Best Sprocket Manufactuar?

[Ty's400]

Hey I'm thinking about getting a 36rear sprocket. (since most agree 15/36 set up rocks for mx racing) Which sprocket is the best? I'm mainly thinking of Renthal or Sunstar. What about sprocket specailtists? let me know what you think and cheapest places to get them thanks

[AtvMxRider]

I have a Renthal front sprocket and haven't had any trouble with it. It seems to hold up to the abuse.

[ChadEXer]

The best sprockets are by far Sidewinder! But there not the cheapest!

Keep your chain lubed and adjusted correctly and sprockets will last forever....improper chain maintance is what kills sprocket's. I know a guy that is a top notch dirt bike racer...he changed his chain out every 3 races..and ran the same sprockets for years..:eek: I just changed mine out after 2 years of use with the stock chain...the front had a little wear but the rear stocker still looks new..

[nuttynewt]

I have always run Sprocket Specialists sprockets on my R, but since I went to an 11T front I started stripping off teeth. But I am a fairly big guy, and am hard on stuff. I still have no complaints against Sprocket Specialists, and I get a good deal on their stuff through a local dealer. Now, I still run their rear sprocket, but went with a Sidewinder front sprocket to see if it will hold up better than the Sprocket Specialists ones have. Rico is right, if you keep your chain lubed correctly, and do not run it over-stretched, your sprockets will last much longer. Personally, I would not reccomend a Renthal rear if you ride trails or cross country.

[Dave400ex]

Renthal, Sprocket Specialists, and Sidewinder are all good. I think Sidewinder is the best, but after reading that review man they are expensive.
Get that Axle in yet?

[Mity Mo]

I have been a big fan of the same sprocket combos that Dana Creech rides. They are called rebel gears. I just ordered another set for my bike. www.rebelgears.com

[Ex'r Marlin]

I am not a fan of Sidewinder's rear sprocket due to my personal experiences with them... But I am a fan of Renthal. Both their front and rear sprockets are top notch in my opinion. The rear sprocket is aluminum, which is less weight than the steel ones. I am a fat butt, but the aluminum ones hold up great for me.

As to where to get the Renthals... C&D Racing:)

[QuadTrix6]

yea i like renthal too they are priced well and are high quality IMO

[AndrewRRR]

Renthals are good but expensive. Sidewinders are good but REALLY expensive. For a good cost vs. performance sprocket I like Sunstar or Rebel. I haven't tried Sprocket specialists, aren't they kind of a cheap brand?
I used an aluminum PBI rear sprocket for a whopping 2 hours, which is how long it took me to bend all the teeth over (aluminum + big hp= bent teeth, i guess). :grr

[Teufel]

I use sunstars for the most part. They are durable and not as expensive. For the difference in money I would go with the steel. They last alot longer than Aluminum. The steel is a few oz. s heavier but unless you are running a 9 sec 1/4 mile there's no difference.

[Dave400ex]

Does Rebel Gears make front sprockets? Also what is a good Chain brand?

[AndrewRRR]

I think rebel makes fronts. Nac's carries them. For chains all I'll use is DID or RK. The 520 X-ring ATV chain is a good one from DID.

[Teufel]

Chain, Tsubaki Omega o-ring........can't go wrong

[JD400exrider]

Just ordered Renthal front, Sunstar Rear (steel) and DID X Ring from C&D.
Good price, Good Service, Good People

[400MXer]

TAG makes sprockets too...i've seen them advertised in dirtbike magazines. i wonder if they make them for quads. Sprocket Specialties makes good sprockets too.

[250x#93]

Renthal:macho

[luvmyex]

I bought a renthal kit and it didnt last but about 6 months if that and the teeth on the rear were almost completely gone.And the front were bent pretty good.Had a freind get a rebel rear and his buddy rode it a couple weeks after he put it on and ripped about 6 teeth off of it.I would stay away from the alum. ones they dont seem to last verry long to me.Sunstar makes a good sprocket and are a good price.The honda stock ones are good but the stock one cost too much.

[nuttynewt]

Originally posted by luvmyex
I bought a renthal kit and it didnt last but about 6 months if that and the teeth on the rear were almost completely gone.And the front were bent pretty good.Had a freind get a rebel rear and his buddy rode it a couple weeks after he put it on and ripped about 6 teeth off of it.I would stay away from the alum. ones they dont seem to last verry long to me.Sunstar makes a good sprocket and are a good price.The honda stock ones are good but the stock one cost too much.


My point exactly... if you're running motocross and are worried about weight, maybe Renthal is OK. But for woods riding, don't bother. They won't hold up, and as soon as you hit the first mudhole, that extra 12 ounces or 1 pound you saved is no longer a factor (not that it ever was, anyway).

[Ex'r Marlin]

Originally posted by nuttynewt
My point exactly... if you're running motocross and are worried about weight, maybe Renthal is OK. But for woods riding, don't bother. They won't hold up. Well, I may not be the fastest rider out there, but they sure hold up for me out on the trails and for XC racing.;) The aluminum rear spocket on my 300ex lastest over 4 years of my abuse. Now with one on my 416... no noticeable wear to date.

Note: I do run a skid plate to help protect the sprocket.

[Ty's400]

Hey thanks for all of the replies! I like the sunstar price the best, but they only make 38tooth and 39tooth (at least that is all I can find) Does anybody know for sure? Yeah I've seen in dirtbike mags. that TAG does make sprockets now. I'll have to check and see if they make them for the 400. Any companies that are sellin renthals cheap (if so how much)? thanks

Yeah I've seen in dirtbike mags. that TAG does make sprockets now.

You would be suprised at how many chain companies dont make there sprockets but just buy them and resell them.

I hear some dont even make the chain either.

As far as wearing the rear sprockets down you guys must have had something else wrong also because the drive sprocket gets worn down much faster than the rear due to the amount of chain wrap etc.

For the ones that did wear down fast what condition was the chain in? I have found that most sprocket problems come from either poor lubrication, contamination and a streached chain

[Ex'r Marlin]

Originally posted by 440EX4me
You would be suprised at how many chain companies dont make there sprockets but just buy them and resell them. I can understand this, but I wonder if the company that manufactures there own has different "customers specifications" that the manufacture makes them to?:confused: (eg. Charboil makes the Kenmore grill, but the Kenmore grill is made to Kenmore's specifications).

Anyway... Good luck Ty! As for good prices on sprockets/chains, etc. Have you tried C&D Racing?

[Dave400ex]

Tyler go with C&D they will be the cheapest...

[AndrewRRR]

Originally posted by 440EX4me
As far as wearing the rear sprockets down you guys must have had something else wrong also because the drive sprocket gets worn down much faster than the rear due to the amount of chain wrap etc.

For the ones that did wear down fast what condition was the chain in? I have found that most sprocket problems come from either poor lubrication, contamination and a streached chain

Are you sure? Seems like the rear is going to have a lot more leverage on it considering how far it is from the axle. I've noticed rears wear out faster, which sucks considering they are more expensive.
Mine wore out fast with a new DID 520 X-ring ATV chain. It was lubed with chain wax. I'm sure the aluminum just couldn't handle the power. Steel sprockets have given me no problems with the exact same setup.

[Ex'r Marlin]

Wow... I am surprized to hear that! Your rear sprocket failed before your chain and front sprocket?! I know the 250R (350R in your case) is very powerful!:cool: Just a quick question, did you have a skid plate on too? Again, I am very surprized that your rear sprocket failed before the others. I have gone through one aftermarket Sunstar 14 tooth front sprocket and replaced that with a Renthal. I had the stock rear sprocket until I had my mishap in June. Since then, I have been running the Renthal 14 tooth front with the 38 tooth aluminum Renthal rear, and DID X-ring... Again, no problems to date with the 416 power.:cool:

Note: I do not think all aluminum sprockets are made out of the same aluminum, I could be wrong, but I notice a difference in design between the Sunstar aluminum and the Renthal aluminum. Again, both Renthal front and rear sprockets are extremely high quality parts in my opinion.;)

[AndrewRRR]

I didn't have a skid plate on, but I mostly ride dunes, so I don't need one. Maybe I just got an inferior sprocket. It was a PBI aluminum one. I haven't tried the renthal or sunstar alum. ones. PBI makes my sprockets for Casper (600cc 4 cyl powered) and they have worked perfect, but then again, it runs a 530 ("size 50") chain and sprockets which are the size streetbikes use, and my rear sprockets are custom made by them.
I run both a 13 tooth and 14 tooth sunstar front and have a ton of hours on them. Both look new. I had to replace all my stuff after I broke the chain (it had a cheap one on it when i got it). It wadded the chain around the countersprocket and turned a 13 tooth countersprocket into a 10 1/2 tooth one. haha

[toby400ex]

ill have to see how my new jt sprockets hold up along with my new ek gold o-ring chain which i find to be quite bling blingin:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Are you sure? Seems like the rear is going to have a lot more leverage on it considering how far it is from the axle.

Yep I am sure :)

The forces that are applied to the smaller drive sprocket will be much more than the larger rear sprocket.

I am not sure what kind of "crap" they are selling us (what steel or aluminum etc) but in all the better industrial chain drives the drive sprockets have hardened steel teeth to slow down the wear.

It seems that the higher rpm and limited chain wrap are the main problems with the drive sprocket. The higher rpm causes the rollers in the chain to pass over the sprocket teeth much faster then the rear. If the chain is not clean and lubed correctly the rollers will have additional resistance and cause additional friction and higher heat at the sprocket also.

As far as the aluminum rear sprockets wearing I would think its due to the material being used is not able to handle the higher loads. If I ever get mine to "hook up" I guess I will find out if the renthal al. is gonna hold up or not.

Does anyone know much about EK? Not just the product but also the company.

Reason I ask is they have show an address that seems like the same as DID's mother company Daido. I will have to look up some old catalogs to see if its the same but if I remember right its the same town and street.