gearing
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- Around the block
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gearing
Anyone out there mess with their sprocket ratio? right now I have a 15 t in front, 40 rear. I was thinking about going to a 42 rear on the 380 because in 5th gear it tops out at 95 mph (indicated) and lags. Ive never had to use 6th gear. The 3 into 1 pipe has something to do with it also. My next project is a set of chambers so the engine can breathe properly. Going with Jemcos or Higgspeeds.
- tz375
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- Expert racer
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That is interesting, I can't remember what sprockets are on my stock 380M but 7,000rpm in 5th gear is 81mph indicated, and my speedo is only about 2-3% fast.
Pretty sure I've got a 42t rear sprocket. Speaking to many 380 owners, like me they only use 6th gear for highway cruising, 5th is the main gear for any road other than a long straight
Although mine will pull to redline almost anytime in 5th (about 92 / 93mph), it will only pull 6th to about 85mph (sitting normally in neutral conditions).
However, as soon as there's a tailwind or a slight downhill grade, it will happily sing to redline in 6th.
I'm amazed the 3-1 lets the bike rev so high, the one I have stops the revs stone dead at 7K in any gear and no amount of throttle twisting will get it higher ... it does run richer with the 3-1 fitted so maybe I'd need to go down a coupla sizes on the main ...
Pretty sure I've got a 42t rear sprocket. Speaking to many 380 owners, like me they only use 6th gear for highway cruising, 5th is the main gear for any road other than a long straight

Although mine will pull to redline almost anytime in 5th (about 92 / 93mph), it will only pull 6th to about 85mph (sitting normally in neutral conditions).
However, as soon as there's a tailwind or a slight downhill grade, it will happily sing to redline in 6th.
I'm amazed the 3-1 lets the bike rev so high, the one I have stops the revs stone dead at 7K in any gear and no amount of throttle twisting will get it higher ... it does run richer with the 3-1 fitted so maybe I'd need to go down a coupla sizes on the main ...
1976 GT380 - wounded by me, and sold on
2006 SV650S - killed by a patch of diesel and a kerb in Feb 2019
2017 SV650 AL7 - naked and unashamed
2006 SV650S - killed by a patch of diesel and a kerb in Feb 2019
2017 SV650 AL7 - naked and unashamed
- Triplerocky
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- Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt380m, gt380a, ts400b
- Location: Heel Of Italy
Believe it or not, running on stock pipes and #82,5 main jets and 15/38 gear ratio, mine pulls hard trough any gear and she want overrevs too past 7500rpm on low gears; 6th need a little more time but I readed 95 mph at 6K, still increasing ....next I cutted off the gas
Oh, almost forgot, mine is 400cc

Oh, almost forgot, mine is 400cc

'75 GT380M
'77 GT380B
'77 TS400B
('74 GT380 is gone at 2300 euros)
'77 GT380B
'77 TS400B
('74 GT380 is gone at 2300 euros)
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Re: gearing
smokie wrote:Anyone out there mess with their sprocket ratio? right now I have a 15 t in front, 40 rear. I was thinking about going to a 42 rear on the 380 because in 5th gear it tops out at 95 mph (indicated) and lags. Ive never had to use 6th gear. The 3 into 1 pipe has something to do with it also. My next project is a set of chambers so the engine can breathe properly. Going with Jemcos or Higgspeeds.
Hi,
There is a useful online tool for anyone considering gearing changes.
Try www.gearingcommander.com
There is literally mounds of info on the site to give you every possible statistic on speed in gears, chain length required, wear factors, top speed etc etc...
The early GT750's are in the database as well, so you don't have to enter the relevant parameters yourself. For all other GT's, just use the info from the spec sheet/s.
Cheers
Paul
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- Around the block
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- Location: Maine
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- On the street
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gearing
Dont know scratch about the 380's but my 250 ran faster in 5th than in 6th and I lowered the front sprocket from 14 to 13, and now I no longer have a wasted gear, plus off the line performance is much better. 6th used to be pretty worthless on any incline or into a head wind, Bike and owner are much happier now.
Brett

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Triplerocky wrote:Believe it or not, running on stock pipes and #82,5 main jets and 15/38 gear ratio, mine pulls hard trough any gear and she want overrevs too past 7500rpm on low gears; 6th need a little more time but I readed 95 mph at 6K, still increasing ....next I cutted off the gas![]()
Oh, almost forgot, mine is 400cc
I would LOVE to have a ride on that Super 380

Of course all the UK bikes were 371cc, so the extra 7.5% capacity must help a little bit ...
1976 GT380 - wounded by me, and sold on
2006 SV650S - killed by a patch of diesel and a kerb in Feb 2019
2017 SV650 AL7 - naked and unashamed
2006 SV650S - killed by a patch of diesel and a kerb in Feb 2019
2017 SV650 AL7 - naked and unashamed
- Triplerocky
- On the main road
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:42 pm
- Country: Italy
- Suzuki 2-Strokes: gt380m, gt380a, ts400b
- Location: Heel Of Italy