Well OLDPETE I ordered both the 11 tooth AND 12 tooth gear for my new Tanaka 33cc. I may hold off until I break in the engine though. I'm in decent shape and can tell you the std gear won't cut it around here. Many hills are steep. Hopefully, I have not damaged the clutch on my maiden voyage as I kept er full throttle up a hill until I came to a stand still. I quickly realized I had to be damaging the clutch. Will the clutch forgive me for this single episode?
Winter will set in fast so I may not realize a full break-in till spring time.
Dying to try the new gears however.
By chain vs. belt I assume you mean Staton chain drive vs. GEBE, based on the previous post which I think you are replying to. Chain vs. belt is not the issue. With a single speed system one is relying on the engine torque to define the climbing range, so I agree with you that it is the power of the engine and total weight that matter most. But the total weight includes the rider and bicycle and cargo, so the amount saved by GEBE over Staton is not that significant. OTH I believe with the Staton system one can use a more powerful engine due to the attachment point being a sprocket attached to the hub rather than a spoke ring attached to approximately the mid span weakest point on the spokes.
Also the range of climbing can be shifted much lower on the Staton than the GEBE. Changing pulley size on GEBE from 13 to 12 changes the total reduction from engine to hub from 20.5 to 1 to 22.2 to 1 with 26" wheels. An 11 tooth may not be practical and appears to be "too much torque" on all but the 25cc Komatsu/Zenoah. I think this means broken spokes, though that is just speculation on my part. The Staton range can be shifted much lower (by choice of sprocket sizes from 28 to 48.) Assuming the takeoff sprocket on the gear box is 28 (I don't know this), this would give a range from 18.7 to 1 to 32.1 to 1. So with GEBE you can lower the gear range by 8.2% versus 42% on the Staton. 42% will allow for some steep grades, without any pedal assist! 8.2% will be just noticeable.
You should rethink the downhill rewards (and pedaling without motor assistance) as well. Both systems give you the ability to be free of the engine drag. Staton uses a freewheel on the left side of the hub, so cut off or idle the engine and there is no drag, automatically. With GEBE, one must turn off the engine, stop riding and remove the belt.
I own a GEBE 25cc KomZen, which is not adequate for the grades I encounter. I have no direct experience with the Staton, have just looked at the details on the web page. Obviously I prefer the Staton concept as far as climbing is concerned. I started this thread to see if there was any way I could modify the GEBE system to make it climb better. So far the only advice is get a bigger engine, actually the one you have. I was skeptical whether that would help much, so I'm very interested in your experiences with the kit in regard to climbing.
I hope it all works out for you. I'm guessing that will depend more on the steepness of the grades you encounter than the choice of pulley size. You seem to be willing to pedal assist, which I think is great. It is a bicycle after all. I'm a very strong climber and like to pedal as well, but the speed is just too slow for me even with pedal assist when the grades get much above 12%. And the engine is working SO HARD. Sometimes I feel I might as well drop the engine and just climb on my own. That's an exageration of course, because my wife can waste me if we ride together and she is on the GEBE bike. But it has been hard to keep the belt from slipping and spokes from breaking, and riding up a mountain with a slipping belt is not enjoyable.
Let us know how much difference the trail gear makes.
