Since I'm getting the 400EX monday (10/7/01) I was woundering about the stock tires how are they are they going to handle hard trail riding down here in Florida? I also weigh 250 should I invest in some new tires instead of other mods?
and also what are some good mods that would give me performance to beat a Raptor?
And about how much will it cost for the mods?
And finaly if the people you list for mods have web sites tht you know of could you please post them as well?
Thanks

 

The stock tires for the 400ex are awesome!!! The Honda H-trak radials are proven to be the best stock tire to get the best traction in any condition. Especially when they are new of course. Even when they start to wear, they do a great job but not as good as being new. I have a 2000 400ex and still have my set of stock tires on it. I have ridden it a lot in the last 2 years and still have plenty of tred left. However, next summer I am due for a new set of tires. I am going to get a set of Razrs all the way around.

As for mods in beatting a Raptor, that's a difficult issue. I have raced Raptors, and they are hard to beat. I have a FMF Powercore 4 S/A pipe on mine with a K and N powerkit, and still is hard to beat a Raptor, but I definately run a lot closer to them. I have raced them in the sand (by the way I also have paddle tires) and with the mods that I have done to my 400ex, I can run with them all the way until 4th gear. After that, the Raptors start to pull away from me. But only by about 2 or 3 quad lengths. However, I can beat stock Banshees. Tricked out Banshees though....I don't even want to go there...lol...they are so fast. Anyway, a 400ex can beat a Raptor. It will cost a lot of money in engine mods though. I am talking about a 440 kit, exhaust, air intake, possibly change in sprockets, and things like that. I tell you what though, from personal experience, if you are running with Raptors through 4th gear, it pisses guys who ride Raptors off. Even though they can still beat you, I know they don't like the fact that they are not that far ahead of you. Especially when they have several mods done to their quads. I don't know why though. I AM NOT TRYING TO BASH RAPTOR OWNERS IN ANY WAY!!!! I like Raptors a lot. If I didn't own a 400ex that would be what I would want to own. I know that it is easy to sell my 400ex and get a Raptor, but I have put a lot of money into my quad and want to enjoy it for a while. Maybe someday I will own a Raptor. I am just not finished with my 400ex yet. I have ridden a Raptor once and was very pleased with its performance. I test rode it though in a parking lot at a dealership so I could actually get out and ride it on a track or something. It has awesome torgue and horsepower, as well as manners. (Suspension, handling ect.) However I think the 400ex's handling is just a taste bit better then the Raptor. Yamaha did a very nice job designing the Raptor just like Honda did for the 400ex.

As for a list of web sites for mods for the 400ex, it would take me forever to list them all. I would suggest going through a Dirt Wheels Magazine and looking for 4-stroke performance sites that are on the net. Simple things such as fmfracing.com and things like that.

Just as a word of advise, if you are looking to do engine mods, start with an exhaust system and k and n powerkit. See how you like the performance and decide whether or not it's worth the extra buck just so you can beat a Raptor. However, I would stay away from the White Brothers rev kit. It adds an extra 1000 rpms to the 400ex, but it strains the engine tremendously. And always remember, there comes a point between reliability and stupidity. There is nothing wrong with changing exhaust and air intake, but when you start screwing with big bore kits and things like that you could be taking a major chance. You could end up spending a lot of money to get things fixed it something breaks. I will be honest with you though. Sure, I want a 440 kit and everything else completly done to my 400ex (especially to run in front of Raptors) but I don't want risk the reliability factor in taking a chance of breaking something.

I hope that I answered some of your questions and helped you out. Congradulations on your new investment!!!

 

I've rescued a bunch of riders with flat stock tires! Out here in the desert, they just don't hold up. The walls are thin, and are prone to getting cut by sharp rocks, cactus, etc. I don't like the rears design either, because they are hard to break free when you try to slide. It's nothing but Holeshot XCT's (4-ply front and 6-ply rear) for me. The desert is probably a worst case scenario. You may get away with stockers where you live.

 

YZguy - I will have to disagree with you on that. I live in Phoenix, and ride VERY rough and ugly desert trails, have done some boulder hopping through creek beds, and have run over cholla (cactus for you East Coast people!) and barbed wire (not on purpose), as well as put my stock tires through their paces on the MX track every weekend - and I have never had a flat tire. I have stockers - and have had my quad since March. That may not sound like a long time, but I ride it at least one day out of every week - and on camping trips; all day, every day. The tread is starting to wear down, but I've never seen tougher stock tires. Or rims, for that matter. My husband's already got 2-3 plugs in his Raptor tires, and we ride the same trails, and run over the same stuff, and he has far less hours than I do on his quad.

I wouldn't worry too much about swapping out your new stock tires for a different set just yet. Spend that money on a pipe, or some other mod you want. Those tires will last you a while..... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

No No NO!! The top speed of your quad will NOT change. A pipe, K&N, or whatever else will NOT change the top speed of your quad! If you want to change that, you have to change the gearing, or get bigger tires! The only thing a pipe, 440kit, or whatever else will get you is a quicker acceleration, but not top speed.

 

lonestarbanshee,

Please explain that... I have never heard of adding a bore, pipe, filter, rev kit and not getting more top speed??
Explain how you wont get that if you will, thanks.

 

Good question.

 

What does a pipe, bore job, filter, etc etc get you? More HP and torque, and overall power.. Right? Horsepower doesn't exactly always equal speed.

A pipe and other mods will help your top end power, but unless your limiter is played with, it will cut out before maximum power is reached. I forgot what RPM the EX shuts off at, but unless it revs longer, you won't acheive a higher speed. I agree with Fourtracker14, if you start playing with your rev limiter, it can have long-term effects on your engine.

What I'm trying to say is: Unless you adjust the Rev Limiter, you will not gain top speed. If you DO adjust it, your engine will have a shorter life-span than normal.

Who drag races anyways???

 

The stock tires on mine worked great, good traction and predictable sliders, until I did the pipe/K&N/modified air box combo. After that the extra power just tore them to pieces on rocky terrain. I found Turf Tamers to be a good tire for summer/dry and Holeshots for muddy conditions.

 

I would have to tend to agree with lonestarbanshee. All of those components will just give you an increase in HP, torgue, and acceleration. If you want the EX to go faster, you will need to change the gearing, sprockets, and rev kit. Remember the reliability factor though. However, a pipe and air filter I believe increases acceleration tremendously though. As well as a gain in HP, and torgue.

Oh come on lonestarbanshee, everyone enjoys drag racing. Speed and acceleration is what it's all about.

Fourtracker14