I was crusing through Ebay the other day and it got me to thinking. What if I bought a frame, say to a TRX400 (EX?) and built my own ATV fromt he ground up using parts I could find online (both new and used)? What would be even neater is if I did it here inside this forum in 4-5 stages taking photos and comments along the way?

Here are some things to consider...

Will it be cost effective to buy each piece (Items ma y be used and not all new) versus just buying a ready built ATV?

Would there be enough interest out there in our forum to follow it?

Any and all feedback is welcome!

Thanks

 

I think it would be alot of fun. You would probably get a lot of support from other forum members. As to being cost effective, i doubt it. It would be tough and expensive finding all of the parts online. But it would be very cool, you would be able to build it to your exact specifications. If you have the time go for it i think you'll have alot of people behind you.
Nick

 

I'm sure that there is several people on this forum who will be able to walk you through the entire process.

 

ive been contemplating this lately

would be cheaper then buying an atv then modifying everything the way u want it

if u watch ebay and get some really good deals and get lucky to find everything u want in good working order and in good condition

recently ive seen a few 400 ex frames going for 300-500 dollars
+2 a arms for 200-300
+2 to +4 swingarms for 300-400
400 ex motors for 300-900
axles for a few hundred
then all u need is rest of the small parts like steering, tie rods, wheels, tires, brakes, electrical(prolly the biggest PITA) and gas tank and plastics....plus all the little bits and pieces to finish it off

i know im forgetting a few things but that should cover a good majority of stuff

 

hmmm, you dont think it would run a little raggid? I mean honda parts are supposed to go with a honda. not a kawasaki suzuki or yamaha. Arnt the parts supposed to go hand in hand...

 

i recently built a 300 ex from the grond up. i stripped down 2 old junkers and built one bike from them. i had to order a few parts such as a bearing carrier and exaust but i got a good deal on them on ebay.when all was said and done i ended up spending 400 for the 2 junkers and about 400 in parts new and used.800 bucks and ive got and damn good 300ex.to me building bikes is alot of fun.i say go for it.sometimes ebay has a junker or two for sale you could get for parts .keep a positve attitude and your eyes open for parts.

 

I pretty much did that with my bike. Is it fun, heck yeah. You get to do it the way you want.

As for being cost effective, no way. You try to figure out how much its gonna cost, but you can never account for the little things. But they are what kill you. You need to at least have a complete junk bike, to rob parts from. Small things, that you never think of, yet cant do with out. Those small things also hold up the project a ton. I missed a weekend trip right before mine was done, because i didnt have a spacer for the rear axle, no way around it. PLus then it was $18. I cant count how many times I thought I had all the parts, then went and spent several hundred dollars on "little" things I forgot.

If I where to do it again, I would buy a junk quad, blown motor maybe, and start there.

I do have an album with about 200 pictures of the process, and thats pretty cool.

 

Okay sounds like it's a go. So, to keep things consistent, I thought I would go with a 2001 400EX platform. Seems to me like the parts availability, both new and used, will be decent and cost won't be too bad. So my first two questions are...

1) What to look for in a frame, or better said...what to look out for?

2) Anybody that's already done this give me a BASIC list or order of events. Example Frame, suspension, wiring, motor etc. What order just for planning (and budget) purposes.

Once I start, I start a new thread on every section so not to drive the mods crazy.

 

parts are easy here are some sites for aftermarket and oem parts
www.planethondaracing.com
www.servicehonda.com
www.ronnies.com
www.Rockymountainatv.com
www.denniskirk.com

with these 5 sites you can get every tiny to large part you need.

 

You will be better off to buy a complete junk one to start with. When you start buying parts it will seem like your saving, cause its a little at a time, but when you get done, and add it all up, you will be over what you could have got one for.