How does a 400ex stack up to against the 450's?

[Sjorge450R]

Well, my dad just called me and said that he has a guy with two 400ex's for sale, really cheap and I figured I might grab them and make one a race bike and one a part/back up bike. But I would like to know how a Slightly modded 400ex (pipe,filter,jet,tires) stacks up against a 450r? How bout a properly built 440?

[400exrules]

properly built 440 should hand a 450 its a**

[Dupontster]

Depends a lot on whose hands are on the bars...:D A good 400 rider can tear a 450 up...On the other hand, a good 450 rider won't look back at a 400...JMO...:o

[Sjorge450R]

I would consider myself a good rider. I beat 450's with my 300ex in my races. Finishing 36th overall out of 125 riders. Most of them being 450's. So do you think I will lose money if I grab one and mod it a litte and then resell it stock? I would probaly try to grab the 01 just cause it will be cheaper. Also, are the 450r shocks the same length and are able to be rebuilt for the 400ex???

thanks
Steve

[onefast400ex]

how much are you paying?

[Sjorge450R]

Originally posted by onefast400ex
how much are you paying?

he said that the guy said that he wants 7 for both, but I would only get the 01. The other is a 04.

[ZBlaster]

i can, and have handed it to a few of my buddies with 450's in an XC situation... id say its more rider then anything as already mentioned... i personally would rather have my 400 then a 450, but thats just me...

[300ex_#387]

Originally posted by Sjorge300EX
he said that the guy said that he wants 7 for both, but I would only get the 01. The other is a 04.


I'm sure you can find a better deal than that. You could buy a used 450 for around $4,000.

Yeah, you can definately find a better deal than that. One of my friends is buying a 400 with the 440 kit already in it, and he's buying it for 2000. I'm sure if you want to buy a 400, you can find a better deal. But buying the 04 for 3500 wouldn't be that bad, I suppose.

[trick250r]

i look at it this way. if you want to be competitive, you should get a 450. you wouldnt have to do as much to it to make it race ready... at least engine wise. plus, you're probably going to get one in the future, so why spend the money on the 400 when you're going to end up selling it for a 450.

Same reason why you'd buy a 300 before a 400. It's only 50 ccs more in the 450, but I'd rather have a 400 at the moment. 450s are too expensive to buy and then mod it.

[rmz250]

First off, 7000 for 2 400ex aint that great. and second off a 400ex will get its *** whooped by a any 450.

[300ex_#387]

Originally posted by rmz250
First off, 7000 for 2 400ex aint that great. and second off a 400ex will get its *** whooped by a any 450.

You should explain yourself better when you say a 400 is going to get its *** whooped. With equal riders the 450 will win, but you say your a good rider. I bet there are also good riders on th 450's too. To be competitive, and more reliable just save for the 450. Really it doesn't cost anymore to mod a 450 than a 400.

[trx400exxracer]

i beat plenty of 450's on my 400ex with hmf slip on and all aftermarket shocks and gas tank and i am 2nd in 4-stroke B points it depends on what kinda riding and what kinda rider you are if you are racing woods just put a 416 in i heard 416's were really nice if they were built right and had good suspension and stabilizer they are deff competable against the 450's

[rmz250]

why not wait it out a little bit longer and go for the 450. if theres better out there why not get it?

[GPracer2500]

Originally posted by Sjorge300EX
...But I would like to know how a Slightly modded 400ex (pipe,filter,jet,tires) stacks up against a 450r? How bout a properly built 440?

Regarding HP: A piped and filtered 400EX is barely breaking 30hp. A piped and filtered 06' 450r is easily over 40hp--maybe around 45hp. It takes a lot of engine work to get a 400EX to 40hp and it's gonna be real hard to get one near 45hp. And any 400EX that's making 40hp isn't likely to be nearly as reliable as an internally stock 450r.

Sure, a good rider on inferior machinary can beat a lesser rider on superior machinery--duh. But that has nothing to do with which bike has more potential performance.

[ak_stick]

Haha, its only 50cc's?

Except your talking about a true 450 from what is it even a true 400cc? and the 450 is liquid cooled to the Ex's air.

Save your money and go to the 450. Its just a better machine.

Yes, you can probably still beat some bad riders on a 450, but when you face a good rider, your not going to have any advantages, and a whole slew of disadvantages.

[trick250r]

in the long run, you'll save money by buying the 450. by eliminating the 400ex, you dont have to buy it, dump a lot of money into it, and then sell it. it would be cheaper to buy a 450 and be done with it.

[Sjorge450R]

yeah. you guys seemed to make a good point. I think that I will be looking to get an 04R or 04YFZ this november, after I get some money from work and my 300ex.

[GPracer2500]

FWIW, if I was looking at 04's I'd choose the YFZ. In 06' they completely changed the 450r engine (and carb too). 04'/05' 450rs are still good, but Honda held back a little until 06'.

Any year YFZ will do (although they did stroke it to a full 450cc for 06').

[Sjorge450R]

yeah, so you think that the YFZ would be better to go after in a 04? I have someone talking to me now about one. he wants 4 for it, and it has some small stuff done to it. I just have to go to the Yami dealer and see how I like it. I never sat on one, but I like the way the R feels. Oh and how much does the kick start setup cost to put on the YFZ?

[GPracer2500]

Between an 04' YFZ and an 04' 450r I think the YFZ is the stronger engine. Not sure about the kickstarter.

If you sit on a new YFZ just be aware that they changed the seat a little. The old seat is small and hard as a plank--much better on the new ones.

[ohsobad_chevy]

Originally posted by GPracer2500
Regarding HP: A piped and filtered 400EX is barely breaking 30hp. A piped and filtered 06' 450r is easily over 40hp--maybe around 45hp. It takes a lot of engine work to get a 400EX to 40hp and it's gonna be real hard to get one near 45hp. And any 400EX that's making 40hp isn't likely to be nearly as reliable as an internally stock 450r.

Sure, a good rider on inferior machinary can beat a lesser rider on superior machinery--duh. But that has nothing to do with which bike has more potential performance.

Well said bro...;)

i 2nd that up there ^^^^

[thrasher_ex]

People keep saying "oh yeah 50cc's, big deal". It's not the 50cc's that you pay for when you buy a 450. It is that and so much more. Nobody has mentioned that it has some of the best stock suspension avaliable. Plus the 400ex's engine is out dated, while a 450r has the latest and greatest in 4-stroke technology. The 450 was designed to be raced. If you don't plan on racing, don't buy the 450. A slightly modded 400 can do anything you would need a 450 for, short of equality in racing.

[Sjorge450R]

oh I plan on racing.....:o. I think that I will end up with a 04 R or YFZ. The 400's are way out of the picture now.

My friends selling an 05 450r for 4900 obo if your interested.

[ITSTOCK]

I just bought an all stock used 400ex. I bought it for reliability purposes and the fact that I didn't NEED all that performance that the 450 offers.

I am using the 400 as a STEPPING STONE up to the 450, which will be bought next spring (and the 400 passed on to my girl friend). If you have no limits and plan on spending 7-10grand (your two 400's plus aftermarket parts) I think you would DEFINATELY be better off buying the 450.

In my case, I would like to learn all the basics on a cheaper 4 wheeler, with suspension parts (the 400ex+aftermarket a-arms and suspension) untill I feel comfortable enough to apply more power. In your case, you seem ready to step it up a notch and I think you should just get the 450. The 450 is going to be considerably LESS money (used vs used) than the two 400ex's, and than you just have all the more money to do it up.

Coming from a present 400ex OWNER, I would definately suggest just buying the 450.

[trx440]

Take it from someone who has had full on 440ex's and 465ex's, get a 450.

I could build a full on 04 450r for @ $8000.

I had $14,000 in one 440ex and $17,000+ in a Sparks 465ex that would compare to the above 450R. Granted that 465ex was never beaten up a hill [ by a 4 stroke] at Glamis when I owned it but I did have some reliability issues. CT built my 440 and I never had an ounce of trouble with it. Bottom line, if you spend enough, even a turd can be polished.

[ohsobad_chevy]

Originally posted by Sjorge300EX
oh I plan on racing.....:o. I think that I will end up with a 04 R or YFZ. The 400's are way out of the picture now.

good call, if you are going to be racing, the 450r is the only choice. I see people on here buying 400ex's and then spending an *** load of money on them to keep up with the 450's.

[Baumann65]

i second rmz250