400ex questions

[wantinga400ex]

Well guys, I still have my blaster, but I really want to get rid of it and get something a little better. I will probably try selling it this summer, and finding a used 400ex.

My price range will probably be around $2500-$2800. I see alot of them around my area for that price.

I know it will be a really nice improvement over my blaster, but do you guys think they will still be great quads for awhile? I know they are very reliable, and pretty moddedable, but will they still be ridden even 4-5 years from now?

How much does 406, 416, 426 kit help the ex for more power? Also do you have to get a new sleeve for those bigger bores? I'm a 2-stroke guy, so what exactly are hotcams, and how hard are they to install?

I'll probably ride the ex stock for awhile, or however I get it. But eventually (next winter maybe) I might rebuild it, and get some things for performance like a 406 or higher bore.

Thanks guys, I know this is a huge post, but I know you guys will be the ones to know about this stuff. :D

[400exredrider]

bigger bores applied with the correct parts to compliment it will help tremendously hotcams are a type of cam for 4 strokes, they are fairly cheap and add good power,,, yes,,, i said cam,, since your use to 2 strokes you didnt have any of this before,, now youll have to mess with valves, rockers, cam, timing chains, ect have fun!:D

[wantinga400ex]

Originally posted by 400exredrider
bigger bores applied with the correct parts to compliment it will help tremendously hotcams are a type of cam for 4 strokes, they are fairly cheap and add good power,,, yes,,, i said cam,, since your use to 2 strokes you didnt have any of this before,, now youll have to mess with valves, rockers, cam, timing chains, ect have fun!:D

Yeah, theres alot of new things I get to mess with...

I feel the ex will be a totally better quad overall than my blaster. Theres a ton more parts for them around too. I orginally wanted to get a raptor 660, but most of my friends with them have more problems than anything else.

How much would a good 426 kit and hotcams and whatever else is needed to put together a good kit cost?

[400exredrider]

to get a 400ex to beat up on raptors you need a 416/426 for reliability, id go 416 because the 426 has some heating issues because it makes the sleeve alot thinner, and plus they make about the same power,,, do a JE 10.8:1 piston hotcam stage 3 a good carb.. FCR 39mm or 40mm good portwork and a K&N and a pipe is absolutely a must. go with cometics XR400 gaskets, these are thinner and they will; put the pistons compression around 11:1 after all this itll cost you around a grand cheaper if you can do most your self

[blue416ex]

^^ thats bascally what im running now; im wisjhing i had a carb it would unleash my motor bigtime just waiting for a carb is killing me !!:( :macho

[400exredrider]

you can get a 450r carb kinda cheap,,, they help quite a bit too, but id reccomend a FCR39mm or a FCR40mm from a CFR450

[blue416ex]

im looking for a FCR 39mm;)

[400exredrider]

YFZs use this carb,, check Ebay,, ive seen them go for 180 complete from a YFZ

[blue416ex]

so the FCR 39mm is stock on the yfz and fits and works with the 400ex? :confused:

[400exredrider]

exactly :D

[wantinga400ex]

I went to the dealer today and looked at a 2000. It had dull, and scratched plastic, I could tell it had been ridden quite a bit, but I could not find ANYTHING bent. The bars and levers looked stock and they were not bent. The grab bar and frame were perfect, and it didn't look too bad. They wanted $2400 for it, does that sound like a bad price?

Of course, I'd test ride it and check everything over REAL good before I made any decisions. There were no mods on it that I could find.

[400exredrider]

thats not a bad price but always try to talk them down,, dull plastics arent a big deal but aslong as is not smokin it should be good, afterall its a honda

[wantinga400ex]

Originally posted by 400exredrider
thats not a bad price but always try to talk them down,, dull plastics arent a big deal but aslong as is not smokin it should be good, afterall its a honda

Yeah, I'm not worried about the plastics. The only thing broken that I could see what the tail light was gone, and the mounts looked cut off. But the grab bar was not bent, or nicked at all.

[400exredrider]

them can come off pretty easy, they arent the strongest mounts

[wantinga400ex]

Other than the 2005, are all other years the same? No frame or motor updates?

[400exredrider]

no,, only thing is a slight carb adjustment

[wantinga400ex]

Few more questions-

Do slip on exhausts help increase power? I know on a 2 stroke, its a full pipe/silencer or you won't really notice much.

Also for someone that rode woods and alot of trails, what stage of hotcams would be best? Also what other mods need to be done to run a different cam reilabily?


Thanks for all the help guys, it's really helped :D

[400exredrider]

with a slip on you will notice a difference but with a header you will get more topend,, for trails id go stage 1 hotcam and if you wanna leave your 400 stock bore then get a Standard size High Comp piston 11:1 and if you wanna spend a little more,, go with a FCR carb and definatly a K&N,,, and later if you can afford porting go for it.

[Jonas]

Doubtful that a k&n will produce more horsepower?

[400exredrider]

no but it is necessary for more airflow, because often times with a carb a stock airfilter will not get enough flow and choke the carb off, most people with this setup will run a K&N with an outerware, the snorkel plugged and their lids off.

[wantinga400ex]

Will the stock cylinder bore to a 416, or does it need to be sleeved bigger?

[brian-250]

Originally posted by wantinga400ex
Will the stock cylinder bore to a 416, or does it need to be sleeved bigger?


i think you can go all the way up to a 440, anything bigger you need to re-sleeve, i got a 2000 for sale, where are you located?

[400exredrider]

nope... stock sleeve you can only get 426 and thats extremly thin, most places will reccomend going with a different sleeve to help that out,, but 440 you need a diffrent sleeve and a cylinder bore

[wantinga400ex]

Originally posted by brian-250
i think you can go all the way up to a 440, anything bigger you need to re-sleeve, i got a 2000 for sale, where are you located?


Central IL, about 50 miles south of Springfield.

[brian-250]

Originally posted by 400exredrider
nope... stock sleeve you can only get 426 and thats extremly thin, most places will reccomend going with a different sleeve to help that out,, but 440 you need a diffrent sleeve and a cylinder bore


opp's i was close anyways.:scary:

[cals400ex]

Originally posted by wantinga400ex
Central IL, about 50 miles south of Springfield.



what town are you from?

[wantinga400ex]

Originally posted by cals400ex
what town are you from?


Hillsboro. Do you know of any 400's for sell around us?





I checked out that 2000 again at the dealer, and it looks like it has been defintely ridden. The rear subframe looks a tad bent, but I can't be sure. I don't think I'll be getting that one unless they drop the price more. I have been checking out classifides though.

[rYan01400EX]

I also got a question... Is it normal to see a very thin layer of smoke on the deceleration.. Like if you rev it up while in neutral and let off, is it normal to see some, but very little, smoke?? Thanks.