RADBMX.CO.UK

Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!) => Topic started by: Zippy on June 17, 2008, 11:23 AM

Title: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: Zippy on June 17, 2008, 11:23 AM

What is the standard gearing on a cruiser if I've got a 16T rear sprocket?

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: MOORO on June 17, 2008, 11:25 AM

36-16 , a lot of riders run 41-18 which is a tad harder .

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: Zippy on June 17, 2008, 02:45 PM

I'm going to be getting a Shimano DXR groupset so need to know what to order as they're not cheap and I don't want to make any mistakes.  ;)

For the rear I can use 14T 15T 16T or 18T

For the front I can use 34T, 38T, 41T, 42T, 43T, 44T and 46T

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: bof on June 17, 2008, 02:54 PM

Like john said, 41-18 or 36- 16  are the options you have.

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: Chris-B on June 17, 2008, 03:07 PM

I use 39 -17 as thats a nice spinney gear i find

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: THIRSTYKIRSTY on June 17, 2008, 03:59 PM

ya need 42/18 si

gets ya calfs burnin outta the gate

thats wats goin on my 40+ hartlepool national attack machine

if it comes in time

russ :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: dialledbikes on June 17, 2008, 04:46 PM

You can't get 36T or 39T rings for DXR so looks like its 41-18 (the most popular anyway) is your best bet for the cruiser.  I've got a 41-18 DXR set-up on my bike and my gates and first straight have improved loads since switching from 36-16.

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: nic968 on June 17, 2008, 05:11 PM

 I've been running 41-17 for years,just switched to 39-17 on the HH and noticed a difference on 1st straight..41-18 is pretty close to 39-17..
 If you start running skinny rims and 1.5's on the back you'd have to adjust your gearing too( I know you're partial to an aero rim!)..I reckon most of the gearing advice above comes from people running 1.75 rims and tyres... ;)

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: Zippy on June 17, 2008, 07:58 PM

I'm hoping to run some Sunn BFR rims on it that'll be 1.75's.   ;)

Looks like 41-18 is the way to go then. I'm going to borrow phil's 38T ring to experiment a bit up at the Bay and see what suits me better.  ;D

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: darkersomeday on June 19, 2008, 08:26 AM

sorry to piggyback but....

i've been running 36-16 for years but want to go micro,

if i run a 9t on the rear what sprocket would i need to keep a similar ratio please?

i'm thinking 23t?

any chance someone could work it out for me as i'm crap at math! :-[

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: SaMAlex on June 19, 2008, 08:35 AM

Quote from: darkersomeday on June 19, 2008, 08:26 AM

i've been running 36-16 for years but want to go micro,
if i run a 9t on the rear what sprocket would i need to keep a similar ratio please?

i'm thinking 23t?

41/18=2.27
36/16=2.25
23/9=2.55

All those gearings will feel much the same (when used on the same bike, same tire, etc). If you want, you can multiply that number by the circumference of the tire (NOT the wheel size) to give you the gear as a distance. This will be the distance the bike will travel for one turn of the chainring.

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: darkersomeday on June 19, 2008, 08:39 AM

23/9 it is then!

cheers dude :daumenhoch:


i can hear this whooshing sound somewhere above my head ;)

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: lazychubs on June 19, 2008, 06:15 PM

what size front if ya running a 13 or 15 please

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: chippy on June 19, 2008, 07:56 PM

 Ive run 30/13 before but now I use 29/12 on clips

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: magna13 on June 20, 2008, 06:26 PM

Quote from: Chris-B on June 17, 2008, 03:07 PM

I use 39 -17 as thats a nice spinney gear i find

the gearing that i like also on a cruiser

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: SaMAlex on June 20, 2008, 07:35 PM

Quote from: Lazychubs on June 19, 2008, 06:15 PM

what size front if ya running a 13 or 15 please

To run a similar gearing as a 36:16 (=2.25) you would want-

33/15=2.2
30/13=2.3

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: lazychubs on June 20, 2008, 07:48 PM

cheers alex

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: billstup on June 20, 2008, 10:12 PM

I`m now running 38-16 on my cruiser, I can`t be spinning like fook  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: ZippyDixon on June 21, 2008, 08:57 AM

I started off with a 36/16 and found it too spinny,just gone up to a 37(profile do them) and seems a lot better,38 seemed to hard for my little stumpy legs!!!  :D
    Stu

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: zed4130 on June 21, 2008, 09:08 AM

I use to use 39-16 , seemed ok,

Title: Re: Cruiser Gearing?
Post by: kuwahara on June 21, 2008, 02:01 PM

i run 46 - 14 i'v got legs like tom platts tho  :2funny: :LolLolLolLol: