Gordon Gordon, why hast thou forsaken us
Nov 2, 1999 | 04:12 AM
#3
Trailblazer
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
I suppose it's possible that I may yet be consumed by the "Dirt Bike Bug", but it hasn't happened yet... not totally, anyway. I've had my new XR400R 10 weeks now, I've made a number of monor changes, added a few bolt-ons, I have it running pretty much the way I want, but I've still a long way to go to get back to my 1982 riding level... if I ever do! I realize that it's quite a stretch (maybe of my imagination) for a 52 year old to ride like a 35 year old, but I really think the new modern bike is good enough to make up the difference. In the woods, I'm already outrunning guys who were leaving me in the dust just four or five weeks ago, but regaining old skills comes a lot quicker than regaining old strength and endurance. So, I'm riding often, and working out to get back in shape. I hope to enter a few enduros next year, and even though enduros aren't all-out racing, they generally go for around 100 miles, and so far I've not done even half that in one day on my XR400R.
I'm still riding my 4x4's too, although I've not ridden the 300 in some time now. Mostly I've been riding the 450ES in my work to clear away the summer growth from the local trails, put up new trail markers, and open a few new trails as well. It's a lot of work, but it's good exercise, and it helps the local riding community. (And it doesn't hurt that I am more familiar with the trails than any of the guys I try to outrun on the weekends! Heh heh heh! Every second counts, ya know!)
TIRES: I'll soon be ordering new tires for my 450ES, and despite the comfortable ride and added ground clearance I've enjoyed with the 27" Blackwater XT's, I'm throwing them out because of the many many flats I've had with them. They just don't seem capable of withstanding hard riding in rocky terrain. I plan to order a four-set of 26x11x12 Bi-Claws. I'm not fond of their rough and harsh ride, but I love the way they handle, I love their great resistance to punctures, and they're certainly among the best when it comes to winter mud. I've had them on my Honda 300 for over 2-1/2 years now, and they have served me very well.
WINCH: I've had the SuperWinch 2000 on my 450ES for about nine months now. I've used it only three times, actually needed it only once, and in each of those cases, a $19.95 "Come-Along" would have done the job, albeit somewhat slower, of course. I feel like I'm carrying around an extra 20 lbs. or so for nothing.
Highlifter Products High Performance Kit: I like it, and feel it worthwhile for the rider who always wants a little more. It's really not very noticeable at speed, but the extra torque is noticeable when you get into really rough terrain. It actually feels like I've lowered the overall gear ratio more than increasing the power. It really doesn't feel faster or more powerful, exactly. It just feels like you need to use one gear higher than when stock. And the throttle response is more immediate. The new muffler emits a totally different sound, but when measured with a sound meter, it's just barely louder than stock.
Highlifter Products Big Bore Kit: First it was said to make the 433cc Honda 450 into a 493cc Torque Monster. Then it was supposed to be a 482cc instead. Then someone said it was 476cc. In final form, however, the Big Bore kit gives you only a 34cc gain, for a total of 467cc. The added power is just barely noticeable, but the piston slap noise from the cheap Wiseco piston is so irritating, I'm serioulsy considering buying a whole new stock cylinder, and going back to my stock (and quiet) piston. I DO NOT recommend the Highlifter Products Big Bore kit for the Honda 450. To me it has represented not only a waste of money, but a reason to throw more good money away, just to get back to the stock parts!
So what else is going on?
Gordon Banks
Huntsville, AL
2000 Honda XR400R
1999 Honda 450ES
1997 Honda 300 4x4
I'm still riding my 4x4's too, although I've not ridden the 300 in some time now. Mostly I've been riding the 450ES in my work to clear away the summer growth from the local trails, put up new trail markers, and open a few new trails as well. It's a lot of work, but it's good exercise, and it helps the local riding community. (And it doesn't hurt that I am more familiar with the trails than any of the guys I try to outrun on the weekends! Heh heh heh! Every second counts, ya know!)
TIRES: I'll soon be ordering new tires for my 450ES, and despite the comfortable ride and added ground clearance I've enjoyed with the 27" Blackwater XT's, I'm throwing them out because of the many many flats I've had with them. They just don't seem capable of withstanding hard riding in rocky terrain. I plan to order a four-set of 26x11x12 Bi-Claws. I'm not fond of their rough and harsh ride, but I love the way they handle, I love their great resistance to punctures, and they're certainly among the best when it comes to winter mud. I've had them on my Honda 300 for over 2-1/2 years now, and they have served me very well.
WINCH: I've had the SuperWinch 2000 on my 450ES for about nine months now. I've used it only three times, actually needed it only once, and in each of those cases, a $19.95 "Come-Along" would have done the job, albeit somewhat slower, of course. I feel like I'm carrying around an extra 20 lbs. or so for nothing.
Highlifter Products High Performance Kit: I like it, and feel it worthwhile for the rider who always wants a little more. It's really not very noticeable at speed, but the extra torque is noticeable when you get into really rough terrain. It actually feels like I've lowered the overall gear ratio more than increasing the power. It really doesn't feel faster or more powerful, exactly. It just feels like you need to use one gear higher than when stock. And the throttle response is more immediate. The new muffler emits a totally different sound, but when measured with a sound meter, it's just barely louder than stock.
Highlifter Products Big Bore Kit: First it was said to make the 433cc Honda 450 into a 493cc Torque Monster. Then it was supposed to be a 482cc instead. Then someone said it was 476cc. In final form, however, the Big Bore kit gives you only a 34cc gain, for a total of 467cc. The added power is just barely noticeable, but the piston slap noise from the cheap Wiseco piston is so irritating, I'm serioulsy considering buying a whole new stock cylinder, and going back to my stock (and quiet) piston. I DO NOT recommend the Highlifter Products Big Bore kit for the Honda 450. To me it has represented not only a waste of money, but a reason to throw more good money away, just to get back to the stock parts!
So what else is going on?
Gordon Banks
Huntsville, AL
2000 Honda XR400R
1999 Honda 450ES
1997 Honda 300 4x4
Nov 2, 1999 | 05:03 PM
#5
Weekend Warrior
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
trx,
Apparently the "software" dropped the threads for the 300 and the 450. However, one of the brighter posters printed the 300 thread out - He is sending me a copy. Between Chris, myself, and maybe Shane - We will recreate the 300 thread.
Good to see you back Gordon!
Happy Trails
------------------
Steve "Bog Hog" West
Honda 300 4x4 - Gordonized, Powered and Vamped
Apparently the "software" dropped the threads for the 300 and the 450. However, one of the brighter posters printed the 300 thread out - He is sending me a copy. Between Chris, myself, and maybe Shane - We will recreate the 300 thread.
Good to see you back Gordon!
Happy Trails
------------------
Steve "Bog Hog" West
Honda 300 4x4 - Gordonized, Powered and Vamped
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