Gearing

[Hotzmonster]

I just picked up a nice 2006 950 Adventure and rode it this weekend. Love the bike. I'm planing to do a lot of off-road and can tell already I'd like it geared lower so first can get into and out of some tight stuff (nothing too crazy). I don't see cruising at much more than 80 in the highway.

So my question is those that have done it; did you do one smaller in the front, two or three in the back, or a combo?

Thanks.

[KTMbageera]

I run 1 tooth smaller on the counter sprocket, and stock on the rear. My 990R cruises at 75 mph/3400 rpm down the highway near sea level. The highways here in Cambodia are fraught with interesting obstacles like water buffalo, cows, pigs, old ladies on bicycles, Lexus, Land Rovers etc all sharing the middle of the road. So, my riding is not the high speed running that some inmates enjoy. But we have LOTS of off road opportunity and this gearing works well for me there.

[fridgyis]

The stock gearing on the 990 adv is 17/42. Most off readers switch to a 16/42 combo. This seems to work well and is stock on the limited edition 2013 baja model.However......swapping the primary over to go from street to dirt is a pain. I used to do this often. I have a set of 19/17 wheels and a spare hub so I am looking at running a 17/42 street and a 17/45 for dirt. I am not sure how that will work out with the chain length. I would like to leave the 16 tooth primary and run a 39 rear but I have had no luck finding any rear sprockets other than the 42 or 45.


Maybe others can shed some light/advice on this issue.


He 16/42 combo is ok for almost everything other than extended highway trips.

[JTXT]

Originally Posted by fridgyis

The stock gearing on the 990 adv is 17/42. Most off readers switch to a 16/42 combo. This seems to work well and is stock on the limited edition 2013 baja model.However......swapping the primary over to go from street to dirt is a pain. I used to do this often. I have a set of 19/17 wheels and a spare hub so I am looking at running a 17/42 street and a 17/45 for dirt. I am not sure how that will work out with the chain length. I would like to leave the 16 tooth primary and run a 39 rear but I have had no luck finding any rear sprockets other than the 42 or 45.


Maybe others can shed some light/advice on this issue.


He 16/42 combo is ok for almost everything other than extended highway trips.

You can get custom sized rear sprockets that have anywhere from 40 to 53 teeth from Super Sprox for $115.

http://www.supersproxusa.com/products.php?cat=1033700

[jon6.0]

Originally Posted by fridgyis

The stock gearing on the 990 adv is 17/42. Most off readers switch to a 16/42 combo. This seems to work well and is stock on the limited edition 2013 baja model.However......swapping the primary over to go from street to dirt is a pain. I used to do this often. I have a set of 19/17 wheels and a spare hub so I am looking at running a 17/42 street and a 17/45 for dirt. I am not sure how that will work out with the chain length. I would like to leave the 16 tooth primary and run a 39 rear but I have had no luck finding any rear sprockets other than the 42 or 45.


Maybe others can shed some light/advice on this issue.


He 16/42 combo is ok for almost everything other than extended highway trips.

I have a 2013 Baja and I have no issues cruising at 80-90mph on the highway. I also get 39mpg at those speeds.

[chrish4ku]

Originally Posted by jon6.0

I have a 2013 Baja and I have no issues cruising at 80-90mph on the highway. I also get 39mpg at those speeds.

Wow - I get 37MPG with stock sprockets at 70MPH or less.....I can see that mileage at 80-90KMH though....as my 2008 had the 16 in front and averaged 33 on the super slab.

[jon6.0]

I was pretty surprised by the mileage. I was expecting low to mid 30's based on what I've read here. I went from Phoenix and LA and back last weekend and my average for the slab was 39mpg. My fuel light comes on right around 160 miles and by the time I stop for gas it's just barely over 4 gallons to fill. I think my light is coming on with 1.5 gallons left since it's supposed to be 5.5 gallons of fuel and a 1.0 gallon reserve.

[brents347]

Originally Posted by Hotzmonster

I just picked up a nice 2006 950 Adventure and rode it this weekend. Love the bike. I'm planing to do a lot of off-road and can tell already I'd like it geared lower so first can get into and out of some tight stuff (nothing too crazy). I don't see cruising at much more than 80 in the highway.

So my question is those that have done it; did you do one smaller in the front, two or three in the back, or a combo?

Thanks.

When riding it as a dirt bike, I ran my Adventure gearing as high as 16/45 and I liked it a lot.

[Hotzmonster]

Just put in the 16, much, much better feel off the line.

[Big_John]

Although I love the 42 mpg I am getting.... With the 17T on the front, is just to tall for dirt. Switching to the 16T on the front and stock on the rear.





.....

[slackmeyer]

Originally Posted by brents347

When riding it as a dirt bike, I ran my Adventure gearing as high as 16/45 and I liked it a lot.

This, and I don't see any problem with it for most street riding. With that said, I see more long paved rides in my future, so I'll probably switch back to 17-45. I would not go back to 16-42, it's too high for any dirt or really tight pavement, and I think it's needlessly high even for freeway.

[Alleycatdad]

16/45 all day long.

S

[buzybraza]

16/45 for off-road

edit: or lower if you want, like 16/48, this way you won't destroy your clutch when the going gets tough!

[kaptinkaos]

16/45 for dirt for sure!

I'm on my way to do 4000-5000kms of mostly pavement with that gearing and should still get moderate fuel mileage as I cruise about 70-75mph on the highway. It's fast enough for me as I tend to enjoy the ride, not the destination, :)

Right now I'm at around 4800rpm at 70mph/112kph. I generally ride the rpms where they are smooth and it seems the bike buzzes less at 4800-5000rpm. I will be taking tangent routes through dirt and mud so I refuse to sacrifice the gearing just to save fuel on the highway, lol!

[jon6.0]

Originally Posted by buzybraza

16/45 for off-road

edit: or lower if you want, like 16/48, this way you won't destroy your clutch when the going gets tough!

Why not a 15 countershaft sprocket? Isn't one tooth up front equal to three in back? You could probably use the same chain also. I just got my 990, so I'm not sure how hard the countershaft sprocket is to change.