Front Chain Sprocket | Honda CB500K / CB550 / CB750

Description

Front Chain Sprocket | Honda CB500K / CB550 / CB750

The front sprocket carries the engine’s power to the chain, and it gives up before the rear does: it is made of harder steel, but it is the smaller of the pair and turns more times for every mile you ride. This is an exact replacement for the factory front drive sprocket on Honda CB500K, CB550K, CB550F, and CB750 K0–K5 motorcycles, made from high quality steel in the factory 530 chain pitch.

Why You Need This

The entire drivetrain on these bikes is a set of continuous wear items, and how well past owners kept up with chain adjustment and lubrication decides how much is left in your front sprocket. When the teeth go thin, pointed, or hooked, the sprocket is done — and a worn sprocket will eat a new chain early.

Pick the factory tooth count to keep stock gearing, 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. The front sprocket is the fastest and cheapest place to make that change. And depending on how the teeth have worn, a Honda front sprocket can sometimes be flipped over to buy a little more service life before you 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: Run a standard or heavy-duty non-sealed 530 chain on these models. O-ring and X-ring chains are too wide at the front sprocket and will dig into the crankcase.

Model-Specific Notes

• CB750: The K0 came with a 17-tooth front sprocket; the K1–K5 came with an 18-tooth. Check what is on your bike and pick the matching option, or step up or down a tooth to re-gear.
• CB350 / CL350 / CB360 / CL360 / CJ360 / CB450 / CL450 / CB500T: Does NOT fit. The twins use the separate CB350 / CB360 / CB450 Front Chain Sprocket.

Installation

Difficulty: Intermediate

When you install a new front sprocket, 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 the chain length against the new combination rather than assuming the factory number.

After the wheel is back in, set the drive chain slack to 1–2 cm (3/8–3/4 in.) measured at the midpoint between the sprockets, and keep the chain lubed — chain care is what preserves sprocket life.