ok.. i have a stock 05 400ex. i have the opp. to buy a like new 450r with a DG exhuast. My question is how much difference in power/torque/top speed will there be between the 2. and will it be very noticable riding trails and road ways with modded 400ex's. because if theres not a very big transition then i would just save my money and pass. thanks.

 

First off, if you ride mostly very tight trails, stick with the more torquey EX. It makes its power down lower in the rpm range and its engine will lug down so it can be ridden slow in the technical stuff. It is also the better all-around machine if you ride a variety of conditions, but don't need awesome top speed.

The 450 on the other hand is a rever not a torquer, and makes its power way up high in the rpm range....it has to be ridden reved out, so it is my choice for fast open country riding. There is no way the 450 is going to lug down, even with a gearing change. I find all the 450s to be pretty miserable for tight trail riding, because of all the clutch work it would require.

Mine (an 04) has the basic mods like HRC kit, EHS airbox lid, and header and muffler, plus it is geared down one tooth in front. Acceleration is explosive....not quite the yank your arms out of their sockets feeling, but close. Does massive hillclimbs with ease. I give up a little top speed because of the lower gearing, but that is fine with me even in the wide open desert.

 

You mention riding trails and roadways with the modded 400exs, The 450 will smoke the azz off of the modded 400s on the roadways, trails is another story.
Like ranger says, in really tight trails, you better have a strong left hand.
On more open trails, lookout 400s, you will be blowing by them.
It will be a hugh transition for you going from a stock 400 to even a stock 450.
They are definately two different animals.

 

The EX is the king of the trails as you see by the replies. The 450 will handle trails as long as they are not slow more techinical trails that require a lot of stop and go. The 450 does not like to stop, ever. I upgraded to the 450 because I did more open trails and hill climbing. The 400EX did work well, in fact most of my riding buddies still drive their's but, the EX tends to bog down on larger hills. The 450 will laugh in their face and keep truckin'. As far as noticing more power..Yes you will, much more.

 

thanks guys. i ride with alot of 400ex's 660r's and 1 700r and a yfz 450. and its like everytime we go ridin i can barely keep up with the modded 400ex's and the yfz and 700r is just gone. and it just makes me sick when we stop and play and i see they have all the extra power to play around with. not to mention when we ride on the road and i just get my azz left. ive never seen a 450r run in person around here and was just wondering if it was a big enough transition to keep up or not. because although the 400ex is torquey i just get left when im runnin with the big dogs.

 

the 450r IS a big dog, you wont be disappointed