Oh I thought I read a post that you rode trails, my bad. I still think its gona be tall, but if you can keep it revving then you will definitly haul the mail.

 

Define desert trails and trails? Make sure we are on the same page =)

 

When I say or think trails, I am talkming up through the woods in first and second gear. I live in NW Washington, and that is really all we have to ride on. Desert trails are probably more open, like 3rd 4th gear I would guess. In that kind of riding the 400 might pull 15/36 on 22's.

 

Desert trails here. 3rd and 4th gear WOT is common. I wonder if I should have went with the 20" then. I ordered 20" but they sent 22" and I thought they would be fine and they are. They ride fine.

 

I measured the tires and they are 21" What does stock measure?

 

I was looking at this same issue. I ride my stock 400ex on trails and on sand dunes. When I ride the dunes (with 20" sand shark paddles) I cannot pull 5th on flat ground. I was going to drop the front to a 13 or 14T. Any suggestions? Am I better changing the front or rear sprocket? My trail tires are 20" I-Razr's. I just need more low end all around...

Thanks
dave

'02 400ex - '96 YZ125 - '84 ATC200S

 

I called tire shop and they re-ordered the right 20" I wanted =)
As for your question. I would assume you would drop a tooth in the front by 1 would be good

 

Well...done! Tire shop couldn't get them after all (well there was a 2 week wait). So they took them off the rims and gace a full refund! So I drove over to Chaparral and got the ITP (6 ply) 20x11x9 and sprung for new 22x7x10 ITP fronts too (6 ply). Looks like a new quad all over again! To late to test drive it tonight with the pipe and all. They look the same as the Maxxis RazR though.

Thanks for all your input! The 36T sprocket and chain isn't in yet will post back with how that works out.

 

i run a 15T in the front and a 36T in the back, i don't know why everybody is saying it doesn't pull in 5th, i think mine does pretty well. I drag race also so not having to shift and starting in 2nd gear is real nice, she pulls well then. I would definately consider doing this if you are running flat ground. Also i run with 18's when i race and 20's in the back for messin around in the woods. I didn't like the stock gearing except when trying to do wheelies, but with my gearing, i'm still able to pull it up in 4th, i felt like i was running out of rpm's to quick, i know my quad wanted to go faster!

 

Not sure what you meant by saying you are running out of rpm's too quick. Are you running out in fourth? I think the gearing is fine as long as you don't want to go up in fifth much. In my experience with that gearing you will just lug along in fifth and not really get up in the high rpm's especially if you started to go up hill slightly. The quad wouldn't pull near as hard as with stock or lower geared sprockets. This is with stardard height tires. With 18's on the rear the gearing would probably be good.