Front Chain Sprocket | Honda CB350 / CB360 / CB450

Description

Front Chain Sprocket | Honda CB350 / CB360 / CB450 / CB500T

The front sprocket is made of harder steel than the rear, but it is the smaller of the two and spins faster — which is why it is usually the first part of the drivetrain to wear out. This is an exact replacement for the factory front drive sprocket on Honda CB350 / CL350, CB360 / CL360 / CJ360, CB450 / CL450, and CB500T motorcycles, made from high quality steel in the factory 530 chain pitch.

Why You Need This

Chains and sprockets are an ongoing wear item on these bikes, and how well the previous owners kept up with chain adjustments and lubrication decides how much life is left in yours. When the teeth go thin and pointy, the sprocket is done — and running a worn front sprocket will accelerate wear on a new chain.

Pick the factory tooth count to keep the stock final-drive ratio, or change the count to fit your riding style: fewer teeth on the front gives greater acceleration off the line at the cost of top end, while more teeth gives better top end with reduced acceleration. Changing the front sprocket is the fastest and cheapest way to change how the bike feels to ride.

One Honda trick worth knowing before you buy: depending on how the teeth have worn, the front sprocket can sometimes be flipped over to get a little more service life out of it. If the teeth are already thin or pointed on both faces, replace it.

Specifications

Note: A new drive chain cut to the proper link count must be installed when changing to a different sprocket size — the chain length changes with the tooth count.

Note: An OEM Honda front sprocket retaining plate is available as an optional add-on above.

Model-Specific Notes

• SL350 K1 / K2: Does NOT fit. Those models run a 520-pitch drivetrain and use the separate SL350 K1 & K2 Front Sprocket.
• CB500K / CB550 / CB750: Does NOT fit. These models use the separate CB500K / CB550 / CB750 Front Sprocket.
• CB500T: The factory 33-tooth rear sprocket is no longer available. Running a 16-tooth front with the 35-tooth CB450 / CL450 / CB500T rear sprocket puts the final-drive ratio very close to stock.

Installation

Difficulty: Intermediate

When you install a new front sprocket, it is also a good idea to replace the rear sprocket and fit a new drive chain at the same time — a fresh part running against worn ones wears out early. If you changed tooth counts, count your chain length against the new combination rather than assuming the factory number.

Use a high quality chain lube on the new chain and sprockets rather than gear oil, and keep the chain adjusted — chain care is what preserves sprocket life.