The more I ride my new Z the more I realize I need some more power in the bottom. What would be the easiest way to gain a little? Re-gear? I really do not want to invest in a pipe or air filter. Other then second gear, this quad hauls. Can't wait to ride again tomorrow!

 

I'm not sure how many hours you have on yours but it will get better as you ride and it breaks in. Mine is a totally different machine now that it is broken in. I have regeared mine to get the spacing evened out for tight woods. But be careful how low you go. I've modified my stock pipe along with regearing and the front end will come up real easy in the woods if you crack it open very hard even in second. Third isn't as bad but it will come up if I want it to even in 3rd.

 

I'm glad to see someone else complaining about no low end. I have posted on this a bunch, and mostly everybody tells me I'm crazy. I don't think some of these people have ever ridden bikes with real rip-off-the-bottom low end, so they don't know what they are missing!!! (But, a lot of people are gearing down, so that makes it real suspicious.) It is interesting to note that nobody is publishing TORQUE CURVES for this machine. You see lots of HORSEPOWER dynos, but torque is far more instructive. Maybe we aren't seeing torque, because they are so dismal on the low end???? Anyway, I have an FMF PowerBomb and Titamium 4 pipe on order. Their dymos show +2.5 hp on the bottm, and +5.5 on the top. I keep hopeing!!!!

 

I kinda thought the same thing. There seem to be a lot of people trying to pick up some low end torque. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this quad. It just seems 2nd gear is outta wack. One thing is for sure, I am not used to reving a 4 stroke as high as this motor likes to go. I found that if I get the RPMs up, 2nd is fine. The only time it is noticable is in really TIGHT trails and steep hills. On more open trails, it is not a problem at all. My friend put a yoshi pipe on his and it cleared up 2nd a whole bunch. I also know part of the problem is my weight (over 200) and the conditions (it is worse in heavy wet sand). Like I said though, in open trails, it rips. It is just the slow technical stuff, I find I have to ride the clutch more. Anyway, this is the funnest quad I have ever ridden. I guess I was spoiled by the gobs of torque the mod DS-650s I rode. I still would not trade my quad for a DS though.

 

I think first gear is pretty good, but there is to big a gap between 1st and 2nd. 3rd is a little high also. I'm using this bike in the desert, so a lot of the riding will be open country. The desert has its share of trail too, but they aren't usually as tight as woods trails. So, the powerband should suite me pretty well even if I can only improve the low end just a little. I find it important to be able to blip the throtle and pop the front over obstacles (both at high and low speed!).

 

I think Zookyrider's experience with re-gearing suggests that the Z400's so-called 'no bottom-end,' is an exaggeration. As I've argued before, off-idle is where the Z400 is weakest relative to the 400EX (the most valid comparison), but the bottom third of the rev-band -- my definition of the "bottom end" -- is almost as good as the Honda, and in fact, can easily be improved by re-gearing.

The Honda has more 'grunt,' thanks to milder tuning and longer stroke. You want a flatter torque curve? Go buy a Honda. They excel at that and that's why I find them boring.

 

im not a good mechanic but how would i gear down and how much of an effect would regearing have it have

 

You gear down by changing your sprockets. In order to create a lower ratio you would need to go smaller on the front or larger on the rear, just like a ten speed bike. The results will depend on how big of a change you do. One tooth on the front is equal to something like 3 teeth on the rear. If you go too low you may wheelie easier, but it all depends on your conditions. Stock gearing on the Z is 14/40, therefore you see a lot of people going to the 13. The front sprocket is cheaper and you do not run into the clearence issues of a larger rear.

 

Exhaust system fixes all your complaints. It revs so much quicker off the bottom that you think the top end is bogging,but it is just the rev limiter coming on incredibly fast. Sure hope a rev box is available soon or I might have to gear it UP{15 front} to keep it from hitting the rev limiter so soon! With the exhaust system this machine would easily pull a 15 front and be better for YZGUY's desert racer.

 

I make a distinction between "low end power" and "throtle response". Throtle response is pretty good on the Z, it's low end power that I feel is lacking. The bike just doesn't like to lug down. You can't just punch the throtle coming out of a turn. The engine will bog and complain (and sounds like a lawnmower!!), A DOWNSHIFT IS MANDITORY, LIKE ON A 2-STROKE.