i have a 2001 400ex. i do not know if i want to build it or buy a 450r. i already have everything done to the motor except the big bore( ported and polished, cam) and it is really fast for what it is. but i dont know what would be better. i know ill have a fast fourwheeler but with little or no reliability if i build mine. i have never rode a 440ex or a 450r so i dont know which would be a all around better quad. i bought my 400 for 3300 and if i build it i am going all out with shocks, axle, a-arms, and all the other little what nots. so ill have about 6000 in it if i build it. or i could go get a 450r for about 6600 or 6700. i would appreciate any advice you guys could give me. thanks

 

I would think spend the $6000 for the 450. Sell the 400, and put a few bucks into the it. Have $2000 to spare.

 

Edicus, I have rode about every quad that has hit the show room floor. I think alot of your chose has to deal with the type of riding you do. I have a 99 400ex a few goodie's on it. I ride with guys that have yfz450's, honda 450's, raptor's, z400's you name it we have one of just about everything that rides with use. In the woods the 400ex is just as good as the rest with a few items like steering stablizer,cam,11:1 piston,exhaust, front shocks(works triple rates they work good in the wood). Then drop the front sproket by one tooth. The 450r's will still get you in the open but not by much. If your Quad was all stck it would only coast you 1200 bucks to up grade to this type of set up.

 

Get the 450R and you will not regret having done so.

 

Yeah go for the 450r it would be way more reliable

 

wait for the 450r to be electric start.

 

how long is that going to take?

 

If you're a girl, or an old man, or have problems kick starting a quad...perhaps.

 

no matter who you are, pushing a button is easier than kicking. also, if you race and start with a dead engine, the electric start bike tend to have a nice advantage.

 

i got a 440ex with 12.5:1 compression, stage 2 hotcam, ported head, and a white brothers e series slip on and i recently raced a stock yfz on pavement and i was geared at 14/38 for ridin wheelies and for mud tires in winter, i raced him and i had the 20 inch stockers. Off the line he started in second and i started in first, i almost came over backwards, hadda let of completely so i didnt go over, then shifted to second, same thing hadda let off again, got into third and cracked it and exact same thing, by this time he was already bout 3-4 lengths ahead of me kuz his wheels didnt lift off the ground at all and i fell farther back kuz i started in first and hadda waste all that time lettin off throttle, soon as i got the wheels back down in 3rd and shifted to 4th i caught him like nothing and passed him, we both topped out almost exactly the same in fifth gear and i beat him by bout 3-5 lengths. With stock gearing (15/38) and starting in second and not having the front end come up on me like that, i woulda completely smoked him off the line and all the way till the end. Woulda been around 8 lengths. This is a yfz not a 450r but he raced a 450r and they were bout even at the end so should be the same results. Only downside to the 440 is they overheat sometimes but other than taht i have had no problems with mine and they are a blast to ride kuz the front wheels are always clawing at the sky. Hope this information helps ya.