I did a search and found that a lot of people run the 12/42 combo on their raptors, but i didn't see anything about anyone running the 44T... I ordered a new chain, front and rear sprocket the other day and found that i got a 44T when i meant to get a 42. Is this going to work for trails? I know i might have problems with the stock plastic swingarm guard, but i never bump anything with the swingarm anyway.

Wow, calling the sprockets "gears" makes me sound kind of dumb!!! Just for the record, my '01 still has the original tranny and works just fine!

 

i usually run a 12/43 on the stock chain...then again its very stretched out i tired to put the stock sprockets back on 13/40 and on the tightest setting and the chain was not even close to tightening up. but what i've found out is that i was racing alot of bikes they were all just barley creaping on me on topend and that was pissin me off so i went to a 13/43 and it has made me the best 300 foot run. i was just doing a wheeli out of the whole besides 3rd gear is when i told everyone BYE BYE. so if i got 12/44 you just turned your raptor into a tractor in 1st gear but then again it isnt far from what i used to run. Just take off in second if u drag race. should be ok for the trails but i gps'ed mine with a 12/43 and it was doing bout 63 bout to blow up mph. if you dont ride alot of top speed trails u will be ok. the only thing about the 44 you will have to modify your swingarm guard i had to for the 43. But no worries you should be good to go. You can rename yours to TractorRaptor

 

If you have 20" tires I wouldnt go with a 44 rear for a couple of reasons. First off, you really dont need that low of a gear for trail riding. A 12/40 does great in the trails on 20" tires. Most of the guys running 12/42 or 12/44 on these boards either have higher revving built engines, 22" rear tires, or special gearing for racing. With a basically stock bike (engine wise) you should be able to get by with a smaller rear. The other reason is ground clearance, a 44 tooth is pretty big, your skid will have to be spaced or removed completely, and you wont have much room for rocks or roots.

 

i think im the only person on here that runs a 12/44 sprocket and i love it, but then again i most use my bike to drag race with. And i run a 22/11/8, and its ok. but when i cruise around my house, with my 20/11/8 holeshots my bike feels like crap. im geared for a set of 22's and unless your big is making over 50hp your not going to like that set-up...ever. plus you have the 01 gearset and that throws everything off.

stock 13/40
i run 12/44 on 22's
most guys run a 13/44 on 22's but they are also make well in to the 60hp range.

for you first gear is bye.bye. the 44 is huge and wont clear, and its a hard fit on the chain also.

you'll like a 12/40 on 20's with a non o-ring chain, you'll be happy with the troque for trail riding.

 

what do you think with a 12 40 setup for trail ridding. I have a 12/40 with a new xring chain that i am putting on. Do you think it will a good setup with my 22 that i am running in the rear. will be doing mostly trail riding and goffing off. Hill clibs and mud to. Also will have itp holeshots. Any other tire suggestions for my riding.

 

12/40 would probably work well for trail riding. I run a 12/44 sprocket setup with an extended swingarm and 18 inch MXR4s. It runs great and works well for mx, but when I trail ride I switch back to my stock 20 inch tires. What I've found with the 44 tooth rear is that I'm actually getting into fifth gear more often. The acceleration is phenomenal and will pull the front end whenever you want. In the trails it is a little much, but I hardly ever ride trails.

 

Dropping 1 tooth on the front is appx four teeth ONTO the back. There are PLENTY of threads arguing about this point. In fact I promise someone will say i've got it backwards. Anyway...

That gearing should work just fine. I dropped 1 on my front, and certainly noticed an improvement. I lost a few MPH on top end, but I don't ride anywhere that I could tell the difference.

01 Raptors - stock tranny's REPRESENT!

 

I use 12-44 on my 690 but i also have 22" tires so for me it works fine.As others have said the 12-44 is not a good combination with a 20" tire.

 

I never drag race, and most of the riding i do is in an area with absolutely no rocks... Gotta love the topsoil in flat old Iowa!! I rarely am on anything that even gets me into 4th gear so i definately could use something to get me into third more and not lugging as hard in second gear. We'll see how i end up liking it, i could always go back to a 40T. Thanks for all the replies, I know its a topic thats been covered a lot and one that everyone has their own opinion on (or at least a setup that works best for them).

 

You aint the only one.I have seen 4.3's 300fet 22 inch tires on a raptor in 300ft.