BEST gearing to ride woods/single track ??

[kvkdx]

Im running 13/50 for colorado single track and Im wondering anyone else running similar? 13/50
13/49 or 13/48 ?? differences, pros and cons?

[kdxsully]

https://www.blocklayer.com/chain-sprocket.aspx

I use this sprocket calculator to figure stuff out. It depends on how you ride really.

[doakley]

I currently run 13/49 but am considering going back to stock 13/47 with the next replacement. The bike has so much more power with the RB carb I may like that better. Really won’t know until I race it a couple of times.

[rungrandpa]

I've experimented a little, ended up back at stock 13/47.

[JumpingInFire]

I ran 13/47 with the FMF Gnarly Desert pipe but I'm currently on 14/47 with the stock pipe. I'm a big fan of slow technical stuff but this allows me to open up on fire roads a bit too.

[K50X200]

I run 12/47... which, unless I'm mistaken, should be about the same as your 13/50. I generally ride single-track in 2nd & 3rd, and use 1st almost as a Granny gear. Riding in 2nd with the 12/47 also seems to eliminate any whiskey throttle problems for me that I used to occasionally have riding in 1st with the 13/47 gearing.
I know there aren't a lot of fans of the 12 tooth front sprocket, but I've been using one for years with absolutely no chain problems, and it also gives me the opportunity to throw a 13 back on there if needed, because I can run the same length chain (108 ?) with either front sprocket...

[kvkdx]

I run 12/47... which, unless I'm mistaken, should be about the same as your 13/50. I generally ride single-track in 2nd & 3rd, and use 1st almost as a Granny gear. Riding in 2nd with the 12/47 also seems to eliminate any whiskey throttle problems for me that I used to occasionally have riding in 1st with the 13/47 gearing.
I know there aren't a lot of fans of the 12 tooth front sprocket, but I've been using one for years with absolutely no chain problems, and it also gives me the opportunity to throw a 13 back on there if needed, because I can run the same length chain (108 ?) with either front sprocket...

Interesting and great feedback, I like my 13/50 so far, and yes same here, I ride mostly single track and try and live in 2nd-3rd gear, with 1st being my granny crawl, leap over a log etc, with the Lectron installed it seems like i can run a little higher of a gear and still not bog, but I want to test this on single track

[kvkdx]

So i was riding 13/50 and when we rode faster open trails, I noticed I had to shift ALOT to stay where I wanted engine to be, also my 1st gear was soooo low and short, it was very short, I put a 14 front on w 50 rear, tested that and it was to high and I had to be in 1st only to craw anything technical, So ive settled at 13/49 and will ride this weekend to see if its money, I believe this should work
stealthy flywheel +10oz , Lectron carb, fmf desert gnarly pipe w silencer, UNI air filter, this bike rips!! I love out riding my KTM and Beta friends on this old school bike

[kvkdx]

I currently run 13/49 but am considering going back to stock 13/47 with the next replacement. The bike has so much more power with the RB carb I may like that better. Really won’t know until I race it a couple of times.

what did you settle on? Im running 13/49 but will have to try out and see might go 13/48, 13/50 was to low, and 14/50 was to high, I know Im close

[doakley]

I currently run 13/49 but am considering going back to stock 13/47 with the next replacement. The bike has so much more power with the RB carb I may like that better. Really won’t know until I race it a couple of times.

what did you settle on? Im running 13/49 but will have to try out and see might go 13/48, 13/50 was to low, and 14/50 was to high, I know Im close

I've run 2 enduros now with the new RB carb. Think I will stick with 13/49. I can stay in 3rd for all but the very tightest of the bar banging tight sections and yet wind it way out in 3rd still.

[SS109]

I've been running 13/48 forever and first is useless unless I'm doing true hike-a-bike technical stuff. 2nd gear can get me up the nastiest of trails up hills and mountains in AZ.

[javjacob]

I run stock 13-47 on both my 220 and 200. I have thought about 13-48 for the 200 though. The 220 has so much more low end you can run it a gear higher than you can with the 200.

[jimboe]

SS109,
I'm trying to decide on gearing to replace the stock, worn out sprockets on my '99 KDX200 and I see you are the only person in the thread running 13/48 on your 220.

I wanted to ask if you are running a 108-link or 110-link chain and in what position are your snail adjusters?

I bought new 13/49 sprockets and 110-link chain and had to set the snail adjusters way back on position "7" to get the right amount of chain slack. A 108-link chain is too short for the 49t so I was considering a 48t sprocket instead. I estimated that 108 links might be too short and 110 might be too long with a 48t, but obviously, one of those chains works so I wondered where the rear axle sits in the swingarm slot.

Thanks,
Jim

[SS109]

SS109,
I'm trying to decide on gearing to replace the stock, worn out sprockets on my '99 KDX200 and I see you are the only person in the thread running 13/48 on your 220.

I wanted to ask if you are running a 108-link or 110-link chain and in what position are your snail adjusters?

I bought new 13/49 sprockets and 110-link chain and had to set the snail adjusters way back on position "7" to get the right amount of chain slack. A 108-link chain is too short for the 49t so I was considering a 48t sprocket instead. I estimated that 108 links might be too short and 110 might be too long with a 48t, but obviously, one of those chains works so I wondered where the rear axle sits in the swingarm slot.

Thanks,
Jim

I'll check tomorrow and let you know.

[SS109]

SS109,
I'm trying to decide on gearing to replace the stock, worn out sprockets on my '99 KDX200 and I see you are the only person in the thread running 13/48 on your 220.

I wanted to ask if you are running a 108-link or 110-link chain and in what position are your snail adjusters?

I bought new 13/49 sprockets and 110-link chain and had to set the snail adjusters way back on position "7" to get the right amount of chain slack. A 108-link chain is too short for the 49t so I was considering a 48t sprocket instead. I estimated that 108 links might be too short and 110 might be too long with a 48t, but obviously, one of those chains works so I wondered where the rear axle sits in the swingarm slot.

Thanks,
Jim

Ok, I have a 110 link chain. It is currently on the #5 notch of the snail adjuster and that's after 8 years of use.

[jimboe]

Wow! Thanks for letting me know.
I was expecting the snail adjusters to be maxed out with a 110L chain on a 48t sprocket since mine was on position 7 with a 49t sprocket. It makes me think the '99 200 and the '98 220 have slightly different dimensions in the frame or swingarm.

[SS109]

The chassis between the two bikes are identical so no differences there. Buy the 110 link chain and, if you must, you can always remove a link easy enough.

[tucker]

I run 13/50 and 110 link chain, adjusters on 5

for single track, you want lower gearing - ideally you're going to be in the meat of the powerband 2nd/3rd gear

[SS109]

for single track, you want lower gearing - ideally you're going to be in the meat of the powerband 2nd/3rd gear

Depends on where you ride. I ride nothing but singletrack unless on a race course. I rarely use 2nd gear unless it's something really technical. Otherwise, I'm in 3rd to 5th gears on most the trails out here.

[KDXGarage]

Most of the rest of us have what are commonly known as "trees". Google them to learn more. :-)