Who is still racing a 400ex, and how do you do against new 450's?

[RIDER11X]

Are you competitive, or has technology taken over? I raced a HS this season and got 4-5 YFZ's on the holeshot.......I was impressed.;)

BTW, I'm not posting this to bash 450's, just wondering how the 400ex is doing for everyone else.:cool:

[roostin_dale]

a couple race in the A class at local tracks...one does descent and the other gets smoked...both have build 440's in them....

[redroost85]

I have taken a few yfz's at the start....mostly because I don't think they are such good riders.:o The straightaway speed kills me, but I can make up a little time in the turns and in traffic. I just don't have the 'pull out' power to get around them if I get close....emphasis on 'if'.:(

The built ones can hang with the 450's...a good rider can make it better.

[400exmom]

my 400ex holds up great whens the last time any of ya'll have left 3rd gear in the woods for a district harescramble?? the open feilds you loose time but you can make up for it back in the woods~ i do~ ive beat plenty of 450 in my local harescrambles~ now the GNCC's those trails are so much more open than district events thats a whole differant story~ i get smoked:o

NO problems here handin out arse whoopins...:cool:

[montyjcm]

Check out the thread in the powertrain forum. I think that that would answer your question .. . somewhat.

[KY Woods Rider]

Just depends on the 450 rider's skill. If they're not as good a rider, the 400 is plenty good enough to win with. If they are equal to your ability, the 450 will win by a little. If they're better than you and they're on a 450, you're gettin an arse whoopin.

[Cannonball08]

I have spanked lots of 450's this year, on holeshots and in the woods. I would say the only advantage is on long straights in feilds. My 440 can take em in the tight stuff.

I am faster on my ex than I am my yfz! if that counts for anything.

[kyex40047]

A friend of mine has a 405r and I can do faster lap times on my 400ex. My 400ex has a 406 with new valves. We both have the same set up on our bikes (front elkas and stock back shocks, slip on, skids, tires, etc.) My ex is more comfortable and can handle better, when the 450r hits a bump it throws you around and mine goes right through it know problem. In GNCC I will pass them on the trails and on the open straits because of how rough they are. Unless there is some thing done to the back shock and it is geared way down, I would rater have my ex over a 450r.

[gump]

notice the 450 behind me on this one of several holeshots this year, that guys on the 450 is a heck of a better rider than i am but i kill him on the start all the time... :macho
http://img12.exs.cx/img12/3852/roc.jpg

[Sick0]

I think the yfz is a harder quad to ride than the 400ex. Its more about skill in the lower class of racing. Alot of guys arn't pushing the limits of slower quad so when they jump on a yfz. they ain't going to be that much faster and probly more tire trying to control the extra HP. But you give somebody thats it using there 400ex to the limits and then give them a yfz, watch out because there are going to be a lot faster.

Lower class its a lot less about the quad. In c class you can probly beat any body with anything, but in the high class a 400ex would be that compititve to a yfz.

The power on the yfz is fast. I notice when I'm a whoop section I give it gas and the front comes up really quick to get over the next whopp, where the 400ex can't rev that quick and I would just smash into the next whoop. The quad is just made so much better and allows a good ride to do a lot more.

I own both and the yfz let me go to the next level.

[Quad101]

It's not too bad It all comes down to rider balls....... If you are a good rider you will have no problem kickin but................ And that's that....... lol

[Kilabanshee]

Up at hurrican hills there was about 4 450Rs and quite a few yfzs and beet them all on nice 416ex I take them on the start and usually threw the woods, Round 1 d6 there was a few and I was in 3rd place all ahead of them untill I ran out of gas and finished in 11th place damn main jet fell out. If you know how to ride and have a nice setup 400ex you can really keep up with alything out there untill you get to around the pro or expert level.

[Cannonball08]

I do not race C class. I race in the A class, and still smoke guys on 450's. its not all about the top end speed. My 440 has lots more torque than the 450's, and thats where I get em'.

[beak7707]

A good rider on a bad quad, is much better than a bad rider on a good quad. I still think its 90%+ rider, a good rider on a 400ex will smoke an average rider on a 450. Now A riders on up, on 450's can make them run and 400's and 250r's need to be built up to hang.

[Johnson]

The yfz is alot better starter than the 400ex is if you get beat on the holeshot by a 400 you need to practice on your starts. If you are a good rider you can still do really good on a 400 even in the gncc series look at Rhett Buter he is winning the Four stroke A class on a 400ex it's got to be the rider.

[RIDER11X]

I think the 400ex still has a great atvantage on dead engine starts, neither of the 450's seem to start quickly enough. JMO.:rolleyes:

[muff]

Originally posted by Cannonball08
I do not race C class. I race in the A class, and still smoke guys on 450's. its not all about the top end speed. My 440 has lots more torque than the 450's, and thats where I get em'.


yes. but this is also woods racing. i know the question was being asked by a woods rider, however sick0 and i are track guys. and we both know from experience its very difficult to keep up with a 400ex on a motocross track. woods is a whole different ballgame, and comes down to condition of the rider/skill. and if the quad can last.

[RIDER11X]

More and more of my riding/racing crew are on the new 450's of both brands........I am the last 400ex in our group! I must say I think the only groups that can make the 450's really shine is the Vet class, A class, and Pro class riders. IMO the average rider has a tough time taking it to the next level to benifit from the added goods of the new technology. :cool:

[markk]

The 450's technolgy is just WOW over a 400ex, But as far as riding goes, Its almost all about the rider, And the setup you are running on the quad. Say u come outa the woods on a 400ex, right behind a 450, They are gona burn you on a smooth surface, But if it is whooped out, or has alot of breaking bumps, Its just gona depend on how long you hold out!!

My 416 isn't making all the much HP, So u just have to make up for that, With holding the gas longer, And grabing a HANDFULL of front breaks, and rears Going into the following corner!

[skysolo16]

I ride a stock 400ex on flattrack and am very competitive. The only thing I have changed is gearing. Instead of 15/38 (stock) I am running 13/38. The only place a 450 has me is in the straights but the gain they get in the straights I make up for in the turns. Would still be nice to have a 450 though. As good as I do with the 400, if I had a 450...BY GOD!

[the Z Man]

I raced a 400ex last year and did pretty well, this year I went to a 450r and my skill level has risen, the 400ex is a good all around bike but it held me back as far as ability.
Z :cool: