So I currently have an 01 400ex and am debating whether to keep my 400 or move up to a 450r. Here is a little background info, I ride mostly trails. I ride some dunes too, no mud, no mx. I am also a speed junky. And I also do a lot of jumping. My question is, should I spend money on my 400 to satisfy my needs or am I better off getting a 450r?

P.S. Reason being that I am asking this is because I have been wanting to bore my 400 to 440 or maybe even higher but I'm not sure if I should go ahead and bore it or just sell my 400 and get a 450. Also I am really trying to emphasize that I LOVE speed.

 

well the prob is your prob not going to get much for your 400. So you will be looking at 2-4K out of pocket for the 450. Or you could take half that... get your 440 kit and other goodies and be about the same point. But IMO all that speed trail riding is a fast way to dig bark out of your teeth.

 

so your saying i should stay with my 400 and just go ahead and customize it to hell?

 

I have both an EX and an R, and I also ride So. Calif. Where do you ride???? Just how much actual tight "trail" riding do you do???

The R (like all the 450's) is all rev, so it is perfect for open desert, fast more open trails, dunes, or the track, but all that rev makes it pretty useless on tight technical trails. The EX on the other hand, is the king of tight trails (like the ones behind Lake Arrowhead or at Gorman!), and while it is the slowest of the performance quads, it can still hold its own in the open desert and dunes. In short, the EX is by far the better all-around machine.

Absolutely do not needlessly bore out a 400EX! All you will do is destroy its legendary reliability!!! Definitely do the basic mods like an aftermarket exhaust, airbox mods, and a rejet if you have not already....but if you really want to go fast on any quad, the much ignored secret is SUSPENSION! Everybody is so quick to mod up an engine, but they leave their suspension stock, because great suspension is very expensive! I put WorksPerformance shocks on my EX a decade ago, and it will dance through huge desert whoops, leaving everybody else eating dust....

 

Some more thoughts.....

I was camped at Ocotillo last weekend (Pole Line Rd and Hwy 78). We had several washes near camp that were one quad width and sandy ("trails" of a sort)...with some nice berms to bank off of. I rode them a repeated number of times on both the EX and R, and by far the EX was way more "fun"! One thing that really helps, is that the EX has actual engine braking, where the R has very little. It was nice to just let off the throtle and actually slow down, instead of having to use the brakes on the R.

 

agreed recon. i have decided to keep the 400. i do a lot of tight trail riding so yea i am better off now. you said suspension affects performance?

 

No suspension does not affect performance per say but imagine a suspension that sokes up the bumbs on a trail VS throwing you off the trail that gives you speed and the ability to keep going. Think of a Baja racer if you will Yes they have big power but the suspension is what keeps them going! I am with Recon on this Big power does not make the bike the more you can keep the wheels in contact with the ground the faster you will be!

 

Sounds pretty good. Since quality suspension can be pretty expensive I have been looking into probably switching my stock front suspension with stock trx450r suspension. What do you guys think of that?

 

Sounds good if you can make it work!

 

I have heard some bad things about the 440 kit. something about blowing head gaskets. Something to check into.