Flying400 wants suspension and chassis mods too, thats whats going to cost alot. It will prolly be well over 3 grand if he does everything he listed.

 

I think you off a little bit on the price khen, Just the Curtis Sparks is going to be close to 600. Piston120, Bore 100, Webcam 200, rev box 100, elderbrock carb 375, Head work up to 500, bigger oil tank 185, mickey dunlap oil cooler 400, rediator shrouds 40, Aluminum air box 100, Frame and hub powder coat 450, new plastic 300, AC nerf bars and bumpers 220, works triple rate rezzies 500+, +2 arms 600, works shock for back 600, +1 swingarm 400, G-force axle 200, steel braded brake lines 80. Retail for all af this is over 6000 dollars. So if you do a real good job of negotiating and buy some of it off ebay, maybe you get it down to 3000. Problem with this is your quad is now worth 3500. Nothing wrong with doing all of this but financially it dosn't make sence, if it makes you happy though go for it.

 

I agree with oldturtle, just sell the 400 and get something better. If you don't want to do that then it sounds like you should have a pretty stout 400. I personally wouldn't go for a high rev box. The 400's are more torque motors than anything and without serious headwork and a very agressive cam they don't like to rev out, not saying that they won't. You will just have to build the motor to take advantage of the 1000 - 1500 rpm over-rev. I would also seriously suggest an aftermarket clutch basket, and pressure plate to help get that 35-40 hp to the ground.

My 416 was built with a 12.5:1 piston and an xr400 cam, my quad has some serious mid-range power. I run with z400/kfx/dvx piped, piped raptors and some predators. Either way you go, it sounds like you will have a very nice 400ex and should be able to supprise quite a few people on supposedly faster machines. Long live the sleeper 400ex's.

 

You can cancel out all the suspension parts, bumper, nerfs, bling parts and exhaust because if you want all of that for the 400EX you're going to want it for the 450R as well. So the only added expense to building a 400EX to compete with a piped 450R are the engine parts. You should easily be able to do all of these for $1000 or less. To get a 450R you are talking about $6900 out the door including taxes and dealer fee's, if you negotiate a bit.

cash outlay
450R $6900
400EX $4200

So assuming the 400EX is worth about $3200, you would be in into the 400EX about $4200 as compared to $6900. So lets say your 400EX is still only worth about $3200 with the engine mods(which is arguable).. what do you think your 450R is worth after it's home from the dealer? Truth is you'd be lucky to get $6000.

net loss 400EX = $1000
net loss 450R = $900

Now's where it gets interesting.. over the next 2 years the 450R will take it's biggest depreciation. If history prevails the 450R will depreciate about $2000 while the 400EX has already taken it's biggest depreciation and will only depreciate about $500.

net loss 400EX = $1500
net loss 450R = $2900

400EX = lower initial cash outlay and lower net loss after 2 years.

As far as all the other upgraded parts(suspension, nerfs, bumper, etc) for either of these quads, you're usually better taking them off and selling them and putting the stock parts on if you are going to sell the quad.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. All ur imput helped me decide to get a 450R and put the HRC kit on it and the curtis sparks full exhaust. Ill get nerfs, handlebars and after a while ill get blue plastic with K&K graphics and blue frame and hubs so it will be different than the other 450s up here.

 

First off, I don't know what kind of riders all these guys have been racing. I have a 400ex with a 440 kit, cam, race carb, bla bla bla. It's pretty dang fast. I also have a near stock '05 yfz 450. While my 400 is fast, it has never beat my 450. Anyway, since it seems you've decided to pick up a 450, why are you goin with a honda? I have always been a honda guy (hence the 400ex), and I waited patiently for the trx 450R to come out following the yfz. I planned on buying a trx from the day I heard that they were going to make one. Finnaly after a lot of homework, I bit the bullett and bought a yfz 450. The yfz is a much better built bike. It's got an aluminum frame and a-arms, titanium five valve dohc, lower stance, re-buildable shocks (with about an inch more travel both frunt and back), it looks better, is quite a bit faster, handles better, and is just plain better. The benefits of the trx however is that is considerably more comfortable, and it can wheelie all day long. And remember, I was a honda guy all my life! Since I got my yfz, I've raced tons of trx 450R's, and have been beat by on, one time out of three races. The only thing done to my bike is a K and N intake, and I have 8 paddle sand sharks. I usually end up racing trx's with 9 or 10 paddle haulers, pipe, filter, jet, and cam. The bikes just don't compare. Both are great bikes, and I think that they dominate the market. I just think that the yfz is better. That is unless your things are comfort and wheelies of course. But even with all the talk about how uncomfortable the yfz is, the only time I had a hard time with it was the third day of my first three day weekend at the coast; I was pretty dang sore. Anyway, I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever you buy, I just wanted to make sure that you at least look at the yamaha, it's an awesome bike! Have fun!

 

The YFZ does not have an aluminum frame, it has aluminum a-arms which is a weakness IMO. The 450R shocks are also rebuildable. I also think that the 450R is better looking than the YFZ. If you're serious about drag racing I wouldn't consider any of these quads, in any other type of race the Honda is proving to be as good or better than the YFZ(if you follow GNC and GNCC racing). I've rode a couple of YFZ's and 450R's and raced several YFZ's and 450R's with my 416EX and I see no reason to replace it with either of the 450's.. A tweaked YFZ may have a slight edge on a drag strip, but I like the torque curve of the modified EX on the MX track better. It's all personal preference I guess.

 

I have a feeling Tim Farr is going to dominate on his 450r this year. yfz didn't make the podiun this year at the first national MX race. Like kehn said the frame is steel not aluminum only sport quad so far is the cannondale/atk, maybe the new Suzuki will change that.

 

You guys were right, I checked up on the frame, and it is steel. However, I still stand by my claim. The yfz is a better bike. When talking about pro mx racers, you cannot really judge the bikes based off that! Most of us weekend warriors will never be able to afford half the mod's on those bikes. The honda pro mx'ers leave practicly nothing stock on those bikes. The yfz's, while barely stock also, have quite a bit less engine work done (at least in the bikes I've read on). In practical applications, with the usual things done (pipe, jet, filter, cam, etc.) the yfz, with a decent rider, will beat the trx. That's what all of my experiences have shown at least! A good way to tell which bike is faster, is after you've raced, trade bikes and race again. If the same rider wins, than obviously the rider is porbably just better. The the same bike wins, than the bike is probably faster. I ahve done this on many occaisons, and my bike always wins. I don't have anything against the trx, I just like the yfz better. Their both good bikes.

 

Don't buy a slow machine and make it fast, buy a fast machine and make it faster. 450 is way to go. Now the only argument is do you want Honda or Yamaha. My vote is for the Honda. Do some research on that one. Either one you pick you will be more happy than with a modded 400.