Honda Dirt Bikes Forum

For those who have played with diff. sprockets, I have a back 50 tooth on my 230 and was wondering what would be best to get a little more low end ? I read 52 is good but whats your opinions on this ? Is it better to change the front or the back ? whats difference does it all make between a different front or back ?  
---Raising hell in ND---

the bigger difference between the size of the front and back, the more low geared
for example 15t front + 49t rear = high gearing
13t front + 52t rear = low gearing
got it?  
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03xr100 soon to be crf150r expert
id rather be a loser than a quitter

i usually only switch the front (counter shaft) sprocket...mine's a 14 tooth...i personally like it...15 will make it even faster.

i really don't think you'd want to go lower than the stock 13...i mean...you'd make the bike just creep and crawl along...which is harder to ride.

i still have the stock 50 on the rear...i just never bother to change it...i always just mess with the c/s sprocket.  
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--Court

so your saying sully that to get some lower end you prefer to change the front sprocket to a lower tooth ? Is this easier then changing the back or whats the benefit.  
---Raising hell in ND---

should be the same benefit, but it is deffinitly easier to do  
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03xr100 soon to be crf150r expert
id rather be a loser than a quitter

it's easier to change the front (in my opinion)...and cheaper to buy different ones.  i usually leave the back and switch the front.  if you want a lower gearing, drop the front from the stock 13 to a 12.  i really don't recommend it though.  these bikes already chug in first gear, you really shouldn't have to drop it down further from what you have. plus,vit's harder to ride in that slow state.  the bike accelerates in bursts when it's in first gear and dropping it will make it worse. makes it harder to hold on and control the bike...you'll exhaust yourself quickly.  you'll feel it, it's jerky.  you'll find that in most situations you'll want to be in at least second gear...it's more fluid and smooth...therefore, dropping the gearing really wouldn't help.  
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--Court

ok, one more question on this, how drastic is going down one tooth ? I'm mean in trying to determine what the best bet is here. I dont really care about top speed too much, the bike already goes faster then I ride anyway unless i'm on a real road. I'm not sure what the stock sprocket for the front is off hand but lets say we go from a 15T to 13T, is that considered huge or not really ?  
---Raising hell in ND---

well I generally start out in 2nd already because 1st is such a short gear its just a pain in a way. So when i'm starting in 2nd gear most of the time and just pin it off the get go and want more low end torque then I got now, this should make the diff. I"m looking for then I take it. ....I'm not sure about your bike sully, what year you got ? I got a 2008 and when I crack it even if I hold clutch in and even try to push the front shock to help, I still can't get this damn front end to come up for me to do wheelies. I don't get it because I know a guy who bought a used 2003, 230 and that sucker will go straight up when you crack it without holding the clutch in to start out. The only mod we found on his bike is the baffle was taken out but I don't see that giving him that much more power over mine.  
---Raising hell in ND---

stock is 13....so if you wanted to drop it, you'd go to a 12.

going up from a 13 to a 15 is huge...you'd probably gain close to ten mph at top speeds with that.  

even if you don't ride fast and top speed is above your level, i still don't recommend dropping the gearing lower.  one of the good things about the 230 is that the gears are spaced nicely...first and second gear should be more than low enough for you...

of course, go a head and experiment with what you like...but i don't think you'll find any advantage in dropping it...if anything, i think you'll find it harder to ride that way.  
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--Court

230f:
well I generally start out in 2nd already because 1st is such a short gear its just a pain in a way. So when i'm starting in 2nd gear most of the time and just pin it off the get go and want more low end torque then I got now, this should make the diff. I"m looking for then I take it. ....I'm not sure about your bike sully, what year you got ? I got a 2008 and when I crack it even if I hold clutch in and even try to push the front shock to help, I still can't get this damn front end to come up for me to do wheelies. I don't get it because I know a guy who bought a used 2003, 230 and that sucker will go straight up when you crack it without holding the clutch in to start out. The only mod we found on his bike is the baffle was taken out but I don't see that giving him that much more power over mine.

changing the gearing won't help with that.  

it's got to be in your technique.  have you ridden his bike?
are you starting already rolling in second? you should be rolling...it's more of a popping of the clutch than a twist of the throttle...four strokes won't respond to the throttle like that.  you gotta do both...

mine's an 05...and i have no problem getting the front end up...it's just the finesse of keeping it up.  

you shouldn't skip first all together unless it's necessary....just shift quicker to get to second.  
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--Court

Thanks sully, im just gathering ideas right now. When I read about things like these then I like to test the theory's with you guys who have done it already.  
---Raising hell in ND---

no prob

hope it all helps....good luck figuring it all out  
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--Court

230f:
Thanks sully, im just gathering ideas right now. When I read about things like these then I like to test the theory's with you guys who have done it already.

Changing the front sprocket by 1 tooth is about equal to changing the back sprocket by 4 teeth.

If you drop the front 14 tooth sprocket to 13, its about like taking the back 50 tooth and replacing it with a 54 tooth.  
Dave H 2006 YZ250
(2008 YZ 125 son)

i can pop my xr front no prob, like sully said, its all about technique  
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03xr100 soon to be crf150r expert
id rather be a loser than a quitter