Dune trip this weekend... Longer Chain?

[curthall11]

Hey I am heading to the dune this weekend on a YZ426F with a stock gearing of 14/49 and a 114 link chain. I am going to put a 50 tooth sprocket on the rear. Do I need to extend the chain for the paddle to fit?

[grayracer513]

Possibly.

[curthall11]

Well I just got a 120 link chain so I'll just cut it down to length then. Thanks

[spc mike]

YES, i just went through this. a 14/49 setup with a 114 link chain and a paddle will not fit without hitting your lower shock linkage. But if you have a longer chain then thats perfect, but i just bought a cheap($12) 13 tooth sprocket (since i will only use it for a limited time and its cheaper than a chain) and i had plenty of slack with a 114 link chain. and not to mention that the extra torque the 13 tooth gives helps in the sand as well! i hope this helps for future reference.

[clutchless]

yes, spc mike is right.

you really don't want a 14 in the front even with a 50 tooth rear.

13 / 49 is what i ran in glamis last year.

[xjruss]

Hey I am heading to the dune this weekend on a YZ426F with a stock gearing of 14/49 and a 114 link chain. I am going to put a 50 tooth sprocket on the rear. Do I need to extend the chain for the paddle to fit?

Do you really think it's necessary to gear down? I run 14/48 on my 450 and it's great in the dunes. My 426 is currently at 14/49 but it's got more torque than I know what to do with so it's going to 14/48 as well, maybe even a 47 out back.

[clutchless]

Do you really think it's necessary to gear down? I run 14/48 on my 450 and it's great in the dunes. My 426 is currently at 14/49 but it's got more torque than I know what to do with so it's going to 14/48 as well, maybe even a 47 out back.

depends on your style of riding i guess.

i really like the power of a 13 / 48 in sand, it may be more of a personal thing.

i am also 215 pounds in gear.

[xjruss]

depends on your style of riding i guess.

i really like the power of a 13 / 48 in sand, it may be more of a personal thing.

i am also 215 pounds in gear.

Probably so... I guess I just got the impression that the OP was gearing down based on a suggestion rather than personal experience or preference.... but that's probably not the case.

[clutchless]

Probably so... I guess I just got the impression that the OP was gearing down based on a suggestion rather than personal experience or preference.... but that's probably not the case.

i find that knowing where i am in a gear is really important in sand.

hitting a jump can be deadly if you do it wrong.

i like to carve bowls, roost, and hit 20 foot jumps and step ups.

last thing i want to do in sand is go too big and changing gearing can do that if you aren't paying attention.

[grayracer513]

I run my '06's at 48/13 (one higher than stock) for the desert, including the dunes, and never have a problem in the sand. I have run an '03 with 49/15 (stock is 48/14) and it was fine, too. It's a 450, not a 250.

[xjruss]

Sorry guys, I'm tarded... I totally forgot that my 450 was 13/49 in stock form... so I'm running 13/48, not 14/48. I still get the gearing mixed up between the 450 and the 426... anyway, my 426 is 14/49 at the moment and I will be dropping a tooth or two on the rear to spread it out a bit more.

[husqy360]

im runing 12 front 49 rear and love the power.

wish i could go faster with this 12 t gear, the power is fainaly amazing.

but a little to slow, 5th fell like 4th.

how can i get the power of the 12 with a 13 t front sprocket?

12 t is only good for small places, the speed just disappear with the 12.

engine feel totaly diffrent like it will rev more in the sand and the powerband will fainely kick.

[rideawn]

I run a 50 rear on track and trail and the stock 49 rear in the dunes. No issues with power. 5th can be a little light when climbing long, steep dunes, but 4th offers plenty of speed for me. I'm 190 lbs with gear. I use the same chain in both setups, but switch mud flaps. My dunes mud flap is half the length of normal since the paddle tends to chew it up.

[tnl]

Make sure those chain rivets are pressed together properly. Don't skimp with the needle nose pliers.... It costed me big bucks!!!!

[bansheeater1]

I've never had to get a longer chain for the dunes. I just throw my paddle on my bike and ride. It never even touches the suspension flap.

[tnl]

I've swapped out the front sprocket for more top end but either way the bike has good power anywhere except top gear in the deep bowls.