Geared Down, General Impression.

[Newrider08]

I installed my 14 tooth sprocket today to gear down from the factory 15 tooth sprocket.

I took it for a ride for about an hour, I cant really say I notice much more low end grunt but I do notice one thing that is nice. When riding around slow with the stock sprocket I would have to be high revving in first or too slow in second.

Now with the 14 tooth I can leave it in second gear and trail ride without shifting between 1st and 2nd.

All in all I would say it was a worthwhile investment and I might try a 13 tooth sprocket later to see how that works for me.


I am running

Stock engine
white brothers e-series
14 tooth sprocket
Sparks Timing Advance Key
20x11-9 Razr2 rear tires
22 inch Razr2 fronts
uni foam filter
Choke removed
Carb Rejetted

[honda400ex2003]

nice, good to hear that you like the 14. I was hoping that you would. steve

[shawn3389]

i found mine would wheelie way easier with the 14......:)

[rinaldi]

Did you guys need to remove a link in your chain by going down a tooth?

[Pabst_Powered]

theres no need to shorten or lenghten your chain unless you go down or up more than 1 tooth, your chain will also have a even number of links at all times

[richards]

I tried 14, 13, and now am running a 12 tooth. Stock chain length is fine with all of those.

I ride tight trails so keep that in mind... Have 22" rear tires because I need all the clearance I can get and that effectively raises the gearing versus smaller tires.

So far I am split between the 12 and the 13. With the 12 first gear is really short, but I still use it in occasion for crawling over rocks or nasty obstacles. But in general 2nd is low enough for any hill I have come across. Top end with this setup is still somewhere above 50mph in fifth gear and that's honestly more than I ever need where I ride.

But am going to swap to the 13 again for the next trail ride to see if first becomes more usable but still low enough for crawling over stuff.

[Newrider08]

wow I have never heard of anyone running a 12 tooth on a 400ex, I guess it would hook up good with those 22's

I like the feel of the 14 on the trails and I do not do any really technical rocky riding but I ride alot of trails and hills so the 14 tooth will be good enough for me I think.

I do like the idea that I can ride in second gear instead of going back and forth between 1st and 2nd and I really dont think the 14T made the 1st gear too low, in fact I think its about right.

I will update this in a couple weeks when I have more time to ride it.

[richards]

Yeah the 22's give you about 10% taller overall ratio compared to stock tires so that's close to a 1 tooth change on a front sprocket.

Around here I need the 22's and could use taller still to get through the rocks and also the huge ruts left by the utility riders.