15/38 to 14/40... too much?

[Teutonics]

I have found that 1st gear on my bike is way too tall for the way I typically ride, which is mostly stop and go (traffic), and then for enjoyment I get to stretch it's legs.  When in traffic, I am constantly having to ride/feather the clutch, because fully engaged is too fast, even at idle. 

So I changed the rear sprocket to a 40t (from a 38) which is the largest I can go without a new chain.  It helped, but not significantly.  I just ordered a 14t for the front ($50 because they are specific to the 900ie, go figure  ), but now am concerned that: a) it won't make enough of a difference in 1st, and b) it's too much for the occasional highway cruising when I get to actually enjoy the bike. 

My concerns are that the gears will be too close together, and that top end/gas mileage will suffer.  The new combo is about a 10% drop in gearing.

Am I over analyzing this?

[Popeye the Sailor]

Yer over analyzing something that is best checked with the butt-dyno. The 14T is typically considered to be the mod to put the bike in it's happy range, and it's an equivalent to moving up two teeth in the rear.


AKA, Ithink you should just throw it on and see how it feels. If it's not enough, more can be done.

[stopintime]

Gears too close together is over analyzing.

At any given speed the engine will rev about 12% (closer to correct) than before the changes. You'll just have to ride on higher revs OR change gears sooner. In stop and go, that's fine - at normal speed, it doesn't matter - at high speed/6th gear, it can be annoying - at top speed, theoretically you might loose the last few mph.

Even with your changes, you'll still have to feather the clutch - it's not an automatic gearbox - just 12% less need to feather it. Off/on throttle will still be there and a Ducati will remain unhappy at lower revs. Only 12% less so.

+1 on the butt dyno

[Shazaam!]

I recommend that you leave the 40 tooth on the rear and add the 14 tooth to the front (same chain.) You'll add another 530 rpm at 75 mph to what you had with the 15/38 gearing. You'll be happy with this combination.

[supertjeduc]

I am running 14  42 and i like it
Topspeed about 200km/hour and that's enough

[ScottRNelson]

On an M900, I consider 15/41 to be perfect gearing and 14/39 to be very close as well.  If you're going to 14/40, it's only a little bit lower.  The biggest issue you're likely to run into with that gearing is doing too many wheelies if you like to crank the throttle open. 

Sixth gear should feel just fine unless all your riding is high speed freeway runs, which isn't the best on a Monster anyway.

[Monsterlover]

On my 00 M900ie I ran a 14/41 and liked it a lot.  Turn the throttle and it ripped.

6th gear was fine on the slab, and good enough for above 50mpg.

If I worked it, it would do 2nd gear power wheelies

Back in the day when Herb was around, I remember he ran 14/43 on his M1000.  I saw him power it up in 3rd once 

[ducpainter]

Back in the day when Herb was around, I remember he ran 14/43 on his M1000.  I saw him power it up in 3rd once 

Pictures?

[Monsterlover]

All in my head my friend.

Hard to share those

[Spidey]

I ran 14/43 (They were Herb's actual sprockets ) for a while.  -1/+4 or +5.  It was too much.  As evidenced by the fact that my m1000 was "converted" into the M1000SS.   

On an M1000, 15/43 was good.  As was 14/41.  I'm either running 14/41 or 14/40 now.  I think it's 14/41 which feels good, but I'd drop to 14/40 if I was doing a lot of slab commuting. 

P.S.  You know someone is gonna dig up that clutch cover photo now, dontchya ML?  Oye.

[Monsterlover]

Converted = crashed.  Spidey does this for a living.

Don't be fooled!  He can't be trusted!!