DR650 gear reduction and update: Road to the Rockies

[@adamedwards4305]

One thing to keep in mind is there are multiple gear ratios between your engine and the ground, and they build on each other. Your tire size is the "true" final ratio, technically speaking. A bigger rear tire will have you moving faster at a given engine speed. But most people don't put tire size in these calculations. Between the crankshaft and the clutch on that bike is a (if I remember correct) 28:61 (61/28=2.179) primary reduction ratio. Then your gear selection - for example, if 5th gear is .850. Then you have your final drive ratio, which is the sprockets (42/15=2.8). So to find your overall ratio, you multiply them together. 2.179*0.850*2.8 = 5.186 turns of the engine to make the wheel spin 1 turn. Now, when you change your rear sprocket by 1 tooth, it may look like a 1% change the way you're doing the math (which is not wrong, just a different way), but divide the other direction and use it to find the overall ratio, and you'll find that it's more than a 1% change. If I do that math, at 15:43 it's about a 2.4% change from stock. At 13:43 it's about a 18.1% change from stock. So that's pretty huge!

[@rdendpoint7575]

This is awesome information very practical yes it's very easy to switch out a front sprocket on a Dr 650 this is going to be my plan as well thank you so much for making this video

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

We are glad you have found value in what we are trying to do. This is exactly what we wanted... to help the next person 😉 Stay tuned!! We are getting closer to the Road to the Rockies!!!

[@baileymiller546]

Great video thanks man yea I'd like to do a slight gear reduction too. I'm waiting on my Dominator exhaust to arrive can't wait to hear it in person. I have a brand new 2022 Dr 650 so brand new to these bikes. I dont really have any plans to ride offroad to much until I wear out the factory tires and put better ones on and i have a Can Am that I ride offroad anyway. The bike will mainly be for my commute to work because of diesel/gas prices.

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

Bailey, I love the Dominator R muffler. It is a little obnoxious, but not overbearing. It is really hard to sneak around on it. Julie can hear me gapping on it a mile from the house. I ride with the BD killer installed, but it sounds a lot better with the DB killer out. Don't worry about being new to these bikes, they are super easy to work on and very forgiving. Thank you for watching and enjoy the ride.

[@baileymiller546]

@@adventuresofjasonjulie8993 well I'm happy it's loud because I dont trust people so I want to make sure that people in their cars know that I'm around. Accident prevention 😁 thanks for the response it'll be here on Monday which is surprising because I just ordered it three days ago. Was surprised it's in the U.S already with it being shipping from Poland, but I ordered it directly from the Dominator site instead of Ebay because there's a discount/sale.

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

@@baileymiller546 you are very fortunate!, If you watched my Dominator install video, you know mine took several weeks including being seized at customs. I ordered mine company direct as well. If loud is what you are looking for, you will not be disappointed.

[@baileymiller546]

@@adventuresofjasonjulie8993 I did watch it yesterday that sucks it took so long

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

@@baileymiller546 there is another guy in Canada, I believe, that done a dominator as well. Kyle Noseworthy, I believe. He made some really good videos as well with ride by footage and sound demos. If you get time check him out. You can get an idea of how far away you can be heard.

[@rupertsuzuki3376]

While your results are bang on, if you do the math opposite the numbers are more relatable (to car guys at any rate): 42/15= 2.8:1 final drive ratio (stock) 42/14= 3:1 (lower) final drive ratio. 43/15= 2.867:1 final drive ratio. Stock was okay but lacked off road low speed, went fast enough though. 42/14 was way snappier but 120kph is about the upper limit for sustained highway travel (my opinion). 14 tooth showed wear pretty quick due to the small diameter as well, I imagine a 13 would wear very quick. While swapping them out will do as you suggest I don’t think you will need to. My solution so far is 15/43 plus a TM40 (and exhaust); the gearing is just a bit lower (great torque) but 120+ is still no issue (moderate RPM). Looks like a great bike, more so when all your parts show up.👍

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

15/43 in actual seat turned out to be way to high. 14/46 would have been perfect. Now that we are home. I'm running a 14/43 for highway set up and it's perfect. Thanks for the input. Keep watching !

[@mikerobertson3103]

I'm in ark and if I'm onour property it's woods just a 14 is still too tall so I've ordered a 43 but going to a 520 chain , no interstate for me

[@RGB872]

You might consider adding a dashboard to the DR. I have an older one that is no longer available, but it holds my two aux power ports (Cig & USB/Voltmeter), a couple of switches to operate aux lights and power to the GPS. Also, just a tip: those USB / Voltmeters don’t tend to hold up super well doing off-road duty. I went through maybe three of the cheaper Chinese one and ended up sourcing one from Powerwerx that I hope will hold up. Good luck with your build.

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

Rich, could definitely see where a dashboard addition could help!! There isn't a lot of room available for additions. Thanks for the tip on usb/voltmeter too!! Thanks for tagging along in our adventure!! More videos coming soon!!

[@CraigDeleo]

Why no 14/43??

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

14/43 was not enough gain over stock.

[@ronenfe]

i have 16t 41t instead of 15t 43t stock

[@shep179]

All these videos... no one mentions if they kept stock chain.

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

K shep..... if I changed the chain, it would of been covered. I'm still running the stock chain without modification or problems.

[@shep179]

@@adventuresofjasonjulie8993 Copy. One more question.... a bunch of tires available for the rear are 130's (Kenda, Dunlop, etc). Stock is 120. I'm thinking of dropping front sprocket down to 14T and keeping stock 42T on rear... Just because the rear 130 tire is taller. What have you found on this?

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

@shep179 We still running stock sizes. I personally couldn't go any higher. I did go to the Dunlop 606 both front and rear but still running stocks.

[@jarrodleis4046]

Me thinks you’re going to get tired of swapping front sprockets real quick. Better stock up on hand cleaner. If you need better low speed gearing just put on a 14 tooth front and be done with it. You will just have to cruise 5mph slower on the freeway. You might want to try your Dunlop 606 front with a Shinko 244 rear. I have two sets of wheels for my DR and I like that combo for my more aggressive dirt set of wheels.

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

Not at all, It only takes a few moments to swap out, and its only on days when the trails get technical and slow. Those rides are usually intentional and pre-planned. With the quick change set up, its loosening the rear axle nut, and removing 4 case cover bolts. Its not like you would be doing it every day. I have went with the final highway set-up of 15/43 and lost about 7 miles an hour on the top end, which is acceptable, but way too high for lug riding on the fire-trails. It does make power wheelies, a lot easier, faster and the entire bike is more responsive. I'm not a big fan of the Shinko. I ran a set and they didn't live up to the hype, for me. There are guys who don't like the D606's but I swear by them, so to each his own. My final ride set up for technical will probably be 13/43, but there is no way Id try to run the autobahn (I-20) with the top end that would be a result of that gearing. Thats what I love about these bikes, there are a thousands ways to set them up, and only way is the right way. The guy riding his bike, his way on his set-up. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@swede3853]

i am in love with you jason!!!!!!

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

😂 Fred you got a man crush.🤣🤣🤣 Good thing I have the wedding photo to prove it. Hahaha. Julie

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

Fred, And here I was thinking you had forgotten all about me. Just when I need you most , There you are.

[@gregoryhunter6002]

Thr Trump guy runnung the Post Office is the scene of the crime concerning slow mail service.

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

.....

[@swede3853]

Need a MAN HUG!!!!... you did lower your standards... bike wise! Just saying...lol

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

Lol. 🙂😃

[@adventuresofjasonjulie8993]

Hard to ride a bagger to the top of the Rockies. You are looking at this all wrong. You should be looking at building you one so you can join me at the top of the Rockies!