i went down to the local dealer and the mechanic and me compared the 400's cases and the bolts are the same, but i never cracked the cases on my quad and the xr open, but a kickstart would not be feasilble even if the internals were the same because the xr kicks backwards, and thats a 13 inch kickstarter! no way thats going to fit by my rear fender. so we checked on putting an idler wheel on the inside so you could kick it forward but the cases could not handle the machining (too thin). so not unless someone comes out with a modified cover that will be strong enough to accept an extra sprocket on the inside. that means for most of us we will just have to make due with the electric start

 

with the stock pegs and mud flaps what your saying would be impossible like you said but what if i got a shorter kick start lever and i have nerf bars so muds flaps won't get in the way. do you know if the internals are the same

 

Go find someone with a Yamaha WR/YZ 400 and try kickstarting it without using the compression release. You will then opt to keep electric start and find another way to loose the weight.

 

the internals seem to be the same (cases have the same bolt pattern and identical indentations). but as for taking off you fenders and just using nerf bars that is a bad idea (what if you land on the tire itself or fall inbetween the axel and peg?) and anyways, you would have to have legs like tree trunks to be able to use a shorter starter to crank the engine over. personally i would take the money to be squandered to have a totally unique 400ex and blow it on shocks and a arms.

later

 

I never said i was gonna take off my fenders . i said i just goit nerf bars and got ride of the old mud flaps attached to the pegs

 

I never said i was gonna take off my fenders . i said i just goit nerf bars and got ride of the old mud flaps attached to the pegs and also i am not worried about starting it or the price or anything like that my orginal question was could it be done. not is it gonna be hard to start or cost alot

 

if none of that is any deterrent to you then yes, it is possible to add a kickstart to a 400ex, which will be really trick. how about keeping me updated on the progress of your project and i'll try and help if i can.

 

thanks do you know how much the side panel is?

 

I read in on eof the magazines when the 400ex came out and they asked Honda if a kickstarted could be put on like the 300ex motor and they said no. Something about crankshaft gears?.

 

don't have any idea about the cost of a side cover. any with the gears, just read the earlier posts i made.