What would the down fall be to using a set of 21x12x8 12 paddle haulers in veryy deep and light sand. I've tried 8 paddle haulers before not enough traction. I jumped all the way to 12 and just wondering if I hurt any performance? I have about 65 rear wheel HP.

 

Twelve or fourteen paddles would only be for 450-570 Banshee motors and 670-750 Rotax engines..

 

I run 22x11-8 14 paddle haulers on my cbr900 powered zilla (123hp @ the wheels). With 65hp they will bog you down too much imo, I'd stay with less paddles and try varying air pressure.

 

What tire pressure were you running?
Most tires need less pressure for better hook up, Haulers require 5 psi min pressure.
If you run 2-3 psi the paddles will deform & won't bite.
With 65 HP I would try a 9 paddle, 10 at the most.

 

i agree with oldsandman and the moose . i run 75 rwhp on my zilla and 12 paddles were a little to much for it . i am running 10 paddle extremes now and they are just right . i would try 9 or tens .they will work better for you .

 

I have 12's on now and when I dump the clutch the motor does not bog down. I do have to stand on the handle bars to hold the front end down though. What about top speed or top speed at 300 feet?

 

TriRap are you running 8.5 inchs over stock swing arm? With that much length it should really change the weight transfer on your raptor. I missed that when I first replied to you.

I run a +2"swing arm on my lt 900 and I have to lay on the bars and be really careful with the throttle or it will loop. With my +6" it stays on the ground and I just pin the throttle and go.

I know we are kind of comparing apples and oranges but I do 82mph in 300' with the +2" and 14 paddles I haven't tried the +6 on the flats yet so I don't know what that will do yet. I know as far as climbing goes my 12 paddles are faster up sand mt. nev. than the 14's I pull 4th right on the rev limiter with them. The 14's I drop to third so they do drag the motor down.

I'm going to Pismo beach next week to try out a new +4" swing arm and some 12 paddles vs. the 14 paddles. It still is a lot of trail and error...sorry I can't give you any better information.

 

I'm only running a 4.5" extension on my swing arm but I am only concerned with a 300 ft run. Wouldn't the most traction you can hold down be what you would want to go with. The motor RPM's stay up and I am not letting of the throttle from a wheelie or would the 10 paddle let the motor rev quicker and make it faster?

 

Yes to both your questions, thats the problem only you can answer. It is a trade off between wheel speed and traction... if you feel the motor is still pulling hard then maybe you have it right. You need to go out and test which setup is faster. The best way I've found is measure out 300' and get someone with a radar gun and stop watch to help out and start testing. I know my 12 paddles spin up faster than the 14's for the gearing I have and I am in a better rpm range in 300' races. The problem with this stuff is their are a lot of varibles tire size, paddle#, paddle depth, gearing, weight, air pressure, sand condition....so I can't just say this is the hot setup every day you run it's different. Hey problems like this are a lot more fun than most of lifes stuff! Hope I've helped a little.

 

Why hasnt anybody asked what gearing this guy is running? You should play with gearing before jumping to GIANT tires on a low horsepower bike. Id say try 9's. The more paddles you run the less top end your going to get. What gearing are you running?