Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > 998 Gearing whats best ?

[TP]

Kev, I know the gearbox ratio's are a bit different etc but standard gearing on my 996 is 15/36, as soon as I bought it I changed it to 14/36 and rode it like that for 18 months. Around a month ago I changed it to 14/39 and I'm loving it.

It does make the front end 'a bit lively' under hard acceleration but it puts a smile on my face

[skidlids]

Tony thats mainly why I asked the question, the nature of the Testastrtta engine is different to that of my 916 as is the power output so I was hoping a current 998 owner would steer me in the right direction.
I am going to try BDG's suggestion of 15/38 and see how that feels.
At some point I hope to have the 54mm half system fitted along with a fuel mapping device and then hopefully have a bit more power and a nice smooth curve and then I will try and pick gearing to suit.
At the moment I just need something that will make the bike enjoyable to ride and I suspect the 14/40 on it at the moment is to low.

[TP]

Ok, no worries. I guess it just depends on what you want the bike to feel like and whether you're happy sacrificing the top end.

If it feels a bit too lively with the throttle cracked open then I'd go a bit taller. If you don't like the front end coming up like that then I'd go a bit taller. I like it like that, and I reckon mine accelerates like a more powerful bike on standard gearing (althought the lightened flywheel helps out there I'm sure).

If you're not enjoying it then I'd make some changes definitely. Hope you find something you like.

[skidlids]

Tony I haven't ridden it yet so I have no idea what it feels like, since originally putting up the post I have found that the standard gearing is 15/36 the same as standard on a 916. I run my 916 normally with 14/36 but currently have 14/37 on it which makes it easier to get into 3rd gear on the back wheel. So now that I know the 998 starts life with the same as the 916 then I will try a ratio similar to what I run on the 916. So lets see what 15/38 is like which is nigh on the same as 14/35.
As for the front end coming up I think everbody that rides with me is use to that although the inch longer swingarm will calm it down a bit.

[skidlids]

Originally posted by weeksy
Nah, that's not your bike Skids... no way...

Where's the marker pen writing on the side ? where's the broken panels stitched together with cable ties...

Nice mate... good work.

And I bet your not the only one thinking that

[Shazaam!]

A 916 has a different primary gear ratio than a 998.

http://ducatisportingclub.com/xmb/vi...6156#pid142860

[rcgbob44]

Skidlids

Where did you get the top yoke from?

[skidlids]

Cheers Shazaam, looking at the table 15/38 is recommended so thats excellent news.

Rob the top yoke matches the massive bottom one, they are a pair of Marchessini Mag yokes with a differnt offset to standard to suit the lengthened swingarm.
ie. they have slightly more offset to give a reduced trail to help quicken the steering, this will soon be aided when I add my wider bars that give me that bit of extra leverage.

[Delooney]

Lowering the gearing is more fun !

My 748s has gone from standard 14/38 to 14/41.

Top end is for staright line cruisers.
Acceleration, now that's where the fun is !

Delooney

[skidlids]

The 14/40 on the 998 would be the equivalent of running 13/42 or 14/45 on your 748S.
Yes I want slightly lower gearing but not that low, I was reving the nuts off my 916 with its lowered gearing (14/37 where as standard is 15/36)when chasing that GSXR1000K5 on Sunday and dispite been all over him in the corners I kept loosing out to much down the straight bits.

After 7 years of racing and carrying to meetings at least 2 front sprockets and 3 rears I know how I want to gear my bike for the use at the time. But as I have never ridden a 998 I just want a sensible starting point, so as of this evening it now sports 15/38.
Just need to set the ride height to my prefered setting now which I will do tomorrow.