Chain length for 13/50 gearing?

[Bandit9]

My chain and sprockets are toast. When I bought the bike, it had a 52 on it. Now that I have restored the power back to the bike, I want to go to 13/50.

How many links gets the rear axle centered on the holes in the swingarm? I want to get the right size chain so I don't have screw with the links.

[Bandit9]

So a whole forum full of GasGas dealers and riders and nobody knows what length of chain I would need for 13/50 gearing on a 250?

[GMP]

I don't remember offhand the # of links in a stock chain (13/48). It will work with 13/50 though. Stock chain with 13/52 works but a trials tire rubs the splash guard, so I add 1 link, puts the axel approx center. I usually just buy 120 link length and cut, putting the extra in my fanny pack. If your 13/52 with a centered axel drop one link for a stock chain length.

FWIW, try 13/51 with the chain you have now. This works good in the tight pine/sand runs we have in south NJ, which I hear is very much like a lot of the SETRA and SERA stuff. I like 13/52 for the big rocky climbs we have locally and in the PA/NY races, and just don't change it as it works OK in the south.

[Eric K]

The stock 112 link chain will fit. The axle will be a bit forward of center.

I run a 114 link chain with 13/50 gearing. It moves the axle near the back which is just where I want it for stability without sacrificing turning.

I always buy a 120 link chain and cut off the extra so I have spare links for repair in the event the chain breaks.

[Bandit9]

Thanks guys. Now I can order.

[Bandit9]

Glenn,
I was thinking last night, (uh oh), in theory, wouldn't a 13/50 setup allow the suspension to "relax" and work better, than a 13/52?????? I think it would.

[eff]

I'm not sure about "relax", but I ran 13/50 last year and I'm running 13/52 this year and I like it much better. Great for the New England rocks. Basically, it lets me stay in 2'nd rather than 1'st in the real slow and technical stuff.

[GMP]

Basically, it lets me stay in 2'nd rather than 1'st in the real slow and technical stuff.

Yes, thats the idea, to avoid the 1-2 and 2-1 shift in most cases.

As far as the suspension action, I never noticed a difference related to gearing in the 13/50 to 13/52 range. What does make the bike feel stiff is if it comes on the pipe in the rocks. Fortunately its easy to ride off the big power in the tech stuff and the suspension works great.

[Krasi]

I run a 09 EC300 and want to go with bigger rear sprocket. From I read here the highest number of teeth I can fit with the stock chain is 50. Is that so, or I can put 51 or even 52?

[Skidad]

As GMP states above the stock chain will work with 13/52 but will be very forward and the tire may hit the mudflap. Just try it and see and let us know.