GTV, I bought my front sprocket at Sidewinder from John. Changing the rear to a 43 will have just about the same effect as changing the front to a 13. I found the power to be comparable between the Z and the Raptor to 4th or 5th gear also and in the tight woods we seldom get out of 3rd. I had to go looser on my suspension due to the terrain I ride in. But I will probably tighten it up before riding anywhere else. Once you change the sprockets I wouldn't be looking to race anyone for topend or a long distance. It took a bunch off my top speed but 2nd and 3rd are a bunch more useable in the rough stuff.

 

Zookyridr, you seem to be rideing on the same terain as I am, and you also appear to be level headed, so I have a ? for you.

I have been rideing in the same rough a__ he11 area for 2 years on a 300EX and I have never gotten tired, especialy my arms and grip, not once. I put 70-80 slow tec.(rocky) miles on my Z this weekend and my arms would get wore out. I would be thankfull when we would get to a smooth section. Does the Z do that to you? Like I said, same trails and have never gotten tired before the Z. Just so you know I'm 31 and work with arms all day, it takes some serious workouts to make my arms tired.

I have been trying to figure it out but haven't put my finger on it yet! The Z turns super easy so that isn't it. The only 2 things I can figure is 1) I'm not use to hitting the rough stuff so fast due to the higher gearing(really don't think this is it) or 2) the throtle responce on the Z is "so" sinsetive that I am gripping the bars so hard through the rough stuff trying to keep a steady throtle.

What are your thoughts, maybe I'm a bigger wussy than I think?

Anyway thanks for your thoughts, I'm goeing to try to order my sprockets and skids this afternoon.

Later...

 

The throttle is extremely sensitive and I do find myself gripping the handlebars tighter to help with that. Being sensitive is the biggest thing I have noticed. I'm use to riding 2 stroke bikes so it didn't really make my arms tired but I did notice that I was trying to correct for the sensitivity by holding on tighter. It doesn't take much of a difference in throttle pressure to make you go from jumping over a rock or log to leaping over it quicker than expected. Now that I've changed gears I can use 2nd gear more and it doesn't take much throttle to lift the front over obstacles even in 2nd. Oh and I'm 35.

 

I am goeing to call and order the gears and skids in a few min, and I guess I'll keep the workout sessions goeing, I'll get use to it!

Later...

 

Hey raptoryfm660r, I don't want to sound like an *** but I never said that the Z won the race I just said the Z took him until the end. I don't see the problem.