[B_Wayne]

Hey Ladies and Gents,
I am another newbie to the street scene. I have been riding only for a couple of months and just bought my first bike. I bought a 96 Katana 600 and its awesome. I have been checking out this site for awhile, but I finally decided to register and post.

The bike is in good shape but I want to get some stuff done to it - cosmetic and otherwise. I want to get it painted (its the green color that was offered that year) and also possibly have a new pipe put on it. I figure I will wait around for a couple of months before I do anything to it so that in case I drop it while I am getting used to riding, I wouldnt have wasted my money. I am just glad to be here and look forward to all your help and advice.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

:welcomes:

 

[87gsxrnut]

Worry about changing things in this order:

Tires
Chain & Sprockets
Suspension upgrade
Valve adjustment

Then worry about painting and an exhaust. Don't get sucked into the normal squid performance hype BS. Get that thing to handle (well, handle better than it does) then improve the HPs.

- Nut

 

[plasticweld]

Worry about changing things in this order:

Tires
Chain & Sprockets
Suspension upgrade
Valve adjustment

Then worry about painting and an exhaust. Don't get sucked into the normal squid performance hype BS. Get that thing to handle (well, handle better than it does) then improve the HPs.

- Nut

Welcome to the site, being a new guy here also I hate to disagree 87 so quick, we all know that paint and looking good the most important part of owning a motorcycle, your sticking to the road, running right are all secondary to looks only kidding Did I mention I paint bikes?

You have a great bike, they are one of the most trouble free out there, in the hands of a skilled rider still competive.

You are wise to hold off on any of the cosmetic stuff, if you do make a mistake chances are it will be in the first few months,

As a old time rider I still spend lots of time in parking lots working on form and technique, practice your hard braking, look at the mags and motorcycle sites for riders with good form to copy. Take a MSF class, find some experienced guys to ride with that will help you along not force to rider faster than your skills. Welcome to the site and the sport we love..Bob

 

[SuzukiGirl1]

Welcome!!!

 

[B_Wayne]

Worry about changing things in this order:

Tires
Chain & Sprockets
Suspension upgrade
Valve adjustment

Then worry about painting and an exhaust. Don't get sucked into the normal squid performance hype BS. Get that thing to handle (well, handle better than it does) then improve the HPs.

- Nut

You said in this order, but I had a question about the sprockets. It comes with a 45 tooth in the back (right?) but what about the front? What should I be looking for as far as this list? Can you elaborate on some specifics so I know what it is I am looking for?

Thanks

 

[87gsxrnut]

I was mainly referring for serviceability, although you could go up one tooth in the front, or 2-3 teeth in the back for quicker acceleration. Beware, chain length might be affected. In other words, if you increase the sprocket size, your chain might be too short. Also, gas mileage will go down with taller gearing.

That bike most likely has a 14 or 15-tooth front sprocket. I don't have a manual handy.

- Nut

 

[plasticweld]

they sell the sprockes in sets, you always replace both at the same time, to determine if yours is worn look at the shape of the tooth, it should be round, sort of not sharp, one of the best ways to tell if you have a problem is to put the bike up so that the wheel can be rotated, there should be no tight or lose spots in the chain tension, you should be able to move the chain about 1/2 inch in the center of the bottom side of the chain if it is properly tensioned. If it goes from tight to lose your sprokets are bad. You will have to properly tighten your chain to determine if there is a problem.

As for wanting to go up or down in gearing it depends on what you want your bike to do, if you want bottom end and less speed you would go down on the front and up on the back. better fuel mileage and higher speed go up on the front down on the back, they normally give you a couple of options when you buy them to go either way of stock a couple of teeth

 

[B_Wayne]

I was mainly referring for serviceability, although you could go up one tooth in the front, or 2-3 teeth in the back for quicker acceleration. Beware, chain length might be affected. In other words, if you increase the sprocket size, your chain might be too short. Also, gas mileage will go down with taller gearing.

That bike most likely has a 14 or 15-tooth front sprocket. I don't have a manual handy.

- Nut

Thanks for the help...Looking forward to all the good advice I can get.

 

[Louis]

:welcomes:

 

[pitbull76]

Welcome, good bike to start with.

 

[LayinLo]

:welcomes:

 

[B_Wayne]

:welcomes:

You in the Corps? If so...so am I. Where you stationed? PM me...lemme know whats up.

 

[LayinLo]

Yes, I'm in a reserve unit here in Alabama. I work fulltime as a firefighter for Montgomery (our capital city).

 

[GIXXER-Mike]

Welcome...welcome!