alright heres the questions......

1.what is the difference between the 04 models and below (other then the plastics) and 05 and above?

2.how does the power compare to the suzuki z400.........
i dont mean top speed i mean torque and acceleration poppin wheelies etc...

3.how good is the stock suspention on the 08 ex?...... there was a couple of updates on 08 suspention

4.whats the weight difference between the 400ex and other sports quads?

5.what is the difference between breaking in the motor and not

any help would be appreciated thanks ahead of time...........-Alex

 

04 and 05 diffrence is the head light and front plastic

the 400ex would run well with the z400, but i think the 400ex would beat it. i think it has more bottom end power too.( riders differ )

dont own an 08, but i herd it was a good upgrade.

the 400ex is a dry stump(air cooled) engine that came from the 400 model dirt bike. it has more continious power through-out every gear. very well made bike!!!

BREAK IN POINT is VERY IMPORTANT on all engines.


hope this can help!!

 

Break it in hard, otherwise the rings will not seat properly: http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm


The Z400 is more of a revver (but not as much as the 450's are). It makes its power up higher in the RPM range, and needs to be kept in the mid to higher range to get max torque.

The 400EX is more of a lugger. I can put mine in 1st gear and idle through the rought technical stuff.

So, I like the Z for faster trails and more open country, and the EX for tighter, slower, more technical trails. I actually had a Z until recently, but seeing I had a 450R for open desert and a 400EX for tight trails, the Z didn't really fit anywhere in my stable.

 

I've owned purely Honda since I was a boy. Until I ran across a good deal in a kfx400 and decided to sell my 300ex and get the 400. From experience I hate to say that the z400's and kfx400's are a better machine than a 400ex. I know it'll make some of you mad but I love Hondas..always have.. The ex is outdated compared to others. The 400ex has less than 9.0-1 compression compared to the kfx400's 11.3-1. The front end is around 2 inches wider on the kfx. So much has to be done to the ex to make it run with the kfx. Honda changed the gearing on the front sprocket around '05.

 

which is better for mx? i know the z has better suspention due to the fully adjustability............ i have a 250ex and i hit a 5 ft hill in my yard in 3rs gear and nearly break my ankkle every time specialy in the cold and i only weigh 120 but i rode my dads 400ex and a friends z400 and the z took a tabletop no sweat but only thing i did on my dads was woops which was alright but i went to a dealer and looked at a z and it looked alot better for mx it also seems easier to find mods...............everybody keeps saying get a 450 but i want something thats gunna last me a while or until i feel like putting up with the meintmance of a 450 not to mention im only 14(i will get a 450 when ktm puts out theier wider xc but until then im looking for a little smaller quad) but i do know how to ride i rode a good veriety of bikes but the z was the most comfortable......is there even a break in a 250ex if so i didnt do it and i bought new and have not had a problem yet just dont like the power or suspention so tell me what you guys would get for mx and why thanks again
also what is the regular meintmance on a z compared to a ex?

 

i read the attachment on break-in but let me get this straight all i have to do is pretty much just run it really hard in 2nd 3rd 4th gear? but it dont say how long i have to run it like that?

 

Another big difference between the 2004 and 2005 model of the 400EX is that 2005 is the first year to have reverse on the 400EX. I wasn't sure if it would be necessary, but I use mine all the time.

 

oh yeah i forgot to mention that to but thanks for your help

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: race4life254

i read the attachment on break-in but let me get this straight all i have to do is pretty much just run it really hard in 2nd 3rd 4th gear? but it dont say how long i have to run it like that?</end quote></div>


I do hillclimbs in 2nd gear pinned. Then I turn around at the top of the hill and go back down the hill in 2nd gear against extreme engine braking. I do that 3 times, then park it and cool it off. I do that again for the next couple days, then ride it normally for a couple of days, but taking it fairly easy and varying my speed all the time.

 

thanks guys yall are alot of help