'00 400 cosmetic makeover

[bbender85]

hey everyone, relatively new poster here, thought i'd post what i've been doing since i picked up this 400ex a week ago.

this is the first quad i have owned; have ridden here and there, and we used to have a utility quad up at our cabin, but never got into it. i used to LIVE to snowmobile.. bought a brand new yamaha 600 SXR in high school, but sold it when i went to college. so i havent had a toy for 6 years. now that i'm done with that, and i go to the dunes here in michigan often with my truck, i wanted another toy, so a quad made perfect sense.

found this 400ex for sale locally. it needed some TLC (mostly TIRES!), but it's definitely something i can work with. here's last sunday when i brought it home:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02766.jpg

here's a couple hours later:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02782.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02786.jpg

cleaned up the motor for paint:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02781.jpg

my plan was to paint the motor a flat black (high temp), then polish the fin tips and faces of the cases.... here's how it turned out

before polishing:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02807.jpg

after polishing:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02793.jpg

rectifier to match:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02797.jpg



the frame was to be painted flat black as well, as well as the a-arms.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02801.jpg



the plan is to do silver maier plastics, but money is tight right now, so i decided to try and paint the stockers as a temporary solution to my need for silver. i sanded, cleaned with alcohol. sprayed with adhesion promotor, and painted with bumper paint... hopefully it holds up for a couple dune trips:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02823.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02824.jpg



so when that was dry, everything started to go back on:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02838.jpg


and then i took some pics yesterday of where it currently stands:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02862.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02861.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02863.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02867.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02864.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02865.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02866.jpg

painting to-do includes

- hubs
- rear axle
- inside of rims (flat black)


i have a bunch of other parts in the mail:

- silver/black crossbar pad
- silver/black grips
- black nerf webbing
- carbon fiber tank cover
- two-tone seat cover (black carbon fiber/black)
- black rear shock outerwears
- rear brake parts

still needs to find tires... i've got some leads on a few different tires.


i can't to get it on the sand!!

[Brandonkendall0]

got to love weekly projects.... looks really good from where it was to where it is now. congratz

[zdowell]

holy ****, that looks great. what a turn around. You could sell it as is and probably make a good profit.

[zdowell]

looks like it also may be time for a new sprocket. that front one looks worn.

[DementeD]

i thought about doing the same thing just painting stuff myself..
plastics included..but wasnt sure how itd turn out..

lmk if the paint on the plastics sticks well or not..looks good..

[bbender85]

seat cover and carbon fiber tank cover showed up today

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02879.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02872.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02880.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02876.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02874.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC02873.jpg

[rneck400ex]

how hard was it to polish those fin's? you just use sand it down and polish it or what?? Great job it look really good!! love the tank cover!

[bbender85]

i just used a 320 grit flap wheel on the dremel... had maybe 20 minutes into the fins.

[moorhous]

Nice 400 good job im from pontiac if you get a chance check out the trails in mio!

[400ex28]

Where did you get the seat cover from?

thanks

[mittman]

that looks really great i cant beleve those plastics came out that good

Maier are having a clear out and silver plastics are going cheap....

http://www.maier-mfg.com/shop.cfm

[Hatchman]

Nice work. Really nice! I like the seat cover, where did you find it?

[bbender85]

i got the seat cover on ebay.. they have 14 colors you can chose from... was like $33 shipped.

[bbender85]

Originally posted by Ikilla2
Maier are having a clear out and silver plastics are going cheap....

http://www.maier-mfg.com/shop.cfm

hm, i checked and only green is avaiable? :confused:

[mittman]

it is going to be cheeper if you get it from ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-Honda-400EX-Fenders-Plastics-400-EX-Fender-TRX400EX_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43973QQihZ025Q QitemZ380018202950QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[REDRIDER312]

Nice 400 man....where did you get the C/F tank cover ??

[bbender85]

Originally posted by REDRIDER312
Nice 400 man....where did you get the C/F tank cover ??

on here in the classifieds, actually.. was used.

[UNBROKEN]

man that looks alot better i think the silver with the black is the best color combo IMO, id get new plastics but there way overpriced, let us now how that silver paint holds up :D

[tanner 222]

ya man bikes looking wicked. but instead of investing in a new sprocket i think you may need new tires. they looks a little more wore than the sprocket :o

[burnthesnikle]

yeah looks great!

but yeah the tires? someone liked running down the road?!

[steffen_ex]

yea the tires i was thinking the same thing when i seen the first pictures, i guess some new ones are also in order eh?

[bbender85]

Originally posted by bbender85
....found this 400ex for sale locally. it needed some TLC (mostly TIRES!)...

yes, tires are in the plans.

[lawdog800]

Looks good. I really like the silver plastics I have seen on some of the quads...

[REDRIDDER]

your whole set up is kick ***, love the way your plastics and engine came out great job man!

[BigBore24]

extremely sweet looking. i, like everyone else would really like to know how the painted plastics hold up.

[DementeD]

been a couple months..can u take pics of how the painted plastics look now?? thanks..

[bbender85]

i'll be taking new pics tomorrow anyways w/ the new tires, but i can tell you this; i've kept the paint touched up as it gets rubbed. is hasn't cracked or flaked or peeled or anything, but where my boots rub it wears off fairly easily... so i keep it touched up as needed.

[bbender85]

well here are a few pics with the dune wheels/tires for tonight:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC03311.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC03318.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC03319.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC03323.jpg

[Exrider434]

Wow, looks like they held up real good

[bbender85]

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC03336.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC03340.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC03338.jpg

[cam19aro86]

how did the frame paint hold up?

[bbender85]

frame is just fine, minus where my boot rubs on the left side. the frame was previously painted black when i bought it though, i just redid it flat.

[dirtmerchant42]

so how is it holding up a couple months down the road...looks great tho really considering painting mine now 2...

[bbender85]

it held up fine, except where my boots rubbed; one ride and it was down to red in that area. otherwise i had no peeling or cracking. i ended up finding some used silver Maiers locally...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC03665.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC03664.jpg

[elmer91]

looks really good. gives me ideas about mine. im thinking winter tear down project.

[geezy]

i luv it bro

[mooseracerX]

hows the engine paint holding up? Is it hard to clean? Does it burn off?

[bbender85]

Originally posted by mooseracerX
hows the engine paint holding up? Is it hard to clean? Does it burn off?

real good! kind of hard to clean.. but it hasnt flaked or burned or anything. still looks good.

[elmer91]

Originally posted by bbender85
real good! kind of hard to clean.. but it hasnt flaked or burned or anything. still looks good.

seeing yours, i want to do that to mine. when you say hard to clean, what parts, or is it all? and what have you found as the best way to clean it?

[bbender85]

just the black, you can see water spots and what not. it cleans up alright with some regular soap, but i've been meaning to try simple green.. i know that always worked well on vehicle engines.

[5084Jr]

It's crazy what some hard work will do ya. Great Job the quad looks amazing.

[250ex_dan]

love the color.
the silver or whitehubs will makeit evenkiller!LOL

[tri5ron]

Originally posted by 250ex_dan
love the color.
the silver or whitehubs will makeit evenkiller!LOL

UHmmm,... Dan,....
Do you realize that this thread is over 2 years old ????

[bbender85]

lol blast from the past!!! forgot about this thread. thanks for the compliments tho. :cool:


bike has since been torn down and parted out. last pics i have of it:


http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05120.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05121.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05124.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s248/bbender85/quad/DSC05127.jpg

[250ex_dan]

no,i didnt look at the date.
ive seen the quad on another thread here before
makes a difference to have a b4 and after pic.

[ridgeracer]

I remember seeing those most recent pics too. I also know you mentioned where/from what you got those air scoops. But I can't remember, where did you get those? They look great.

[mittman]

Wow I havent been on here in awhile and just got this msg in my email lol those scoops look like the plastic pieces that came with my maier plastic.

[tayyo789]

I've always wondered, what are those carbon stripes on your side panels? Just a vinyl?

[bbender85]

Originally posted by mittman
...those scoops look like the plastic pieces that came with my maier plastic.

right you are. :cool:


Originally posted by tayyo789
I've always wondered, what are those carbon stripes on your side panels? Just a vinyl?

yep. the tank cover is real carbon fiber... and they actually matched it pretty close.