Hillclimbing

[sportracer07]

Is the 400 ex a capable hillclimber, most of my friends have 450's and tell me i shouldn't try most of the hillclimbs, because i don't have enough power. Do these quads climb good?

[Ryan'07400ex]

Originally posted by sportracer07
Is the 400 ex a capable hillclimber, most of my friends have 450's and tell me i shouldn't try most of the hillclimbs, because i don't have enough power. Do these quads climb good?

The 450 will of course have more power but you should be asking yourself "am I comfortable/good enough to climb the hill. Most the time if you are the 400 will be to.

[TRX01]

a 400ex are awesome hill climbers sense they hare torque machines and have killer bottom end power...they should be able to climb hills just as good as most 450s

[jasonanderson1]

Originally posted by sportracer07
Is the 400 ex a capable hillclimber, most of my friends have 450's and tell me i shouldn't try most of the hillclimbs, because i don't have enough power. Do these quads climb good?

i climb hills that are almost 90 degree angles most cases easily 70-80 degree agnles. you just have to know when to shift and no to let of the thottoel the whole way up. remember once you stop your screwed and most likely will flip on your way down backwards. Just hammer the throttle the whole way up and shift when neccesary and you will show those 400 haters that you are just as capable.

[tbrackman84]

yeah i ride a 400 in coal region and i do all the coal bank hillclimbs, seems to me that 2nd is 100% the best climbing gear, but with good tires, they'll make it up everything.

[honda400ex2003]

if you are really worried try out a 14 tooth sprocket to help out with the lower gear and low end even more. steve

[-TheDude-]

you can climb anything on a 400 that a 450 will climb
http://i568.photobucket.com/albums/ss125/gconaway/th_DSCF1306.jpg (http://s568.photobucket.com/albums/ss125/gconaway/?action=view&current=DSCF1306.flv)

[jasonanderson1]

Originally posted by -TheDude-
you can climb anything on a 400 that a 450 will climb
http://i568.photobucket.com/albums/ss125/gconaway/th_DSCF1306.jpg (http://s568.photobucket.com/albums/ss125/gconaway/?action=view&current=DSCF1306.flv)

that hill is tiny.

[Miami_Vice454]

quote: Originally posted by -TheDude- you can climb anything on a 400 that a 450 will climb that hill is tiny.

X2 bro that hill is nothing

[skyline296]

Originally posted by jasonanderson1
that hill is tiny.

+1

seriously, a 400 can beast hills much bigger than that

[tbrackman84]

yeah that hill is defintley small for a 400, but you cant do ANYTHING a 450 can do, where i ride, there are some hills that no 400's make up ever, but 450r's make it up all the time, i think a 450 can certainly do more hills than a 400ex, just my opinion though..

[jdog75]

when i get my valve seals ill get up a vid of a hill. only thing you really need to climb a big hill is a little skill good tires and some big balls and youll make it. the hill im talking about is climbed by everything from 300exs to 700xx and everything inbetween. even my friend made it on his warrior and if you saw this hill you would crap yourself the first time you went up its about 75 degrees at first and about 85 from half to the top and its abouyt 200ft long did it twice only and made it once bc the second time was when my locknut broke and kept backing off so i chewed my bearing at the start and my axle turned and kept me from going up any higher

[-TheDude-]

Originally posted by jasonanderson1
that hill is tiny.

that hill was almost straight up and like 75ft the vid did it no justice at all... and i ride at wellsville in ohio it has the biggest and baddest hill and i make it up them

[-TheDude-]

Originally posted by skyline296
+1

seriously, a 400 can beast hills much bigger than that

come to ohio ill show u all some hills

[slightlybent47]

Technique and total commitment is the key. Start with short hills and work your way up to the big ones. The 400 should climb anything a 450 can. :D :D :D

[Ryan'07400ex]

Originally posted by skyline296
+1

seriously, a 400 can beast hills much bigger than that

is there even a hill in that picture? haha

[TRX01]

its not a picture its a video.....and its no that bad either....pretty nice hill....not as big as the ones i climb but still pretty nice climb

[bigd's ex]

Originally posted by -TheDude-
that hill was almost straight up and like 75ft the vid did it no justice at all... and i ride at wellsville in ohio it has the biggest and baddest hill and i make it up them



Rode there a couple of times last summers. That place is definetly crazy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They don't call it "THE FORBIDDEN ZONE" for nothing. lol

[-TheDude-]

wellsville ohio last weekend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyjZIENQTwU

[TRX01]

now thats what im talking about dude....sick vid there...those hills looks awesome and technical


they prob should have been using sumthing better than a 4snow tire

[-TheDude-]

Originally posted by TRX01
now thats what im talking about dude....sick vid there...those hills looks awesome and technical


they prob should have been using sumthing better than a 4snow tire

my buddies love using them they use um all year round and they are crazy not me tho ill stick to my gnccs ill try and dig up some more wellsville vids of mine

[slightlybent47]

Looks like someone could use some new sinkers on those bikes.
It doesn’t look like they have any tread on them. My hole shots will through more dirt then that. Nice vid though, nice long hills. it also look like someone needs to get up on the bars a bit more, it doesn’t look like your extending out far enough over the front. You’re trying to climb in the sitting possession and you won’t get up a very steep hill that way. You need to stand up and lean forward. Take your hand controls and move them down so when you lean forward you don’t break your wrist trying to work the leavers.

[steve181]

Piped 400 + Holeshots= hill slammer

only thing bad i dont like about 400's, is how the front end lifts

i was doing a small but very high inclined hill, i got halfway and the front end lifted up and the bike pulled itself into a tree..... stopped me completly, couldnt stop it from tumbing down lol... bent the bars and that was it

rode it home and threw on another set and went out again :P

[TRX01]

ew i hated my holeshots...no traction at all in weter stuff and spon to much on steep leafy hills .love my razrs though....ahahh, but to each there own

[-TheDude-]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
Looks like someone could use some new sinkers on those bikes.
It doesn’t look like they have any tread on them. My hole shots will through more dirt then that. Nice vid though, nice long hills. it also look like someone needs to get up on the bars a bit more, it doesn’t look like your extending out far enough over the front. You’re trying to climb in the sitting possession and you won’t get up a very steep hill that way. You need to stand up and lean forward. Take your hand controls and move them down so when you lean forward you don’t break your wrist trying to work the leavers.

you cant stand up on the hills we climb even if ur all the way up on the front end it raises your center of gravity to much and you will roll.. trust me

[steve181]

Originally posted by -TheDude-
you cant stand up on the hills we climb even if ur all the way up on the front end it raises your center of gravity to much and you will roll.. trust me


yah the hill was steep at the bottom, then it sloped off

only hillclimb i ever rolled it, and i do some pretty crazy hills lol

i have a new hill that i havent seen anyone make up, so im going to try it on my 250f with a new maxxis IT tire

[-TheDude-]

where in pa are you steve???? You ever ride at hillsville? wellsville is hillsville on steriods lol you should try and meet us at wellsville sometime

[slightlybent47]

Originally posted by TRX01
ew i hated my holeshots...no traction at all in weter stuff and spon to much on steep leafy hills .love my razrs though....ahahh, but to each there own



I didn’t mean that hole shots were better. It looks like the tires on the bikes in the vid were worn out a bit. Not every tire works on all terrain and in every condition. Looks like a deep aggressive type tire would work best. Leaves are very slippery and it looks like there plenty of these on those hills.

[sportracer07]

So is it better to stand up and lean forward, or set down for more traction?

[-TheDude-]

Originally posted by sportracer07
So is it better to stand up and lean forward, or set down for more traction?
it all depends on the hill and your riding style. its just trial and error

[steve181]

Originally posted by -TheDude-
where in pa are you steve???? You ever ride at hillsville? wellsville is hillsville on steriods lol you should try and meet us at wellsville sometime

that would be one hell a drive

but i would be willing to go down there for a weekend of fun or w/e

send me a pm on when you guys go down there

[slightlybent47]

Originally posted by sportracer07
So is it better to stand up and lean forward, or set down for more traction?

Yeah I agree with what the “the dude” said. It all depends on the grade of the hill and how much traction you have. You want to be able to move back and forth as needed. But don’t be afraid to get way up on the bars if you need to.

[RCWells]

In relation to earlier comments, videos and pics more often than not, don't do climbs and jumps and such justice. I've seen some guys do some crazy **** in person, but when vid was played back, it just did NOT impress. Just sayin'.

[400man]

heres some videos we've collected from the last couple years ( but no 400ex's in any of em though,)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H4NIsCB4KM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp8x5liiLlQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpwqPZPbvQI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egS2DIAFyxE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq2lQQZPn3o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwn2eZXhFzk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6YMxVsVwAo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1OlXCa8MVw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0V2K5QQfl8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-uaaKoXDAw

[jasonanderson1]

You were doing a good 5 mph up the hill just face it your wrong theyres hill climbs in my backyard bigger then that. I will get a vid of some reall hill climbs.


Originally posted by -TheDude-
that hill was almost straight up and like 75ft the vid did it no justice at all... and i ride at wellsville in ohio it has the biggest and baddest hill and i make it up them

[jasonanderson1]

btw i will get some real hills climbs i thought my smallers ones were small but some off these make them look big...just saying not trying to bust anyone...some of our biggest are up to a few hundred feet long and almost straight up.

[steve181]

Originally posted by 400man
heres some videos we've collected from the last couple years ( but no 400ex's in any of em though,)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H4NIsCB4KM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp8x5liiLlQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpwqPZPbvQI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egS2DIAFyxE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq2lQQZPn3o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwn2eZXhFzk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6YMxVsVwAo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1OlXCa8MVw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0V2K5QQfl8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-uaaKoXDAw


wow lol

im a fan of your videos, i messaged you one time about the pipe that was on your 250f :P

[riotact]

Originally posted by jasonanderson1
You were doing a good 5 mph up the hill just face it your wrong theyres hill climbs in my backyard bigger then that. I will get a vid of some reall hill climbs.


If you can climb a hill thats 20ft long and at a 70 to 80 deg. angle your doin pretty good.Go to youtube and check out Scooby Doo and Killer at Wellsville.My bone stock 400 made it up both those hills.

[riotact]

Here is a pic of a hill at my buddies property down south in Malaga,Ohio

[Ryan'07400ex]

Originally posted by -TheDude-
it all depends on the hill and your riding style. its just trial and error

Hopefully not to much error though :blah:

I see that its a video now haha I didnt see any button to play a video or I wouldn't of sounded so stupid

Decent hill and the stick and leaves make it that much tougher.

Out here in coal country, there are a LOT of hills that the 400ex won't climb. Not little sissy hills like most places.

The short ones, anything can make up pretty much. It's about getting speed and letting it carry you up.

But there are a lot of LONG hills here, that require shear horsepower and good tires to make it up. 400ex just doesn't have the guts for the biggest one.

There's a reason most coal region riders have a 450 or banshee, two hillclimbing beast's.;)

[dirtking]

man now i tell you some big hills are in union town pa. we went up there this summer to an abandoned coal pit and there are hills that are i am not kiddin 'straight up' the two days i waz up there i watched a 400ex and a z400 roll down from the top of a 300 ft hill. There was one hill called the crusible that only dirtbikes can get up. Ill tell you how to tell if a hill is steep or not, if a fourwheeler cant make it up and you have to get dirtbikes to show ya how its done.there was a crazy kid up there that rode wheelies up all the hills on his crf 450. Now thats crazy!

[tbrackman84]

DMC is totally right, coal hills are crazy, some do 100% need just shear horsepower, lol

Originally posted by dirtking
man now i tell you some big hills are in union town pa. we went up there this summer to an abandoned coal pit and there are hills that are i am not kiddin 'straight up' the two days i waz up there i watched a 400ex and a z400 roll down from the top of a 300 ft hill. There was one hill called the crusible that only dirtbikes can get up. Ill tell you how to tell if a hill is steep or not, if a fourwheeler cant make it up and you have to get dirtbikes to show ya how its done.there was a crazy kid up there that rode wheelies up all the hills on his crf 450. Now thats crazy!

Dirtbikes suck on hillclimbs from what ive seen. Out at the Gap hills, there was this guy hanging around with us that had a yz450f. Tried the hill AT LEAST 15 times and didn't make it up once. lol. The bike kept spinning out and gear ratios were too spaced apart.
The quads were making it up.

But it's loose shale, not exactly dirtbike friendly.

[trx400 rider]

dont listen to those that say 400 are to weak for hills i beat half these guys on here with there 400s will eat those guys on there 450 up those hills. its not about the cc it about how u ride the cc

Originally posted by trx400 rider
dont listen to those that say 400 are to weak for hills i beat half these guys on here with there 400s will eat those guys on there 450 up those hills. its not about the cc it about how u ride the cc


LOL, dude, make a trip up here to the coal hills. $100 says your 400ex WILL NOT make it up a lot of the bigger hills, unless the motor is semi-built.
A stock piped 400ex, just does NOT have the power to paddle it's way up some of these hills.

You really think a 400ex would make it up the Glen Burn? Yeah, no. Few quads have ever made it to the top, and the ones that have are banshee's with paddles, and raptors with paddles. Moderately modified.

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[trx400 rider]

i dont got a 400 no more i got a 450 im just saying a good rider on a 400 can make up a nice hill. but hey im not gonna argue with you i never know im from florida flat land lol but i have seen a lot of 400 inculding my old one go up so pretty scary hills.

Yeah.. these coal hills are monsters. I don't touch a lot of them because they're downright huge... maybe after I get some porting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PIDnfOjYDA

[trx400 rider]

dang a 400 will not make it up that but im talking about a everday hill not one hill that is just crazy and only a couple bikes every mad it up. i mean i want to see a vid of you on your bike try to get up that thing.

Originally posted by trx400 rider
dang a 400 will not make it up that but im talking about a everday hill not one hill that is just crazy and only a couple bikes every mad it up. i mean i want to see a vid of you on your bike try to get up that thing.

Thats the first hill. The second one I posted a bunch of banshee's and 450's go up. Just not 400's.

I will never try the Glen Burn.. the second one I would have to think about a while.

[trx400 rider]

yea i hear yea that pretty insane there

[IcutMetl]

I never ever had a problem with my 400 climbing any hill, and all I had was a slip-on, degree key, air filter, and jetted carb; used to ride some pretty good land about an hour away from me with a great mix of terrain, plus Wayne National Forest. At the time, there was 3 400ex's in our group, a 300ex, a Warrior or two, a 660 Raptor, and a relatively stock Banshee. By far the 400ex was the best climber out of that group even though it wasn't the all out fastest across the field on the way home. By far the best balance, control, and power spread of that group. 400ex's may not make huge hp...at least stock, but I think it's easy to get caught up in a numbers game- they have phenomenal low end power that was very easy to lay down. I wish my 250r had the tractable pull off the bottom that my 400 had and still keep the mid-top rush that I love. I found that the stock tires (when in good shape) would do awesome, but the Holeshot XCR's would do even better because they gave just the right amount of spin while still getting awesome traction. I had stock gearing on mine and also found 2nd gear to be perfect on 90% of the hills I ever tried. I'm still itching to get my 'R on a good hill....it's been a long time; gotta break the girl in right!

[slightlybent47]

It’s really a mater of traction. If the hill was concrete it would go strait up. Some of the hills in east TX have iron ore on them and it’s like ridding up a hill with marbles on it.

[tbrackman84]

yeah DMC is right, if you havent been on coal hills you have no idea what a 400 CAN'T do, back in the woods it can climb anyhting, but out on real hillclimbs, its not the best machine.

[IcutMetl]

That's one area where I haven't rode but would love to try; coal hills. Sounds like a blast. I've ridden and climbed in dirt, mud, and snow...all the basic stuff.

[hypersnyper6947]

I would never even come close to trying to go up that first hill he posted, and I know my ex does not have what it takes to get up that and its pretty modified. The second one maybe and thats a BIG maybe. I doubt i would even try to be honest. Those are some serious hills, especially for a Florida boy like myself lol.

[Team X]

Here one that I can't make but a 450 can

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/Nvasu4333/1027.jpg

[ish416]

In the woods, a 400ex will make it up just about any hill that a 450 can, sometimes easier do to the tractability of the engine.

For coal hills/dunes, a stock even lightly modded 400ex just does not have the testicular fortitude to make it to the top of some hills. No matter how good the rider is.

[IcutMetl]

Haha testicular fortitude....I thought I was the only one who used that...

I could see what you guys mean though; the 400 was always powerful enough, but never overly so, and in a situation that really sucks the hp, I could understand where it would run out of breath.

[Bwetzel55]

heres a few of my hillclimbs 400 makes it up it easily. We call it the land bridge cause theirs hill climbs on both sides of it and you can cross on the top of them bout 150ft tall. Hills are bigger in person than what they do in the picture. Sorry picture taken from cell phone poor quality http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/7269/exatlandbridge.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/exatlandbridge.jpg/)

Those are the type hills I mentioned the 400ex can go up. They aren't so much about power as they are speed and traction.

[jcs003]

when i was 15 or 16 my yamaha warrior would go up most hills. my banshee i got a few years later would spin tire all the way up them. the 400ex was the best hill climber of them all. but my 250r is by far the best.

[Bwetzel55]

Ya I've seen a couple people take a tumble on this hill cause of losing traction and rolling back down to the bottom. They were fine but their bikes were well beat up.
p.s They weren't Honda's

[steve181]

/thread

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaz_P_iT5EY

[jasonanderson1]

Originally posted by steve181
/thread

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaz_P_iT5EY

now thats a big hill climb

[jdog75]

heres a vid i promised and now i believe that vids do no justice but im gonna post another from a top view once my friend sends it

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[tbrackman84]

that hills in the pic Bwetzel put up look like they would be easy on a 400ex sheesh

*sigh*:o

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[tbrackman84]

that banshee video is freakin nasty!

[jdog75]

here is the same climb i did before but with a better view.

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[Studster]

that sounds like a excuse of them trying to talk you out of it... we say stuff like that to the sketchy riders we ride with too