Lower Gearing
 

Ran my 996Bip at Silverstone a couple of weeks back, and noticed that even on (probably) the fastest circuit in the country I didn't use 6th gear, so I figured that I'd probably be better off reducing the gearing a bit.

Bike is standard at the moment, so I did some searching on here and seems the easiest/cheapest mod is to go to a 14T front sprocket. Assume I can do this without changing the chain (525 I assume), but I've read stuff about the smaller front sprocket giving the chain a hardtime, so is it a better solution to go to a larger rear - if so, what size and would it involve replacing the chain as well?

Cheers
Martin

Depends how short you want to go Martin.

I initially went to 14/36 (just a 14t front) and have recently gone shorter again to 14/39. I didn't need a longer chain for 14/36 but I did for 14/39.

On 14/39 my 996 is a lot livelier. I'm taking it on track on Monday for the first time with that gearing so I'll let you know what it's like.

I have 14/38
feels good

Thanks Tony, I think I'll go 14/36 for starters and see how that feels - be interested to know how you find your even shorter gearing on track

Cheers
Martin

I have a 14/39 combo with a 96 link chain on my didning table after 3 years on 14/36.

It shall be fitted in time for the 1st session at Brands on Monday ...

All on TP's advice ...

It doesnt appear to have hurt my chain at all but the smaller front sprocket itself is knackered after only 10,000 miles.

but they are on £17 .... so no real biggie

Just go a 14T front for mine, job for tonight, thus my post last week about what chain on my R, I don't think I even made 5th at Silverstone more than a few times. So that'll be the first step to getting that sorted, which I'm hoping as with other Ducati's will make the riding around town a bit easier also.

I've gone for a Renthal one this time! (£25)

Maybe the over-gearing explains why I was dog-slow out of the corners.... no, more likely that was the rider on board!

Looking forward to hearing feedback on the shorter ratios at Brands though....

Martin

15/41 works for me:D

Don't forget to re-set the ride height....

TP/Dibble
 

How did you both get on at Brands with the 14/39 ratios??

Is it the way forward?

Cheers
Martin

I have recently gone from 14/38 on my 748 to 14/40 and believe that I could even go to 14/42.

I did also get a Talon quick release carrier which means if I don't like 14/42 I can still change it easily back.

Ran 14/39 on the 996 and it was a lot better than the 14/36 set up.

With the 998 I ran 14/36 instead of 15/36 but it has so much more bottom end it pulled it real good but never tried it on track.

With the 748SP I have tried 14/41 which was ok but on a lot of corners it fely half a gear too high or low so went to 14/38 and had the same results but a lot of corners were carrying different gears through em and bogging on the exits. Settled for 14/39 same as the 996 and it was a lot better, pulled ok out of corners if you kept the revs up and also once up to speed on the straights it was keeping up and catching other bigger bikes as it could use the top end of the rev range where the power is produced.

Trial and error so get a quick change sprocket carrier, it works out cheaper ;)

I know Jasper went the other way with a 15 front and bigger rear sprockets on his bikes to keep the wheel base to a longer length but had to alter his ride height a lot me thinks?