Ahuh! I agree, the cost of 2 gaskets is cheap!
As noobi said - gearing it shorter (larger rear/smaller front) - will make it pull through gear gear faster. I would call this more work; more gear shifts, and more aggressive/snappy. The opposite will smooth things out, and while it will be 'faster' in total speed (and in each gear), the duration of each gear will take longer which makes it more subdued.
Rear sprock divided by front sprocket = rear wheel final drive ratio.
50/13 = 3.84, so for every revolution of the front sprocket/drive shaft, the rear will turn 3.84 times. 48/12 = 4 and 48/13 = 3.69