i sold my banshee and im wanting to buy a new woods weapon. i can't afford to modify everything right away. but my list of mods will include lobo II front and rear w/ custom axis shocks. if i go with the 400 then a 440 kit with the right pipe. if the raptor - just the pipe. i need help deciding which. i ride mostly woods with some mx ( 1 or 2 races a year) but i could see getting into gncc maybe. im confused. i know they are both good quads. i know i will miss the rush of a heavily modified banshee. but i want 4 stroke power this time around. thanks for the help!

 

99% of the mx and xc racers will choose the 400 for there race quad ! the raptor just dont due to well in theses conditions. although it does take alot of money to make the 400 race ready. If I were to do It again from scratch I would consider the new canandale moto for the price of 12,500 That price sounds High but trust Me you will Excede that price quickly building a race quad . Good luck with your choices and hope I helped !

 

i thought of that but the cannondales ive seen just don't seem right? to me. they seem to have alot of noise in the engine area. i really am not looking to give any of the pros a run for their money - just local stuff. i started with a yam 80 when i was 8 then got into mx ant last the 'shee. i must admit i really haven't had anything bad to say about the yamahas. i really like the idea of 660 ccs but the 400-440 seems to be the answer for the woods. do you know of anyone with the mods i've listed? any ideas on whos 440 kit? i cant see spending the $ to get a 400ex into the same area a 12k canondale is. i think i could be competative with the canondale for less than 12k. even with the raptors higher entry price. imho
thanks for the help.

 

The engine noise in the cannondale is just the dual cams which are gear driven. Sounds pretty cool actually. You could get a Cannondale Speed and race it right out of the box. You could then slowly add what you need as time goes on. The speed has the same motor as the moto and fully adjustable shocks but not all the racing extras.

 

i was just thinking that if i am going to upgrade to the loboII on either quad then I guess the honda's advantage isn't there.( handeling) . i checked lrd's website and their 440 kit will cost 2500. but if i buy the raptor i don't need to touch the engine save for the pipe. so my question is which one? i'm just offering the question for general discussion. if i want to race some gncc events will i be forced to race the open class with the raptor? can i race the 250 class with a 440 ex and is there a rule against valve size on the 440? i saw lrd offered a large valve version for more$. has anyone run the lrd engine? any other places i could try?
thanks[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

yes I run the lrd engine .
the raptor motor wont touch the lrd 440 kit .
the honda will out handle the raptor with the lobo front end for the back end I would just have it converted to a zps and valved to your weight.

 

by the way ??? you said you wanted to woods race ??? dont even think of running a lobo front for that .....the ticket for xc for the honda is +1+1 and a +1 1/2 for the rear then zps all around.the lobo is way to wide for the woods

 

I totally agree with biggy. the lobo is far too wide for woods if i were you id do the 440 kit and add some axis custom shox up front. put some roll design A-arms +1+1-1/2, a durablue +4 wouldnt hurt either.put some razrs all the way around to finish the pakage. i dont mean to bash the raptor but its WAY to under powered for the engine size and the handling is terrible. stick with big red and youll be ok.

 

i forgot to add, a CT Racing pipe on a stock 400ex will top out the 400ex's ponies at 27.9 up from 18.7 so that couldnt hurt either eh?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

thanks guys i guess i didn't realize the loboII was so wide . i really appreciate your help. this is the first honda i will own other than an 87 cr125. as far as the lrd motor did you upgrade the con. rod? and did you get the whole kit like they advertised? what about the bigger valve option? and as long as im picking your brains what suspension? custom axis seems to be the hot set but are they that much better than everyone else?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]