Kat 1230 - 18/17 rims - 520 chain 17/46 sprockets - want closer to standard

[Dukeman]

Kat 1230 - 17/18 rims - 520 chain 17/46 sprockets - want closer to standard, I assume i am correct this is setup for acceleration? I have only ridden the bike a few times as it was a race bike. Now being setup for the road. So saying that going to a smaller front or larger back will give it better top end?

18 front and 17 rear Katana Rims

From the searching I have done I should replace the rear sprocket to a 49 is closer to standard, but this will shorten the chain. How much will a 49 move the rear wheel forward? 

Am I correct?

 

[Dezza]

Larger front or smaller back increases the overall gearing and vice versa. One tooth up on the front generally equals ~3 teeth down on the back, depending on the final drive ratio you start out with. The size of the chain, e.g. 520, 530, 630 makes no difference to the final drive gearing. It's all about the ratio of the number of teeth on the front and rear sprockets. If you put a 49 tooth sprocket on your bike you will lower the gearing, not raise it. To raise it you have to either fit a larger front sprocket or a smaller back sprocket.