Wide ratio gering for better street & trail performance.

[ctatv]

hey i have heard about wide ratio tranny gears looking to find out more. I have a CR500 steelie (1990) street tard. want to do new 4th and 5th or new 5th for better highway speeds etc. Right now running 15 tooth front 39tooth rear. cruises in 5th just below powerband at 55mph. have a 16 tooth front and will cruise 65 same spot in 5th gear but 1st too tall for traffic and parking lots. 15 tooth is ok for street but still too tall for the woods... I have stock sprockets and stock dirt rimset (hubs brake disks, rims, knobbies) but would liek to be able to run in the woods with my 17s on and not loose ability to cruise at 65+ without having to ride in the powerband... any suggestions?

[ctatv]

dont all reply at once now

[Uzi]

http://www.madmanengineering.com/wideratio.htm

Is that what you are talking about? Or are you looking for one the original HRC kits?

[ctatv]

http://www.madmanengineering.com/wideratio.htm

Is that what you are talking about? Or are you looking for one the original HRC kits?

i wasnt looking at anything in perticilar i was looking for advice on whats available i dont really know much about it all just been told thats the best solution to get a higher top end without sacrificing gearing at the bottom... this is the first bike ive ever really messed around with any gearing on my wolverine is shaft driven, my gearing was fine on my quadzilla, my polaris is a workhorse and my dirtbikes in the past were all fine as-is so im new to this...

[aloha450x]

93 and up hada slight wider trans in 4th and 5th. hrc also made a wr kit but rare to find. and madman make that trans. it is wider than the 93 and up but I haven't heard of anyone whi has one.

[Uzi]

i wasnt looking at anything in perticilar i was looking for advice on whats available i dont really know much about it all just been told thats the best solution to get a higher top end without sacrificing gearing at the bottom...

I would say that a wide ratio kit would be the best way to get more top with out changing the bottom. I've never heard anything bad about the mad man kit but like aloha450 said you don't hear about alot of people running them. I guess it just comes down to forking out the money for the kit or waiting for an HRC kit to pop up on ebay. But thats rather rare and they usually bring good money too from what I've seen.

[ctatv]

yeah i think when i get the cash together ill have to grab it... I dontneed it to be as low as stock on the bottom but id like to spread it a little. gotta ask in the woods how often do you all use 5th & even 4th anyhow?

[ctatv]

700 is harshhh i was thinking like 400.. gotta save

[Uzi]

Yeah thats what I meant when I said fork out the money

The mad man kit changes 3rd, 4th and 5th, but if I remember the HRC kit only changed 4th and 5th someone correct me if I'm wrong. Depending on what year your bike is you might also do like aloha450 suggested and just swap in the 4th and 5th from the newer bikes. It wouldn't be as much of a change but it wouldn't cost near as much either.

[ctatv]

Yeah thats what I meant when I said fork out the money

The mad man kit changes 3rd, 4th and 5th, but if I remember the HRC kit only changed 4th and 5th someone correct me if I'm wrong. Depending on what year your bike is you might also do like aloha450 suggested and just swap in the 4th and 5th from the newer bikes. It wouldn't be as much of a change but it wouldn't cost near as much either.

not a bad idea for a start. is it complicated to do the swap i dont really have time to do it was going to have my engine builder do it. hes only 5 bucks and hour and is very conservative on his hourly charges. thought my wolverine needed the carb rebuilt he figured out it was a short in the parking brake retard relay and fixed it in the back of my truck free of charge. find me one stealership that wouldn't be glad to fix it and charge you to mess with the carb. anybody in CT he is the man would be glad to give u his info. he does my atvs, motorcycle, sleds, and seadoo jetboat

[Uzi]

You've got to split the cases to put the new gears in. It is complicated with some small parts and pieces but it not that bad if you're somewhat mechanically inclined. Rob129 did a really nice write up on the other site with pictures to walk you through it.

Your mechanic must be a friend no-way he can make any money charging 5 bucks an hour.

[ctatv]

50 lol sorry... hes also in his 40s and has so much experience. better than some 20 year old tech that leaves his toolbox on your fender and scratches it (last time i took an atv to RER the local dealer

[Uzi]

Yeah thats still not a bad deal on the labor end. Get on service honda or honda parts direct and order those gears. Pass it off to your mechanic or get out your tools and learn something new either way you'll be set for a higher top speed. If you end up getting the mad man kit post up a review I'd like to hear from someone that actually ran it.

[ctatv]

Yeah thats still not a bad deal on the labor end. Get on service honda or honda parts direct and order those gears. Pass it off to your mechanic or get out your tools and learn something new either way you'll be set for a higher top speed. If you end up getting the mad man kit post up a review I'd like to hear from someone that actually ran it.

i wont have madman money for prolly 6 to 8 months i may just wait till then to get the right gears instead of splitting cases twice. ill have to get a quote on doing the gears from my man if its not a lot of cash then maybe ill try the 93 and up gears.... I can handle riding as is for the rest of this season and do the switch over the winter. then I can have him port and polish do some other engine work while its in his shop and he isnt as busy and im in no rush... he just got indoor storage for rides so i wont mind bringing it to him as much

[aloha450x]

what parts exactly are need to change 4th and 5th. I have my cases split right now getting powdercoated. looks funny. my whole motor in 100 pcs in a turkey pan. haha.