I bought a 2005 Auto and would like to know what mods you have on your 400 and what mods you like and don't like? I was thinking about putting a jet kit, K&N, pipe, and clutch kit on my 400 but don't know where to start 1st and what brands to buy? I was going to add a clutch kit first and upgrade my tires to 26x8x12 mudbugs all the way around or something similar. I don't want to go to wide because I feel the 400 can't turn them in thick stuff! Will the mods above + clutch kit make a big improvement or should I just upgrade to a bigger cat? I maily trail ride but if I see mud, I'm in it!!! Just want to hear about your 400 build up and if you recommend it!! Any other advice is welcome Thanks!!

 

I have a 2003 A/C 400 auto and absolutely love it. Other than the winch, bumpers, tank/fender bags and trunk, it's completely stock. I too mostly ride on trails, but get into the stew any chance I get. The stock Dunlops have never let me down - ever. I am buying new tires in the spring and after much research, am buying Maxxis BigHorns. I'm sticking with stock tire height, as running larger tires makes little sense to me - the GC on the A/C 400 is superb and adding taller tires and lift kits adds a touch of instability to a stable platform. I think you'll be disappointed in the MudBugs for general trail riding and will notice a decrease in handling. I do have an EPI clutch kit, but have yet to install it. I also have a K&N filter still in the box. I have heard good things about the clutch kit, but haven't had the time to redrill at 1 o'clock - maybe in the spring. As for pipes, I think you'll get mixed results. You'll have to re-jet and that can be touchy. There is a mod to the stock muffler which involves drilling some holes and adding an auto tip, but I have nt seen the need to do it. I'm completely happy with the power I have and can't personally see the need to mess with a good thing too much.

I'd say if you don't have a winch, straps and ****** block - get one as mod #1. Invest in rack items, (boxes, bags, etc) and let your 400 break in without any engine/clutch mods at all. As you ride it, the power gets better and better. Put 1,000 miles on it, then if you feel the need, start with the engine mods. Good luck and enjoy your 400...

Mark

 

Well I love my 400, I need the clutch kit upgrade, went to 26" mud lites and she has so trouble in the soup, but rides great on trails plus never worried about a flat. I have the K&N air filter save yourself the 40 bucks and get another foam filter, haven't noticed a difference. I just made a light bar for the front and replaced the stock stick stopper with some diamond plate that covers the entire A-arm. Mine works great for what I want hunting, farming, and play.

 

I have left my 2005 400 manual stock an the only changed planned is to mod the high range reverse to a low range reverse. It's plenty fast enough as is and if I had to complain about something is would be the tires. But they are factory and work pretty good. When I replace them (probably next year sometime) it will be with a more aggressive tread pattern for some of the steep, rocky and wet trails we have here. More power will not make it go anywhere I would want to go.

 

Bear - I've heard great things about the Maxxis BigHorns. Excellent rock crawlers, great in the stew, clean out well and perform in the snow.

 

We don't have much stew out here. To much clay and volcanic ash in the soil. Rock crawling and trails are my big thing. Snow we get or at least it is close in the mountains near the house.

 

So Bear, do you know how you're going do that mod for changing the high reverse to low reverse? That is my only complaint about our stock 400's. I don't know what they were thinking...

 

I got a 2006 400i manual. Down here in texas the doodoo gets pretty thick, I had a 2 inch lift, 28"ITP 589's, FMF MegaMax universal exhaust, K&N filter, warn winch that I've still never used, 2"wheel spacers on the back, and had the dealership jet the carb. I had all this done after about 700 hours on it and it make all the difference in the world. I sacrificed turn radius but thats about all. I go where I want, when I want. Rice fields, swamp bottoms, you name it I've been in it. But like these other guys said, wait till you get some hours on it first, you'll feel like your on a new bike after 5 or 6 hundred hours.

 

The change requires a motor pull and case spit to actually instali some custom made gears. But then I will have a low range reverse and I won't have any complaints about the 400 then. I still can't believe Suzuki put a high range reverse in the damn things. Speed in reverse is very dangerous, where as major grunt power is useful. Very stupid engineering on their part.

 

I miss my 2004 400, she did me well... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]