07/09/2017 10:35am
A good sprocket should be round, flat, strong and where possible, light.
There are loads of cheap ones out there but most of them aren’t very good and some of them we wouldn’t fit to a bicycle!
First of all, it needs to be manufactured from a strong material, then it needs to be round and concentric to its centre. If it's not, it makes the chain run tight and then loose as it turns. Next, it needs to be flat so that the chain runs in line. Then it needs to be finished in a strong and anti rust finishing process and where ever possible it should be as light as possible to reduce the unsprung weight and gyroscopic effect on the handling. Actually, a good sprocket is not at all easy to produce and is an amazing piece of engineering for the small amount that they cost.
We believe that Afam produces the best sprockets currently available.
AFAM has been making sprockets for more than 25 years and during that time, they have refined their manufacturing techniques to such a level that their standards now exceed those of the OEM’s. Through computer programs, sprocket designs can be stress tested prior to undergoing tough field tests.
The sprockets are made on precision controlled equipment in a modern 25,000 square foot facility. The teeth are machined to the latest standards, this ensures the maximum chain life and more efficient power transmission. Machining is carried out on a gear hobbing machine. The teeth and the outside diameter are cut at the same time. This makes sure that the teeth are concentric to the sprocket centre. Most OEM’s demand a maximum run-out of 0.5mm, all AFAM sprockets have a maximum run-out of 0.2mm. More than twice as accurate as the industry standard!
Most steel sprockets to be used on motorcycles 500cc or more are heat treated, which changes the hardness of the material. If not done correctly it can produce a brittle part. AFAM use induction hardening to accurately control this process. After hardening, the sprockets are tempered to produce exactly the correct hardness for durability and efficient power delivery. To correct any distortion that may have occurred during these stages, the sprockets are put through a final flattening machine.
All aluminium sprockets are made from heat treated 7075-T6 aluminium. After precision machining and flattening they are hard anodised for durability and corrosion resistance. There are people making cheaper sprockets but we don’t know of any better sprockets and they are excellent value for money!
Their race sprockets have been used by most of the world best race teams including the works teams of Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki & Yamaha and they have won world and national titles in every discipline of road and off road racing.