Looking at replacing the chain & sprockets on my 2001 S, any recommendations on whether to keep the sprockets standard 14/38 or change to 14/40 which I have heard is much better.
I was happy keeping mine standard. But going up a couple on the rear does make it easier round town at the expense of a few mph top speed.
Yh, the main reason for its help is it keeps the revs higher for the same road speed, so it makes it a little smoother to ride with less need to slip the clutch.
I go one tooth up on my two 748's both of which have different gearing as stock, two might be a bit too much, one tooth is noticeable enough at lower speeds and makes the bike more tractable, you don't need to increase the chain length above standard either.
Anyone taken the front sprocket down a tooth? Is this a better option than increasing the teeth at the rear?
I spoke to JHP in Coventry yesterday regards 45mm and 50mm pipes and getting a new EPROM and setting her up right. First thing he said to me was if I was looking at better performance, drop a front tooth. I should add though that this was for a 996 BP and they run 15 as standard I believe. I'll shut up, I don't think that's very helpful.
I dropped down one tooth on my 999S a few years back. Night & day when it came to performance and rideability in stop & go traffic. Best bang for your buck.
1997 916, up two on the rear, standard up front. 15/38 96 link chain. Seems spot on. I think one down on the front though would be perfect for you.
Assuming (from your username) it is a 748 then it probably already has a 14t front? But it is better to increase the rear than drop down on the front, the only reason to go smaller on the front is cost because a front sprocket is cheap and a new, bigger rear is more expensive and usually needs a new chain. If you're swapping it all anyway then make the change on the rear. 748 is geared differently but the general consensus is that most Ducatis are overgeared and going up 2 or 3 on the rear is the 'norm'. FWIW I have +3 on the rear of my 916 (15/39) which IMO is perfect for road use, I did try 15/41 but it was too 'buzzy'. Before I swapped to 15/39, when the bike was new, I fitted a 14t front to the stock 36t rear (gives about the same ratio as 15/39) but on swapping the chain went to the less stressed 15/39. My bike hasn't lost any top speed - stock gearing is good for about 190 but the bike doesn't have the power to do that anyway but in gear acceleration is better and low speed (town etc.) use is much easier. The chart posted above is a good guide.
14 front 40 rear is by far the best combination IMHO, slightly easier in town and makes better use of the available torque at road speeds, makes for better pick up when over taking. I found it means slightly less downshifting but still retains the ability to deliver the 'man and machine' thing which makes the 748 such a rewarding and deceptively quick bike when driven hard. The top end speed loss is of no consequence unless you travel at 120 plus all the time (track days maybe). Get a Rental or AFAM set up and the rears can be swapped for 30 quid. Note the 14/40 set up needs two more links of chain from standard.
Talon makes a nice quick release sprocket carrier which avoids having nuts holding the sprocket\carrier in place like Renthal etc.
