250 gearing

[skid jackson]

2011 250 6 days ...

I ride a lot of tight and technical rooty rocky stuff. Speeds in the 10 to 18mph range. The stock 48 rear was ok but a bit tall. I put a 49 on and that is certainly better ... thinking about a 50 ... What are you guys running for gearing on your ec 250's that ride a lot of techy stuff??

 

[gasgasman]

The 48 was too tall for me also, put a 50 on there.
Gearing is just right.

 

[kaos]

12-50 ,yes lots of stuff is pretty tight and steep and teschnical round here.

 

[eff]

I went from the 48T to a 50T and I then went to 52T and have been running that for about 4 years now. Thinking of trying the 50T again but I can't complain about the 52T except on roads, but that's not the important part of the ride.

 

[Bailey28]

Anyone know if the 13/50 combo will still be able to use the 114 link stock chain?

 

[thumperrider1]

I just replaced my 48 with a supersprox 50T. Chain fit ok. Its 1.5 tick marks from full in now. The 50 seems much better to me now. We ride nothing but tight east coast stuff.

The 48 was not working for our trails. 2nd gear was revved way out and 3rd was too much.......

 

[skid jackson]

thanks for the replies ...
guess I'll give a 50 a try ....

 

[Bailey28]

Sweet, thanks!! I prefer the wheel closer in to aid in cornering.

I feel the same way about the gearing. I seem to be shifting between 2nd and 3rd all the time in the woods with the 13/48. On the moto tracks, I am always shifting between 3rd and 4th. Hopefully the 50t will give me some more snap as well.

 

[skid jackson]

ok so one ride I'm getting rid of my 250 the next maybe not. I took my 144 out on a turkey run today and while that bike could use some love ... it got me to thinking maybe I shouldn't write off the 250 so quick .... So I'm still running the 13/49. with that the adjusters are very far forward. It's not like gasser's need help in the turning dept. If I throw a 50 on, the back the axle will be that much more forward. Now I have been looking at that rear axle way forward on the swing are and wondering if maybe I got it to the back some it might effect the ride for me in a positive way. (3x clamp is already full up)

Now I sort have already been through this with my husky 144 ... on that bike13/50 makes the 114 link chain too short and a 116 link chain has the adjuster just about full out. I don't really like the idea of riding with the adjusters mere threads from the end.

Back to the gasser ... anyone try a 13/50 with 116 link chain?? did it run the adjusters to full out and not leave much for future adjustment??.

would you think a gas gas with the axle jammed way up front might be too much of a good thing in the turning dept??

 

[twowheels]

I throw on a 50T Ironman straight out of the crate for the 250s, using the stock front sprocket and chain. Axle slides forward in the slot but not too much. I think if you went to 52 you'd be looking at a new chain.

End result is a low 1st with a good spread between the rest of the gears, more 2-3 shifting and almost no 1-2, and less abuse of the clutch in all situations. Top speed is still enough to make your eyes water (literally! I often wear safety glasses instead of goggles if heat or fogging is a potential problem, and 6th makes my eyes tear up to the point of having to back it down ).

You can balance the chassis out by sliding the forks down in the clamps a touch, and you may have to soften your rear suspension slightly since you don't have as much leverage as when the wheel is farther back.

 

[GMP]

I've always run 52t rears on my 250s. Eliminates the need for first except on the worst/steepest rock climbs. That said, my bike runs stronger than my past two so a 51t might be work a try. You want to avoid the 1st to 2nd shift in the tightest/most technical stuff you ride, so whatever it takes to achieve that is good.

 

[Tlineman]

You'll get much better sprocket life if you run odd number sprockets. It spreads the wear from the chain out on all the teeth, rather than just every second one. A 13 / 51 or 13 / 49 are good combos. I personally like the 49.

 

[GMP]

Two many nasty climbs here for 13/49 on a 250, and in the super tight stuff it means first sometimes which sucks. An Ironman rear seems to not care about the odd/even tooth issue.