First trip to the dunes yesterday with my new paddles. 21x12x8 7 paddle on 8x8 DWT blues. Coming from v-paddles, these are a whole new world. They hook up like crazy and don't want any part of doing a donut.

Clutch dumps off the line in 1st or 2nd gear are not even remotely possible. All I can do is feather the throttle and try to keep it from coming up. Sometimes it'll even come up and over on me through third gear. I'm leaning forward, but it doesn't appear to help.

My quad is just bolt-on, nothing special. Maybe 50HP. 14-38 gear. It runs REALLY strong down the strip if I can keep it down.

I'm NOT buying a longer swingarm, as I race XC and don't want to be trading parts back and forth. Is there anything else I can do? Would a smaller paddle that bites less help without sacrificing speed?

I'm the goon on the black quad with a yellow ski jacket.



Me in the center with a good run. Notice I have to let off between 1-2 and 2-3 shifts to keep it down, where everybody else keeps the hammer down.

http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p200/kn...nt=MVI_1831.flv

http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p200/kn...nt=MVI_1830.flv

not so good runs, in fact, this happens more often than not

http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p200/kn...=MVI_1824up.flv

http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p200/kn...=MVI_1822up.flv

In flat drags such as that I would just try putting all your body weight as far forward as possible. If just leaning forward isn't cutting it, try sitting more forward like almost on the gas tank while leaning forward just for the starts. If it's still coming up on you, I'd go down to a 6 paddle; the more paddles, the more difficult it is to spin them.

I'm already sitting on the tank. I can't get any more forward.

In that case I would try to get a handle on feathering the clutch and throttle until you get some better tires.

My bike act's very similar in the sand. All I did was kept trying different things, feathering the clutch and throttle. Even dragging the rear brakes to try and help. I notice you are also running stock gearing, try a 15 tooth up front for the dunes. Might help a little.

+1. 15T makes you go faster with a little less low end to keep the front from coming up.

what gear are you starting in?? I always start in 2nd and lean forward it very rarely comes up.

I was using 1st. When I used 2nd, it was way worse yet.

[quote name='knaffie' date='Apr 12 2009, 05:44 PM' post='769132']
I was using 1st. When I used 2nd, it was way worse yet.
[/quote

the front end came up worse in 2nd then it did in 1st???

Yup, for sure. I don't know if the engine has the power to turn those tires starting in 2nd. It kind of bogged a little bit, then when the power came up, up she comes every time. I didn't try do a rev-limiter clutch dump. Not sure that I want to do that either for the sake of my clutch.

I do have a 15T sprocket I can try. I ran it last year at Hatfield McCoy and it was too tall. I guess I'll try it in the dunes and see.

it really doesnt look like your sitting that far foward in those videos, it looks like your leaning, but your ass is still in the middle/back of the seat, slide way up on the tank, put your nuts on the gas cap, lean over the bars... if that doesnt help, i would suggest some different gearing. maybe playing with your rear shock adjustments a little might help some too.

rev it real high in second and let them tires spins so it doesnt wheelie

yeah, i drop the clutch at rev limiter in 2nd with haulers on really grippy hard packed sand and its all good. im 120 lbs and i just lean waaaay over. my eyes are in the same plane as the bumper. also try to muscle it down: dont just ride- get involved, lol. when you go to shift try to slam the front down again.

More air pressure.

i agree. air pressure has a lot to do with it.

you need to scoot up on the seat. You are leaning forward some but your A$S is still on the very back of the seat.

Already at 8 PSI. That's pretty well at the top end of how much air to run, isn't it?

yes, maybe go down to 4. thats what i run.

drop down to 3.5 to 4. 8 is wwayyy to much.