keep the olde 400?

[allhondaman]

hey guys. i was wondering if anyone would suggest keeping/selling my 400ex. i've only had it for about a year and 2 months. i bought a yz250 and it just kicks the sh** out of the 400ex. 2 of my friends bought a slightly used 450r and a brand new 450r. i feel like the seating is not quite as comfortable as the 400 but the position is better. the suspension is also 3 times better. i love the extra power of the 450 and it the engine is more like my yz (hits hard in middle and top continues strong). the 400 has enough power but its just not the same. i dont want to have to do maintenance on the dang thing every week tho. what do u guys think?

[Pipeless416]

i'd say with how poorly you speak of the 400 in nearly every thread, you should just get rid of it.

[Ruby Soho]

good luck selling it.

[allhondaman]

i dont mean to bash my 400 but im just saying its not up to pair of my yz250 or my friends 450. my only concern is the engine maintence on a 450. i mean can problems be avoided by just changing te oil and filter frequently or do the valves need adjusted every week and a new tope end every year/every other year?

[HondaRaceReady]

The valve clearances are supposed to be adjusted every 10 hours according to honda, and top ends are supposed to be rebuilt after every race, or 30 hours non racing. You can get away with a lot more than that though. I'm going to try to race a whole season on 1 top end.

[rideracelivemx7]

I don't know what you guys are nigging about. my 03 crf450 is prime. just replaced the piston. 5 hours on it. valves are still stock and completely stock. I adjust the fuel screw mabe once or twice a week. yeah its a pain to start sometime. but it rips. I never have to check the valves. and for 03 its still stock shims. wahh wahh I don't wana maintain my bike. suck it up, you want power your going to maintain the beast. if you want a nutless machine then your going to have the light maintenance of a small machine. thheee only maintainence I have in my 450 is the oil. its black in a 2 hour drive. its costly but I love my motor. 20$ a change

[allhondaman]

thanks for the info. i thought that 450s were not as problematic as a lot of people say. i would buy engine oil in 1 gallon/5 gallon sets and just change the oil every 2 or 3 hours of riding and the oil filter every other/3 if im changing oil that often.

[rideracelivemx7]

well dont get me wrong. bthe 450 does typically require a tad biut more but that's it. not neearrrly as problematic as a lot of people say. yeah that's what im going to do is buy ba few galon drums. 20$ a popo for 2 quarts is getting a little expensive hah. I need to get a new plug and filter very soon though.