A 400 EX with about $1,000 will ride with pretty much anything, we just built a 440, added a full WB exhaust, S2 Hot Cam, Rev Box, and intake, and Uni filter, 11:1 piston, and re- jetted, and this thing is waxing stock banshee's and suzuki and kawi 440's, the only down fall is it's air cooled, it is a very reliable bike and all around sweet. But not a 450 R by any means.

 

I had a 400EX with a pipe & air filter and my wife had a stock Banshee, the 400 was neck in neck until she hit 5th. When she topped out in 4th I was topped out in 5th... but she had one more gear.

 

yea and if you put a pipe on the banshee then raced again the 400ex wouldn't come close to the shee in any gear

 

Agreed, when we went to Yuma I found out that my bike really wasn't faster, it was just putting the power to the ground better and the Banshee was eating me up without mods or paddles(that my 400 had) despite who rode what.

 

listen to recon ranger! nothing that guy says seems to be questionable by anyone on this board not to mention I own an '04 400 ex and it's bad ***.

 

dont be skeptical of the 400ex, its a GREAT trail machine. i own a 2005 and it has been out standing. in the year i have owned it the only down time it has had was recent. i had to replace the rear axel bearings, and adjust the valves. the only other down time was when i had a Hot cam installed. i have replaced the rear brakes twice because i bent my rear rotor. i easily beat 300exs, and am neck and neck on take off with a polaris scrambler 500. once i hit 4th it start pulling away, and then i hit 5th, and he cant touch me. i rode with an arctic cat dvx 400. i didnt notice anything special about it. it is liquid cooled, but i didnt lose sight of him on the trails, or the roads. the only time i got passed was when some guy with a yfz 450 screamed past me... the 400ex is a great machine. BOTTOM LINE

 

Thats what im saying the 400ex is a great bike.