Canadian newb

[GMP]

It will smooth out with break in. What you should do is gear the bike a bit lower so you can avoid having to make that downshift to first, and use 2nd for the tight corners.

[M357.5]

How much lower should I go, 2 teeth ?

[arminhammer]

I ride SCF all the time, there is nothing there that you should be in first for. Little slip of the clutch around some of the tight stuff and off you go. My wife rides the same bike and uses 3rd and 2nd only and has a 50 tooth on the rear.

[M357.5]

Mine is a 48 right now, there was only 1 real tight technical track we found that I needed to drop to first. Every other track I was in 2nd and 3rd.

[arminhammer]

I think a 50 is perfect. Can ride the tight stuff and still cruise at 80km per hour on the road.

[Jakobi]

Originally Posted by arminhammer

I think a 50 is perfect. Can ride the tight stuff and still cruise at 80km per hour on the road.

Yep! 13/50 works well for me. First gear is there for anything crazy technical. Second will pull clean from a stand still and a little clutch will really have it screaming from corner to corner. You can cruise at 80km/h comfortably, and still take the bike up over 120km/h if you ever feel the need.

[M357.5]

Thanks guy's I'll order one up tomorrow.

[GMP]

It depends on personal preference, how your particular bike pulls off the bottom, and terrain, but anywhere from 13/50 to 13/52 is good. In the mountains and rocks I like 13/52 best, as first is then a bailout gear should I blow a steep climb or obstacle attempt. Flat terrain 13/51 is good and still keeps the bike out of first. Here where its flat its also sandy so I stick with the 51.

[STEVEV]

Like GMP stated, it's personal preference. But honestly I'm really amazed why people are gearing to a 50??? I'm running the 48 and it really works good for me. In the hills/technical rocky trails of southern Ohio I never really saw the need to change to the 50. I would think going to the 50 would pretty much eliminate the need for 1st gear all together and why limit yourself back to 5 gears? Also, I haven't really ridden the bike in muddy conditions (been a drought year) but when I do I feel the 48 would allow me to lug the bike a little easier. Like you've all experienced, the bike is a tractor! Good luck and happy trails.

[Cberg]

Personal pref is right. I found where I ride in SW Alberta where there is some big long hill climbs, with stock 13/48 gearing my bike would fall flat fast even in 1st gear. I now have 12/48 and it is a lot better but for the way I ride I am probably going to try a 13/52 or 12/50. With 12/48 on a lot of hill climbs I find 2nd is too high and have to kick down to 1st which sometimes is to low. I can count on one hand the amount I have used 5 and 6, only on roads and I don't need to go any faster than 100 which I rarely do anyways.