Everybody wants to mod the h@!! out of their quads...

I realize that customization adds a personal touch, and that it's a man thing to want to go faster, but...

there's always gonna be somebody faster... it all boils down to who has the most money...
in a drag race anyways...

I like my 2000 400EX just the way it is... and I think I'm gonna keep it stock for dependability and the best over-all performance... which, besides economics, is what it was designed for

what's everyone else's thoughts on this?

PS. I bought mine used for $3,800, with not a scratch on it... literally

how much money do some of you guys have into your highly modded 400's ???

and how often does it get hot, or brake down? and what type of riding CAN'T you do because of the mods you've done???

just something to think about

 

I have about $1200 or so into mods for my 400ex (416, cam, porting, ect.), don't regret it one bit. I'll be spending another 800 or so on it in the next few months too. It's no less reliable than it was stock, and with the better jetting than stock, It starts easier, warms up quicker, and is more fun to ride. It has been modded for about 8 months, has never broken down, and I can do any type of riding I could do before, and then some. To me, and alot of people I know, quads are more than just a toy or something to do when your bored. We ride everynight, usually all weekend, and think about it non-stop. Also, remeber, in stock form the 400ex's motor makes less power than it was designed to. Just something to think about.

 

Stock should be fine, if you take it easy on it. The only reason I modded my 400EX (no engine mods, only chassis) was because the front shocks kept bottoming out, and the handle bars started bending like crazy. Then, I got a wider axle to stabilize. That is about it.
I haven't done anything to the motor, except change the oil and adjust the valves since september '98. There is one problem though, I found out a couple weeks ago that my clutch might need some modification because a shaft is possibly being oil starved. I haven't torn it down yet, so I haven't been riding it. I think the 400EX is very reliable stock. I am a bit leery of modding the engine for this reason.

 

I agree with you 100% that stock is great. But here's the way I look at it. I went out and bought a BONE STOCK MINT '87 250X. I then built my dream quad. Exactly what I wanted in a quad right down to the very last nut and bolt. The only reliability issue that I have is I need to adjust the valves after every tank of gas. That's it. I bought it for $1,650 last December and so far I have about $5,500 into it and that includes the $1,650 that I paid when I bought it. It's faster then a 400EX, eats STOCK banshee's and eats my modded CR. All that power, great ergonomics, bad A$$ looks, great handling, and reverse. I guess modding just makes me appriciate what I have more. But I do have to admit seeing a mint 250R or any high performance quad from the '80's kinda brings a tear to my eye.

 

I don't agree with the statement that whoever has more money will win in a drag race. I have a 400EX with an exhaust and jetting and at the local drags this summer came close to beating a cannondale. It was a 600 foot race and I had him beat for about 450-500 feet. I had a great start and he had a terrible start. Man does that thing go once it hooks though. At 3/4 track he blew by me. I won another drag in the 400 mod class (had to enter this class because of the pipe) against 8 other guys. A few had 440 kits. Drag racing is not all about who has the most money in mods on their quad. Usually a great holeshot can make up for less hp as long as the race isn't to long. But I still plan on getting a big bore kit.

 

I'm right down the road from Unadilla on Rt. 8 ....where axactly do they drag race around there? I have not seen or heard of any organized quad drags?

I wish they would let us run the Unadilla track once in a while. I got to ride it once when I was racing dirtbikes... But other than that we are stuck with thunder ridge?

I am interested in any trails that may be available towards Unadilla forks also... I am from sauquoit. Unless you ride a sled, the trails seem off limits.
QuadMXr: Let me know if there is any good trail riding that way. I have a banshee and a 400ex...along with my drz400.

 

250Rampage2 I agree with you. quads are my life, I can't go one day without talking about them, let alone without riding.

 

My quad is bone stock. Reason? Simple, how often do you see a totally stock and mint TRX250R? I love the look on people’s faces when they see it. If I want to go racing again, I'll build another quad for that. This one is just to nice to molest!

BTW.... I have raced this one (MX & XC), most people wouldnt believe what can be acheived on a stock R.

 

i HAVE A 2002 400EX AND I AM AFRAID TO START MODDING IT....I HAVE A PROBLEM....ONCE I START I CAN'T STOP....MY 2000 HD ROAD KING CLASSIC FOR EXAMPLE...MUSTANG SEAT...CHROME EVERYTHING...STAGE 2 BIG BORE KIT FOR ENGINE...PIPES...OIL COOLER...I SHOULD BE OK THOUGH, BUT I DID WISH FOR A PAIR OF RENTHAL 400EX BEND BARS FOR XMAS!.....DOH!...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Mine is almost stock, - reason> I quit my job and now I have No $ to mod it. Stock is good but I want more performance out of my quad. I want to be able to jump higher, rev faster, go faster, and further. You seem to think that modding your quad limits what you can do to it but you are way wrong, if I get tire, pipe, reads, and a 310 kit there is no place I cant go because of it. And also with all that not only will be able to do MORE not less I will be able to go faster and have more power and still have a reliable 250R. You can do what you like to your quad but stock is not for me.