It finally arrived my new rear sprocket. The nice thing about doing a sprocket upgrade is that there is so much information about doing it. The TaoTao TBR7 and Hawk 250 motorcycles share much of the same traits, and one of them having similar designed sprocket parts. Each bike comes with different rear sprockets, but the design is the same, and many owners of both dual-sport bikes have made the rear sprocket change. Now is my turn to make the TaoTao TBR7 motorcycle rear sprocket change too. Looking for more speed.
Stock TaoTao TBR7 Front And Rear Sprocket Issues?
My 2021 TBR7 came with a stock 15 tooth front sprocket and 46 tooth rear sprocket. Now, this arrangement works out of the box, but how it works is designed by TaoTao. It’s geared very low.
The first gear range is very narrow, and when accelerating, you will ride through the 1st gear range almost immediately. This low-end gearing is excellent for climbing and maintaining low speeds, but I ride mainly on the street and want higher speeds as well.
My first TBR7 sprocket upgrade was the front sprocket. Went from 15 tooth front sprocket to a 17 tooth front sprocket. This upgrade gave me much more range of use in the first gear and higher speeds at lower RPMs. I know this sacrificed climbing power, but I am looking to ride on the streets more than off-road.
My Current TBR7 Top Speed?
With the stock rear sprocket, I can hit the highway and do about 70mph. I weigh (a good guess) with gear guessing about 200 pounds. 70mph doesn’t give me much room to tackle hills; I quickly lose speed with slight inclines or trying to accelerate(no, no accelerating at 70mph) out of trouble. Also, even with my seat upgrade, the motorcycle is buzzy and a little uncomfortable.
Open and Shut Case, Time To Upgrade the Rear Sprocket?
Not so fast. Each time I gear the TBR7 up, I lose low-end power – climbing power. Some owners posted they have lost the ability to do wheelies on both the TBR7 and Hawk 250, modifying the sprockets too much. I am not a wheelie guy, so I have no loss here, but I want some climbing ability if I go off-road a little.
Some owners have reduced the number of teeth in the rear sprocket to 38 teeth and love the higher top-end speed but complained about having to ride the clutch a little starting from a stop position to get the motorcycle moving.
Others said the best Hawk 250 and TBR7 sprocket setup is 17 front and 40 rear. This setup gives the best of both top speed maximum and low-speed power, some claim. I ran the numbers and found I wanted a little lower-end power for hills and a 42 tooth rear.
Why A 42 Tooth Rear Sprocket?
Couple reasons. I do want the higher top-end speed but don’t want to lose the ability to accelerate. I also don’t want to cut my chain. Going from a 46 tooth rear to a 42 tooth rear should let me keep my stock chain and minimize this upgrade time and cost. I am hoping to keep the same TBR7 chain size.
When Is the TBR7 Rear Sprocket Change Planned?
I just received the rear sprocket today. I am setting up to change out the sprocket, and since I am also looking to balance my rear wheel in the process, I am awaiting the wheel wights I ordered. At higher speeds, the TBR7 vibrates a lot.
Continue to follow along as I add a rear sprocket change to the list of TaoTao TBR7 Upgrades (My Upgrades To-Do List Post) I am doing. If you have feedback about what you have done to either your Hawk 250 or TBR7 drive chain, please leave a comment below.
Click To See My Recommended
TBR7 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.
Hi, I recently put a 17T on front with a stock 46 rear. Does pretty good, but I have a 42 available to try. Have you done yours yet, and if so how do you like it? Does it still have enough climbing power to pull moderate hills on a backroad? How is top end speed? I’m looking to be able to hit 55 or 60 on occasion without stressing the rpm’s, but do have a few small hills in my area. I held up on the upgrade to get the engine broke in a little before doing too much change with the gear ratios.
I did complete the rear sprocket upgrade. I am currently running my TBR7 with a 17 tooth front and 42 tooth rear. I’m still getting used to the upgrade, but the bike seems to like to hang out more in 4th gear lately when riding back roads.
The 5th gear feels more like an over-drive now, and I only use it when hitting higher highways speeds. I do find acceleration and uphill power are limited with the 5th gear. The smaller rear sprocket’s significant advantage is that I can sit at higher speeds(60mph-65mph) without the motorcycle feeling like it’s going to fall apart.
I ride back roads and occasional highways (55-65mph). The motorcycle isn’t suited for the highway. Bike it every light and build quality scares me at very high speed. I can cruise longer at lower RPMs with the taller gearing, making my back road experience better. Less vibration and buzzy hands.
But to answer your questions:
Some hills require to shift down to 4th and hit high RPMs.
My top speed, I weigh almost 190lbs, about 70 mph is the most I do before chickening out.
Yes, get your engine broken in, and go easy while doing so. The only change I would have made, looking back, during the break-in period was having good oil. After the break-in period, I would then do the upgrades to the motorcycle. The nice thing about the TBR7, like the Hawk 250, the upgrades can be done cheap, and the outcome can make it fun.
Remember, if you aren’t sure about working on the motorcycle, get with someone to help you through. There are local clubs for cheap motorcycle owners. 😀
Good luck, ride safe, ride fun!
Just wondering what the break in period is just bought a 2021 400 miles see want high speeds with less rpms have to get on a 55mph road seems around 55 is def close to top end I do like poping a wheelie here or there and able to clubs hillside I do go on a life trail ride what would suggest on sprockets
Thanks for stopping by. I, too, have the goal of doing about 55mph to meet my plan to ride the backcountry roads, including back roads. My TBR7 completed it, I recall, with the sprocket changes and the first carb upgrade. Oh, I changed the exhaust too. I even ventured out on the highway around me, it was 65mph, and the TBR7 held its own.
The bike is too light to be behind a big truck or have a big truck wizz by. So I only tried on short distances to avoid city areas to get to the back roads quicker. City driving for the TBR7 is rough.
So…. I also upgraded the coil with a Nibbi ( My TBR7 New Nibbi Ignition Coil Came In! ) and upgraded the carb to a Nibbi ( TaoTao TBR7 Nibbi Carburetor, Unboxing! ) too. The TBR7 rocks for a little 230cc engine. I often do back roads(55mph) 4th gear, and the 5th acts more like an overdrive. Thinking about this, maybe keeping the rear stock gear would have been ok, but I like the option of having wider gearing. Keeping the stock rear sprocket might help with wheelies, but not a TBR7 wheelie fan. 😀
My reply is long. Sorry, I do like upgrading the TBR7 and riding it even more. I hope this helps.
Oh found this too online about motorcycle break in, by FortNine: How to Break In Your New Motorcycle
Hi I bought a 2020 model TBR 7. I upgraded the carburetor the first 2 weeks I had the bike,I put a mikuni clone on it the performance was so much better than the stock carburetor. Im going to do a front and rear sprocket upgrade next week and I’m also going with the 17 front and 42rear sprocket upgrade I ride my tbr7 mainly on back roads I think this will be a good fit for it .
Got a pro hawk dlx250 efi want to get a 40 tooth rear 17 front sprockets what’s a good choice to get them and what brand