2018 KTM SX 150 gearing

Jayklash
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Jayklash
I have a 2018 KTM SX 150 with standard gearing 13 / 48 I have seen people mention using 14/50 gearing but what effect would this actually have on the bike? Better top or bottom end?
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AJ565
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AJ565 10/7/2019 10:13am
10/7/2019 10:13am
I've ridden one an added tooth or two to the rear and you're always shifting. ALWAYS! I felt like if anything stock gearing or dropping a tooth in the rear would have been better than having to down shift 2-3 gears going into a corner. Adding teeth front or rear or both will take away top end speed and give more low end pulling power, but will also shorten how long you can pull each gear.
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Jayklash
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Jayklash 10/7/2019 2:04pm
10/7/2019 2:04pm
AJ565 wrote:
I've ridden one an added tooth or two to the rear and you're always shifting. ALWAYS! I felt like if anything stock gearing or dropping a...
I've ridden one an added tooth or two to the rear and you're always shifting. ALWAYS! I felt like if anything stock gearing or dropping a tooth in the rear would have been better than having to down shift 2-3 gears going into a corner. Adding teeth front or rear or both will take away top end speed and give more low end pulling power, but will also shorten how long you can pull each gear.
So just to clarify that adding teeth to the rear would mean shifting a lot more?
CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/7/2019 2:37pm
10/7/2019 2:37pm Edited Date/Time 10/7/2019 2:42pm
AJ565 wrote:
I've ridden one an added tooth or two to the rear and you're always shifting. ALWAYS! I felt like if anything stock gearing or dropping a...
I've ridden one an added tooth or two to the rear and you're always shifting. ALWAYS! I felt like if anything stock gearing or dropping a tooth in the rear would have been better than having to down shift 2-3 gears going into a corner. Adding teeth front or rear or both will take away top end speed and give more low end pulling power, but will also shorten how long you can pull each gear.
Jayklash wrote:
So just to clarify that adding teeth to the rear would mean shifting a lot more?
It's not that simple. The gearing change depends on what gear of the transmission you are in. On my 2016 it was stock with 13/50 and I run 13-51 so I'm in 3/4th + 5th gear more now. But with 13/48 you might be 2/3rd + 4th.

I think it depends on the style of track and dirt you ride. Because i've heard of people running almost every combination.

Gear Ratios-
14/50 = 96.4
13/48 = 99.97
14/52 = 100
13/50 = 104
13/51 = 106

To give you context of what the ratios mean, for example if you tried each of those while in 2nd gear of the bike. The lower number will be less snappy but pull farther and higher top speed. The highest number will be more snappy but wind out faster on the top end. The key is to find the best of both worlds for you, your bike and riding style.
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XC706 10/7/2019 7:18pm
10/7/2019 7:18pm
Good info on the diff gear combo's Joe.
Are you sure your 2016 SX 150 came with 13/50 ? I was sure stock was 13/48.

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CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/7/2019 8:00pm
10/7/2019 8:00pm
XC706 wrote:
Good info on the diff gear combo's Joe.
Are you sure your 2016 SX 150 came with 13/50 ? I was sure stock was 13/48.
I got my 2016 used with 13/50. Looks like the parts diagrams have options for 48/50/52.

I’ve tried 49,50,51. Currently sticking with 51 for the tracks I ride.
Jayklash
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Jayklash 10/7/2019 11:29pm
10/7/2019 11:29pm
AJ565 wrote:
I've ridden one an added tooth or two to the rear and you're always shifting. ALWAYS! I felt like if anything stock gearing or dropping a...
I've ridden one an added tooth or two to the rear and you're always shifting. ALWAYS! I felt like if anything stock gearing or dropping a tooth in the rear would have been better than having to down shift 2-3 gears going into a corner. Adding teeth front or rear or both will take away top end speed and give more low end pulling power, but will also shorten how long you can pull each gear.
Jayklash wrote:
So just to clarify that adding teeth to the rear would mean shifting a lot more?
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
It's not that simple. The gearing change depends on what gear of the transmission you are in. On my 2016 it was stock with 13/50 and...
It's not that simple. The gearing change depends on what gear of the transmission you are in. On my 2016 it was stock with 13/50 and I run 13-51 so I'm in 3/4th + 5th gear more now. But with 13/48 you might be 2/3rd + 4th.

I think it depends on the style of track and dirt you ride. Because i've heard of people running almost every combination.

Gear Ratios-
14/50 = 96.4
13/48 = 99.97
14/52 = 100
13/50 = 104
13/51 = 106

To give you context of what the ratios mean, for example if you tried each of those while in 2nd gear of the bike. The lower number will be less snappy but pull farther and higher top speed. The highest number will be more snappy but wind out faster on the top end. The key is to find the best of both worlds for you, your bike and riding style.
Thank you for the information also will I 14 tooth front sprocket fit on a 2018 SX 150 or will it require Changing the Guard or cutting some of it away question mark
CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/8/2019 10:10am
10/8/2019 10:10am
Jayklash wrote:
So just to clarify that adding teeth to the rear would mean shifting a lot more?
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
It's not that simple. The gearing change depends on what gear of the transmission you are in. On my 2016 it was stock with 13/50 and...
It's not that simple. The gearing change depends on what gear of the transmission you are in. On my 2016 it was stock with 13/50 and I run 13-51 so I'm in 3/4th + 5th gear more now. But with 13/48 you might be 2/3rd + 4th.

I think it depends on the style of track and dirt you ride. Because i've heard of people running almost every combination.

Gear Ratios-
14/50 = 96.4
13/48 = 99.97
14/52 = 100
13/50 = 104
13/51 = 106

To give you context of what the ratios mean, for example if you tried each of those while in 2nd gear of the bike. The lower number will be less snappy but pull farther and higher top speed. The highest number will be more snappy but wind out faster on the top end. The key is to find the best of both worlds for you, your bike and riding style.
Jayklash wrote:
Thank you for the information also will I 14 tooth front sprocket fit on a 2018 SX 150 or will it require Changing the Guard or...
Thank you for the information also will I 14 tooth front sprocket fit on a 2018 SX 150 or will it require Changing the Guard or cutting some of it away question mark
I'm not sure. I run a 14/52 on my 350 and it fits. You might need a longer chain though.

If you can try and keep your rear wheel in the middle to back of the swingarm slot. It will help with stability on fast sections.
JohnMatrix
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JohnMatrix 10/8/2019 10:27am
10/8/2019 10:27am
I had to do some trimming of the stock guard on my 150 to fit the 14t front. I've read that you can fit one from a 250sx and it has room for 14t but I never checked part numbers to see if they are different. Took 5 minutes to trim it with a dremel, not a big deal really.
Jayklash
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Jayklash 10/8/2019 10:29am
10/8/2019 10:29am
JohnMatrix wrote:
I had to do some trimming of the stock guard on my 150 to fit the 14t front. I've read that you can fit one from...
I had to do some trimming of the stock guard on my 150 to fit the 14t front. I've read that you can fit one from a 250sx and it has room for 14t but I never checked part numbers to see if they are different. Took 5 minutes to trim it with a dremel, not a big deal really.
Are you running 14 / 50 ? If so how do you find it compared to stock gearing question mark
JohnMatrix
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JohnMatrix 10/8/2019 11:40am
10/8/2019 11:40am Edited Date/Time 10/8/2019 11:42am
JohnMatrix wrote:
I had to do some trimming of the stock guard on my 150 to fit the 14t front. I've read that you can fit one from...
I had to do some trimming of the stock guard on my 150 to fit the 14t front. I've read that you can fit one from a 250sx and it has room for 14t but I never checked part numbers to see if they are different. Took 5 minutes to trim it with a dremel, not a big deal really.
Jayklash wrote:
Are you running 14 / 50 ? If so how do you find it compared to stock gearing question mark
For me 14/50 is too tall. I have 14/51 on the bike right now for motocross, which is just a hair taller (higher top speed) than stock gearing. During trail riding season I run 13/51 so I can creep the bike through the tightest single track and it's good but you shift a lot in faster conditions. For moto tracks I think stock 13/48 or 14/51 is best. Second gear is usable in tight corners and third is usable in fast bowl corners. I bet a 14/52 like CarolinaJoe runs would be a pretty good combo for MX too.

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