Rear wheel location effect on handling?

[tw557]

I just broke my rear hub and decided to do new chain and sprockets at the same time. So I'm ready to cut the chain and was wondering for sure what the effects of the wheel all the way front and all the way back do towards handling. Their is alot of adjustment. We tweak our front ends by the mm but the back can be adjusted almost 2 inches if wanted. It's a tough one to play with without adding or subtracting links. If I make it short but like it better in the back I would hate to have 2 masterlinks side by side. I've done a bit of searching but really can't find much info.

[trevorchappell]

with the wheel forward it makes the bike turn sharper for the tight tracks and with the wheel towards the rear makes the bike turn slower but with more straight line stability.

[grayracer513]

Moving the wheel forward will quicken low speed/tight turn maneuverability a little, but at the same time, it shifts the weight bias toward the rear, which may work against you in the corners. Moving the wheel puts more weight on the front. Neither change makes an enormous difference, IMO.

If you use a high quality chain that's well within wear limits, and use the correct master links, correctly installed, there isn't really a problem with running two of them. I did that for over a year and a half on one of mine, and never had a problem.

[lawdog923]

did they cover the hub this isnt the first time that i have seen hubs fail and a good shop will have yam. stand behind it

[tw557]

I didn't even try to get the shop to cover it. My friend tried it and he bought the bike from them and he got the general answers about racing and loose bolts. I mail ordered much cheaper then the shop anyway $82 as compared to $120. It really concerns me though. Chain certainly not too tight and at the most one bolt was a little loose. I wonder if worn sprockets and wheel chatter during braking was an issue. I'm trying a new full steel sprocket in the rear for extra support. This is 4 hubs on 3 06-07 yz450's in 3 months.

[grayracer513]

Really depends on why it broke:

https://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5488373#post5488373

[racerxx276]

I've noticed on my RMZ 450 last year that rear wheel location was critical. Moving it back actually moves the engine and all its weight more onto the front wheel , helping it turn better. I found this out when I replace my chain and had it pretty far forward, bike didn't turn at all!

Don't know about the yzf as I've always kept the rear wheel as far back as I can.

The yamahas need a lot of chain slack compared to other bikes. If you run it too tight it will break the hub, as you now know....

[tw557]

I think I will try it both locations with the old sprockets and chain front and the new chain in the back. I looked thru some magazines and did notice most pros run the axle pretty far back and even a pick of Dubach 3/4 back. Even though I think the 06 turns great I need the the bike to help me as much as possible when it comes to rutted turns.

I really do wish I knew why the hub broke. It did not explode into the spokes and rip the sprocket off. Just one sprocket ear broke loose still attached to the very tight bolt. I know much debate about the ironman sprockets not causing this but I'm not taking the chance again, even though its almost like new. The part that broke off was exactly the length of the inner dia. pad of the sprocket under the bolt area. The chain was adjusted to the manual for a fact.