Can I turn my 450r into a 400ex?

[AttoirRE]

Figured the topic would get some views.

I used to own a 2006 400EX. I geared it one tooth down in front, put a white brothers pipe on it, and I loved it. Was the perfect trail ATV for me. Fit me well, tractored up hills at low speeds if need be.

Electric start and reverse was nice, but not a huge deal.

I recently picked up a 2005 450r. It's 100% stock, engine wise. Stock filter, stock exhaust, stock tip.

In low RPM's, the 400 had more power. I could lug the 400 up a hill much easier than I can the 450, the 450 sounds like it's in pain when I'm not wide open.

It's definately faster when WTFO, but otherwise, I miss the 400ex.

Do I need to sell / trade this thing, or can a combination of gearing and the right engine mods turn this 450r into a tractor like my old 400 was?

[wykyd450R]

I doubt you'll ever get it as the 400 was. Two totally different machines. I had a few 400's and 450r's ( 04-05 ), and I cant see the 450 ever being able to lug like a 400 will. Best you can do is play with the gearing on the 450 to help make it more trail friendly. Many like to go down 1 tooth on the front sprocket for trails. I never done it, but I think I should have. You are right tho, once the rpm's get down so low, it sounds like the engine will fly apart. :p

classic case seen it so many times it crazy. If there is a heavier flywheel that might work and drop a tooth in the front

[fox945]

I also have a 05' 450R that I use for trail riding and hill climbing. When it was completely stock it was awful for it because it was too high geared and if you didn't have a good running shot at a hill you would just about kill yourself trying to climb it.

The biggest thing for me was just dropping a tooth on the front from a stock 14 tooth to 13 tooth. You wouldn't believe how big of a difference that made. Now I have a full exhaust, K&N air filter with airbox lid off, and it is jetted(which still playing with the jetting some) and now it has no problems at all.

So if you want to trail ride with the R just drop a tooth in the front and maybe up one in the rear and a few mods(possibly even a stage 1 Hot Cams for even more bottom end) and you'll love it. :D

(P.S. I'm not the lightest person either if that means anything :) )

look in my sig...spent tons of money on the 450r...just couldn't get it to that 400ex feel...lonestar_r had a 450r and a ltr450 and now he has a 400ex again...

[440challenger]

Im in the same boat. I had a nice ex, with an exhaust etc and it was a blast, such a great motor. I have an 05 450r with a bunch of mods and i find myself trying to make the motor like the ex,but i've came to conclusion, deal with the 450r and make it better, but it will never be the same kind of power as the 400 puts out

[warriorxcr1]

pipe and jet it, then drop the front teeth down to 13....open that lid up as well.

if that doesnt give you enough grunt, get a stage 1 hotcam. you can set a 450r up just how you want it. i suggest not going back to a 400ex man. i love 400exs but its not the same as a 450r thats uncorked.

[gmcsonomaex]

i have a 2005 400ex with mods if your intrested in trading let me kno where you are located

[kreidy818]

there is a heavier flywheel made by trail tech, havnt heard any reviews yet. I am in the same boat, had a nice 99 ex and got an 05 r cheap and decided to sell the ex, now I miss it. I went down 1 in the front and up 2 in the rear for sprockets, it helped but still miss that snap off the bottom. I love the chassis on the r though.the worst part is the ex would stand up in a wheelie from a dead stop, the r you have to really work it

[venom450r]

I used to run a yosh trc pipe, hrc kit, and 13/37 gearing. I thought it was a pretty good trail combo.
Trailtech's flywheels are nice, but the majority of engine builders recomend balancing your crank if you change flywheels.

[Brauap]

I'm wondering if you could possibly take in your stock flywheel to a local shop and have them mill out a newer, heaver one.. is that possible?

[rideracelivemx7]

why would you want to have a shop make a fly wheel when you could spend 100$ and get a flywheel weight upto 12oz i belive, does wonders.

[zje400ex]

i used to have a 2005 400ex and decided to upgrade to a 450r. i really missed the bottom end power of the 400ex so i was gonna sell it til i dropped the front sprocket to a 13 tooth. this gave it more bottom end power and much easier to ride in the woods. im thinking about buying an exhaust for it next...how much would that help with the bottom end power?

[chadbarger18]

my 05 450 came with a 12 on the front and it was great for the really tight trails behind my old house leave it in second i would stall it like 2 times a day at most and that was from doing wheeles up hills freakin out my friends but it was very easy to lug with the 12 on the front

[gmcsonomaex]

an exhaust will help if you jet your carb as well. i dont think it does all that much but i have a curtis sparks full exhaust and it was like 579 when i bought it and my buddy got a pro circut t4 slip on and his has more snap to it than mine and there exactly the same other than the exhaust

[fox945]

Full exhuast, air filter & jetting it and you'll be happy with it.

[JAKE YATES]

put a 12 tooth front sprocket on the front and that thing will climb a hill on its own, i tell everyone i know to use the 12 untill they get used to the 450r then go to the 13.

[S.A.J]

im in the exact oposite boat,im going up a tooth when i get mine back together and if anybodys missing a 400 i got one for sale lol

[kreidy818]

someone in this forum told me that a 12 tooth sprocket put alot of stress on the chain and only do a 13 tooth. not sure why it would stress the chain

[gmcsonomaex]

it puts more stress on it because a srpocket that has fewer teeth turns faster than one with more teeth. i would use a 13 i had a 2005 400ex and i had a 13 tooth and i thought it was perffect but i never tried a 12 so its up to you thats just what it think.

[Brauap]

Originally posted by venom450r
balancing your crank if you change flywheels.

Is that true? What happens if you don't balance your crank??

[Rat-A-TatRacing]

Man for get all that: I have a 2003 460ex and a 2007trx Sparks 510:

The Ex has power I give it that....but that is all I give it.
Ex is much heavier and dose not handle near as well as the R

Now you want your 450r to preform like a EX....that's weird

Did you buy the R for the R...not buy a 450r and want ti like a EX....just by a new EX

Trust me when I tell you this a EX is old news if your doing any kind of racing at all or just race a buddy down the dunes you NEED a 450r.

Just mod up the 450r a little and you'll have all the power you'll never need. Just take out the stock piston and replace it with a high comp like 12.5 to 1 12.0 to 1 at the least stage 1 hot cam remove your lid, get a pipe, CDI BOX would make a big Diff, and after this you will not want to get back on a EX.

I love EX there very reliable to say the very least!!

Originally posted by Rat-A-TatRacing
Man for get all that: I have a 2003 460ex and a 2007trx Sparks 510:

The Ex has power I give it that....but that is all I give it.
Ex is much heavier and dose not handle near as well as the R

Now you want your 450r to preform like a EX....that's weird

Did you buy the R for the R...not buy a 450r and want ti like a EX....just by a new EX

Trust me when I tell you this a EX is old news if your doing any kind of racing at all or just race a buddy down the dunes you NEED a 450r.

Just mod up the 450r a little and you'll have all the power you'll never need. Just take out the stock piston and replace it with a high comp like 12.5 to 1 12.0 to 1 at the least stage 1 hot cam remove your lid, get a pipe, CDI BOX would make a big Diff, and after this you will not want to get back on a EX.

I love EX there very reliable to say the very least!!

that's funny...i had a pipe, hrc cam, shocks rebuilt, different bars, air filter, jetted, and many other things done to mine to make it better...but still i am on a 400ex again, and much happier...everything i did, did make it more rideable in the tight stuff, but still not good enough...

[Rat-A-TatRacing]

There good machines!:devil:

[AttoirRE]

Update

I traded the 450r straight across for a 2007 400ex with a Curtis Sparks full exhaust and airbox removal setup.

I'm happy with it, it was everything I remembered.

There's a huge difference between the two bikes, as has been discussed. The 450r is undoubtedly faster than the 400ex. But, the low end on the 400ex is just so much more appropriate for me.

I bought the 450r originally because it was a good deal from a friend. I didn't realize that the bike would be so inappropriate for the type of riding I do.

Thanks for all the responses guys.

[MAD450r]

I have owned both. Depends on your riding style mostly on which performs better. Even with regearing the R.


If you like to lug the motor you'll never be happy on the 450r. I had my 416ex built before I got my 04 450r I had the 3rd one from my dealer, 1rst with hrc. I had a sparks full exhaust here waiting for it along with sparks filter.

I rode it once and said wtH this handles like crap compared to my hooke up 416ex with elka's and everything, but the motor would eat the 416 all day long. So I think did my suspension up and I am one that like to ride on the limiter most of the time anyways even when trail riding so I ride low gears.

when trail riding I put my 20 inch tires back on and put my 14 tooth sproket back on but I have to clutch alot yes to keep it running. When I ride the track which I prefer to ride I put my 15 tooth sproket back on and my 18 inch rears. With my setup out at 50 inches many say im too wide to trail ride. I ride every trail or powerline we have around here n/p.

http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/AD/AB/F9/iADABF9F6-2562-4E42-8A27-AFCBAB182682.jpg http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/07/87/5E/i07875ECC-FABE-4333-913E-0849B084DFA1.jpg http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/72/3D/15/i723D1549-2FB9-46FC-B2EB-BCA7A2E49DAE.jpg http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/80/27/59/i802759A1-1B91-422B-995D-857C68788797.jpg

[GTRider256]

I know this is off topic but I just bought a 450R and was wondering what parts from my 400EX can I use on the 450R, such as skids and nerfs and anything else anybody knows is interchangeable

[MAD450r]

But from what you listed if your lucky and with a little help you maybe able to use your nerfs and I know you can use the front bumper.

thats about all I know of.

[coryatver]

Originally posted by GTRider256
I know this is off topic but I just bought a 450R and was wondering what parts from my 400EX can I use on the 450R, such as skids and nerfs and anything else anybody knows is interchangeable

2004 Honda 400 EX
DG Nerfs MAYBE
DG Bumper YES
DG Full Skid Plate NO
DG Swingarm Skid NO
OMF Scoops NO
Pro Taper Handlebars YES
Pro Circuit Full Exaust NO
K&N Filter NO
Outerwears NO
Razr's Rear YES
Razr 2's Front YES
Steamline Rear Rotor NO

[MAD450r]

The filter would work as well as the outer ware lid not sure but I think the rotor should work too.

[coryatver]

the filter will clamp on but the 450r can use a lot bigger one. The rotors wont swap 450r is different size

[Rich250RRacer]

Originally posted by rideracelivemx7
why would you want to have a shop make a fly wheel when you could spend 100$ and get a flywheel weight upto 12oz i belive, does wonders.

I have a Trailtech flywheel on my '04, it is 8 oz. heavier than stock. I'm not sure if they still make it, it's not listed on their website anymore. It still wouldn't hurt to give then a call. I can tell you this, the heavier flywheel will not give you more bottom end grunt. It will stop the low RPM stalling that is a common problem on '04-05's though. I'm not afraid to let the motor lug down with the heavier flywheel.

[honda400ex2003]

Mad450r has the best of both worlds. I would gear the 450 down and at least put a filter on it. Even a nice s/o would be sweet. I would take one down in the front and one up in the back and see how that is. it would be way lower than stock with that set up. I could not even amagine a 400 geared like that it would rip your arms off. but the try a bunch if you can if not keep everything and play with the gears. The rear makes less of a difference but if you are looking for something inbetween the gear down in the front and stock. If the front is not enough put the rear on. Good luck it will be an interesting experiment. I am glad my 400 has a ton of torque. Steve

[ds268]

This is why I still own my 400. They make much more low end torque and they are a pleasure to trail ride on tight and steep trails. I have never heard anyone performing the motor swap but I'm sure it can be done however, it is probably not even worth the hassle as opposed to picking up a newer 400ex and selling the 450.

[450rJam]

Heck yes you can turn it into a 400ex

come by my house and I will work some magic


I have a 400ex I would like to turn into a 450r

[TheBlasterMan]

stroker crank, high comp, heavier flywheel and drop a tooth up front... youl be able to tractor up the hills like nothin....

[vAnS_77]

I have a solution, go faster :devil:

[QuadJunkies]

Originally posted by AttoirRE
Figured the topic would get some views.


Do I need to sell / trade this thing, or can a combination of gearing and the right engine mods turn this 450r into a tractor like my old 400 was?

Ill trade you motors... :D

I have a Duncan 440 and I love the power mine has, but mine just doesnt have enough pull to keep up with the 450's :(
One of these days Id like to get mine dynoed to see what kind of numbers its pulling.
We have had both so I know what your saying about the differences.