What to do? 300ex or 450r?

[speedy121487]

I have a 2004 300ex bone stock. Is it worth putting money into it to build a 300ex racer or just selling it to buy a 450r? Is it worth spending $4000 or more on parts to build a nice 300ex when it will still be a 300ex when im done? Anyone feel free to give your two cents!

[Sjorge450R]

Originally posted by speedy121487
I have a 2004 300ex bone stock. Is it worth putting money into it to build a 300ex racer or just selling it to buy a 450r? Is it worth spending $4000 or more on parts to build a nice 300ex when it will still be a 300ex when im done? Anyone feel free to give your two cents!

all depends on a few things.

Your age.
Your skill(experience level)
What you plan on doing.

If you have had this for a while, just get a 450r and start racing if that is what you are looking into. I just moved from a 300 and the jump is easy to handle and so much nicer, even though I still love my 300.

[Justin#38]

ya definetly your age becuase most racxe series once you turn 16 you go up to the 450 class so if your 16 and end up you wanna race your 300 when you are done building it you wont have much longer on it.

[bwamos]

Aye.
It take a lot of money to make a 300ex competitive with a 400ex, let alone a 450r.

Best bang for the buck.. sell and buy a used 400ex that's already tricked out. ;) Ultra reliable, very fast, and great geometry.

But as they said.. more info is key.

Racing venue, age, height/weight, etc..

[drag93ex]

i agree. i used to have a 300 and went up to a 400ex, best move ive made. a 400 is an all around good quad and if built right, can hang with a 450. sell your 300 and move up.

[TWISTED DINLI]

just get a KFX450R:D

[2muchquad]

It take a lot of money to make a 300ex competitive with a 400ex, let alone a 450r.

I bet Dork would have something to say about this.I would think that on a mx track,its gonna be more rider than machine especially at the local level.Obviously your gonna need some suspension for mx but it may not cost as much as you think to run mx on a 300ex.This is experience from what i have SEEN not heard.Theres a difference;)

[bwamos]

Originally posted by 2muchquad
I bet Dork would have something to say about this.I would think that on a mx track,its gonna be more rider than machine especially at the local level.Obviously your gonna need some suspension for mx but it may not cost as much as you think to run mx on a 300ex.This is experience from what i have SEEN not heard.Theres a difference;)

I disagree.

Sure it's more rider than machine.

But you get a great rider on a 300ex, then the exact same rider on a 450 he would smoke himself on the 450.

It takes a LOT of money to make a 300ex a very competitive quad against an identically skilled rider on a 450. And it will never truly be competitive. The motor just doesn't have the physical capacity to compete with the newer technology.

Yes I've seen people smoke 450's on the track MX & XC with 300's. But take that same rider and with the same amount of experience on a 450, he/she would probably beat everyone on the course. I would beat 400's and 450's regularly also, but they weren't "equally skilled" riders.

With all the work I've done to my 300ex it's about equal to a piped 400ex. ;) Yet the 400ex is still a LOT less tiring and easier to ride. And, It's not even close to an uncorked 450.

[2muchquad]

Yeah but how many people (or kids) know how to shim their valves or feel like regular valve replacements on the 4fiddys?If you know what your doing or have a endless supply of $$,then get the 450.Dont expect to ride it hard and put it away wet like a 300ex or 400ex for that matter.They can be fragile..

[2muchquad]

The motor just doesn't have the physical capacity to compete with the newer technology.



When was the last time you seen "new technology" in a atv that wasnt utility oriented? It takes a lot of money when one doesnt know what they are doing.Sure it costs $$ to send your carb out to a speed shop to get rejetted because one is clueless;)

[speedy121487]

I’m more confused now than before... but on the other hand I have more things to consider that I had over looked. The 450r is a bit of a maintenance whore, but in return it makes WELL over twice the hp. The 300ex is less maintenance, but stock its limited by almost everything about it. The same price to build a 300ex to my liking it will still cost the same as upgrading to a 450r. I probably don’t really need the power of the 450r but the stock 300ex just feels so limited. I don’t race but I still like to ride the MX track at the atv park… I also ride on trails that I have made in the woods and such. What do you suggest for the most cost effective upgrades I should do if I stick with my 300ex? Such as aftermarket or shocks from a 400ex/450r? the elkas do look nice and I bet ride even better, but are they worth it? what model?

For a person that doesnt race where would you draw the line?

I’m 6ft tall and 164lbs 18 years old if that helps give you an idea of what type of rider.

[2muchquad]

Well if if you dont race,why not put a set of shocks on the front which will improve your ride and maybe some tires?Keep your mods to a minimum and ridethe piss out of it for a while then sell it when its out-lived its usefulness.A pipe and a carb rejet along with the tires/shocks can make it a better machine.You should be able to pick up a set of works shocks for around $300 or so.Even a new set of 400ex shocks can be had rather cheap,you'll need those relocator brackets though.Im 34yrs old,i happen to love my 385rx

[speedy121487]

I have maxxis razrs 22" front and back but I feel like the rears are a little big/ too much for on the mx track. Should I have smaller rears like 18" for when I go to the track? As for shocks would I be looking for shocks with res or will the the non res shocks do fine?

[Sjorge450R]

Originally posted by speedy121487
I have maxxis razrs 22" front and back but I feel like the rears are a little big/ too much for on the mx track. Should I have smaller rears like 18" for when I go to the track? As for shocks would I be looking for shocks with res or will the the non res shocks do fine?
if your not racing, dont spend the extra cash on ressies. As for tires, 22" rears are too big for any application. get some 20 for the woods and some 18's for the track.

[mike maddrell]

Originally posted by Sjorge300EX
As for tires, 22" rears are too big for any application. get some 20 for the woods and some 18's for the track.
what is the benefit of 20" tires in the woods? seems you would give up ground clearance from the stock 22" size. ill be needing tires soon so id like to hear about this.

[400eXr1d3rZ]

Originally posted by mike maddrell
what is the benefit of 20" tires in the woods? seems you would give up ground clearance from the stock 22" size. ill be needing tires soon so id like to hear about this.

Weight issues possibly? Or because smaller tires give you more bottom-end.

[2muchquad]

I run 20in tires in the rear for harescrambles,they are perfect for the woods with my 300ex;) save the 18s for motocross

[Sjorge450R]

Originally posted by mike maddrell
what is the benefit of 20" tires in the woods? seems you would give up ground clearance from the stock 22" size. ill be needing tires soon so id like to hear about this.

you dont need the 22'. I did some GNCC and A LOT of XC racin gon my 300ex and i NEVER got hung up on anything running 20" klaws. That extra 2" is just not worth it for the higher center of gravity. The higher you are the harder it is to keep that quad under control. Trust me. Why do you think almost every sport quad at any XC event has 20" rear tires.

[mike maddrell]

Originally posted by Sjorge300EX
Trust me. Why do you think almost every sport quad at any XC event has 20" rear tires.
i wasnt implying you didnt know what you were saying just curious how it effected the quad in the end. what sprocket set do you use with this setup? i do mostly woods trail riding. thx-

[Sjorge450R]

Originally posted by mike maddrell
i wasnt implying you didnt know what you were saying just curious how it effected the quad in the end. what sprocket set do you use with this setup? i do mostly woods trail riding. thx-
sorry if i came off the wrong way. I was running the 20" klaws with a 14t front sprocket. I was running a 38 rear. Sometimes if i knew the track was going to have a lot of turns,i would switch back to the 13 but i really liked the 14, and people wouldnt know why i would fly by them on the straights.

[2muchquad]

I run 14/36 gearing with the 20in rears.Im actually looking for a smaller rear for when i run the 18s for mx.

[honda450rider33]

i would just buy a 450 and call it good by the time you build a 300 or 400 ex you could have a 450 that will beat them both my uncles 04 450r with and hrc kit(old motor not as fast as the 06-07), beat a z-400 with cams and a full pipe by about 3 quad lengths and the z 400 is faster than the 400 ex and the other thing is the 400 ex has old technology