just bought my son a 400 ex and we ride dunes only so figured i would ask what the good gear set up is we ride where there is flats and hills, he will want to race on the hills a little, so top speed isn't the most important. thanks

 

First off, go with a 14 tooth front sprocket (stock gearing is 15/38) He's light, so I think you can get away with dropping the rear sprocket to a 38. This will gain back about half of the top-end that was lost due to the 14 tooth front. I run 14/38, but am going to try the 14/36 combo here really soon. If your son weighs less than me (225), then he'll be able to climb anything in the dunes with a 14 up front. I can climb most hills in 3rd gear, and get good 2nd gear starts.

 

sandman430-well isee you bought that honda you were going to go look at in florence i think you will be happy with it and hondas reliability speaks for itself.my wifes 440 is running the stock gearing which i thought was a little low until she started running her 22" haulers and now it seems about right.that ex should really fly with your son on it no matter what gearing you have and i am sure he will enjoy it.

 

In the dunes, when I race up the big dunes, everyone else is shifting down to second, while I stay in third all the way up the hill. Otherwise I like the stock 15 tooth front sprocket compared to the 14. I have to shift alot more. 1st and 2nd gear wind out really fast.

 

duneittilludie yeah dale was easy to work with and the 400 was very well set up it already has a pipe and nerfs and bars and a good set of sand tires, and it came with a brand new set of dirt tires, off of a cannondale, i think those are itp's anyways, he is in the process of reading all the old magazines articles on the honda, so he should be ready to jump out of his skin when we pick it up. last friday he was racing other kids over by comp, and he could jump all of them out of the hole well, but the blaster just didn't have what it took against the kfx 400 and it didn't have paddles. besides you know it is your fault for having to go with the honda, i had to answer a million questions on honda after i rode your wifes. and since i was able to see how your 440 runs i know there is a lot of room to grow on that machine. well were kind of planning on riding the 12-13. i found some trails last time that i haven't ever seen before, maybe we could get together next time and i'll take you on the tour with the family[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] did you get you swing arm yet?

 

the swingarm should be on by next weekend sandman and i think it will really help at least i hope so for 500.00

 

I would keep it stock. I love the gearing int he dunes stock. On dirt though Dropping to a 14 tooth would be nice.