I could and save money in the process. The wisdom over the years is that a smaller countershaft sprocket will hasten the wear the chain due to the smaller radius or something like that. Maybe it's not a big deal. Anyway I have the 48 sitting on the shelf because the chain needs to be longer. I should have explored this beforehand. The chain is now got 6500 miles on it. Probably at half life. I just might bold in a smaller one as you say.