14T x 47T combo on M696?

[peanut_man]

Hi,

I know Ducati offers 14-15T front sprockets and 45-47T rear sprockets.  Has anyone done the 14T x 47T combo?  Would that be too low?  Would a new chain be needed?  I know 14T x 46T works as a few people on this board has done so. 

Here are the combo ratios:

Front	Rear	Final Drive Ratio	Percent Change
15	45	3.000	STOCK
14	45	3.214	6.67%
14	46	3.286	8.70%
14	47	3.357	10.64%

I just did the 14T conversion, that gives me a relatively big jump of almost 7% increase in final drive ratio.  If I'm going to get rear 46T sprocket, I would gain only abt 2% more.  But if I go for a 47T rear, I would incrase the final drive ratio to a sizable 4% increase.  According to other member here that has 14T x 46T setup , highway crusing at 55-60mph still lugs the RPM at around 4000 in 5th gear.  This indicates to me there's still plenty of headroom in the street for lower gearing. 

Anyone have done this?  And would I need a new chain?  Thanks for any suggestion.

[minnesotamonster]

According to other member here that has 14T x 46T setup , highway crusing at 55-60mph still lugs the RPM at around 4000 in 5th gear.  This indicates to me there's still plenty of headroom in the street for lower gearing. 

Or you could just downshift. 

[Takster]

Or you could just downshift. 

My thoughts exactly... No 14t for me yet, but at 60, I'm in 3rd

[peanut_man]

Still hoping for some useful replies.   

Seriously tho, if I can get away with 14T x 47T setup without changing my chain, it would greatly enhance city riding even more.  Even with 14T up front, it still feels that the gears are too tall.  I find only the first 4 gears useful right now.

[minnesotamonster]

These replies are useful. You should not be anywhere near 5th gear when going 50-60 mph.

The 14t up front should more then get you your desired gearing. Going an additional two up in the back is overkill IMO

[DucatiTorrey]

My thoughts exactly... No 14t for me yet, but at 60, I'm in 3rd

at what RPM?

[gearhead]

Or you could just downshift. 

.........

[peanut_man]

These replies are useful. You should not be anywhere near 5th gear when going 50-60 mph.

The 14t up front should more then get you your desired gearing. Going an additional two up in the back is overkill IMO

OK, I'm going to avoid getting into the topic of the usefulness of previous replies as it won't get me the info i'm looking for anyway, so moving on...

Any reason why it would be overkill? I'm hoping to get some more useful gearing on the street where 95% of my riding is.  It's unlikely I'll ever go above 80 mph.  Right now it feels like I really have only 4 gears with the first gear useless in any traffic slower than 15mph.  What would be the harm in having 14T x 47T?  RPM would be higher at a given gear / speed.  But as stated, I have at least 2 more gear I can use.

Guess I'll have to do some calculation to get the speed / rpm range with the 14x47 combo to see really how suitable this is.  I'm sure there's a gearing / speed calculator on the web some where, will google it later.

I'm sure someone will bring up argument about going to the track, but if that happens I'll just change out the sprockets, no issue.  Fact is, at best the track would be 5% or less of my riding anyway.

Interestingly I got a way more constructive reply on the "other" monster forum:

Hi,
On my 05 M620D, I got it with 15/48; I love this combo. Where I live, the road is either an uphill or a downhill, coming from the side that has the more uphill and turns, I leave it in third gear and that's it. A friend with a similar Ducati but 14/46 or 14/45, has to be shifting up and down, I just twist the throttle...
I prefer the combination that gives me the most torque so that I don't have to be shifting; usually around the city I ride in 3rd or 4th gear, can't go higher.
But, if you want speed, go ahead and make the change. If not, leave it stock or try to go 14/49 or 15/48.
Keep On Ridin'

At least that gives me some idea of what's possible / has been done.  Really it seems to make sense to go for 14x47.  I don't really see a significant downside.

[ducpainter]

If you go to 14/47 the engine vibration at highway speed might be annoying.

And, for the record 4K rpms isn't lugging. IMO it's the sweet spot for a Duc 2V.

[peanut_man]

Hmm...  from my experience so far, I get more vibration below 4k on the M696.  Last Nov I demo one at local dealer event.  I found myself keeping the rpm at 6k on highway to keep things smooth.  Honestly I think 5-6k is the sweet spot for the M696.  Below that it seems to vibrates more and, to me, seems to lugs around.  It's, of course, also the max rpm during break-in period.  I'm fun-limited right now.   

BTW, I'm not alone thinking under 4k the engine is lugging:

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/16july08_2009ducati696.htm

Below about 4,000 rpm, the engine thuds palpably if you twist the grip. You can use low engine speeds for smooth cruising with a barely cracked throttle, but if you want more power, then a downshift is in order.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/103/729/Motorcycle-Article/2008-Ducati-Monster-696-First-Ride.aspx

At low revs, the 696 is a real pussycat and totally inoffensive to even the newest rider. Get the revs up to 6,000 plus and it becomes a very perky little motor which provides a lot of fun for anyone - no matter how demanding their tastes.

[ItalianHarley]

Looky here:

http://www.gearingcommander.com/

[Holden]

If anything I would want taller gears on my 696. It only takes a split second to get going from a standstill even on an incline. Sweet spot is indeed 4k.

Is it just that I'm a lightweight? I honestly have a difficult time wrapping my brain around the very concept of how anyone could possibly want shorter-than-stock gearing.

[z0mb1e_DUC]

peanut_man, do you have Termi's?  I do & I am constantly in the 3.5-4.5k range, it never lugs.  In fact, it pulls like a dump truck from there.  Only reason I'm considering a 14T is initial take-offs.  I'm actually thinking about going up one in the rear, instead.  Just not sure I want to go that route, more $$.  As for engine vibration, it's less than I'm used to because most of my experience is on singles & twins (MX).  If your coming from counterbalanced I-4's, that may be why you aren't used to it.

[ducpainter]

Hmm...  from my experience so far, I get more vibration below 4k on the M696.  Last Nov I demo one at local dealer event.  I found myself keeping the rpm at 6k on highway to keep things smooth.  Honestly I think 5-6k is the sweet spot for the M696.  Below that it seems to vibrates more and, to me, seems to lugs around.  It's, of course, also the max rpm during break-in period.  I'm fun-limited right now.   

BTW, I'm not alone thinking under 4k the engine is lugging:

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/16july08_2009ducati696.htm
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/103/729/Motorcycle-Article/2008-Ducati-Monster-696-First-Ride.aspx

Maybe the smaller bore motors do lug at 4K with stock gearing.

Both my 900 and my old 750 SS would run smoothly in that range.

Neither have stock gearing.

[peanut_man]

peanut_man, do you have Termi's?  I do & I am constantly in the 3.5-4.5k range, it never lugs.  In fact, it pulls like a dump truck from there.  Only reason I'm considering a 14T is initial take-offs.  I'm actually thinking about going up one in the rear, instead.  Just not sure I want to go that route, more $$.  As for engine vibration, it's less than I'm used to because most of my experience is on singles & twins (MX).  If your coming from counterbalanced I-4's, that may be why you aren't used to it.

Hi there Zombie. 

Yup, got the Termi's / ECU combo. (comfort seat too, but that has nothing to do w/ this topic.  ) Maybe there's some different definition i'm using of 'lugs'. Basically it vibrate a lot below 4k.  Yes it still pulls.  But I think it pulls way smoother above 4k.  I just don't like the feeling of the engine under 4k.  It seems to thuds a lot as if it's working too hard.  Still in break-in period so I haven't gone above 6k yet, but on the 30 min demo ride last year, 5k - 7k is so sweet on the 696. [moto]

For the record, I have owned Buell XB12S, Honda CBR 600RR, and last one was Multistrada 1000DS.  The 696 is smoother than all of them.  Yes even the I-4 vibrate at a very high frequency, my hands were numb after 45 min or so of riding the CBR.