Stock gearing on Monster City?

[ian48th]

Just out of curiosity, what's the stock gearing on the Monster City? 

I'm planning on getting new sprockets and chain for my 2000 M900Sie, which came with 15/38 sprockets.  According to the chart on Chris Kelley's website (http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/shop/catalog/ducati/chain.html), other 900's came with 15/39 sprockets.  I was planning on going with 15/40 and then started wondering about the City model's lower gearing.

[ScottRNelson]

Stock gearing for most M900 models was 15/39, but Ducati built a few with 15/38 gearing.

My own personal opinion is that 15/41 is optimal for an M900 unless it has been modified to have significantly more power than stock.

And by the way, 15/38 is considered to be higher gearing than 15/39.

[WTSDS]

My 2000 900ie has 15/41.

Most of my riding is on the highway at 110 kph and on the flat straight sections I'm at about 4,000 rpm and always looking for a 7th gear.

Am wondering if 15/38 would be OK for this sort of riding.  The clutch/gearbox is so sweet I wouldn't care if I have to drop down a cog or two for passing or the occasional hill.

[ian48th]

And by the way, 15/38 is considered to be higher gearing than 15/39.

Right.  Mine with the 15/38 is geared high, which is fine if I'm on a road trip, but I live in the city and do most of my riding in and around town where the high gearing is hard on the clutch with all the stop and go I do.  Better manners at parking lot speeds would be nice, too.

[ScottRNelson]

Better manners at parking lot speeds would be nice, too.

You want 15/41 then.

The reason I went with that gearing was because it was annoying to pull away from a stop and have the engine bog a little bit before picking up speed.  The lower gearing made a huge difference.  More than I expected by just looking at the numbers.  It can also make a difference in tight hairpin turns where first is too low, but second is a bit too high still.  With the lower gearing second gear works better in those turns.

All four of the Ducatis that I've owned needed lower gearing by adding about two teeth at the rear.  The 888 needs four teeth at the rear to make it easy to live with in stop and go riding.

[Speeddog]

Y'all need to keep in mind that the 900ie engines have a 1.84:1 primary gearset, and the close ratio transmission.

The 900 carbies have a 2:1 primary and the wide-ratio transmission.

More info here: http://www.bikeboy.org/ducgearing.html

[ian48th]

More info here: http://www.bikeboy.org/ducgearing.html

Ahh, very interesting.  Thanks for the info!  I was wondering why the IE had a smaller rear sprocket...

Thanks for your feedback, too, Scott.  I look forward to getting the new chain and sprockets.