400EX vs 450R

[IMCanadian]

I know its not a fair comparison but I currently own an 03 400ex and am looking for a change...I have put a lot of thought into the 450R but am worried that it won't be enough of a difference to justify the extra $4000 I will have to spend to upgrade to the 450. Trufully what are the differences in riding experience?

[adambomb]

I used to own a 400EX and I tossed around the same question that you are. I figured that by the time I invested the money, time, and effort into getting all the aftermarket parts for the EX I would have been on the same level of power as the 450R.

I'm totally happy with my R and feel confident in the decision that I made to buy it. Good luck, I'm sure you would be happy with the R. But this reasoning is what sounded good to me. Take it with a grain of salt.;)

[Manny55]

I have a 400ex and i dont like riding it anymore after i got the R. It's way to gutless for me the 450r's power is awesome.

[WOracing]

Originally posted by Manny55
I have a 400ex and i dont like riding it anymore after i got the R. It's way to gutless for me the 450r's power is awesome.

Word to that...does your 400ex feel more like a utility quad now lol. Mine does...

[4fiddyR]

It's like taking a 89 accord 4cylinder for a ride, then hopping in the 04 accord that is a v6 with a six speed shift. Technology!

[WOracing]

Originally posted by 4fiddyR
It's like taking a 89 accord 4cylinder for a ride, then hopping in the 04 accord that is a v6 with a six speed shift. Technology!

:) lol

[MX_HONDA]

how bad would the 450r beat a 400ex??

[WOracing]

NO CONETEST!!!!!!!! LOL maybe a 440ex could "keep up", but i doubt it

[Blown 331]

I bought an 2003 400EX in April of 03. Sold it for $4000 cash with the warranty and full exhaust in Dec. Got my 450R in January. no regrets the 450R is awesome. I have the HRC kit installed and am still debating on which pipe to get.

[WOracing]

Originally posted by Blown 331
I bought an 2003 400EX in April of 03. Sold it for $4000 cash with the warranty and full exhaust in Dec. Got my 450R in January. no regrets the 450R is awesome. I have the HRC kit installed and am still debating on which pipe to get.


HMF is the way to go...

[twisted threads]

Originally posted by MX_HONDA
how bad would the 450r beat a 400ex??
stock for stock the 450r would SMOKE it untill you put them in the tight trails then the 400ex would do better but still I think the 450r is faster there ALSO.
It takes a highly modded 400ex to beat a STOCK trx450r.

[avaloncon2]

I was riding today on my 400 and there is no comparison. The 450 is the shiz. At first the tank and the feel of the bike were unfamiliar but now I cant wait to get back on it. The 400 served its purpose but it is time to move on. I had the same dilemma but now I am really happy that I made the switch. I was debating on modding the hell out of it to get the extra power I wanted. I am glad I didnt. After a day of riding the 450 you will be one happy mofo. It is so much more comfortable and it is light as hell. One other thing, I strongly disagree that the 400 ex would perform better in the tight woods, come on.

[Manny55]

I think you should get an LRD! It is a mean ***** exhaust. But its louder then all get out hehe.

[3x440ex]

Would a moded 416 (ported head, cam, fcr 39mm, hmf slip on) hold it's own with a stock 450r?

[brif]

It's been acouple years since I had my last 400ex. Today a buddy came over with his 2002 400ex with a DMC exhaust, K&N, no lid and jet kit. I weigh about 40 pounds more than him. I really suck at drag racing and would pull about 10+ quad lengths on top. My 450r is stock. We switched riders and he pulled me by more. I agree the ex seems pretty tame now. About 3 years ago I thought it was the ****z. Technology is a great thing!

[Manny55]

Would a moded 416 (ported head, cam, fcr 39mm, hmf slip on) hold it's own with a stock 450r?

No.

[400ex4ever]

I moved up to the 450 from a 400EX. Once you ride the 450 and then get back on the 400, I swear it seams like your driving a tank. Jump them and you can really tell the difference. I my opinion it is worth the extra money. Like everyone keeps saying. you will put that much money into the 400EX to keep up with the new generation of sport quads coming out. Good luck.

[markeg192]

450 all the way.

[Pappy]

Originally posted by 3x440ex
Would a moded 416 (ported head, cam, fcr 39mm, hmf slip on) hold it's own with a stock 450r?

only if the 416 rider is alot better then the 450 rider. people put too much emphasis on displacement when the rider is where it counts. now once you reach the level where you cant make the quad go any faster then its time to move up.

i do agree tho...the 450 in stock trim feels stronger then any other 400ex ive ever thrown a leg over

[Tumbleweed]

What they said. I have only 3 hrs. on my 450...it screams compared to my 400. Handling is great in the sand, I will make some adjustments when I get the time for other surfaces. It does not feel tippy to me at all, I weigh about 210. I "mini-raced" my nephew, riding his Cannondale last weekend. I only had an hour on my motor so did not want to really wind it out. Result: I pulled him easy off the line, was always 2-3 bikes ahead of him and backed off only to be kind to my motor during break in. It was no contest. We were on the beach/wet sand and both had our dirt tires on. He is 15 yrs. old/no fear mentality, weighs 150 lbs. and is a good rider. Yeah, 450 all the way boys. You won't regret it. I can't wait to finish break in and put on the sand paddles!!!

[rap169]

i was doing some hill climbs today with a guy on a 400ex. He seemed to pull the hills just as fast as i could wit the 450. It drove me nuts casue every hill i climb, he did it too. these were big coal silt hills that mosty banshees run. Well i figured he had to do something to his quad for it to run that good. YEP...he told me he had it punched out to a 516. So that made me feel beter. I dunno how it would compare in a drag. He may have beat me...may not. We didnt race, but i bet the 450 would give him a good run.

[seven]

I did several drags today on my 426ex with a yfz re jetted and the but plug pulled out and he would only pull me by 1-2 quad lengths over a long up hill drag. So a decent built 400 will hang with it but not a hopped up one.

[WhiteBros400ex]

My 400ex has all the mods in my sig and sticks up with my friends 450r with a spraks pipe and filter, its more ridder then quad. But i will admit that thing has way more power and pulls alot harder and i will prolly be getting one this summer.:)

[Knips178]

i know this is the 450r area so this probably won't go over to well, but I rode my cousin's 450r yesterday and it felt alot like a 2 stroke. it sounds almost like one when you rev it and it had almost a similar powerband area. I was drag racing it on pavement and found that it beat a pipe 400ex by about 6 quads over about 300ft race. My quad, without the fcr carb puts out about 38hp and kept right up with his 450r. I'm not saying anything negative about the 450r, but I do think the r and yfz are getting more hype than they actually deserve. I'm sure once his 450r is piped and modded up to the teeth it will tear everyone a new $&@#hole, but right now it really isn't that much better than a modded 400ex.

[Jonas]

The 450r does pretty dam good for a stock machine. The average fully modded EX is about the same as a stock 450r power wise.