Gearing

[Motorrad]

I think we need a good topic on gearing. 

Let's discuss
what gearing you run
why it works good for you
top speed
street, race (if race what kind of track )
anything else I forgot. 

I'll chime in later on what I plan on running and why (when I'm sober enough to remember)
Dave

[KX500freak]

k5 track sumo running 14/40 for the real bite exciting corners
k5 street sumo running 15/42 for cruising with bite
k5 dirt            running 15/48 for lazy shifting  ,i maid go to 14/48

 

[sandblaster]

I'll chime in later on what I plan on running and why (when I'm sober enough to remember)
Dave

I hate to resurrect an old topic but you never said what you did....
Perhaps you were never sober enough 

[Motorrad]

I'll chime in later on what I plan on running and why (when I'm sober enough to remember)
Dave

I hate to resurrect an old topic but you never said what you did....
Perhaps you were never sober enough 

I think you nailed it...


mine is setup for quick changes.  (no changing the front sprocket)....

so with my overdrive 5th gear..   (keep that in mind)..

I run 15-50 with dirt and paddles..   which gives me good 115mph option...   but stock 1-4 gears...

to swap over to sumo,   I just change the rear wheel and chain..   

With sumo I run 15-42    which once again with overdrive gives me stupid fast top end...

[USMC 500]

I'll chime in later on what I plan on running and why (when I'm sober enough to remember)
Dave

I hate to resurrect an old topic but you never said what you did....
Perhaps you were never sober enough 

I think you nailed it...


mine is setup for quick changes.  (no changing the front sprocket)....

so with my overdrive 5th gear..   (keep that in mind)..

I run 15-50 with dirt and paddles..   which gives me good 115mph option...   but stock 1-4 gears...

to swap over to sumo,   I just change the rear wheel and chain..   

With sumo I run 15-42    which once again with overdrive gives me stupid fast top end...

Team Green was running 16-42 back in the early 90's which was good for about 125mph on pavement.....then they tapered off to 15-42......what is YOUR theoretical top speed with that gearing and the overdrive 5th?  Just wondering.

[alward25]

17/33 with O/D on the world record bike, just under 140

[Motorrad]

17/33 with O/D on the world record bike, just under 140

Crap. I didnt know mark was running that high of gearing

[81cr450]

d**n I guess my 15/47 aint that steep on the 550. I know it's still ON when you hit 5th, you really gotta be dickin off to make it pig out

Just out of curiosity WTH do you get a 17 tooth front sproket. 16t seems a little rare

Team green really would have had to have a deeper 1st to pull that in the really tight technical stuff. Some of the rock garden type stuff I've seen video of in Baja is just sick. I realize they're Pro's...

16-42 d**n amazing what a powervalve will pull

[alward25]

custom cut and the cases are notched accordingly.

d**n I guess my 15/47 aint that steep on the 550. I know it's still ON when you hit 5th, you really gotta be dickin off to make it pig out

Just out of curiosity WTH do you get a 17 tooth front sproket. 16t seems a little rare

Team green really would have had to have a deeper 1st to pull that in the really tight technical stuff. Some of the rock garden type stuff I've seen video of in Baja is just sick. I realize they're Pro's...

16-42 d**n amazing what a powervalve will pull

[demographic]

Team Green was running 16-42 back in the early 90's which was good for about 125mph on pavement.

I've not been on here for a long time but that's my gearing on my supermoto with 17" wheels. That's for riding on the road and not racing.
Does about a hundred.

First gear would be nicer a bit lower though.

Edit, Renthal still do the 16 tooth front sprocket.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RENTHAL-FRONT-SPROCKET-KX-500-1987-2004-16T-/170908588190

And by ther looks of this page it says they do a 17 tooth front.
I imagine you would need to remove the sprocket cover to fit that one on though.
http://www.intobikes.co.uk/products/001307/001608/Renthal-Front-Alloy-Sprocket-suitable-for-Kawasaki-KX500-1999?bf=1&rg=12&sg=OR&st=mn&sf=latest&sd=DESC

[The Flyin Hawaiian]

I ride primarily tight woods and after some experimentation I settled on 14/51. It allows me to pull taller gears in the woods and smooths out the power nicely. No place to do 120 mph here in NJ!

[fastdart19666]

I have 15/40 on my 17's for the supermoto on the street.

[Mohave]

15/44 or 15/43 for desert.  Still seems like I go through the first few gears too fast...