trail quad... need your help on a choice

[woodsracer144]

hey everyone, im stumped and dont know what to do anymore, i have a full blown race 250 and im lookin to go trailin with a few buddys, i dont want to use my full race quad, 1 i need race gas 2 its way too much to risk, its too much money i've spent that i dont want stolen, so i was thinkin of making a cheaper trail quad, i could get a cheap deal on a beat 86 250r chassis but i dont really wanna deal with pre mixing, the one think that i love about my r now is its super light and its fast, so i thought about gettin the r chassis and making a mostly stock quad of it and throw stock travel after market shocks and stuff on it, but put a 400ex motor in it or the xr 400 motor in it, the 400ex i know is like a rock and solid... any one have any pointers on what to do?
i also thought of putin a hybred motor in that chassis as well... what do you think?

[muddy400EX]

id buy a decent 450r and just throw on some trail tires and basic mods, youd be set

[ezdaar]

Are you talking about wood trails, riding the creek , mud or river crossings, or fire road trails?

If you need wood/creek trails, go with a modded 400ex. 440 kit, and some good shocks or 450 shocks resprung. I wouldnt go any wider than maybe 2"s or you will be banging trees..

Fire roads and long straight type trails, well the choice is simple the 450!

Ground clearance is key to a fun sport bike setup for trails.

[scuzz]

Cliffs: OP wants something two stroke and cheap.



700XX or 525IRS> 450r for trails.

Usable powerband, lots or torque, IRS, REVERSE and ground clearance.

For a used quad I'd go with a 400EX, they're proven and they have reverse. (well, the newer ones)

Keep in mind though that if you're getting a new quad the 700xx's can be had for a song.

[fastredrider44]

I'm partial to the 450R. If your buddies aren't into going real fast, or like more technical stuff on sportbikes, I'd go with a Z400 or 400ex. The 700xx is nice and all, but coming from a 250R, you will think its REALLY heavy.

[scuzz]

Originally posted by fastredrider44
The 700xx is nice and all, but coming from a 250R, you will think its REALLY heavy.

You'll notice the weight for sure, it's 100 pounds heavier, but the technical stuff is where it really shines:

Here's some trail riding that starts at 1:33. In the open trails, no one could hang - if I was at WOT they were eating dust.

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[matt14c]

Im a Honda fan true and true and never owned anything other. BUT im really liking that new can-am renegade. My fionce just cant seem to get the whole manual clutch concept down so thats why I was looking into that type of quad and from what I have seen and read they haul arse. Plus the 4x4 for extra added security through mud and snow or over down trees.

There's only one perfect pick for what you're looking for in my opinion. the Outlaw 525IRS. It is the same weight as the raptor 700, massive power, IRS for the trails, and comfortable.

[woodsracer144]

i will not runn a polaris im not a fan every thing i owned from them i havnt had good luck with it... i was think a 400ex or 250 with light mods... i has both a 400ex chassis and alot of the parts to build it up and i also have a 250r chassis with alot of parts as well.... dont know what way to go.... i thought about making my 250r with a 400ex... teh 700xx is a too much of a pig and too much money for me... i want it cheap....

[woodsracer144]

i will not runn a polaris im not a fan every thing i owned from them i havnt had good luck with it... i was think a 400ex or 250 with light mods... i has both a 400ex chassis and alot of the parts to build it up and i also have a 250r chassis with alot of parts as well.... dont know what way to go.... i thought about making my 250r with a 400ex... teh 700xx is a too much of a pig and too much money for me... i want it cheap....

[hondariderdylan]

get a 05 and up 400ex motor and throw it in the R frame

the 05 and ups have reverse and in tight trails, you will want it

Originally posted by woodsracer144
i will not runn a polaris im not a fan every thing i owned from them i havnt had good luck with it... i was think a 400ex or 250 with light mods... i has both a 400ex chassis and alot of the parts to build it up and i also have a 250r chassis with alot of parts as well.... dont know what way to go.... i thought about making my 250r with a 400ex... teh 700xx is a too much of a pig and too much money for me... i want it cheap....

Not trying to push you into anything, but honestly I absolutely hated polaris. I thought they were the biggest piece of crap i've ever seen. But that was their older stuff. It seems as if lately they've really been getting their stuff together. It's no longer the day of crappy 2-stroke utilities.

Their outlaw 525 is pretty sick, and probably one of their first GOOD quads. It's a KTM motor which are reliable and super powerful, the frames are strong, and the fox shocks are getting better and better on them. They also have maxxis tires and nice rims.

It really is a solid great quad that's still fairly light and great ground clearance.:D

[250x_kyle]

go with a 400ex bullet proff great on teh trails stock with some nice tires a set of nerfs and handquads and you will have a blast. the z400 would be my second choice for an xc quad.

[KFX450Rrider490]

if you dont want to spend alot of money go with a z400 you can do anything with it
realy reliable too

[F-16Guy]

You can get a nice, used 400ex for next to nothing these days. Spend the money you saved on some shocks, a slip-on, and a filter, and you'll have a nice trail quad. You can't beat the torque of the 400ex engine for woods riding.

[woodsracer144]

im thinkin of findin a cheap 400ex or useing a 05 and up 400 ex motor in something like a r chassis...

[scuzz]

Which one had the better frame the 250r or the 400EX?

[fastredrider44]

Originally posted by woodsracer144
im thinkin of findin a cheap 400ex or useing a 05 and up 400 ex motor in something like a r chassis...

That sounds a lot like work. What little you would gain from switching to an R chassis wouldn't be worth the headaches to make it worth your while.

I've got a nice 01 400 that I'd let go cheap, and it has real low hours. Why cheap? Anyone that has tried to sell a 400ex in the last couple years knows that the 450 market killed the 400s. 400ex parts are cheap and plentiful, and the bikes themselves are very tough. Hard to go wrong unless you planning on seriously racing.

[woodsracer144]

Pm price and what's all done to it... I want the r chassis because the are light and I like them

Originally posted by woodsracer144
Pm price and what's all done to it... I want the r chassis because the are light and I like them

Honestly, go with the 400ex chassis.

It's actually about the same weight and almost same geometry, the only reason the 400ex is so heavy is the engine. The things a porker of an engine lol. From what I remember the engine's in the 90's.

[tri5ron]

Originally posted by F-16Guy
You can get a nice, used 400ex for next to nothing these days. Spend the money you saved on some shocks, a slip-on, and a filter, and you'll have a nice trail quad. You can't beat the torque of the 400ex engine for woods riding. X2

add to that some nerfs, skids, +6 key, steering stabilizer, and you've got a nice, very reliable, fun, well peforming trail/woods quad.

a couple more mods to wake it up even more are, stage 1 cam, 450r carb, and it'll still be near bullet proof.

[woodsracer144]

im gonn get a 400ex of some sort i think... just have to save up alittle money now...

[RATPACK Z400]

For the money you,ll spend doing a hybred you can pick up a Z400 for two grand in good condition or spend a little more and get 450r/yfz/Ltr there are so many deals going on E-bay ,craigslist,etc .400ex motors a waste IMO than getting Z/450/700r used

[woodsracer144]

why dont you like the 400ex?

[scuzz]

Originally posted by woodsracer144
why dont you like the 400ex?

Because it's not in his username.

[extremeblastr]

Originally posted by DMC-4OOEX
Not trying to push you into anything, but honestly I absolutely hated polaris. I thought they were the biggest piece of crap i've ever seen. But that was their older stuff. It seems as if lately they've really been getting their stuff together. It's no longer the day of crappy 2-stroke utilities.

Their outlaw 525 is pretty sick, and probably one of their first GOOD quads. It's a KTM motor which are reliable and super powerful, the frames are strong, and the fox shocks are getting better and better on them. They also have maxxis tires and nice rims.

It really is a solid great quad that's still fairly light and great ground clearance.:D

i know a father and son duo who own and race 4 polaris mxr450s 2 from 08 and 2 from 09. the sons 08 is sitting in the garage awaiting a rebuild for the 5th time since september, the fathers 08 has 6 different weld spots on the frame. the sons 09 is on its 3rd set of rear fenders as they break around the rear brackets. the sons 09 also has basic motor mods for mx racing such as a hotter cam, higher compression piston and an exhaust and they can't keep the damn thing from overheating even with an oversized radiator. polaris's are just heavyyyy and the aftermarket parts for them are heavier then normal also. i love the feel of the polaris bikes after having ridden many of them myself (including a 525 irs) but i would not suggest them to anyone because they just aren't reliable enough.

[Scro]

Originally posted by fastredrider44

I've got a nice 01 400 that I'd let go cheap, and it has real low hours. Why cheap? Anyone that has tried to sell a 400ex in the last couple years knows that the 450 market killed the 400s. 400ex parts are cheap and plentiful, and the bikes themselves are very tough. Hard to go wrong unless you planning on seriously racing.

That's the reason I'm thinking about buying one for sport class in GNCC.;)

[tri5ron]

Originally posted by scuzz
Because it's not in his username. LOL! X2

saying a 400ex is a waste as a good trail quad,
is like saying....
using a nightcrawler as bait is a waste.

Sorry Ratpack,
but there's only one reason why you see so many 400ex's out there.
(I'll give you a hint,...It's the same reason so many people use worms for fishing)

[fastredrider44]

The 400EX is not a waste. I've owned 3 of them now. But even from a honda man, the z400/kfx is a great trail quad.

[woodsracer144]

well my quest form a trail quad has been set to the side i broke my handy last night and i cant ride for 4 -6 weeks if i dont need pins... if i do its gonna be a lot longer... and it really blows because i just sent in all my shocks on my 250r... and i tossin around the idea of sellin my 250r... if i can get the right price for it...

[RATPACK Z400]

For the money yes I think its better to go with 450/Z /700r used than buying ex then spending thousands more to get 40+ hp then getting 450/700r that already has that kind of hp then building faster!

[woodsracer144]

im not lookin for a quad that has a ton of hp... i want some thing that will run no matter what and last me and be cheap.. ie 400ex but i cant get one now due to my hand...

[RATPACK Z400]

Not hating the Ex but stepping off a race 250r to a 400ex ! come on ,A 400ex will need lots of money dumped in it making it unreliable,too come close to what you were riding its a down grade IMO. youll be wanting more power with the 400ex then If you got Z/450?/700r/etc. theres plenty of guys that wished they got 450 after buying ex ,youll be one of them.

[woodsracer144]

to be honest with every one the most fun i've ever had n a quad is on my first quad it was a 01 blaster and man did i beat the piss out of that... i rode it all the time.. non stop... and it would never blow up.. it was fast light and nimble... but i want something that handles a little better then a blaster...

[nakomis0]

I picked up my second EX just a few weeks ago. Its completely stock, except a K&N filter, +1 stem and Works shocks all around.

First impression was, what a turd. But I took it out for a day of trail riding and hitting the track.

At the end of the day I was super happy. The thing handled in the tight woods great. I could not of went any faster with my built 440. At the track it jumped awesome. Its not a drag racer thats for sure, but in the trails w/ suspension that thing is not going to let you down.

Any yes they are cheap, $2k is what I paid. You can find parts all over. And they are bullet proof, even if you mod them. I built my 43hp 440 8 yrs ago. Its got the stock clutch, and only motor issue has been 2 cam chain tensioners.

Originally posted by woodsracer144
to be honest with every one the most fun i've ever had n a quad is on my first quad it was a 01 blaster and man did i beat the piss out of that... i rode it all the time.. non stop... and it would never blow up.. it was fast light and nimble... but i want something that handles a little better then a blaster...

ha.... I remember my old blaster. She was a 97. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED that little thing. It was so light, so it jumped good and was so nimble, it was peppy, it was super reliable (I never did anything to mine for years. Just topped off the oil tank) and man what a blast. I learned pretty much all my riding skills on that thing.

I wish they were bigger or I would still be riding one:p

[JLanphear]

To be honest, I prefered the Banshee I had on our trail rides over my 400ex.

Our rides usually consisted of dirt road riding to get the the trails, then a mix of medium speed trails, that turned into slow going messes. I just thought the Banshee did better in the slow stuff that you really had to plow through to make it on a 2-wheel drive machine.

Between my friends and I, I think we've owned 7 or 8 Banshee's and they've all been very reliable with that type of riding.

However, if we were talking, tight, fast trails I'd pick the EX.

-Josh

Originally posted by JLanphear
To be honest, I prefered the Banshee I had on our trail rides over my 400ex.

Our rides usually consisted of dirt road riding to get the the trails, then a mix of medium speed trails, that turned into slow going messes. I just thought the Banshee did better in the slow stuff that you really had to plow through to make it on a 2-wheel drive machine.

Between my friends and I, I think we've owned 7 or 8 Banshee's and they've all been very reliable with that type of riding.

-Josh

Holy crap its about time someone thinks the same way I do. I feel the same way.

[fastredrider44]

Originally posted by DMC-4OOEX
Holy crap its about time someone thinks the same way I do. I feel the same way.

Yeah, but y'all are wierd.:rolleyes: LOL!:D

Originally posted by fastredrider44
Yeah, but y'all are wierd.:rolleyes: LOL!:D

....:( :(




LMAO

[woodsracer144]

haha... you gus brighten up my day some where on here every time i go on... lmao...

how do you deal with pre mix?

[fastredrider44]

Premix up a lot of gas before you go ride. Also get rid fo those factory premix injectors. When they clog, they blow.

Yes, I've had a few two storkes in my day.

[woodsracer144]

Shees have oil injection?

Originally posted by woodsracer144
Shees have oil injection?

Nope. But like said before. We usually top off our shee's and then fill up an extra 5 gallon tank to leave in the back of the truck, so we can head back and fill up.

Originally posted by fastredrider44
Premix up a lot of gas before you go ride. Also get rid fo those factory premix injectors. When they clog, they blow.

Yes, I've had a few two storkes in my day.

I hear that all the time. Believe it or not the one on my 97 blaster never broke! lol. I was amazed.

[fastredrider44]

Originally posted by DMC-4OOEX
I hear that all the time. Believe it or not the one on my 97 blaster never broke! lol. I was amazed.

Shouldn't have been amazed, you were lucky.:devil: :D

[woodsracer144]

[i]Originally posted by fastredrider44 Also get rid fo those factory premix injectors. When they clog, they blow.

What does that mean?

[fastredrider44]

some two strokes, like alot of mopeds and blasters etc, have oil reservoirs so that you don't have to premix your oil, it does it for you. But when they clog, a two stroke won't run very long on straight gas, and it will cause it to seize.

[woodsracer144]

oh yeah... i knew that... i thought it was for on a banshee though...