Hey, I'll be running RA here in about 5 days; I need to know what the appropriate gearing would be? I'm on an 06 CBR 600rr, currently -1/+2. Would just dropping the rear by two teeth solve any issues (like blowing my engine from bouncing it off the limiter) on the back straight(s)? Thanks!
I disagree, +2 on rear would probably have you on rev limiter on back straight. When I raced, I was on a GS500 and used stock gearing at Road Atl. there are lots of gearing threads, search if you can
-1, stock rear, YMMV. If you find yourself right at the rev. limiter at the end of the back straight, drop one more on the rear (thats good for another 500 rpm's.)
It suuuuuuure would be nice if someone had a thread here ONLY for gearing and made it a sticky. It would be perfect for the new racers and the racers that changed bike often. just a thought
Experiment a little You could always bring a -1 front, a stock front, then rears with stock, +1, +2 and do a little experimentation, take notes, and decide for yourself the optimal gearing for you bike, style and abilities. I have been contemplating this same exact idea for the upcoming NESBA weekend at Road Atlanta. I'm bringing my 2005 GSXR1000 that I just converted to track use. My 2001 was -1/+2. It felt perfect. I bought the 2005 new, and put 1220 street miles on it in 5 years. Waste. Time to put it on the track where I will use it and enjoy it. So, I'm thinking of running stock gearing on Day 1. -1 in Front on Day 2 -1F/+1R on Sunday morning -1F/+2R on Sunday afternoon. I'll probably just leave the -1F and change rears since they're a little easier to change.
Every bike differs some in its internal gearing, but from what I can tell final drive changes seem fairly consistent within CC ranges at least. a 1000 will use a much different gearing from a 600 I am sure. I run OEM gearing at Road Atlanta with an 06 GSXR 600. The 600 does not have the horsepower to actually pull itself to redline straight up and down with OEM gearing, but if you are WOT through T9, as you lean through the tire gets smaller and the RPMs climb and it will ramp damn close to redline if not rev limit. Rev limit cranked over at 155+/- MPH would NOT be fun IMO. I use the same at Nashville. I MIGHT be able to run +1 rear or so, but the gain in gearing is not worth the loss in wheelbase for those tracks IMO. I like the wheelbase long at both of them
the only thing it has to do with it is how long you like your wheelbase to be. Some tracks, the bike handles better with a short/long wheelbase (IE: where the axle sits in the swing arm). If its a track like Road A that most bikes typically like a tad longer wheelbase, then you just cut your chain long enough to keep the wheelbase you want with the gearing you prefer. You don't adjust your gearing based on the wheelbase, just adjust the chain length itself.
