[RC-Monster Mike]

It conclusively answers the question - read it again:
The question was weather higher gearing with larger pinions = death to ESC's
The conclusive answer:
In 99% of the cases, that is exactly true. Smaller pinion = less ESC stress.


While your back EMF question may be a point of confusion for you, Freezebyte's questions was conclusively answered. Smaller pinions = less ESC stress.

Regarding the higher rpms with a lower pinion yielding higher back EMF - not sure I buy it. On a given voltage, the rpms of a given kv motor will be the same, regardless of the pinion installed on the motor shaft. If braking from a given vehicle speed - yes, the smaller pinion will have had to be rotating faster(if everything else emains the same) to achieve the speed, but the mechanical advantage of the smaller pinion is still there on decel as it is on accel, so less torque on the motor shaft proportional to the increased speed(less motor current to achieve the higher rpms and vehicle speed and less "reverse current" to slow it). A 10 pound truck requires x amount of braking force to stop in x distance, regardless of how the force is applied(high rpms with high reduction or low rpms and low reduction). Force = force, doesn't it? The higher motor speed would result in a higher voltage spike at a lower current level - force would be the same. That is how i see it anyway. :)