Worlds First ALL Black 2008 400EX!! "Makeover" for $50 :-)

[08400EX]

Hi Guys,

I was talking with my Honda Parts dude last week, you won't believe how cheap some of the new plastic body parts for the 08 are!

We ordered the new parts to make mine ALL black just for giggles.. and it is only gonna cost $50! Yep, $22 for the whole front section that goes from the very front that has the "wings" all the way back over the gas tank and under the front part of the seat... INCLUDING DECALS!! The other rear section that goes under the rear of the seat and has the rear "wings" was also only $16! In our hurry we forgot to order the black hood ($10) but it will be here ina few days(pics now updated with the new hood).

We were both amazed that all the decals and labels were pre-installed, they even had protective film over them

FYI, the original black front fenders are around $60 each and the whole original black rear fender section that wraps all the way under the tank is $130ish.

It only took about 15 minutes to swap everything over so I can change back and forth to suit my mood.

I posted one pic that shows the "red" original parts on the floor. That is the 2 parts I paid only $39 (total for both parts).

Anyway, here are some pics of my "new" EVIL 08 400.

http://www.928gt.com/images/400ex/CIMG2144a.JPG

http://www.928gt.com/images/400ex/CIMG2134d.JPG

http://www.928gt.com/images/400ex/CIMG2139a.JPG

http://www.928gt.com/images/400ex/CIMG2136c.jpg

http://www.928gt.com/images/400ex/CIMG2138c.JPG

http://www.928gt.com/images/400ex/CIMG2108a.JPG

http://www.928gt.com/images/400ex/CIMG2109a.JPG

[Brauap]

Wow, thats amazing! Wish it was like that for everybody, lucky :p ;) :D

[honda_runner]

who makes that little soft case u have attached to the grabbar?

[08400EX]

Originally posted by honda_runner
who makes that little soft case u have attached to the grabbar?

Moose Racing "Spare Tube Fender Pack". It is just the right size for a complete tool set including sockets, ratchets, wrenches, tire repair and inflator kit, spark plugs, tow strap, etc. Basically everything I need to repair Yamahas on the trail... JUST KIDDING!! But, so far that is all I have used it for :-)

[CarGuy7a]

i think it looks better in black. i can't believe it's that cheap for plastics. that's crazy.

[X400EX]

Wow, I love it!

[08400EX]

Originally posted by CarGuy7a
i think it looks better in black. i can't believe it's that cheap for plastics. that's crazy.

All my other Hondas have always been red, with the exception of a white VFR years ago. I wasn't sure I was gonna like the all black, but after doing it I like it a lot. My orginal plan was to get those parts in black and storing them for when they do an all red or black center / red fender version in a year or so. Then I could do mine with the black center section with red fenders which I think will look best. Imagine the current white/black version with red fenders instead of white. I like how the black flows along with the black seat on that version.

Regarding the prices, when we first looked those up the front section it listed retail for $4.67 (still shows that way on the Honda part lookup) . I told my Parts guy to order me 2 each of red and black for that price, as we suspected when he added it to an invoice it did go up, but only to $22.

After seeing that they come with the decals installed for that price (if I recall, earlier 400EX tank/fender decals are about $20 each) I told him today to go ahead and order me a new red front and back section to have as spares to refresh the plastic for if/when I ever sell it. We both felt Honda will catch the pricing error soon and it will go up so I decided to take the $39 investment for the future :-)

[08400EX]

Originally posted by X400EX
Wow, I love it!

THANKS! I am liking it more and more too!!

I have a spare set of factory wheels and I am thinking about warming up the Powder Coating oven tomorrow and PC them black to see how that looks. That will tide me over a week or so until I get the Hipers with black beadlock rings!!

[Pipeless416]

that really does look great! i would love to be able to change colors that easily (and inexpensively) just to fit my current mood. not that it changes that much :)

[Hondamaster5505]

wanna sell those red ones cheap:D

lol. I dont need the black pieces, i could always pick them up at a dealer some other time.

[NJ450rider]

now that is just straight up badass. I would have never thought of doing that. :cool:

[cannibal67]

I wonder if it would be hard to modify them to fit on a 2000ex? I see the seat is different.

[08400EX]

Originally posted by Hondamaster5505
wanna sell those red ones cheap:D

lol. I dont need the black pieces, i could always pick them up at a dealer some other time.

I would sell them to you cheap, but the box they go in is pretty darn big. I have a feeling you could buy the new parts from your local dealer cheaper than I could ship and sell them to you. Heck even if I sold you both parts for $20 I bet the shipping would be over $25.

To bad your not local.

[Hondamaster5505]

$45 w/ shipping isnt bad. I wouldnt mind that.

It'd look like a jet plane w/ out the black! haha.

[NJ450rider]

Hah you could even do red and white and give your 08 ex that retro honda atv feel.(gold rims would be fun too) I wonder if honda did this on purpose knowing you could swap colors around?

I think you can put this newer plastic on older ex's with a few minor mods. I dont think the frame changed just the plastic and gastank with a few diff brackets.

[08400EX]

Originally posted by cannibal67
I wonder if it would be hard to modify them to fit on a 2000ex? I see the seat is different.

The seat will be a definate must have and I think the tank will also be a problem. I ment to take pictures when I took everything apart, but I was rushing doing it in between business calls and got distracted.

I will say they made it very easy to remove and replace those parts, it was obvious they put some thought into it.

I will for sure take pics next time.

[fastredrider44]

I like the looks of that seat! Also, I doubt you would be able to ship the plastics for $25. UPS, DHL, and FedEX have started a new thing when shipping. It's called dimensional weight-If you have a big box that doesn't weigh much, they bump the weight up for you.

[08400EX]

Originally posted by fastredrider44
I like the looks of that seat! Also, I doubt you would be able to ship the plastics for $25. UPS, DHL, and FedEX have started a new thing when shipping. It's called dimensional weight-If you have a big box that doesn't weigh much, they bump the weight up for you.

Yes the seat kicks butt (ha, ha).

No worries about shipping. My company ships auto parts worldwide every day. Dim weight for large light boxes have been the norm for many, many years.

I see you are in KY, ever ride the Harlon County trails? I know it is on the other side of KY from you, but it is a lot of fun!! My wife and I rode in the snow and ice there a few weekends ago.

[Hondamaster5505]

So... are you actually serious about selling the red parts? I may be able to work something out with you if you are. No guarentee's though.

Let me know.

[fastredrider44]

I see you are in KY, ever ride the Harlon County trails? I know it is on the other side of KY from you, but it is a lot of fun!! My wife and I rode in the snow and ice there a few weekends ago. [/B][/QUOTE]

I'm in western KY, a long long way away from harlan county

[blackblue400ex]

Hey I was just wondering if I could put 08+ years black plastic on my 2006 black plastic could I switch em to make it all 2008 black plast??? didnt know if itd work or not

[Aarons 01 400EX]

I'm wondering if the prices from honda are still that cheap. $50 for plastics?? crazy...

[nitrochicken]

^^^^^^^same thing i was thinking lol

[jtalleman]

i wanna know where u found that winch that fit inside ur bumper and did u have to custom install it thats sweet

[Honda.rider5871]

Are they still that cheap? how much is the whole plastic? i need new plastics for my 04, i could weld the brackets and such to make it wowrk

[Aarons 01 400EX]

Did anyone find out if the price for new plastics was $50?