what a really useful and enlightening place it is.

I have recently bought a 2003 XT600E and want to try to get more unpaved-road/lane-wise and am looking for advice on sprockets for down-gearing the bike.

I also have a second rear wheel (and sprocket-carrier), so my intention is to load up as big a rear sprocket as is feasible. The XT could do with a little down-gearing anyway - as the theoretical c.100mph just doesn't work for a sit-upright, naked bike - so I've decided to run with a 14-tooth front (-1) and 46-tooth (+1) rear sprocket set-up with 'soft road' tyre on the 'street' rear wheel. This gives me a required chain-length of about 1mm less so, obviously, the standard chain-length of 106 links would still be most appropriate.

As for the alternative, 'off-tarmac' wheel, what I'm hoping to learn - from all you experienced XT600 guys who have already tried this - is just what the maximum feasible rear sprocket would be in conjunction with that 14-tooth front sprocket and the 106-link chain. As the rear wheel will be adjusted forwards to cope with the extra rear-sprocket diameter, there is obviously a maximum-feasible sprocket for this application but, without buying a load of rear sprockets to test, I'm unsure of just how much leeway the XT gives us.

Please don't just tell me to buy a TT.

Sulutations
Nick.

I've got 15-47 on mine with a new RK X-ring 106link chain and there isn't much more adjustment on the chain adjusters (it's just under #2 on the chain adjusters).. so if you're with 14-46.. 47 is a valid option.. maybe a 48 sprocket would fit!


Vando

You can easely fit a 47 together with the 14. (and can be done with the stock 15 aswell)

So you should be able to fit 14-48.

I know OFF-THE-ROAD | Zubehör und Tuningteile rund um den Enduro-, Rallye- und Super-Moto Sport have big sprockets for our xt600's

Many thanks, Vando and Jens. It looks like a 48-tooth sprocket for the off-tarmac wheel, then.

Thanks also for the OFF-THE-ROAD link, Jens. Interestingly, they don't seem to list any 48-tooth rear sprockets for the XT600 - nor any XT600 front sprockets - but list both for the TT600. There will always be exceptions, but am I wrong in thinking that sprockets are pretty much universal? By that I mean within constraints of diameter (number of teeth) and with consideration to the materials (e.g. steel, aluminium alloy, etc.), would a TT600 sprocket not fit an XT600, an Africa Twin, a DR650 or even an R1. Aren't they universal, then, or do some have different tooth/gap sizes (or some other distinction).

I only ask because, to be honest, I was just going to look for a 48-tooth rear sprocket. Do I actually have to look for a 48-tooth sprocket suitable for an XT600E, or maybe a 48-tooth sprocket suitable for Yamahas (or what?).

(Apologies if am really showing my ignorance, here!).

They have for xt600's and you need one for exactly youre model, ortherwise it wont fit.

OFF-THE-ROAD | Ritzel / Kettenräder | online kaufen

Number 10 from the top is front sprocket for x600e:

Direct link: OFF-THE-ROAD | Ritzel XT-600 ab 87; XT-600Z ab 88; XT-600 E/K alle | online kaufen

On page 2, item number 4, is the rear sprocket:

Direct link: OFF-THE-ROAD | Kettenrad, Stahl, XT550; XT-600 E/K; XT600-'89; XT600Z-'90; XTZ660 | online kaufen

Ah, thanks Jens - regarding their front sprockets, it looks like I missed the page-2 link.

For their rear sprockets, though, I don't see a 48-tooth sprocket in their list - which is partly why I was questioning the compatibility. Would I not be able to fit a 48-tooth TT600 steel rear sprocket, then?

BTW, I see what you mean about compatibility - that rear sprocket displayed on that OFF-THE-ROAD's page clearly has 6 bolt-holes compared to my XT's four. When you say 'you need one for exactly your model, otherwise it wont fit', I presume that there's a whole bunch of other bikes that use the same general tooth-size and bolt configuration: I can't imagine that Yamaha (let alone bike-manufacturers, in general) would use uniquely-configured sprockets for each model they turn out. I notice from the parts catalogue that the standard XT600E front sprocket's part-number is prefixed "2NX" and the rear, "4DN". I've no idea what these bikes are/were but I don't think they're older XT600s. (XT500s, possibly, or maybe something completely different).

I'm certainly not 'arguing the toss', Jens, I really value the leads you've given me already - just trying to widen my search for the right piece(s). Also, it may be much cheaper to pick up consumable items like sprockets in the UK if I can - not that OFF-THE-ROAD seem to have that XT600 item in 48- or 49-tooth sizes, anyway.

Press the last link, they have a 48 tooth rear sprocket. It 6 from the top, item no. KR-XT600-48

Yes, the xt600e shares sprockets with other bikes. My point was, you cant just buy a "yamaha-sprocet". Even the older xt600 sprockets doesnt fit (the early non E-models) so make sure items are listed for youre bike when bying 'em.

hi nick have a look at the jt website JT Sprockets – The World's Leading Sprocket hope this helps steve

Thanks for the info, guys.

Jens - sorry (again), my mind must be working in very logical paths, missing the "48Z" entry out-of-sequence in OFF-THE-ROAD's lists. Thanks for pointing it out.

Steve - yes, that is very useful, especially with the site's reverse-search facility. I now see what the differences are and, more importantly, which bikes share the same design of rear sprocket. For the front one, it looks like it's just the XT600E (as Jens has said) and the TT600RE, but for the back there's all kinds of Yamaha or Yamaha-engined bikes using the same design of rear sprocket - including the aforementioned TT600RE, the XT550, all of the XT600 models, XTZ660, MZ Mastiff and Baghira and the small Virago and V-Star models.

Whilst this JT Sprockets company doesn't market the 48-tooth size (or a 49-tooth one that I may instead try to push my luck with - IF I can find one!) it at least gives me more avenues down which to search. I would expect it to be easier to find a +1/+2 tooth/teeth rear sprocket for a TT600RE than a +3/+4 teeth rear sprocket for an XT600E (although I stand to be corrected, there).

Thanks, guys, for all your help. Anyone out there know of a UK-based supplier of decent 48-tooth or 49-tooth steel rear sprockets for an XT600, TT600RE?

Cheers
Nick.