Remember this approximate calculation:

22" tires over 20" tires raises your overall gear ratio by 10%
changing up or down one tooth on the front sprocket changes your gearing by 7%
now using this info, you can easily see where you will be at. To keep the stock 'feel' in your powerband with 22" tires, you need the 15t sprocket, this will put you at 3% taller gearing which is not really noticable.

If you go with a 14 tooth front sprocket, that will put you at 4% under stock gearing, which I'm not sure how notable that would be compared to stock, though it should be notable compared to a 15 tooth since you've moved 7%.

 

ahh, alright. Never seen it put in a percentage like that (helps a lot)

Thanks

looks like 15 is def going on for the entire year...ill just have to pick up a 14t and try it in the sand

 

I run a 14t with 22" tires also, I tried 15t but for the sand I like the 14 better.

 

so go with 15t if you are running stock tires 20" and if i switch to 22" tires go with a 14t front sprocket???

how much of the top end will i lose with these???? the reason i ask is cause i like to do some drag racing with my buddy. he has a raptor and also i like to race my other buddy with his predator. Will changing teeth hurt while racing them?

 

I have heard on this forum that the 14t is really hard on the chain. Wouldn't you rather go with a 15t and a higher tooth rear sprocket?

 

jiffy gearing down will only help you accelerate faster in the drags, you shift quicker but the results are great. I'm geared this low, actually I ordered a 41 rear last week to go even lower, because it makes 2nd gear drag starts great for the holeshot, you skip having to get past the neutral gap going from 1st to 2nd, and you're in 4th gear by the end of a 100yrd., and you only shifted twice.

the top end loss is nothing to consider if you are a trail rider or duner, you don't really lose much mph on top, you are just reving higher to maintain it, Blackhawks math dont lie. the D in DS stands for desert that's why the factory gears it as high as it does. you just got to figure out where you need your power depending on ride conditions where your at, and go from there.

i used a gps to compare top ends, with 15/40 and 20" tires max rev in 5th was 9400rpm @ 84mph on pavement. i put on 22" tires with same gearing, max rev in 5th was 8400 @ 84mph! Now my peak HP is down below 8K somewhere, so I could gear higher and put a 17T on the front for a bit more top end, but it would take me alot longer to accelerate and in my riding I just don't see 5th much anyway so I take acceleration time over top end and gear real low, spending most of my dune time in 3rd and 4th, sometimes 5th on long straightaways, and trail time 3rd alot with knarly hillclimbs in 2nd and rock crawls in a nice low 1st gear that doesn't require too much clutch featuring.

FYI if you ever put on the 14T you gotta turn around the rear engine mount bolt - the chain will rub the part of the bolt that sticks out thru the locknut, you gotta put the head on this side and the nut on the other, factory brain fart bigtime...

 

ya, i dont think i have ever seen 5th gear yet either. NOt enough area to top out. i hope my 5th gear is still there. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] so to get better acceleration like you said i should keep the 20'' tires on and go with a 15t? or get 22" tires and get the 15t? either way get the 15t sprocket????


jeff

 

I just bought a 01 DS and will probably change to a 15 tooth front because I do mostly woods riding and would rather have the low end, and will probably stay with the 20" tires. My question is; do I have to take a link out of the chain or is there enough adjustment??

 

YES SWITCH!!!!!

I ran the 15/40/22 and its taller then stock meaning less power on the low end...
For 22 tires I found the best to be 14/40/22 or 15/42/22 but when you change the back you dont get a steel sprocket and the aluminums wear out fast!

So, I sould get the 15 or 14 as 14/40/22 and 15/42/22 are VERY close to the stock 16/40/20 gearing.

 

I don't know why everyone seems so concerned about losing a little top-end when lowering their gearing. I run 20" Sand Skate IIs and a 14-tooth countersprocket. It works great in the sand (that's the only place I ride my Baja). I'd go with a 15-tooth countersprocket and a 43-tooth rear sprocket if I could find a larger, sturdy, steel rear sprocket, but nobody makes them. The only ones out there are aluminum.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

Anyway, I have never been wanting for top-end on my DS. It's low-end that I need.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]