I rode a 2016 Scrambler Ducati Icon and I think we can all agree that in the city it's amazing - light, nimble and torquey, but when I take it on the highway and hit 80mph Left and right, I found myself reaching for the non-existent "7th gear". Why is that?
The stock gearing on the Scrambler 800s, Desert Sled, and Cafe Racer prioritizes the lower gears for some muddy riding. The stock settings for the front and rear sprockets are 15 and 46 respectively, for a ratio of about 3.07 (rear sprocket (46) divided by front sprocket (15) to get the ratio). Without going into details, a ratio lower than 3.07 would mean a higher top speed and less torque than stock, while a ratio higher than 3.07 would mean a lower top speed and more torque than stock .
NOTE: We have not explored the best gearing for the Scrambler 62 (15 and 48 tons) or 1100 (15 and 39 tons), but the same principles apply!
So what should I prioritize?
For me and many other Scrambler riders and racers (Heath 'The Chief' Cofran and Jerrett Martin) a higher top speed was required. We believe that the engine revs too high when cruising at high speeds, which puts too much stress on the engine. We all complain about the same thing, but we all don't want to lose that fun torque quality, how do we fix that? Find the balance. In that case, we'd have to give up some effort for an easier top speed. Again, our benchmark comparator was the stock setup—a 15t front sprocket and a 46t rear sprocket, and we explored both options.
Option 1 (16-tooth front sprocket, stock 46-tooth rear): 2.88 gear ratio
The positives of changing the front sprocket to 16 teeth is less overall wear on the engine, front sprocket and chain, higher top speed, and it's cost effective - front sprocket costs $20-$30!
It's important to note that your sprockets wear out at the same rate, so it's best to replace the chain, front sprocket, and rear sprocket at the same time. However, if your chain is new and you have very little mileage on the rear sprocket, it is most cost-effective to simply swap out the front sprocket. That way, you can test out this gearing to see if it works for you!
Another important note as there is limited clearance in the front sprocket location and the front sprocket will be swapped out to a larger tooth (from 15t to 16t) Some people have reported that due to insufficient spacing between the chain and sprocket, they are on Had a problem installing the front engine case. Clearance issues may vary with your particular bike due to manufacturing differences. Some (not all) riders report having to file the metal to fit the chain on the 16-tooth sprocket.
