hello. i recently ordered a 'standard' chain and sprocket kit for my 1vj tenere and it came with a 15t front and45t rear. im currently running a 40t rear and wondered how much difference it'll make? i'm off to africa on it this weekend so will be doing a lot of off road riding (once i get there!) so i think it'll be ok. i just wondered if anybody has run these sizes? cheers, karl...

15/40 is standard for 1VJ and early -1988 3AJ.
15/45 is standard for 3AJ 1989-.
I hope the chain is long enough: 106-108 teeth.
You will loose 10-15 Km/h Vmax and earn good torque........

I used that on my 3AJ & Geoff also uses that combo on his bikes, less top end but more lower down.

Mezo.

15/40 is standard for 1VJ and early -1988 3AJ.
15/45 is standard for 3AJ 1989-.

Hey guys, be careful, don't forget that the primary drive ratio changed at this time!!!!!
If you had a 40t rear and put a 45t on you will notice a lot more revs for a given speed. (+12%)

Do you think it was done to save loading up the gearbox with to much torque Dave?

I found i was going through the gears more than the 1VJ i had ridden previous to the 3AJ, but you dont get that "thumper" feeling.

Mezo.

save loading up the gearbox with to much torque?

Probably a combination of things. The 40t sprocket did shift load back on the gearbox (bad for 5th gear) and there was little room to go smaller (higher road speeds) on the rear because of the cush drive. The larger 45 sprocket also gives more clearance on the swing arm for the chain.

http://www.gearingcommander.com/

check this out it will solve most of your questions

I have been using 16-40 for years i enjoy the lower 100 k revs and the low speed responce is unnoticable

I know this is an old thread, but I found something which is quite handy...

http://www.jtsprockets.com/catalogue/model/2715

So:

1VJ runs at 1 : 2.67 sprocket setup (15/40)
later 3AJ runs at 1 : 3 sprocket setup (15/45)

So a 15/43 or 1 : 2.87 ratio, should give a happy mid point between the factory standard of the 1VJ & early 3AJ's and the later 3AJ?

Hi, I run a 15/43 set up on my 1vj, surprising how much of a difference it makes and still using the standard length chain, it's quicker through the gears and sits happily at 70mph.