When I fitted bigger sprockets, I set the wheel at approx. halfway on the snail cams, then fitted the longer chain onto the rear sprocket teeth to mark at which point to cut it to length. It's just trial without the error. Best a bit long, you can always cut it down, lot easier than putting them back. Sure you'll sort it.

I think my biggest concern is that I'm changing the sprockets and then doing the tires about a month later. Based on booker's calculators, it looks like the chain should go up to 126 links for the sprocket change alone...roughly. My concern is that it will need to go up again when I go from a 120/80 rear tire to 110/100.

Why not just hold off on the sprockets until you're ready to change the tire?

At this point, I may have a problem. I've had the bike just under 3 weeks and have:

Replaced:
crank case gasket
start motor o ring
handle bar
grips
levers
stock blinkers with lower profile LEDs
speedo with Vapor
rewired tail light
clutch cable
petcock
stock pegs with the Oversize foot pegs
mirrors

Oil change
Air filter change
Lubed throttle and clutch cables

Added bark busters and trickle charger
Rebuilt carb

removed rear foot pegs and rear handles, neutral switch relay, kick stand relay, and starter safety relay


So the bike is running great but it doesn't feel right just looking at it and not doing something to it.I have the new sprockets and drive train and am just itching to put them on but can't buy the new tires for a few weeks. So far working on the bike has proven to be every bit as fun as riding it.

Ha, sounds about right.

I started cleaning my chain, realised my Scottoiler was empty then spent the next hour getting it to clear the empty tube thro' to chain.

I must check the oiler more regular & keep it topped up.

Quazia I believe the TTR225 used a 128 link chain with 16/55 sprockets for reference. Like stated above, you could always go long at first and cut it down later if needed.

I have many of the same changes planned for my XT plus some. The Clarke tank and Cogent suspension arrived Tuesday. Eager to get the bike stripped down and built up.

Paul49 How do you like the Scottoiler? I have heard of them but never knew anyone with one.

Ayup m8, I have fitted Scottoilers to all my bikes for the past 25 years. I currently have the Vsystem on my XT225 & Tiger sport & the Esystem on my fbw Tiger 800. The XT225 also has the touring reservoir fitted behind the number plate, I set it very high to keep the chain clean on the trails & dirty lanes I ride, so the total 400ml lasts approx. 1500 miles. Normal road setting would last 5k miles between refills.

On my road bikes the Vsystem standard kit with 50ml does 500 miles between refills & the Esystem with 60ml pump monitored lasts 1500 miles.

On road bikes I get over 30k miles from a chain kit with a front sprocket changed at 15k miles.

On the XT225 I don't know how long a chain kit will last 'cos I haven't worn one out yet, my last xt had done 12k when it was stolen. My current one had a new chain kit when I got it, only done 6k miles since.

Hope this helps.

Catastrophe.

I was hoping to go up from 15/45 to 15/50 for a 10% torque increase as the bike now feels like 1st gear is totally trivial.

One of the prior owners had already swapped the front sprocket only to 13T. It was 3.46 before and I felt like it needed more. Going to 15/50 is actually a reduction to 3.33. So this will be a net loss in torque for me. I could keep the decent 13T front and go 13T/50T, but the drive chain looks stock and was in terrible condition when I pulled it. My assumption is that they changed the front sprocket and left everything else as it was, so the rear sprocket has normal wear, the front sprocket looks fine, and the chain is just wrecked. So I'm hesitant to keep the smaller front sprocket because I blame it for the excessive chain wear.

So I guess now I need to send back my 50T rear for a 58T rear and go with the configuration that Muniac suggested all along.

I just got this bike and really don't want to move on already, but even at 13/45, the 1st and 2nd gears don't provide near enough torque for what I'm trying to do. Hopefully 15/58 will be the magic bullet.

What is it you're trying to do?

Going bigger rear is better for wear. Check it out on here:
https://www.gearingcommander.com/

I'm trying to increase torque. I thought I was running stock 15/45 and was moving up to 15/50, but a prior owner had moved to 13/45 already, so my move to 15/50 would actually be a torque reduction.

Their change to 13 was brutal on the chain. When I first got the bike, I couldn't figure out why the chain was in such bad shape but the sprockets were in decent shape. Turns out the answer was that they dropped to 13 and didn't change the stock chain when they did so.

So if my goal is to increase torque, and I'm coming from 13/45, I need to do a lot more than 15/50. So I'm returning the 50 rear and picking up a 58 rear for a final 15/58. I could keep the 13 and add my 50 rear, but that 13 was just brutal on the chain.