YOUR 'Top Ten' tips & tricks?

[honda400-4-ever]

Been searching and haven't found a thread like this yet (sorry if there is one)

There seems to be SO many upgrades that can and are being made to these 400ex's - but - bang for buck, what would YOU say are the 'top ten' upgrades, be it engine mods or suspension or cosmetics somebody should make first?

450r front shocks
choke removed
air box lid removed
header welds ground down
better flowing air filter
better flowing exhaust, slip on to save costs
ignition timing advanced
jetted correctly
nerf bars
steel braided brake lines?

kinda hard to choose 10 things but the 1st 9 there should be a must. the 10th is optional but makes a huge difference in comfort and control you can go faster and brake later because you can stop much quicker and you have a better reaction time with the brakes. new tires are nice, along with handle bars, skid plates....

[honda400ex2003]

gearing down could be a good one too depending on how and where you ride. otherwise a great list above. steve

[Wheelie]

SPAL fan

450R Front and Rear Brakes

E85 or E85 Blend

Timing Key

[honda400ex2003]

new handle bars, levers, tires too steve

[tri5ron]

add to that...

'04-'05 450r carb w/ ZR's adapter
steering stabilizer
cam of choice for your particular application
full skids for any "off track" type of riding
p-brake block-off
handguards

..and your favorite animated guardian angel,
(But Spongebob and Elmo are already taken, :D )

[buster024]

My opinion:

1) New suspension of any kind. It's really just a "have to have". 400 stock sticks suck.

2) Sparks key. Just flat ol' wow.

3) Intake/exhaust. Better pipe, filter of choice, and 450r carb.

4) Nerf Bars and fat pegs. They will save you if you ride more than once a year.

5) Grips and bars. The stock bars are to generic to fit every rider. Changing them makes a huge difference.

6) Clymer manual. Again...another "have to have".

7) Spare parts and tools. You'll need them, and you'll end up keeping it out of the shop.

8) Extended rear swinger. Not many people have them, but I love mine. I went 2", and it made a huge impact on trails and hills.

9) Anti-fade axle locknut. Soooo much better.

10) Body armor. You'll trash your bike without it. See reasons 1 & 6.

10) Stickers. They make it faster.

[nakomis0]

My top 10, I tried to do in the order of importance...

Shocks
14 tooth sprocket
K&n Filter w/ lid removed
Nerf bars
Parking brake block off

Then the more expensive stuff...
Exhaust
Valves
Cam
Porting
High comp piston

... at this point you can loose the 14 tooth it wont be needed.

[RNL]

Whats with the E85 thing? Can someone explain?

[Wheelie]

Originally posted by RNL
Whats with the E85 thing? Can someone explain?

Search, there are several threads on it.

[buster024]

My top 10, I tried to do in the order of importance...

Parking brake block off

I know this is an opinion based thread, but a parking brake block off? Really? You'd rather do that than bars, grips, sparks key, carb, wheels, tires, etc etc? I guess he did mention cosmetics in the original post, but still......
Sorry....I know it's rude to pick on someone's opinion, but I can't help myself with that one.

[aDviSol2y]

Cuts down on weight! LOL!

[nakomis0]

Originally posted by aDviSol2y
Cuts down on weight! LOL!

Thats what I was thinking. And I'm cheap, that only cost $14 if you keep the stock lever. It looks much cleaner too.

Handlebars, grips, wheels & tires these all come with the quad and seem to work fine until you brake them or they wear out.

[F-16Guy]

Top Ten:

1) 450R shocks

2) +2 arms

3) G-Force axle

4) Lexx slip-on, header welds ground (good power, quiet)

5) K&N filter and airbox mods

6) Engine work (piston, cam)

7) FST style cooler

8) Trail Tech clamp and bars (raises bar height; good for tall rider)

9) Aftermarket tires (a lot fewer flats!)

10) T-9 Baja rear wheels (no more taco'd wheels)

[EXinMB]

in my opinion for the average trail rider in order of priority in my opinion

1. Service Manual (will save you tons of cash to do work yourself)

2. Nerfs (i would never ride a sport quad without them. ive had enough close calls without ill never go back?

3. Graphics (Might as well make it look good. If your not racing just an average ditch banger stickers definately make it faster?

4. Skid Plates (I raced last year and took them all off and now i regret it for trail riding)

5. Bars (in my opinion it makes riding more comfortable if you get bars that fit you the way you want them to.

6. Sprockets (gives you a lil bit of room to modify the speed or torque for your riding needs without spending to much on mods)

7. Exhaust & Filter (everyone knows the 400 isn a arm pullin powerhouse but everyone wants more power out of it. and for a trail rider this is perfect

8. Tires (after buying all the other stuff ur first set of tires is probly worn out so might as well get a set that suit ur riding area. I have had holeshots xcr03s and kenda klaw mx and riden other quads with Razrs and i totally prefer the klaws. Best tires iv ever bought.)

9. Rims (stock rims don't hold up to to much abuse iv hit so many things my rims are almost square lol.)

10. After all this if you want more power then theres tons more or if you like the power its got theres lots of stuff to make them look pretty sweet.

this is just my opinion based on what ive done to mine

[Ryanwolfe911]

Yeah, I was gonna ask about why a parking brake block off would be on anyone's top 10 list. What's the point? It doesn't benefit you at all to remove it. Yeah, it looks cleaner, but seriously?

[EXinMB]

well on most sport quads especially hondas the parking brake never works anyway after its used unless ur constantly adjusting it. I took mine off cuz i put a cr250 clutch lever and tried to get rid of all my switches on my bars so i just put the block off plate on just so it looks cleaner instead of running with it on and no cable going to it

[KevinAb]

I just did the parking brake blockoff too. The thing was useless.

Must haves-
service manual (free download)
nerfs
tires
handle bars & risers
reverse start mod (05+) free, quick and easy.

I need skid plates. That'll be my next mod, got the swinger, need the rest.

[TripleR400]

Originally posted by KevinAb
I just did the parking brake blockoff too. The thing was useless.

Must haves-
service manual (free download)
nerfs
tires
handle bars & risers
reverse start mod (05+) free, quick and easy.

I need skid plates. That'll be my next mod, got the swinger, need the rest.


you download the service manual free? where?

[-TheDude-]

Originally posted by TripleR400
you download the service manual free? where?



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