I find my Raptor is too "tall" in the gearing to ride tight trails in 2nd & 3rd gears. What sprocket ratios work best to get more low end?
LouV14

 

I can't imagine what kind of tight trail you ride that would require lower gearing than stock. I ride primarily very tight trail, about 50" designated quad or bike trail with many 90 deg and even 120 or more deg turns and rarely need to drop lower than 2nd on the tightest. I do run a Pro Circuit T4 pipe which gives me a little lower bottom end without costing anything on top, however.
Some riders go to a 12 tooth c/s sprocket to get more low end, but I've never been a big fan of that idea. I feel it induces unnecessary stress on both the c/s sprocket and the chain itself due to the increased angle it must travel.
Perhaps a little more practice in throttle control & body position in the tighter sections would allow you to break the rear tires loose, thereby sliding a bit more in 2nd or even 3rd gear around those sections.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

 

Your probably right about getting used to it. I've only ridin once so far. The day consisted of following my girlfriend and her father around at a slow rate. He wanted to show me a new area to ride in Eastern Pa. The things you'll do just to find new areas to ride.
It's a completly different ride than my '96 warrior. It seemed like I was forever between gears. I thought perhaps a different sproket would help.Did'nt think to much about wear. What # tooth is stock? 13?

 

If you have a 2001 Raptor you need to go to a 12 tooth from the stock 13 tooth. You are absolutely right about hunting for the right gear with the thirteen tooth on. You loose about 7mph on top but if you are riding in the tight woods you will rarely get above third gear anyway.

 

Yes, it does take a little practice on the Raptor as I discovered coming off my Warrior with the stump- pulling bottom end. Also, if you still have the OEM tires on it, they could be a reason you will have a little problem breaking the rear end loose in tight section cornering. Radial tires CAN be made to break loose but they are a bit more unpredictable and need some getting used to in agressive riding. I like the Bandit XC's for that reason among other reasons; they hook up really well, but can be made to slide when needed and have very stiff sidewalls to eliminate rollover & understeering in those same tight corners; you point them & they go there! All of these things, I'm sure will enable you to toss your quad around with ease once you get it to know who is in charge, and yet you won't have to diminish the very awesome power that caused you to buy it in the first place, by altering the gearing[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Put the 12 tooth on and you'll wonder why you didn't do it before. Not only will you be able to ride your trails in second gear all the time without the need to go into first. When drag racing you'll get there quicker. Just don't race long distances or you'll get passed at the end.

 

What's up Lou? Are you running 22"in XCT HOLESHOTS in the rear and 23"in up front? If you are try 12/42 that's what i am running and i ride a lot of trails never have to down shift to 1st gear in tight trails 2nd and 3rd i am in all the time.And if you drag race holeshot in 2nd gear and you will fly put just like WSHRDSKIN say don't race on a long straight away some one might run you down. good luck with it.

 

I had bought a 12 tooth the other day but didn,t have the chance to put it on yet. Do you have to shorten the chain? Mine is approx 3/4 stretched.

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2001 raptor, ct pipe, pro-flow foam,
air box mods, tag x-5, razrs

 

No, you'll just need to adjust the tension.

 

Yes, I put the HoleShot XTC's from my Warrior on the Raptor. I found the original tires to be junk the first time I rode. I'm gonna try the 12 tooth sprocket as mentioned. What # tooth is stock rear? Thanx for all the input.
LouV14