Well, not there yet. I ordered a larger front sprocket after doing some speed tests with the stock setup on my Boom Vader. I was warned that Grom Clones come geared very low, with a 14 tooth front sprocket. I was warned the first thing I would want to increase the size of my Boom Vader’s Front Sprocket.
Read about my sad speed run: Stock Boom Vader’s Top Speed Test.
Note: I’ve come back to this post: Boom Vader Front Sprocket Size Upgrade and upgraded it with pictures of the motorcycle front sprocket I received. Also, you if you want to skip ahead to the actual upgrade here it is: Boom Vader Front Sprocket Upgrade.
FYI, this was my second motorcycle front sprocket size change. My first was for my TaoTao TBR7 Dual-sport motorcycle, making it more suitable for street riding( TBR7 Motorcycle Front Sprocket Upgrade ).
A Grom Clone’s First Real Upgrade?
A Grom Clone’s First Real Upgrade is the carburetor. So I’m told.
Not for the first reasons we all think about more power, but for reliability.
The stock carburetors on the Grom Clones have left many people stranded on the side of the road. Standing in a puddle of gasoline.
The stock carburetor’s fuel bowl is held on by some poor-quality screws/rivets, which fail quickly.
Like many other Boom Vaders, my Boom Vader seems to be made a lot better than expected. It looks good quality for a Chonda bike. So, I took my chance; my first performance upgrade will be the front sprocket.
What Size Front Sprocket?
I asked this same question in a few Grom Clone groups, and all seem to come back with the 17 tooth front sprocket answer.
Now I watch MotoCheez on YT, and he bounces back and forth from the 17 tooth to the 16 tooth ( https://youtu.be/wvCJayctZmU ). Since MotoCheez was looking for more torque and acceleration, he went down a tooth and hasn’t heard him move back up to the 17 tooth version.
I do like acceleration, but I feel that boosting my Boom Vader’s top speed should be the priority. I am so going with the 17-tooth front sprocket.
Am I Married To The 17-Tooth Front Sprocket?
No. I was heavily leaning towards getting the 16-Tooth sprocket but couldn’t find one that shipped fast enough. In this two-day Amazon world, waiting a week seemed alien to me. All the 17-tooth sprockets were two-day delivery, so that sealed the deal.
Did I Make A Motorcycle Upgrade Mistake?
Now I’m still new to motorcycling, even newer to owning a little Grom Clone bike, so that I might be making a mistake with the Boom Vader motorcycle.
I want better speeds than I saw with the stock sprocket setup ( Stock Boom Vader’s Top Speed Test ).
If you have feedback, feel about leaving a comment; in the meantime, this is what I ordered(Now Got):
Author’s Notice: This page contains affiliate links, for which I may earn a commission by their use. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases.
Current Prices: 428 17T 17mm Front Engine Sprocket
Thanks for reading along; Ride Safe, Ride Fun!
Click To See My Recommended
Boom Vader Gen 2 Upgrades
Hi I’m Tom, A New Motorcycle Rider and Blog Author.
I am a new rider(Pa Learners Permit at the end of 2020, and I received a Pa Motorcycle License in 2021 after passing a Motorcycle Safety Course).
I bought my first motorcycle, a TaoTao TBR7, at the beginning of 2021 and have been doing upgrades on that motorcycle since.
I added to my motorcycle collection by buying a Boom Vader Gen 2 in 2022, and that Grom-Clone motorcycle has been upgraded by me as well.
I continue to ride my Boom Vader Gen 2 motorcycle as well as my TaoTao TBR7 dual-sport bike.
Read more on my About Me page.
Fun Fact: I’ve only been on one group ride.
Glad you made this blog. Hope to see more updates. I am thinking about getting one of these bikes.
Did you cut the bottom of the sprocket cover since you changed it to the 17 so the chain could have some space?
Do you have social media?
You probably found it already, but yes, I did cut the underside of the front spocket chain guard. It seems with the upgrading the Boom Vader’s front sprocket to a larger one, the clicking noise got worse, or got more noticeable. So I documented my chain guard modification here: Typical Grom Clone Chain Clicking Noise, Fixed!
Remember, in the future if the clicking noise returns after the chain guard modification, it will be a good message to me I need to readjust the new chain. New chains stretch the most at the beginning of life I am told. Good luck, Ride Safe, Ride Fun!
I been contemplating this upgrade on my Vader 150 kinda new to the clone stuff myself lol