I have always rode yamaha and mostly 2 strokes. I have a banshee that i ride now and my dad has a 660 raptor. I want to get a new machine for just trail riding and keep my banshee for the dunes. I want a honda for reliability and was looking at a 400ex because i dont have a ton of money to spend. There a a few good 400 i have found for my price range. My only questions are Will i out grow it or will it be something i can ride for a lone time i am 6'0" right now. Also are they fast enough and have enough low end to take to mx tracks will i want more speed? And last are there any years with defective parts i should steer clear of or any problems. Thank you all very much.

If they dont have that great of speeed and cheap and easy ways for speed and power.... Exhaust..etc.. (rather not bore)

 

i got an 04 and its a good bike , ive not had it a yr yet and im n the middle of putting a big bore 426 in mine , i wasnt happy with the bottom end of it , but my brother has an 01 and its no problem to bring it up n 3rd on flat ground , mine may have just been rode to hard & put up wet ,we r bout 5'10" and it fits us good, & its good on the trail

 

ok thank you i was also wondering about the 440 kit if any one has used it and how well it works.

 

one other thing i hear people port them out to get more power. How well does this work any one done it and waht is the cost.

 

I just sold my 05 400ex and always loved it. I lowered the gear ratio on it to give it a little more out of the hole. Im about 5'11 250 had no real probs. If you do go with a 05 and up 400ex and are interested i have a new 440 kit that i will be selling. Note 05 and have reverse.

 

have u ever had a 440 kit how much extra power and speed does the machine gain?

 

i talked to several mechanic and som was at honda shops , they all said that th 440 had alittle more bottom end then the 426 , but 440 was more for playin & hill climbing , and they all recomended for me to go with the 426 they said it was better all round and " would eat a 440 " . i dont know bout that ,but thats what i just started to do to mine , im waiting on my cylinder to get finished. they all also told me that the 440 was bad to blow head gaskets

 

ok thanks so how much does a 426 run you for everything. Is it just a bore kit?

 

all the piston kits were 160 , from stock to the 440 , it cost me 60 to get it bored , if i had went with the 440 i wouldve had to send the jug off & had it sleved & they said it wouldve been over 500$ , thats another reason i went with the 426 &if somethin happens the jug can still b taken out & with the 440 u prob would have to get a new jug

 

I had a 2002 400ex, stock except for a pipe/jetting, and it was a blast. I truly enjoyed that bike. We would take it to a place in Ottowa, Illinois (Fox Valley Off-Road) where they have a track and tons of trails. It was good for both, not great on either (maybe it was the pilot!), but it was always competetive and fun. I am actually in the process of looking for another one myself. If I do buy another one, I will probably go with the following:

1) 416 or 426 kit - After I added my 6 ply Razrs on ITP T9 Baja rims, it lost a lot of its' grunt; I ride aggressively and stupid, so tough tires and rims are a must
2) Cam - more power -rrrr rrrr rrrr
3) +2 A-arms/axle - stability
4) Elka/Works/PEP shocks - shoulders/elbows not so sore at the end of the day

I am 5' 10" and run 200#, and the bike always felt great. Good luck!