400ex woods gearing- What's your opinion?

[RIDER11X]

As a Pa. woods rider, I originally thought that my 400ex was geared too high for the woods after changing to that machine from a 250x. So I put a 14T front sprocket on. Had tons of torque for climbing but I was always looking for sixth gear on any open trail. Then I realized that I was doing all of my climbing in second gear( as I did on my 250x) and was wasting first gear by just short shifting through it on the approach to a hill.
So, I went back to stock gearing to use first for nasty climbs and have more top end speed. Now it feels like first gear could be a bit higher on climbs to match the performance that I had back when I used 2nd gear for that, and more top speed could be had. I'll probably experiment with a 36t rear with the stock 15t front.

Anybody else have any opinions or experiance with a similar set up? What's your ideal woods gearing?

[toby400ex]

If you want a mix between a 14tooth front and a stock 15tooth, go up to a 39 in the rear, with a 15tooth front. Then you will still have good top end but a bit more low end grunt in 1st gear. Remember. More teeth out back means more torque, while in the front less teeth means more torque.;)

[trailburner]

I run a 15-39 & love it, lose alittle on top speed but does it go good through the gears!!!! I think it's perfect for woods riding...

[RIDER11X]

I'm actually thinking that the stock gearing is a tad too low for me. Looking to go a bit higher.

[RIDER11X]

bump:cool:

[JD400exrider]

Running 15 / 39

Works great in the woods and still climbs well. :D

[OutlawEX]

I say 15-38/39 ish

[Big - D Racing]

15/36 great combo and longer gears.

[RIDER11X]

Originally posted by Big - D Racing
15/36 great combo and longer gears.
Is that what you run? Do you think that will work well on a 400 in stock form?

[cheetah]

I also have a 14 and love it, but I really do miss my top end and my gears are so short and first is a waste. 15 is too high. So what I wanna know is you people with 15/39, can you lug it some through the woods at lower speeds? Sometimes I ride with people that has utilities and they kinda poke around and that's about the only time I use first.

[RIDER11X]

Originally posted by cheetah
I also have a 14 and love it, but I really do miss my top end and my gears are so short and first is a waste. 15 is too high. So what I wanna know is you people with 15/39, can you lug it some through the woods at lower speeds? Sometimes I ride with people that has utilities and they kinda poke around and that's about the only time I use first.
I know what you mean because I was riding with slower riders at first, and the 14 t seemed to be perfect. It wasnt until I began to ride with a much faster group that I felt the need to gear up.

To answer your question, it should lug around just fine as mine does pretty well with stock gearing.

[RIDER11X]

Still looking for opinions. Thanks!:bandit:

[OCCRA288]

I also run a 15/39 it's pretty nice. I felt a good bit of torque but I also built my motor just before. I didn't lose much top end but again, I built my motor a little.

[RIDER11X]

I always thought that when you get more power such as from motor mods, that you use that power by going to higher gearing because more power can pull longer gears.....................(on hi performance machines not utilities) This make fror a faster machine. Right?:huh

[RIDER11X]

Originally posted by Big - D Racing
15/36 great combo and longer gears.

Well I got my 36 tooth sprocket and put it on. And I got to test it on a ride today at one of our most technical tight woods riding areas that we ride at. All I can say is "unbelievably perfect!!!!"

The gears pull so much longer making each one more versitile, first gear is speedy but stays torquey to roost around corners at will. And second and third are still strong climbing gears. But opening it up on an open stretch showed me more than enough speedfor the terrain, as was unable to run 5th all the way out and I was flying!

With out a doubt, I will be running the 15 / 36 gearing for a long time to come. Try it you may like it. :cool:JMO.

[Wheelie]

Thanks for the review.

That's the gearing I plan on running once I get my quad back together.

BTW--Where did you get the 36tooth rear?

15/36 with mods below and so far so good.

With the stk gearing 1st and 2nd were sort of useless.

thinking of trying a 15/35 or 15/34 possibly in the future.

[RIDER11X]

I got my 36T from Nac's racing. It can also be ordered direct from sprocketspecialists.com. Nac's sells the alloy version that I got, but if you order direct you can buy them in steel also. The smallest rear they make is a 36T.
If you want a 35t down to a 32t you can order an alloy Rebel Gears sprocket from Nac's.

If anyone tries a 35t or smaller with 20" tires, please post the results. 15/ 36 with 20" tires is the way to go for me. I can't believe how well it worked out.:bandit:

15/ 36 with 20" tires is the way to go for me. I can't believe how well it worked out. ;)

[wicked_silver]

hey guys,

I live east of cincinnati and we have a lot of tight hills and I love my 14 tooth front sprocket. My brother has a bone stock 02' 400ex which he bought new a week after I bought mine (new). Before the sprocket we were dead even, with just the gear I pull him from the start and he never catches me and I have a little more top end than he does, I guess the stock motor can't push the factory gearing to the limiter. Even with the 14 front I don't hit the limiter. I am buying a 39 or 40 for the rear. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps.

[RIDER11X]

Originally posted by wicked_silver
hey guys,

I live east of cincinnati and we have a lot of tight hills and I love my 14 tooth front sprocket. My brother has a bone stock 02' 400ex which he bought new a week after I bought mine (new). Before the sprocket we were dead even, with just the gear I pull him from the start and he never catches me and I have a little more top end than he does, I guess the stock motor can't push the factory gearing to the limiter. Even with the 14 front I don't hit the limiter. I am buying a 39 or 40 for the rear. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps. I tried that route at first too, Until a mildly modded 300ex whooped my but repeatedly in a drag race! Soooooooooo, I switched back to the stock 15/ 38 gearing and we raced again. I beat that same 300 the way I should have the first time. Now I've found a better combo and wanted to share this info with other 400 owners.
Also, this gearing works excellent in tight woods despite what you would think, you just roll faster in 1st gear and get ready to grab the clutch if you get slowed way down, like almost stopped.

[RIDER11X]

bump:)

[GNCC#829]

You never mentioned what size rear tires you have. That affects gearing too. I have 22 inch rears, and to compensate, I have a 14t front sprocket. Now I am only slightly lower than stock gearing.:cool:

I run a 14/38 with 22 rears..

15/38 with 20 inch rears..

15/36 with 18 inch rears..



I've run 15/36 with the 20's and it's great..but not too good for XC racing I don't think...:ermm:

[MNTNMAN]

This is a good one for FAQ Section?

[wicked_silver]

still luv it in the woods, just sold the foreman though and bought a 2003 rubicon, so i'm in 4x4 mode these days. Ride Red, Yellow , or Green, as long as its honda it'll hang.