I'm looking for more scream in my 3rd gear climb. Dunes are eating alot of power... Should I drop a tooth in the front or add to the rear? Whats the stock configuration? I'm running pipe, ron woods filter kit now but i'll also have a hc2 cam real soon. any info on this helps
txs

If those are the only mods you have, it's time to install that cam, port your head.
I hear the dunes rob horsepower. You need to get some HP back.

It will help wind up third but, you're not going to be going any faster. I dropped a tooth up front on mine and while it made a big difference getting out of the hole, it killed top end. When racing, I would start in second. I still have the sprocket too if you're interested.

I am no expert on this subject, but I have been told by many people, including the guys at Sidewinder that it is better to go bigger on the rear sprocket than smaller on the front sprocket.

They say it is harder on the motor and jack-shaft to drop a tooth in the front, and it is also harder on your chain.

its not just sand that affects your power...your tires could be hurting you as well.

I heard this theory before too. I believe for every front tooth you drop its like adding 3 teeth to the rear. I think I'll just go up a tooth or 2 in the rear and call it good. good info, txs

On my 04 I run a 13/39 set up for the dunes in oregon. I think stock on the 04/05 was 14/38 not positive because I regeared 5 years ago.
I tried the 13/40 and it took away to much top end. Are you going to be all around riding, dragging, hill shooting we need as much info as possible to help you.

im all around riding. I like to jump and hit the trails for the most part but i climb banshee hill at win bay and other hills like that often. I dont really care much for top end, my final gear barely pulls as is. I mean literaly it feels like it slows down in 5th... When climbing banshee hil 3rd gear just isnt there. When I shift into 3rd it bogs down and I gotta go back into 2nd which is too low of a gear. Im running 8 paddle extrme haulers now, 20x10x10. Traction isnt the best cuz theyre are only about 65% tread but they handle really nice, almost like gliders. if anything, worn paddles would allow me to push more rpms in 3rd I would think. I think its on par too because I had it dynoed and i raced a same yr 450r that has a hrc cam and it only beats me by about 2 bike lengths. although when i drove his bike I noticed it does feel alot stronger in the low end, alot stronger... i need a hc2 cam bad

The 13 tooth front sprocket will help alot. I pull banshee hill in third with ease. If you are going to ride just the dunes a hrc cam for the 05 is a great cam for the money a little more top end then the hot cam 2.

so what length of chain will i need to run a 13/39? do you know?

The stock chain will work up to 13/40 maybe a 13/41. I have run 13/40 before with no problem but i really like the 13/39 set up and im around 220lbs. If you are quite a bit lighter you may like the 13/38 set up. Eracer38 has a used hrc cam for sale right now.

Go up one in the rear then try 2. Also ditch the 8 paddles and get 6 you'd be surprised!!

7 or 8 paddle work better up here than down there. The sand up here if alot finer and a little more paddle helps six paddle up here we just spin and dont get much traction I have tried from a six to 8 paddle and found the 8 paddle hauler to be very good.

i had sum 10's. tried 9's. I like 8's best too. never tried less paddle than that.

A few days late but.....Ive got some rear sprockets you can have if you want to play with your gearing. Maybe a front or two as well. You come get em and theyre yours LMK.

The comment about going down a tooth vs up a tooth is correct. It takes more power to turn a smaller front sprocket than it does a larger rear.

As youve heard....gearing is only good for so much, you need to start pickin up HP where you can. Every little bit helps.

with my mods i can run b hill in 4th pretty easy. im a good 250ish too. right now i have 13/39 gears. if all you do is look at the numbers, then yes gearing down kills top end, but not always. you said that fifth is pretty much worthless right now. gearing down(going to a bigger rear) just might make it useable again, allowing the engine to spin 5th.

i put a 12 front on mine for a little while. it made a nice change in the gearing, but the chain rubbed more on the chainslider. i went back to a 13, and changed the rear. i had a 40 on for awhile, and liked it real well, but it wore out so i put a 39 i had back on. with my 20" it works pretty good. taller tires, like 21" and 22" would probably work better with a 40, or even a 41.

I went with a 13/39 setup. Going to test it out at the dunes this weekend. We'll see...