What does it take to put a yamaha 400 motor in a 400ex frame, just different motor mounts? How much does it cost? What about exhaust, does it need to be custom made?

 

I would say that it would probaly work if you get the right engine mounts, and the exhuast would have to be one built for that motor. your have to try and and find out. Which yamaha motor were you planning on putting it in. the 400ex motor is awesom so i doubt you would get any more power from another 400 motor
Y2K 400ex lots of mods

 

The YZ426 motor makes almost twice the hp of a 400EX. I read that all you need really is new motor mounts, radiator mounts and re-mount the oil pan somewhere cuase your radiator would be in its place.

 

The only way to get a YZ motor is to buy the whole bike. It'd be cheaper to sell the EX, buy a Banshee and some aftermarket suspension. Heck I've seen used Banshees with works shocks and a set of pipes for around $4000.

 

It takes a heck of a lot more than aftermarket shocks to turn a Banshee into a 400EX or 250R. Else you would see Banshee's doing a lot better in MX and XC racing & the 250R would never have been as popular as it is....

You're right though, the Yamahonda 426EX would be a very expensive project....

 

Motocross was never mentioned. I know one 400EX owner that traded it in for a Banshee and a 440EX owner who is passing his off to his wife and buying a Banshee for himself. These guys are not racers however. If it's a recreational ride and you want the fastest/quickest all around machine without sinking a ton of money into the Banshee is the only game in town. They are capable woods machines as well as the best stock duner around. (it's an arguable point at best but you have to admit the Banshee has it's merits)

If you could afford the YZ426EX it would be one helluva machine tho! I'd be guessing after buying the EX, the YZ426, misc parts and selling the bare YZ chassis and EX motor it'd be on the order of $8500 or so.

 

I never denied the Banshee is fast, but when it comes to handling, you don't have to be an MX'er or even race at all, to know that it will take a lot more than shocks to make the Banshee compare. The racing was only mentioned to help qualify my point.

If you want to be the fastest in a straight line or up a sand dune, the Banshee is your choice. If you want to be almost as fast in a straight line (stock vs stock and yes, we have raced them) and faster everywhere else, with (more importantly) less rider fatigue, then the 400EX is your choice. Short of someone that spends most of their time in the dunes, I seriously doubt you can find many EX owners that have spent much time on a Banshee that wish they had one instead. I personally don't know any (although I do know a couple with the roles reversed).

If the Banshee was competitive in the handling dept, then the 400EX wouldn't stand a chance in the sales dept @ the same price. You have to admit that even 13 years ago when the Banshee came out, it's frame geometry wasn't exactly state of the art, and it hasn't changed much since (only a small control arm change if I am not mistaken).

BTW.. I do have a friend with a late model Banshee with works shocks, a revalved rear, a Durablue eliminator axle, aftermarket swingarm, and other misc mods, and it still won't handle with my stock EX. He would like to sell it, but has decided to wait and see if the new Cannondale machine is the one to buy.