Dumb Questions from the new guy

[sniper10X]

Hey Everybody. I am a 44 year old motorcyclist from Southern Indiana. I currently ride an `01 Honda 929. My "second" bike is a Honda 919.

I have 3 friends that assure me that if I got a quad, there are plenty of places in neighboring counties to ride and they are willing to let me tag along with them.

Right now I am in the shopping/ trying to educate myself stage. I have pretty much decided on the Honda 400. I am going to wait and find someone who has bought an `05 and decided to turn right around and sell it again. I really think I need reverse. I'm going to buy used just in case the whole quad thing doesn't work out for me. Now for a small barrage of dumb questions.

I have put PowerCommanders on both my bikes to help with the fuel delivery. How is the jetting on the 400 out of the box? Rich? Lean? Spot on?

I plan on running the stock exhaust because I like it quiet. Lots of differing opinions on replacement air filters. What, if anything is to be gained from installing a replacement filter? Does it need to be re-jetted after installing a replacement filter. Replace which jets with what size new ones? Raise the needle? I'm looking for smooth useable power.

What are peak HP and torque figures for a stocker?

Thanks for your patience. More dumb questions to follow.

[04'400ex'er]

first off, welcome to the site! ok, now to the questions. the jetting on the 400ex from the factory is fine. Not too rich or too lean. You could add an aftermarket air filter for the bike but dont expect a power gain. With a K&N and removed air box lid i noticed a crisper throttle response. thats about it. I didnt rejet, maybe I was a little lean, but not much. The main jet could maybe be upped to a 152, but thats only with the lid removed and then it might be rich. You would just have to do a plug check. The 400 is a great trail bike and does have a smooth power dilevery. You will be very pleased with the power for about a week. then you will want more. the bike only comes from honda with about 26HP, but is fairly light, so gets around well.

[journeyman]

i have a 2005 400ex for sale...pm me to talk details

[Hondadudeehhhh]

if i were you i would get an older z just because they've always had reverse and you can get it cheaper and easier to find rather than an 05' ex

[47501exracer]

Welcome neighbor!

I use a foam filter on mine. I used to have A K&N but it sucks too much water so I switched back to foam. You won't need to rejet if you put another type of foam filter on. The advantages of upgrading the stock filter is better filtration of course over the stocker. I don't know anywhere good to ride around here.

[sniper10X]

Journeyman, you're far out; as in too far away. I've been to Maryland a time or 2. Beautiful state. You're a good 12 hours away. I'm certain I can find closer. But thanks for the reply.

26 HP? That figure has to be misleading. Most of the guys around here are on 300s. Everyone I've talked to say the 400s are plenty fast. I'm just going to trail ride and goof around. My racing days are over. OK, almost over. I'd like to find a used machine that is all stock and possibly modify as I see fit. But I can understand the desire to hop the 400 up.

Washington IN? We are neighbors. I'm a UPS driver. I deliver as far north on State Road 257 as the White River bridge. I've worked out of the Washington center from time to time. Hoefling's worth checking out?

Just out of curiosity, what is the top end on a stock 400?

Where is the rev limiter set?

[nosliw]

Originally posted by sniper10X


Just out of curiosity, what is the top end on a stock 400?

Where is the rev limiter set?

not sure what you mean by top end... but it's 4valve, single camshaft

stock rev limiter is 9300rpm i believe

[sniper10X]

top speed? sorry bout the confusion

[troutman561]

67 or 63 on 99-04's i think, they say 55 for 05 because of 14tooth front sproket insted of 15 as in previous years, but stock for stock my friends 04 barely walked away from my 05' at top speed.. so im guessing 2-4mph slower than 04'.. and are you sure its only 26 hp... that sounds alittle low?

[nosliw]

where is that 26hp figure taken from? crank? rw?

[Blue600]

I'm 39 years old and just bought my first quad (2005 TRX400EX) and couldn't be happier with it. It's plenty fast for me and handles quite well. Replace the stock swing arm skid plate if the quad you buy still has it. It is plastic junk. I replaced mine after the first ride.

[400exrider707]

Originally posted by nosliw
where is that 26hp figure taken from? crank? rw?

RW and yes that is right. With a pipe and filter w/o the airbox lid and proper jetting your looking at 27.5

[47501exracer]

Washington IN? We are neighbors. I'm a UPS driver. I deliver as far north on State Road 257 as the White River bridge. I've worked out of the Washington center from time to time. Hoefling's worth checking out?


Ha that's funny, I work at the Post Office here. Hoefling's are OK. They do the majority of their business on tractors. I get my stuff at Vincennes Motorcycles, but oil and simple things at Hoefling's. What about that Honda place on the main drag there? They always seem friendly when I go there.

[2004exrider]

welcome,
ill try and give u as much info as i no without having to make it loud, and keep it on the cheap side. the '05 has 14/38 gearing and will top out at around probly 65mph, if not worried about topend speed you can always raise the back sprocket to a 39 tooth. adding just a k&n will not really do much because it will still have the restriction of the stock muffler. you can always put in an aftermarket drop in cam (preferably hotcams stage 1, no loss in bottom end power) and costs around $110, they rev out to 9300 rpm, you can always add an advanced timing key to give it some more bottom end power (curtis sparks). all these are just some ideas, watch out these quads are a money pit!!!!!!
but very fun to ride, they are an all out good quad.

Jimmy

[04'400ex'er]

EVERYONE thinks the top speed on the 400ex is around 65mph. I did too until i put mine on a radar gun. the gun was really close to accurate on cars also. my 400 ran 58mph stock. i am 180lbs. my bros stock banshee ran 62. these figures seem correct after i think about it. check a dyno for top speeds. not trying to flame anyone on this but this is just what i have found. i dont think there is any stock 400 that will run 65mph.

[nosliw]

Originally posted by 04'400ex'er
EVERYONE thinks the top speed on the 400ex is around 65mph. I did too until i put mine on a radar gun. the gun was really close to accurate on cars also. my 400 ran 58mph stock. i am 180lbs. my bros stock banshee ran 62. these figures seem correct after i think about it. check a dyno for top speeds. not trying to flame anyone on this but this is just what i have found. i dont think there is any stock 400 that will run 65mph.

were you bouncing off the limiter?

[04'400ex'er]

Originally posted by nosliw
were you bouncing off the limiter? yes. I had it pinned for 5-6 sec before the laser hit the bike. I could see a stock 400 hitting 60, some bikes are just hotter than others , but nothing more.

i havent had any problems with my K&N with my precharger with the water coming in just as long as when u come out to pull the plug deal on the bottom of the air box... and with the airbox lid off and the filter i noticed the biggest difference in my acceleration.

[sniper10X]

With the right gear ratios, does the 400 have enough power to pull 65mph?

(not that I'd do it, just curious)

[F-16Guy]

If you're going to get a 400ex, buy one that is a year or two old from someone that hardly rode the thing (there are quite a few out there like that). You'll save at least a grand, if not more, than buying it from a dealer. With that money, you can put a set of Elka shocks on the front (the stock shocks aren't too great). You only get a 6 month limited warranty on a new 400ex, and they're pretty bullet-proof, so it's not worth the extra money to buy brand new. If I could do it again, that's what I would do.

[2004exrider]

EVERYONE thinks the top speed on the 400ex is around 65mph.

(not being a smart a s s ) what about this site?
http://home.earthlink.net/~gellett/400ex.htm

[04'400ex'er]

the 400 easily has enough power to pull 65 with sprocket changes. with the right mods, you would benefit from the sprocket changes.

[04'400ex'er]

Originally posted by 2004exrider
(not being a smart a s s ) what about this site?
http://home.earthlink.net/~gellett/400ex.htm :rolleyes: if your stock 400ex runs 68 mph at 8250 rpm then you have a yfz beater...or close. I dont know how they calculate these figures. Im just speaking from experience. Does anyone have any MPH dyno runs they can share or similar speed tests?

[2004exrider]

oh, im not doubtin ya i believe you. i dont think youd come here to lie to us i was just wonderin what everyone else thought of that site. way off, accurate, etc. i hooked up a trail tech speedo sometime ill have to put my stock gearing back on and see what it says.

[04'400ex'er]

what is your top speed now? well I dont know much, but i think that is stock gearing that enters in the blanks, and it says that the 400 is faster than the banshee. and we all know that aint true.

[2004exrider]

you can enter gear changes and tire sizes in place, mine tops out at just barely 56mph, cant remeber what the chart says.

[04'400ex'er]

56 seems about right. it would probably run around 60MPH with the stock gearing with the mods you have done. the chart says your bike would run 62 with the 14/39

[2004exrider]

lol, wow that charts way off then