maybe a sick hybrid?

[Tri-valleyracin]

well i was thining about a z400 with a rmz450 motor in it would be a sick hybrid. im not goin to do it but if someone didnt want to buy a 450 and wanted a kicker the rtz450 would be super fast as a race quad. i know im not goin to do it but if some one would like to take this idea and use it they can and they just have to let me know how it worked out in the end.

[Tri-valleyracin]

z400

[IrideMHSC]

Id thought of doin the same thing... the mounts would be the only real thing i could think of that might be a problem... but personally i just dont have the cash for a project like that

[Michwolv60]

thats an idea, but isnt the rmz only 4 gears? I dunno how that gear ratio would work on a quad. BIkes are alot lighter, so the motor can pull alot easier, I just dont know if it would work out right on a quad, but only one way to find out, someone do it.

[montycarlo]

I bet you'd be saving money just to trade into a 450 than to do a hybrid build. You wouldn't have the headaches either. But some people are more into doing things differently - but I haven't got time for that! :D

[282ex]

my brother and I actuaslly just started that project (z400-rmz450) he already had the rolling frame from a z400, and i bought the motor from a friend. i didnt really need the quad...but i just like to build stuff and have projects

[yellowzo3]

make sure to post pics of it!! everyone loves to check out people building up quads and barely anyone does a Z400 hybrid. sounds like a sick project!

[Toadz400]

It's definately a good idea for someone who likes Suzuki. Also it's getting pretty old seeing the same hybrids over and over again (Yamaha and Honda dirtbike 450's in a 250R/400ex frame). If someone really liked how the Z400 handled and wanted the power of a 450, this would be a great idea. Especially if they wanted to stick with the same name brand in the quad to keep it as a true Suzuki.

Post up pics when you're done. I might be getting a beat up Z400 and this might be a good idea for me.

[yellowzo3]

yeah like posted above does anyone know how the gear ratio of the 4 speed would work out? besides fitting the engine in i think thats the only other down side i could think of in using this motor.

[Toadz400]

Originally posted by yellowzo3
yeah like posted above does anyone know how the gear ratio of the 4 speed would work out? besides fitting the engine in i think thats the only other down side i could think of in using this motor.

The older YZF engines were 4 speeds, along with the CRF I believe. So most of the hybrids were 4 speeds and they worked out well. You used to see a lot of them racing before the production 450's came out. I think then the YZF was the first one to switch over to 5 speed on the bike.

[yellowzo3]

Originally posted by Toadz400
The older YZF engines were 4 speeds, along with the CRF I believe. So most of the hybrids were 4 speeds and they worked out well. You used to see a lot of them racing before the production 450's came out. I think then the YZF was the first one to switch over to 5 speed on the bike.

cool thanks i didnt even know that. well if they worked out for the pros im sure it would be a nice hybrid for anyone else. since that issue is put aside, could you just use a rmz450 wiring harness for the whole bike? and also would the rear of the motor (where the swingarm bolt goes through) be the same dimensions as the z400? Thanks again for the info, and hopefully someone can answer these questions also.

[montycarlo]

Originally posted by yellowzo3
cool thanks i didnt even know that. well if they worked out for the pros im sure it would be a nice hybrid for anyone else. since that issue is put aside, could you just use a rmz450 wiring harness for the whole bike? and also would the rear of the motor (where the swingarm bolt goes through) be the same dimensions as the z400? Thanks again for the info, and hopefully someone can answer these questions also.

IDK for sure, but I just betcha that the 5spd/reverse Z400 trans case is made to different dimensions than the bikes.

[Toadz400]

Originally posted by montycarlo
IDK for sure, but I just betcha that the 5spd/reverse Z400 trans case is made to different dimensions than the bikes.

Yea I'm sure it is. But the cases on a 400ex and 250R are different from the YZ/CRF engines. It just takes some fabrication to make it work, no way any other engine is just going to drop in or be the same dimensions.

[R3Concepts]

Originally posted by Toadz400
The older YZF engines were 4 speeds, along with the CRF I believe. So most of the hybrids were 4 speeds and they worked out well. You used to see a lot of them racing before the production 450's came out. I think then the YZF was the first one to switch over to 5 speed on the bike.

You have it backwards.

The newer YZFs have the 4 speed. The CRF has never been a 4 speed.

[yellowzo3]

if you use the rmz450 engine do you have to use the rmz450 radiator or will the z400 radiator be sufficient?

[Toadz400]

Originally posted by R3Concepts
You have it backwards.

The newer YZFs have the 4 speed. The CRF has never been a 4 speed.

You were right on the CRF, because I wasn't sure about that. But you were wrong about the YZF, that I know for sure. The older YZF's had 4 spds, now they are 5-spd.

[LT250RMan]

Originally posted by Toadz400
You were right on the CRF, because I wasn't sure about that. But you were wrong about the YZF, that I know for sure. The older YZF's had 4 spds, now they are 5-spd.


No man your wrong the older YZF engines like the 400 and 426 have a 5 speed transmission. check out this link and read the Specifications http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcyam/yz400f.html

[R3Concepts]

Originally posted by Toadz400
You were right on the CRF, because I wasn't sure about that. But you were wrong about the YZF, that I know for sure. The older YZF's had 4 spds, now they are 5-spd.


98, which is the first year of production for the YZF 400,then goes to a 426 in 00 or 01, then 450 in like 03, until I want to say 03-04 its a 5 speed and then switches to a 4 speed in 03,04,05. 06s and 07s are 5 speeds again.

Once again youre wrong. Do some research.

[Toadz400]

Originally posted by R3Concepts
98, which is the first year of production for the YZF 400,then goes to a 426 in 00 or 01, then 450 in like 03, until I want to say 03-04 its a 5 speed and then switches to a 4 speed in 03,04,05. 06s and 07s are 5 speeds again.

Once again youre wrong. Do some research.

Well, at least I was some-what right. I knew the YZF was a 4-spd during some years and switched to a 5-spd, give me some credit on that. All the hybrids I remember seeing using the YZF engines and all the YZF's I've seen in person were always 4-spds. Didn't know they switched back and forth with the gearbox.