Before and After: ProArmor

[RCWells]

Added my ProArmor today, Odi grips, Acerbis handguards, and my riding gear came in, Fox Boots, Shift pants and shirt. Man, it felt like Christmas already!!

Next up is full exhaust, jet kit, airbox mods/filter. I am still trying to decide on whether to go with the LTE duals or full HMF, AND if HMF, which series. Any advice on HMF series would be appreciated. Their information is somewhat vague. Ballance, Ironman, the new one coming out in January, etc. ??????

BEFORE:

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4395/img1556large.jpg

AFTER:

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/8959/img1574large.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5458/img1575large.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1394/img1576large.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4751/img1578large.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5669/img1579large.jpg

[honda400ex2003]

looks very nice Mr. Wells. hope you like the nerfs, they help you out once in a while but it only takes one slip a bit to realize they are worth every penny not to have a broken ankle or leg. steve

[RCWells]

Safety is THE reason I added them. Honestly I think it looks sexier without them but I saw a thread with some pics of a guys ankle that was mangled and he said he had neither boots nor nerfs, and I decided then and there I would NOT repeat his mistake.

I rode today for the first time with boots, and man, that takes some getting used to. My feet have no sense of bearing with them on and trying to slow down I kept jamming the brakes too hard. Missed shifts, etc. Is that normal? Does everyone go through that or am I just a knucklehead?

[honda400ex2003]

i have heard that it takes some getting used to and the boots have to get broke in a bit. i dont ride with actual riding boots, i ride in steel toe work boots. they seem to fine for me for trail riding, i couldnt bring myself to step into a 2 ft deep mud hole with new riding boots that i spent a few hundred bucks on. lol. steve

[Ryan'07400ex]

Originally posted by RCWells

I rode today for the first time with boots, and man, that takes some getting used to. My feet have no sense of bearing with them on and trying to slow down I kept jamming the brakes too hard. Missed shifts, etc. Is that normal? Does everyone go through that or am I just a knucklehead?

For me it was like that to but you see the point of the boots is to keep your ankle straigh which was the way I used to shift now it is more of a leg motion. You kow what I mean? You gotta kift your whole leg instead of just snapping your ankle up real quick. I think they are worth it though.

For the exhaust I'd say go Ballance its a good all around pipe. Its is the exact same thing as the sport series without the TRM and gets a boost in the low end with it. I like the trm for trail riding alot and since I got crappy tires right now. ha
But they are coming out with the new series so you may just wanna wait cause its only like 20 more days.

JW why did you buy such expensive boots just to get em all dirty I got shift which was only 80 dollars and then fox jersey,pants chest protector (same price as the rest), the opposite of you.

[bkelley]

How easy did the nerfs go on? ProArmor is notorious for having terrible fitting nerfs. Your EX is looking awesome, by the way. I dig white plastics. And you'll love having the nerfs. I can't count how many times I have found my feet in the webbing after hitting something.

[Ryan'07400ex]

Originally posted by honda400ex2003
i have heard that it takes some getting used to and the boots have to get broke in a bit. i dont ride with actual riding boots, i ride in steel toe work boots. they seem to fine for me for trail riding, i couldnt bring myself to step into a 2 ft deep mud hole with new riding boots that i spent a few hundred bucks on. lol. steve

Thats what I thought til I got some for only 80 bucks and they are better than the work boots I have and way way more waterproof. Only reason my feet are wet is on hot days from a little sweat. Never have tried walking through two feet deep mud holes though.

[honda400ex2003]

unless i am on trails or racing around a track i dont wear boots at all. i guess i dont really ride that hard to need them. steve

if i weer you id take the side bars off...thats how i broke my ribs over the summer.

[honda400ex2003]

Originally posted by RCWells


http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5669/img1579large.jpg
if you dont mine me asking, what is the guard for right above the heel guard and below the exhaust? steve

i mean bars as in the the bars that comeout of the hand guards.

[RCWells]

The nerfs went on easily enough, the only real trouble I had was installing the fat pegs. The spacers were a pain in the ***. Otherwise it was ok. You have to stand it up on the rear grab bar to install them and my gas ran out of the tube under the quad. I placed my gas can under that to catch it which was also a pita. Then I had trouble starting it afterwards, maybe the carb was dry? or was it flooded? Either way, another pita. Wound up having to get my battery charger out to jump it.

I want hand guards and the Acerbis were easy to install on my Rubi so I got them for this one too.

I'm not sure what that is from the pics. There are some wires that are sitting in it, but not sure man. Someone on here should know that.

I like the white/black too, but I hate that silver frame! I would give my left nut to have someone disassemble it and powdercoat the frame black. I have a friend that can powdercoat (he actually makes front and rear racks for ATVs), but there is NO WAY I'm going to attempt to break that thing down.

Anybody know what it would cost to have a dealer do that??

[J.Brown121]

from my understanding the ballance is for trails, and the ironman is for mx.

the duels would be sweet. i say if you have the money for the duels get 'em

[katch26]

Originally posted by honda400ex2003
if you dont mine me asking, what is the guard for right above the heel guard and below the exhaust? steve

the black peice? fender bracket

as far as the HMF goes it depends. If noise is a concern wait for the new pipes, if not where do you ride?.....woods the ballance is the way the go. It has a torque range modifier that puts the power more towards the low end, and if you end up not liking it just take it out and you have a sport series...that looks better :)

[honda400ex2003]

but it doesnt look like a fender bracket, nothing is attached to it. it seems like it is a res. guard but it is in the wrong position. steve

[KISSmyACE]

looks really good! you'll be happy. I like the handguards too!

and as far as boots go, I wouldnt worry about getting them dirty. I have alpinestars and theres nothing a scrub brush and some simple green cant clean up. If the inside gets nasty, believe it or not you can stick them in the washing machine and it cleans that up nicely. I wouldnt trade my boots for anything now. At first I was very reluctant to spend the 300 dollars but once I got comfy in them, theres no going back. And yes, everyone misses shifting and braking at first. You'll be fine in a couple hours.

[RCWells]

Originally posted by katch26
the black peice? fender bracket

as far as the HMF goes it depends. If noise is a concern wait for the new pipes, if not where do you ride?.....woods the ballance is the way the go. It has a torque range modifier that puts the power more towards the low end, and if you end up not liking it just take it out and you have a sport series...that looks better :)

Yeah, it's not a fender bracket. There are some wires resting in it but not sure what, I haven't traced them.

Anyways, the noise is not that big a concern. I understand per HMF that the new one is going to be tuneable with three different inserts for sound quality and/or db. I just am not so sure that I like the looks of it, and it won't be available in the colors like the rest of them. I was thinking of going with a red can and black tip on the Sport series. I dunno.

[katch26]

http://i45.tinypic.com/2mcdsu9.jpg

[92SiKoTiC]

That's the brake light switch for the back, I'm pretty sure.

[Miami_Vice454]

when i first got my 400ex i hit a jump and for some reason my feet went in the air and i landed halfway on the peg but it didnt last long lol. my foot slipped off and the rear tire took it under. i was wearing shorts that day with just tennis shoes. (never do that again). and the WHOLE back of my leg was scraped off from the tire shaving it. i had 2nd and 3rd degree burns and it hurt like a *****. so... thats when i got nerfs and boots and i will NEVER go riding without either. and btw you will get used to the boots after a couple months. i dont even feel like i have them on when i wear them.

[RCWells]

Originally posted by Miami_Vice454
when i first got my 400ex i hit a jump and for some reason my feet went in the air and i landed halfway on the peg but it didnt last long lol. my foot slipped off and the rear tire took it under. i was wearing shorts that day with just tennis shoes. (never do that again). and the WHOLE back of my leg was scraped off from the tire shaving it. i had 2nd and 3rd degree burns and it hurt like a *****. so... thats when i got nerfs and boots and i will NEVER go riding without either. and btw you will get used to the boots after a couple months. i dont even feel like i have them on when i wear them.

Thanks for sharing that, hope you healed up well. I hope you're right about the boots too.

[guenther]

I got a pair of the Shift boots from Rocky Mountain a couple months ago for $80 also. It took a couple rides before I got used to them. I put a pair of insoles in them to make them really snug so there wasn't any "mush" or space on the top of my foot when I shift. I also had to adust the shift lever up one notch. Wear the boots around the house, cleaning the garage, walking the dog, doing the wife, etc. They'll break in good and are a hell of a buy. Bike looks great too.

[RCWells]

Originally posted by guenther
Wear the boots around the house, cleaning the garage, walking the dog, doing the wife, etc.


Doing the wife made me LOL.

I picked up the Fox F3, Zebra version, dc'd '08 model I think, got 'em at a good price too, $220 on clearance.

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7280/img1582large.jpg

[KISSmyACE]

lol rockin the zebra print. niiice.

[RCWells]

Originally posted by KISSmyACE
lol rockin the zebra print. niiice.

Man, I'm comfortable in my masculinity, lol. They are black/white and ON SALE! Maybe the chicks will dig 'em?? Bit of an 80's hair band throwback?

[honda400ex2003]

Originally posted by RCWells
Doing the wife made me LOL.

I picked up the Fox F3, Zebra version, dc'd '08 model I think, got 'em at a good price too, $220 on clearance.

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7280/img1582large.jpg

i like em. i would buy a pair if i really needed a set. steve

[guenther]

You can wear the 1980's Brett Michaels Zebra print riding boots along with your new Michael Jackson riding gloves. :D

http://redtagcrazy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/michael-jackson-gloves-300x300.jpg

[honda400ex2003]

why is it that every thread seems to get taken over by stupid things like this. well, it was a good thread while it lasted. steve

[guenther]

Originally posted by honda400ex2003
why is it that every thread seems to get taken over by stupid things like this. well, it was a good thread while it lasted. steve


Are you kidding me? You're worried about having a little fun in a thread? Life's to short to act like that man :rolleyes:

[RCWells]

Originally posted by guenther
Are you kidding me? You're worried about having a little fun in a thread? Life's to short to act like that man :rolleyes:

It's all in fun bro. My daughters were kinda givin me s*** for having zebra boots too, so I get it. I really don't give a s*** myself, the colors were right and they were on the cheap for some high qual boots, so I'm good.

[guenther]

Originally posted by RCWells
It's all in fun bro. My daughters were kinda givin me s*** for having zebra boots too, so I get it. I really don't give a s*** myself, the colors were right and they were on the cheap for some high qual boots, so I'm good.

That's exactly what I'm saying. It's all in fun and we're having a good time. Enjoy the boots!

[bkelley]

Man, those boots are mild compared to some of the stuff I see from Fox these days.

http://www.rockymountainatv.com/images/orprod/400/f/fox_10_jer_360_typ_one_blu-yel.jpg
http://www.rockymountainatv.com/images/orprod/400/f/fox_10_jer_360_typ_one_blu-yel-2.jpg

[RCWells]

Originally posted by bkelley
Man, those boots are mild compared to some of the stuff I see from Fox these days.

http://www.rockymountainatv.com/images/orprod/400/f/fox_10_jer_360_typ_one_blu-yel.jpg
http://www.rockymountainatv.com/images/orprod/400/f/fox_10_jer_360_typ_one_blu-yel-2.jpg

I tried to explain to my girls how the styles run in MX, I don't think they quite got it. MX style is "out there", edgy, funky, freaky, devlish, stylish, wicked, over-the-top, etc. It's just what it is. I'm cool with it.

It is funny how a thread about some new metal became a thread about MX fashion though ain't it? Again, no offense taken. Just sayin'.

My next thread should involve some new exhaust hardware/jet kit/air intake mods.:devil:

[bkelley]

Yeah, I fell ya. I had to explain to my dad how matching is out. Now you can see Chad Reed decked out in lime green while riding around on his YZ450f. I'm with you, though, I don't mind it, but I still try to stay fairly simple with my stuff. I did get some of the new Fox gear (helmet, jersey and gloves) last season, though.

[honda400ex2003]

i know it is all in fun but it just gets old seeing this over and over again on stupid things. I have fun with it once in a while too. steve

[katch26]

just looks like the guy from the rockymountainatv commercial....the "other" guy

[honda400ex2003]

^^^ good commmercial makes for a good day of riding when your buddies arent prepared to ride. happens every time i go with someone. lol lol. steve

[J.Brown121]

Originally posted by bkelley
Man, those boots are mild compared to some of the stuff I see from Fox these days.

http://www.rockymountainatv.com/images/orprod/400/f/fox_10_jer_360_typ_one_blu-yel.jpg
http://www.rockymountainatv.com/images/orprod/400/f/fox_10_jer_360_typ_one_blu-yel-2.jpg
^^^
that's why i wear thor

[KISSmyACE]

Originally posted by RCWells
Man, I'm comfortable in my masculinity, lol. They are black/white and ON SALE! Maybe the chicks will dig 'em?? Bit of an 80's hair band throwback?

lol I actually do like zebra print (I'm allowed to - I'm a chick tho) haha I really liked the pants and jersey they came out with that matched the boots a lot. and I'd rock em. They'll be covered in dirt after a lil bit anyway, it's all goooood!!! hahahaha