2004 KX 250 getting set up for Tight Goat Trail style single track...

[Charlie500]

I hear ya.  I think any bike can be modded to your taste, but the cost combined with some informed trial and error can get old.

I'm still trying to get a better trail setup for my 03 KX250, but money is the limiting factor.  ...and sadly my 05 CRF450R is loads easier to ride in the tight stuff (Tillamook State forest) with just a 51 sprocket.  

My list includes a gnarly pipe, 04 spring mod, and fixing the squishy suspension.  Feels like I'm riding a spring board.

Tillamook? Where do you live? I'm in Grants Pass

[Motorrad]

I hear ya.  I think any bike can be modded to your taste, but the cost combined with some informed trial and error can get old.

I'm still trying to get a better trail setup for my 03 KX250, but money is the limiting factor.  ...and sadly my 05 CRF450R is loads easier to ride in the tight stuff (Tillamook State forest) with just a 51 sprocket.  

My list includes a gnarly pipe, 04 spring mod, and fixing the squishy suspension.  Feels like I'm riding a spring board.

Tillamook? Where do you live? I'm in Grants Pass

MMM cheese

[TJXK]

Albany.

I worked at that cheese factory for a couple years.

[Foxx4Beaver]

Unless you're on a Ramen Noodle budget, and can't afford to buy a chain every couple years...don't be too worried about running a 12T counter.
I've been running 12-47 on my 00 250 all this year with absolutely no problems...I'm a retired "A" motocrosser, with an overly twitchy clutch hand.
I use the same chain as I run on my 500...RK MXU-RING..they're very narrow(reason I went this route was to help save my 500's sub-frame)...and they're 3lbs lighter than an average o-ring....and they have an average of 9000lbs tensile strength...(reason they last)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RK-CHAIN-GB520MXU-120-UW-RING-RK-CHAIN-120-LINKS-MX-OFFRAOD-CHAIN-HEAVY-DUTY-/141100783742?hash=item20da43187e&vxp=mtr

...I bought one of these chains for my 500 a few years ago when I got it...and I've never had to adjust/touch it yet. Same thing with my 250 running 12-47....I went all this year, and never had to touch it. A $100 every couple years for a decent chain is peanuts...
Hell...I spend $100 a MONTH just in tires.

Hey man I hear ya... I'm not complaining about spending money on the bike... Trust me I know how expensive riding is, I've been riding all my life... I built Shlepy's 500 he can vouch for me. I'm just trying to get this thing where I need it to be. If it will never be there then whats the point of dumping more money into something that i'm not going to be happy with and just sell off any way? If I can get happy with gearing then I will have no problem investing in some new wheels... I will probably go with a60's/talon hubs.... but no sense in buying wheels for a bike that will never have good trail gears right?

no need for any vouchers....all I was trying to say is, run a good chain, and you won't have to worry about premature wearing so much....sorry if you thought I was saying something different.

I had 5 different sprocket set-ups lying around to try...took a few weeks to try each set-up, but in the end, 12-47 was what worked best for me. It was always too high or too low when using a 13T.

[TJXK]

Wouldn't that be 13-50?

[Foxx4Beaver]

Wouldn't that be 13-50?

nope!....there's a fine line where there IS quite a difference in how it responds between using a 12T and a 13T. I tried 13-52 through 13-47....some more than once...and 12T was far superior.