I want to get some new gears for the dunes, hillshooting mostly. I am running stock gears now. I weigh in at about 200 and my mods are listed below. What do you guys think.

I did a search but so much came up it got confusing.

 

i mainly ride in the dunes and i run 15-43 and really like it. all the ds i meet like the way it pulls. the hills it pulls 3-4 where with just the15 front 4 wouldn't pull hard. i did lose some top speed in 5 but noy much it has to be a long run to notice, like over a mile. and when we trail ride i can pull the front up at will. it does take a new chain. it is nice to come to a razor and be able to gas and launch up instead of dive.

 

Where did you get your sprockets and chain. And what size chain.

also, can I get away with only changing the front sprocket? Like maybe going to a 15t in the front then leaving the chain and the rear sprocket alone. Will that give me the hillshooting effect that I'm looking for with my 20" rear tires?

 

You can get nearly the same ratio by going with a 14th front sprocket. It is harder on the chain so be carful you keep it maintaind. You can find chain links and save the expense of a whole new chain as well. Thats if you were to go to a 15/43 combo. Thats the safest bet I think.

 

Why is it harder on the chain?

How much $ am I looking at for the 15\43 and a new chain. How hard are they to change out?

 

The fewer the teeth, the sharper the angle the links have to pivot, and the less contact the chain has, which causes things to wear a little faster and grit to take its toll sooner. 14T up front isn't that bad though, I ran 12T front on my 350X and it lasted long enough to satisfy me with no worries. Of course it doesn't have the torque of the DS, but its 5/16" wide 520 instead of the 3/8" wide 530 the DS has. This added width of the 530 over the 520, in spite of equal pitch (length), really helps them last. A lot of people are misled by the numbers - 530 doesn't indicate stronger tensil strength than 520, the 3 in the middle just means the rollers are wider for stronger sprockets and less wear. The 5 means .5" pitch (axle to axle measurement).
More info than you asked for I know, but its fun to ramble....

You'll have to cut the factory chain to remove it, or remove the swingarm. Dennis Kirk is a good source for chain - their prices are high on some stuff, but chain aint bad, and shipping is included in price. The street bike catalog has the 530 pitch D.I.D. brand. Its expensive, like over $100 if memory serves me correct. Sprockets at Rocky Mt. ATV, Primary Drive brand, pretty inexpensive.

Rear sprocket is just a bunch of bolts and nuts, no biggy, but front has a keeper that requires the bending of a tab to keep the nut from coming loose. This must be reused, or a new one installed, because without it the sprocket can and will come off - I've seen it, it aint pretty! Also, use lock-tite on these threads too. Torque is really tight, use the right tools, breaker bar with pipe on end to break loose.

 

rear sprocket you can get a alba or woods for 50 or so , the chain is 60 to a hundred, depend on kind of chain, some are a lot more. the 15 up front is nice i have that on one of mine but the one with 15-43 kills it out of the hole 3-6 bike lengths, but then the higher gearing starts to work. unless you ride a lot of open space with over a mile of run, the 15-43 is great. the rear hub axle nut isn't much fun i think a tire shop can get them off easy though. if you are hill shooting do like demon and go with the nos.