Close ratio vs. Wide ratio

[sugarshane]

Just curious if anyone here knows the difference between top end between the two. Obviously I know I know there are a ton of factors from sprockets to pipes and a bunch of other things. I have a 91 close ratio with 14/49(right now) sprockets, fmf gnarly and turbine II, and 41 PWK and ride Gordon's Well Dunes and the desert around Phoenix. Any preferences on either ratio form ppl who have ridden both and why? How much does the wide ratio help with wheel spin and does it reduce acceleration? Any input would be greatly appreciated

[Rosco-Peeko]

If you're a duner, a wide-ratio would be better, 4th and 5th will give you more speed. While 1-3 is about the same (low gear tractoring). It all depends on what suits your riding style.

[Roostius_Maximus]

[hoofarted]

I hated my close ratio in my 92...I was in 5th all the time. I bought 4th/5th gears from a member here or on the other site - cannot recall but its much better now!

[dannygraves]

you got the gears from casey (clyde/100hp)

I prefer the wide ratio hands down, especially for duning since you get that tall 5th for those big bowls. The close ratio seems like a waste for a 500, 4th is pretty much useless and 5th winds out way too fast.

[ISBB]

i actually enjoyed the close ratio in my bike in the dunes. 15/47 and i had no problem keeping up.. still had plenty of power left in the big bowls if i needed it as well. Worked good for hill shooting too since the gears are close there is no wait for it to build power again its pretty much right there when you want it

[100hp honda]

Worked good for hill shooting too since the gears are close there is no wait for it to build power again its pretty much right there when you want it

well said

[sugarshane]

all things considered equal between the two, what kind of top end differences are we talking about?

[dannygraves]

a lot, I did the math a long time ago and forgot the numbers, but easily 10mph on top speed

[britincali]

It might only be 10 but it feels like 30, short ratio trannys SUCK balls, end of story.

[nmdesertrider]

We run both here and nobody really cares.

[asteroid500]

Brit,
you got a spare tranny ...i could go a good suck on the balls.

[ISBB]

a lot, I did the math a long time ago and forgot the numbers, but easily 10mph on top speed

Geared right you can make up that diffrence and still have plenty of power with consistant shifts... to each thier own.. I loved the short ratio in mine and you got the wide gears you were after

[100hp honda]

6mph difference according to sprocket specialties calculator with 14/49 at 6500rpm

[ISBB]

so go 15/49 er 15/47 and it will be perfect and your not loosing any MPH and actually gaining some

[hoofarted]

so go 15/49 er 15/47 and it will be perfect and your not loosing any MPH and actually gaining some

Ya try doing ST with those gears!

[dannygraves]

so go 15/49 er 15/47 and it will be perfect and your not loosing any MPH and actually gaining some

Ya try doing ST with those gears!

the exact reason I run a wide ratio, I might ride some really tight ST one weekend, then mobb some dunes the next, hell, thats even happened on the same day many times, its nice to gave the good crawling gears while still having a decent top speed.

[AlisoBob]

... its nice to gave the good crawling gears while still having a decent top speed.

Ask Ron129

[jeffatc250r]

My 94 cr is setup as a road bike. Finding that I wish it had a 6th gear.

I also have a 1985 cr-500 stuffed into a atc250r chassis,...my question is this, can I swap 4th and fifth from the 85 and plop it onto the 94 shafts? If not will the whole entire gear sets interchange? If it will, sounds like a good winter project to gain a few mph up top.

[dannygraves]

94 is wide ratio, infact, the same ratios a the '85. '88-'92 were close ratio, everything else was wide.
and no, the '85 gears won't swap.

[hoofarted]

How many teeth on the sprockets?

[dannygraves]

ya, like Hoofarted is getting at, I would gear up a street bike, maybe like 15/45

[jeffatc250r]

Ahhh, now i feel like a tard,....always thought the 94 was one of the years of the close ratio. Im running 14-45. I really dont want to bump it up anymore as its a pain in the ass as it is in the real slow stuff going light to light. Thanks for the input guys, Ill scratch that idea!

[bigpower]

so go 15/49 er 15/47 and it will be perfect and your not loosing any MPH and actually gaining some

Ya try doing ST with those gears!

All I ride is the single track, and 15/48 is the hot ticket. My stock 01 has no problem haulin my fat ass up any hill, and we got some big ones up here. Quite a bit more MPH up top, and not really any sacrifice on the low end, and it does tame the power delivery a bit. Add a Keihin 38mm AirStriker PWK from a '97 KX250 and you got yourself the ultimate single track weapon. Least I consider it to be.

[dannygraves]

WOw, I don't know how you ride, but 15/48 sucks ass for me in ST, I loop out more with taller gearing.