Anyone TT their 400?

[Whit11b]

I've been out twice now with my 02 EX to the TT track in Onsted, MI. I've had a good time doing it, but not to sure if I'm gonna get serious about it. Anyone run TT with their EX? What kind of go fast stuff do you have on it?

Right now I have a lowering rear link and a Diamond J widening/lowering kit on the front. HMF slip on and no air box. Everything else is stock. Been OK to give TT a try, but I'm not sure if I want to put money into the EX or spend some more and get a 450. What it would cost me to do up a 450 I could get started in some other kind of racing. Do you guys think that the 400EX would be a worth while platform to run in Production?

Plus pics. I'm on the red EX with #17 duct tape.

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/whitney11b/100_0323.jpg

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/whitney11b/100_0325.jpg

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/whitney11b/100_0331.jpg

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/whitney11b/DSC00760.jpg

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/whitney11b/DSC00761.jpg

And the first time with stock suspension setup.

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/whitney11b/l_5e4b4c6a2181458da70b8799cf2bc773.jpg

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/whitney11b/l_c75bc66842344fed90b1cc7cea967c5b.jpg

[fauxamish]

I raced TT a few times this summer before I broke my wrist doing MX. The first 2 times, I didn't have any TT specific stuff, just a general MX set up that is basically in my sig. I got 5th out of 16 in the knobby/no swaybar class my first time. I raced against 2 400ex's and the rest were 450's (the guy who got 1st dominated the Pro class as well, and he was still running knobbies and no sway bar.) I got a front and rear Durablue lowering kit from a member on here for really cheap. Lowering makes a huge difference in TT.

You are on the right track with going lower and wider. Where the 450's would get me is in the big sweeping turns, but in the tighter stuff I kept right with them. If you are serious about TT, the smooth tires and a sway bar are necessary, regardless if you are running the 400ex or a 450. The 400ex can run with the 450's if you do some serious modding in the engine (bore, stroke, port & polish, etc.). A lot off stuff you do to your 400ex will transfer to MX if you decide that TT isn't for you.

Sorry if this rambles a bit. I am far far FAR from pro at TT, but this is what I know from my experiences doing it. Hope this helps a little.

[matt14c]

Whit how is it out there in Onsted? Im about 35-40 minutes from there and was going to check it out but I havent been able to yet. Was it only you and the other three on the line with you? My bike is pretty much setup for mx but im pretty low and about as wide as you can go. Seems tempting to try it once or so.

[Whit11b]

fauxamish, They had the Production classes running knobbies and the Opens running the smooth hoosier dirt tires. Guys were running sway bars in both classes. Even with the El Cheapo setup mine has now I was able to keep pace on the corners, it was the big sweeping corner leading onto the long front stretch where those 450s just walk away from me. And no, I'm staying away from MX. I got enough aches and pains that hard trail riding aggravate. That's why I'm giving TT a try.

matt14c, it is definatly worth doing it once. I have a hour and a half drive to Onsted. $15 buck to get in, $20 per class you register for. I was running the Production C class and a 400/250 class that was added in. The turnout wasn't very good this time. That guy standing at the starting line was waiting for his quad that was on the track racing. The only thing is if classes are short they combine two classes together. So the 3 guys in 400/250 got run with the 2 guys in Unlimited. And I was the only one with knobbies, it was nice practice though.

If you can get a set of Hoosiers you can double the number of classes you can run in.

[matt14c]

Whit, I was kinda looking at there website and was wondering would I have to run open since I have a 416 and not even close to production? I couldnt find any guidlines or rules for the classes just a list of classes in the standing section. I may have to make a run out there one weekend.

[KISSmyACE]

it's doable but not the best machine to run with IMO, esp if you don't put money into it. I really enjoyed playing on the track I was on, even though the TT portion was small... but if you like it, and are good at competing, why not put in the effort (mostly money) to race it!

vid of my quad running with what's in my sig against a 06 yfz450, 09 yfz450r, and 08 kfx450r. http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/xsouthernqdx/?action=view&current=053.flv

[Whit11b]

Matt, the only thing "Production" really means is that the frame is unmodified and you have knobbed tires. If you have nerfs, tether, numbers, and the lights removed you're good to go. They go by AMA/ATVA rules in general, but if you don't show up with anything crazy exotic custom nobody will bother you about it. The only thing they are particular about is the max width of 50in. They had a guy show up with a snowmobile he converted into a quad. The thing was actually pretty cool but it didn't corner for ****.

KISSmyACE, I have to agree. Suspension wise I could get the 400 on par with the 450s. But on the motor side of things it would be tough to compete against the 450s hp to hp. I could go through my EX and build a 440 with port/polish big valve head, high compression piston and so on but all those 450's have the same stuff done to them.

For what it would cost me to buy a 450 and do it up for TT, or even buy a race ready one, I could put together a sprintcar and run more than once a month. I think I'm gonna do a little bit to my EX but keep it trail ride-able.


Also, short vid of my start. I'm lined up next to a 250R and LTZ400 that run Open and we are lined up behind the Unlimiteds.
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[fauxamish]

The place I raced at broke the classes down into Sportsman (which is knobbies and no swaybars) and then every other class is whatever (Open, Big Bore, Open Am, Open Pro, etc). They even run the UTV's, which is my fiance's favorite part. Where is your place located in Michigan?

[Whit11b]

It's in Onsted, MI. Just southeast of Brooklyn, Mi and northwest of Adrain, MI. Not far from Michigan International Speedway. The races are pretty much fund raisers for the local Kiwanis Club.

Website: http://onstedatvracing.com/

Oct. 3rd and 4th are the last race days. Practice on the 2nd. They are also going to be running the snowmobile gas drags that weekend. I've been impressed with the place. It's fairly smooth, no rocks, everybody is friendly, and the safety crew is pretty good.

There are a bunch of classes, but some get a little soft on the count so they will run a couple classes together. Sucks lining up against a crazy tricked out bike like that though.

[jhln8c]

Originally posted by KISSmyACE
it's doable but not the best machine to run with IMO, esp if you don't put money into it. I really enjoyed playing on the track I was on, even though the TT portion was small... but if you like it, and are good at competing, why not put in the effort (mostly money) to race it!

vid of my quad running with what's in my sig against a 06 yfz450, 09 yfz450r, and 08 kfx450r. http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/xsouthernqdx/?action=view&current=053.flv
Damn sara look at you go :rolleyes:

[Kevslatvin]

I've done some flat track racing at some local fairs. No TT though. At Cookeville I did so so. Got 5th in the knobby class. In Sparta I had some American racer rears borrowed but got terrible starts and took half the night to figure out how to ride on those tire as they're quite different than a knobby. Right now it's my lack of skill that's my problem. I imagine at least around here to run the bigger classes that run the Hoosier or American Racer tires and be competitive one would need a 450. That said to get out there and get track time in and have fun the EX would be fine.Some vids from Cookeville.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PVb_5DNR9U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmNyp3B3T4I

[KISSmyACE]

Originally posted by jhln8c
Damn sara look at you go :rolleyes:

lmao GTFO