Just got a brand new 400ex 2001 this week, I took it for a ride last night, the exhaust pipes got red hot when i was going slower, and even after I would idle for a while. When I went faster at a constant speed, it cooled them off a little.
Are the pipes supposed to be glowing RED?

Since this is the first brand new quad I ever bought, Is there anything I need to look out for on this quad?
Anything that could break?
Thanks aolt, Derek

 

Were you really just idling or were you revving it up a little. When I have mine in neutral and I would rev it up it the header would glow red too... or atleast the stock header would. I don't think there is anything to worry about. It might just be that there isn't enough air circulating over the pipe and that is just allowing it to get really hot. I'm not sure though. My quad used to do that or it still might but it runs great and there isn't anything wrong with it.

 

might be running lean, espcially if you run with no air box, or stock jetting.
my pipe turned purple/blue when running lean, but never red. Id defintiely look into it. Check your plug, it should tell you whats happening in the motor.

400EX Riders

 

The majority of all 400EXs and XR400s exhaust will glow red when ran slow for periods of time and while idling at a standstil.

It IS normal. And while it may or may not be due to jetting, it IS not a problem with the way in which your bike is tuned. The 400 engine just runs hotter than most engines. I think all owners will agree to that.


Don't go fooling around with jets just to keep your pipe from glowing unless you plan to modify it while your there. Doesn't make much sense to say that Honda jetted the bike wrong stock.

 

actually it makes alot of sence knows alot, these bikes are being shipped all across the country, do you expect the same jetting to work correctly at every altitude? of course not. I think thats how he meant that the jetting was wrong.