awhile back i ordered a 15t front for the ds. (i did this after running around at silver lake with 5th gear being pretty hard to pull)
back then the only mods i had were the KN and at the time the MBRP pipe.... running 22 inch Realtor tires

I will now be going with 22x11x10 sand stars, a Big gun CDI, a ported intake, a white brothers pipe, the KN and hopefully have it jetted pretty close to perfect by then.

Im just wondering if i should gear down the tooth or not.... I should have a few more ponies on top now to help with 5th gear, but i will also be running paddles this time....

Any suggestions?

i know there are gearing calcs on the net, but ive heard some arnt very accurate...

does anyone know how many MPH i will be losing on top if i go down one tooth?

Thanks guys

 

The gearing calculator I have is pretty accurate.

Having said that, you should gear down to the 15 tooth sprocket. Here is why:

1. It gives you more low RPM hit - making it much easier to bring the front end up when you need to get the front tires over an obsticle. This means you're going to feel a lot fewer bumps since they will only hit the rear wheels and that is no big thing. (Makes riding more fun, faster and less fatiguing.)

2. You wont notice the difference in top end with stock gearing on 22" tires you should be able to hit 80 MPH - come on admit it - do you REALLY need to go 80 instead of 75 mph?

3. You can easily go back to stock gearing.

4. There really isn't a reason not to other than if you don't feel like doing the work. There really are no ill effects, only positive ones. Once you get your 720 or some other major HP kit then you'll be considering gear up but until then the 15 tooth sprocket is where you'll want to be. As long as you get the washer installed on there and smash it up against the side fo the nut so your sprocket nut wont come off then I can guarantee you that you will have no regrets.

 

there prettty easy to change so you should try it, having done so myself i think you will like it

 

I had 22" tires on my 02 Baja with the stock 16t and when I bought my 04 Baja and put 22" tires on it I decided to install a 15t and what a difference. The low and mid range power feels much better. You will not notice the difference on top end unless you are in 5th gear wide open all the time. I would highly recommend the 15t sprocket with 22" tires.

 

alright i think ill switch then.

Ive heard people having problems with it coming off, is that only when they dont put a new washer on?

maybe ill just go pick up one of those washer dealys, so i dont have a problem later on down the line with it coming off or anything

 

i also have a question. I am not going to do any mods to my engine. no aftermarket exhaust, intake, jetting. the only thing i want to change is the rear tires. I have a viper red 03 ds650. The only thing i want to do to it are change the stock 20'' tires and put on 22'' tires. Is changing the stock 16t sprocket to a 15t sprocket worth it? will i notice a major difference?


jeff

 

if you are completly stock i would def. say switch... even with a few mods i was bogging in 5th gear with 22's in sand...

 

once you switch to a 15T you'll be asking yourself why you didn't before, its great.
I run 15 with 20" tires, 14 with 22's.

 

Well said Hightower

 

wow, really a 14?

hmmm... how much top end do you lose (mph) with a 14 front, and 22's in the back?

if i did that i would probably run 15t with the stock tires, and 14t/ 22's for the snow & sand