Best sprocket combo

[MI]

What would be the best sprocket combo for a hawk 250. I heard a 17/45 combo is good. No need to cut the chain! I'm trying to get a good top speed with good low end torque. I have a VM26 carb jetted at 120. Aftermarket exhaust, and air box mod.

[Sochin]

Depends on what you want to do? Good highway speed/low rpm? Or a middle ground of less highway speed/ more torque on forest service roads/hills. I have 17/50 on stock sized chain (aftermarket JK) UNI-Filter/Mikuni VM 26 with 112.5/25 jets @ 3000feet. I do 62Mph (GPS) on flat ground. It goes down to 55Mph on hills out here in the rockies, and I want to keep this gearing I think. 650 miles on it now.

[MI]

Less highway and more dirt trails. Would a 17/45 tooth be good for that? I'm looking for a little more torque in the low end.

[JeremyC]

Originally Posted by MI

Less highway and more dirt trails. Would a 17/45 tooth be good for that? I'm looking for a little more torque in the low end.

I kept the stock 15T drive sprocket and put a 45T rear sprocket on mine, and it seems to be a happy medium. Mine's primarily ridden on gravel, trails, mud and occasionally on 2 lane county blacktop roads. You can always try that and see if you like it. That combo on a Hawk allows a 128 tooth chain to fit just right.

[Megadan]

The 17/45 is the "best of both worlds" I have a 17/43, which is definitely way more road feiendly. I can cruise at 60 all day long and top out at 66 to 67. Still does light trails ok, but I wouldn't want to tackle more serious stuff. For that I will toss on the 15 front with the 43 rear and have much better trail capability.

[XDoubleXA]

Originally Posted by JeremyC

I kept the stock 15T drive sprocket and put a 45T rear sprocket on mine, and it seems to be a happy medium. Mine's primarily ridden on gravel, trails, mud and occasionally on 2 lane county blacktop roads. You can always try that and see if you like it. That combo on a Hawk allows a 128 tooth chain to fit just right.

I think thats what im going for. I have a 46T in the back now, but I have to 17" rear wheel, so im revving a little higher anyways. Just need to lower the RPM a tad doing 55-60, but still have some low end for trails.