125-200cc WB165 gearing prefs? 14/51?

[typeone]

I'm thinking of changing up my gearing on the 165, need new chain and sprockets, what are 165 riders running these days and how do you like it?

I started at 12/48 in 144cc form, then went 12/50, then went 165cc and upped the CS to 13 keeping the 50T out back.

From some of my notes, 14/51 or 14/52 gets mentioned quite a bit for the 165.

What changes should I expect if I try 14/51 from 13/50?

I feel like 1st gear is a short right now but the bike climbs really well, the 165 pull always amazes me. I'm in New England so rocks, rocks, rocks, hills, roots, snot.

Recommendations?

 

[tnttimber]

I think gearing depends a bunch on how much you weigh and the amount of steep climbs you have in your riding areas. At 250#, I have no business riding a 125 but as a 165 with13/50 gearing it's the funnest bike I've ever had. I ride a lot of steep, technical stuff that usually has about 4000 feet of elevation change so the 13/50 works well but if my riding areas had only 1000 feet of elevation change I would go with 13/48.

 

[typeone]

i only weigh ~165 (hah! no wonder we're a match made in Heaven) and the climbs are varied. no 4K changes, more like 1K at most.

it's the loose rocks, wet roots and more rocks that i'm curious about changing up gearing for. a lot of times you're crawling up tricky stuff full of babyheads and boulders.

maybe 13/50 is optimal (?) i really like it, just wasn't sure if 14/51 would offer me a little more leg without sacrificing grunt. i'm no good with ratios.

 

[Aviduser]

I started at 12-48, for my first ride. The bike had some real pep off the bottom, I wasn't used to it and it yarded me around the whole ride. On gravel roads I kept looking for 7th gear. Nice thing was 6th gear power wheelies *barely*.

Changed to 13-48. Noticeable difference in higher gears. Wasn't quite as snappy at lower speeds, which seems better for woods riding anyway. Didn't run out of legs as quick on open roads.

I think whether you have a cr or wr ignition/flywheel would make a difference. I still need a proper pipe for my 165, but I think I'm happy staying at 13-48.

I always feel 1st gear is too short, In fact I practically never use it aside from starts. Once the momentum is up I'm 2nd-3rd.

 

[R-J van Hulst]

I run 13-52 and i have 12-48 on the shelf.
for the riding I do its good
open roads you want to have a different one (for sure) technical trails this gearing simply works for me

Robert-Jan

 

[tnttimber]

I run 13-52 and i have 12-48 on the shelf.
for the riding I do its good
open roads you want to have a different one (for sure) technical trails this gearing simply works for me

Robert-Jan

Wow! 13/52 is low. What do you weigh? I thought I was nuts based on what others are using but you have me beat by two teeth.

 

[R-J van Hulst]

I am 176 LB but have trips to really mud/clay and sandy conditions

even a 450 4 stroke i can get bogged down

Robert-Jan

 

[R-J van Hulst]

I double checked my shelf and I have 2 set on it

12-47
13-49

I am planning a trip later this winter (still summer conditions here) in the jungle and would probably change the gearing for that

Yet the Sunday morning rides around town the 13-52 is working in wet season and town traffic at the traffic light I beat a crotch rocket for the first 40 a 50 meter (switch gears with no clutch though)

Robert-Jan

 

[johnnyboy]

I run 14/51 most of the time but only because its what works for me, I always turn up at a race with a 13t with me and a low to mid pipe but have not had to change either all year.

 

[typeone]

thanks for the input, guys! i went back and looked through the 2-stroke index for more help, man i love this site...

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/gear-ratio-and-chain-link-sizing-tables.23451/

 

[Motosportz]

12/48 on a 165 for steep woods riding.

 

[typeone]

wow, 13/52 for MX? that seems nuts!

i rode 13/50 again on Sun... still not sure what i'm looking for because the bike works well but i guess Camstyn nailed it. the power of this little motor is so impressive i feel like i should keep trying to gear it perfectly for where i use it most. i wish rear sprockets were as cheap as front

 

[R-J van Hulst]

I found that it really benefitted from the 13-52 in 125 trim. When I went to the 144 and then the 165 the gearing was still acceptable as I could just pull higher gears out of the turns and still keep it on the pipe with some fanning of the clutch. I love it because it still feels like a 125 but my left foot is a lot less busy!

same story here I went from 12-50 in the 125 trim and changed my sprockets to 13-52
Then I convert it to the WB 165and the sprockets where good enough to changed again so i went riding with it

I hit lately more the sandy and heavy clay muddy places and could not complain about the gearing, hit the trails with it and its still OK to ride with it yet you do everything in a gear higher then when you used to before.

the only limitation is the wide open stretches you simply don't have the speed

but lifting your front to take a obstacle is a simple twist of the throttle without gearing back.

Robert-Jan