im trying to help this guy out and he wants to know if he should get 14/40 gearing for trails or stick with 13/40 stock gearing?
gearing
- Thread starter 96MXBlaster
- Start date
all depends on what size tires he has too. if he does alot of trails and like barely hit 5th hes better off sticking with 13t. 14t will only give u more top speed and take torque away on the low end.
It depends on how much power his engine is making, and his weight, and the nature of the trails.
14/40 makes you go faster. It stretches each gear out more. It can be a good thing on trails because some trails want you in first, but with stock gearing you have to shift to second or youre revving it too high, and you lose power with the 2nd shift. So, in SOME cases, 14/40 makes more sense on trails. Likewise tires have alot to do with it. If hes running 18-20 inch tires, he should be on 14/40 gearing, as those smaller tires with stock gearing is like running stock tires with a 12t front sprocket (zips through the gears FAST, tops out fast).
Most piped, airbox removed, jetted blasters will most likely benefit from the 14/40 gearing.
14/40 makes you go faster. It stretches each gear out more. It can be a good thing on trails because some trails want you in first, but with stock gearing you have to shift to second or youre revving it too high, and you lose power with the 2nd shift. So, in SOME cases, 14/40 makes more sense on trails. Likewise tires have alot to do with it. If hes running 18-20 inch tires, he should be on 14/40 gearing, as those smaller tires with stock gearing is like running stock tires with a 12t front sprocket (zips through the gears FAST, tops out fast).
Most piped, airbox removed, jetted blasters will most likely benefit from the 14/40 gearing.
Luni, before I post I have to say I respect your opinion and am not starting anything because we always seem to disagree...
you are right on everything but left out one important part of 14/40 on trails. It stretches your gears out yes, but when climbing on trails after shifting at the end of your gear, the next gear drops off horrible in the low end. So you are constantly stuck between having one gear screaming at the end and the next gear not having enough torque to pull. I know this from multiple gear runs riding trails daily that gain elevation the whole way up. On the other end yes a 12t pulls fast, tops out fast ... but the torque is always there. And in tight trail riding (switchbacks) WOT in sixth does not happen often making a 12t a better option.
I will however give my 0.02$ rather than just argue, which is leave the 13 and go to the rear. One tooth in the front is similar to three teeth in the rear so it is easier to make minor adjustment in the rear by going one tooth at a time in rear which is a 1/3rd of the difference of changing front. Yes, it is not a viable monetary option most of the time to buy multiple sprockets but you will learn alot by doing so about gearing through testing different setups where you ride. ...... bottom line leave the 13
And Luni, you are right, just found it funny how there is always one sticking point we disagree on...lol
Stock blaster is 13/40 with 22 inch tires.
Ive ran 12/40 with 23 inch tires (close to stock), and Ive ran 14/40 with 20 inch tires (still pretty close actually).
The 14/40 with the 20s seems to have a better low/midrange with about the same topend feel. The bike wants to start moving forward easier (prolly cause it has less rotational mass to spin up initially), and its also easier to slide the ass and spin the tires, which can sometimes lead to higher exit speeds when turning.
So, I guess, my recommendation is if you want to run the 14/40 gearing and youre a trail rider, you might consider reducing the rear tire size, or doing what Pickled said and trying a 38-39 tooth rear if you can find one and keeping the 13t front.
Another combination you could try if your chain is long enough for it, would be a 14/41 if you can find one. It will make you slightly quicker and make your gears run out faster than 14/40. So its kinda in between a 13/40 gearing.
Theres a lot of different ways to go. Ideally, you want the tallest gearing you can pull, assuming you have the power to pull it. Ported/modded guys will better be able to use 14/40 and sometimes even 14/38 gearing because theyre doubling the stock power output on the blaster.
Im kinda rambling on at this point, so Ill stop, but hopefully this stuff helps someone out LOL.
Ive ran 12/40 with 23 inch tires (close to stock), and Ive ran 14/40 with 20 inch tires (still pretty close actually).
The 14/40 with the 20s seems to have a better low/midrange with about the same topend feel. The bike wants to start moving forward easier (prolly cause it has less rotational mass to spin up initially), and its also easier to slide the ass and spin the tires, which can sometimes lead to higher exit speeds when turning.
So, I guess, my recommendation is if you want to run the 14/40 gearing and youre a trail rider, you might consider reducing the rear tire size, or doing what Pickled said and trying a 38-39 tooth rear if you can find one and keeping the 13t front.
Another combination you could try if your chain is long enough for it, would be a 14/41 if you can find one. It will make you slightly quicker and make your gears run out faster than 14/40. So its kinda in between a 13/40 gearing.
Theres a lot of different ways to go. Ideally, you want the tallest gearing you can pull, assuming you have the power to pull it. Ported/modded guys will better be able to use 14/40 and sometimes even 14/38 gearing because theyre doubling the stock power output on the blaster.
Im kinda rambling on at this point, so Ill stop, but hopefully this stuff helps someone out LOL.
