"Trail" Sprocket Advice
#1
"Trail" Sprocket Advice
The previous owner of my KLX put a 13 tooth front sprocket in. The bike will still go down the highway ok, but it surely cant be happy at 7k+ rpm for very long. Also, around town I never feel like I can find the right gear. It seems like for every posted speed limit my RPM choices are 4.5k- and 6k+. I got the stock sprocket with the bike and I am thinking about putting it back in but I am worried that I will miss it when riding offroad. Right now I seem to be riding 50/50 street and dirt. How does a KLX perform offroad with stock gearing? Should I just learn to ride the bike better in town and live with high revs on the highway, or should I go back to stock?
#2
I went back to the 14 as road riding is more relaxed, for me the 13 helped off road but to truly be a good off road maching I needed it lower geared than just the 13 up front. But on the road the 13 had me really wringing the bike out all the time, not a huge difference with the 14 but it's better on the road. I can still ride trails just a bit more clutch work now and rarely get it out of 1st or 2nd gear off road.
#3
I went back to the 14 as road riding is more relaxed, for me the 13 helped off road but to truly be a good off road maching I needed it lower geared than just the 13 up front. But on the road the 13 had me really wringing the bike out all the time, not a huge difference with the 14 but it's better on the road. I can still ride trails just a bit more clutch work now and rarely get it out of 1st or 2nd gear off road.
#5
im at 14 / 48 i have decent onroad and offroad
one of the guys in my dual sport club set me up with this combo and it has been great combo
#8
Yup, agreed. In the spirit of 'less is more' I'd always select the 13/45 combo, regardless of the marginal increase in stress on the chain that results.
#9
stock sprockets
I kept mine stock. If I could only do 60 mph on the Los Angeles freeways I'd be a bug on the windshield. . from my house the trails are a 45 min ride on the freeways. Never had any problems offroad. I'm sure the 13t is better but im happy.
#10
I've found 14/47 to be a fair compromise for a range from trail riding to highway (55-65 mph) commuting. At highway speed, it actually puts the engine at a nice spot on the torque curve in sixth gear. If all I did was commute, it would be too low - most of the time now, I would be riding faster if I had stock gearing. If all I did was trail ride, it would be high - when riding in the Black Hills, for example I was wishing it was 13/47.
I've got 12,000+ miles on my KLX, and most of that has been commuting with the engine in the 6500-7000 RPM range or so. I just ride about 10 mph slower now than I did with stock gearing.
I've got 12,000+ miles on my KLX, and most of that has been commuting with the engine in the 6500-7000 RPM range or so. I just ride about 10 mph slower now than I did with stock gearing.