400EX or 2011 450R

[Miguel1994]

Hello guys.
First of all I am portuguese so i do not know too much english.

I am thinking about buying an ATV.

Should I wait and see the new 450R and maybe buy it or should I buy an used or new 400EX and put aftermarket parts on it?

I want something as faster as the 450's so if I was going to buy the 400 what could I do do make 40hp or something like this, with out Turbo's.

In the oder side, could I install a Turbo in the 400?

Is there any kits for it? And their prices?

Or should I do one by my owne?

Miguel Marques

[88dunerider]

dont know much about the turbos but if you get a 426 or 440 big bore kit , with a cam and full exhaust and k & n it should be pushing somewhere around 40 hp. the 450rs are nice and a good bike but you can buy a very nice used 400ex and add all this and still save a couple thousand dollars compared to a new 450r

[honda01400ex]

the 2011 450r is gonna be a monster of a bike... but for the money you would spend buying the new 450r you could buy a used 400ex and fix it up real nice !

there is a guy on here right now making his 400ex a turbo but as for me i dont see the point

you can get a good amouunt of power with this set up

- 460 stroker kit
-hd studs
-kibblewhite valves
-frc carb
-stage 3 hotcams
-sparks racing x6 pipe
-hinson heavy dudty clutch
-alum. airbox
-k&n with outerwear
-hot rods +3 or +2 crank
-oversized oil tank and secondary oil cooler

[Miguel1994]

Thank you guys.

But there is a problem.

Here in Portugal sucks.

A new 450r costs around 9000€ (not dolars)

A good used 400Ex, like 2008, costs something like 4500 to 5000€.

I asked for a motor preparation by a duncan KIT and it would cost me 2700€ with everything of the best, look at duncan racing.

An the other staff I don't know ( a arms and this thisngs)~

like 2500€.

the total it was going to be like 10000€ 13700dolars.

I do not know what to do, because it steals being an used 400EX.

And maybe for the money i waste I could buy a new 2011 450R and put a full exhaust in it.

I want to ride a quad because I am impatient.

I had a 400EX about 2 monthes ago during 2 monthes but it was not mine.
But it do not have much power, it was all stock and sucked .

[honda01400ex]

you can add things later duncan racing build amazing motors!! i would get a 400ex like an 08 like you said and send the motor to duncan racing and ask for a 460 stroker it will leave the 450s in the dust!

[Miguel1994]

Maybe I am going to do what you say.

I am from Portugal as you know.

How could I send them the motor?
But what about the ports and would it stop at the customs house?

Because it would be chpear if i send them the motor?

How much horse power could I get with the ultimate preparation? 45HP maybe?

[rcatvrider]

I think alot of people are 400ex biased. I love 400ex's but if you are really concerned about power a 450 is for you. Much easier to make fast than a 400ex and you won't have all the heat problems associated with a larger bore in an air cooled motor.

[rob_990]

id go with the 450

[mineralgrey01gt]

Originally posted by rcatvrider
I think alot of people are 400ex biased. I love 400ex's but if you are really concerned about power a 450 is for you. Much easier to make fast than a 400ex and you won't have all the heat problems associated with a larger bore in an air cooled motor.

ive noticed that about this section of this site, its very biased on these quads lol

[odog]

is that you just want a honda if you do and you were not happy with the 400ex that you had i would say get a 450r or a raptor 700 a 460 is a great bike but for the money your talking about spending in the motor would be fine but the suspension will be alot more i think for the money a used 450r or 700r would be the way to go.

[honda400ex2003]

I would have a 450 over a raptor 700 any day. hands down. you could not pay me to ride a raptor. After riding one this past weekend, they are NOTHING special in any department. the FI was imo terrible. It hardly ran while warming up even being all stock. it was not as torquey as my 400 and had less pull in the mid range too. It finally started to get up and going at around 500 rpms or a bit more. then it was too late to have any fun with it. It was tippy, heavy, and ill mannered too imo. My 416 would run ahead of it for sure till at least 4th gear. If you are worried about speed and power get the 450 if you want to have a trail machine that is not the fastest or lightest but is a blast get the 400. After 7 yrs with mine it still puts smiles on my face every time i ride it. every day is a new adventure no matter where you are. The 400 is a good all around machine. Although this is a 400ex forum, you will get some bias toward them. if you want the 450 bias to make the call on the 450, go over there. it is up to you which side of the bread you want to butter. The burned up side or the not quite brown side. lol. The 450 is a bit over kill for slower trails and imo is the burned side of the toast. It would get the job done with a mask of butter on it but it will still have something to hide. the 400 is a bit on the light side of brown since it is not at the top of the food chain anymore atv wise. it is a very capable, yummy taste with a bit of suiting to your taste. it can be browned a bit more while not taking away any performance or speed as you would have to gear down with the 450 to make it a decent trail machine. each is a winner in its own right, that is why both are made. lol. sorry i hope i helped you out a bit and WELCOME to the site and the addiction. steve

[Miguel1994]

Thankyou so much.
I think I am going to wait a couple of monthes to see if the new 450R.
If it is going to be similar I buy the 400EX, if not I buy the 450R.

I am so impatient that even this night I dreamt the Honda release his new machines a new 250 , 450R and even a 860(lol) in a TV spot.

[bkelley]

Are you dead set on Honda? I mean, I don't blame you if you are, but the KFX 450Rs are beasts. I would buy one if I had the money over a TRX450r right now. If the 2011 model is released and includes what people predict, I would side back with the TRX.

As far as what you can get out of a 400EX, my friend has a 426 kit that includes a JE 11:1 88mm piston, stage 2 cam, 42mm 450r carb, mild port and polish and an open air setup and it puts down just under 42HP. That's about $600-$700 worth of engine work, not including labor.

Like Steve said, if you're looking for a trail machine that has loads of potential, look no further than a 400EX. If you want something that's going to be fast right out of the box, go with a 450r.

[Miguel1994]

I like very much Honda. I will buy one because my father's cousin is an important Honda dealer here in Portugal and I hope he will make me a sale on the bike.

Here in Portugal a KFX costs aroud 7500€ it is on sale because no boby buys it because of her famous problems, and there will be a new KFX for 2011.

[whc]

i have a 2007 400ex 2 inchs wider, elka rear shock, revalved 450 front shocks, steering dampner etc, I also have a 2007 yamaha yfz450, it would take a lot of work to make the honda keep up in a drag race, but and this is a big but, the honda is just as fast in the woods, i race xc and have timed my laps on both machines and average laps times are actually quicker on the ex, its all about the suspension and the mellower power, plus reverse is worth alot. so if you are just after speed buy the 450, but if you want an all around play bike buy the 400 and mod the suspension and motor, there are tons of used suspension parts avaliable right on this web site thats how i built up my 400. later Bill

[Miguel1994]

I want a machine for race and XC (not woods).

[Hondamaster5505]

Man there IS a lot of biased people in this section.. haha.

Miguel, if you want a lot of power, and you are a speed freak, the 400ex is NOT what you want.. trust me.

The 400ex is an awesome do-everything quad. It's home is in the woods. But to put all that money into it, JUST to keep up with a 450r, isn't worth it. You can buy a 450r, put an exhaust, filter, and jet kit on it, and be faster then a built 400ex. Never mind if you were to bump up the compression a little and throw in a cam. You would have a hell of a machine for speed.

Not to mention the fact that the stock 400ex shocks, SUCK.

The 450R is just a faster, better handling quad in general. You will be much happier with it. Especially if they update the 2011's... it would be a beast.

A 400ex is a better choice for woods warriors that just want a dependable, punchy motor.

It hasn't been too long since I sold my 400ex... and I can honestly say, after riding all banshee's a 450's since then, I don't think I would EVER be as happy on a 400ex again as I used to...

[Miguel1994]

I found a solution.

I fount a 400EX of 09 (June) with so much things, one of them a 440kit,
for 5000€ which is a good deal here in Portugal. Because are being sold 2008 400EX (2007 model) for like 5500€ with only nerfbars.

So if i want to sell it when the 450R arrives I even could sold it for like 5200€.

I think it is a good deal maybe i buy it.

What do you think in these circumstances?

[mineralgrey01gt]

not bad but if you have the 5000 to put on the 400ex now, then you will have to wait and sell the one your looking at (unless they sell really quick there) and then go get a 450r.

[Miguel1994]

Hey guys I found a good 400EX.

Its a 400EX of 2009/June with this stuff:

ASV levers;
brake lines;
450R front shocks with all around spacers;
440kit;
hotcams stage2;
something like a tree stage1;
edelbrock 39mm (is it good);
some aftermarket filter and pre-filter;
procircuit full exhaust;
rox steering steam;
TAG handlebar;
poermadd;
goldspeed Mx;
nerfbars;
bumper;

and nothing else I think.

5000€

What do you think.

Is this a good motor how much in HP.

I have heared bad about edelbroke carbs and 440kit is it true?

[rob_990]

i guess there good carbs there just hard to tune

[Hondamaster5505]

I still think you're making a mistake and should get a 450r...

[Miguel1994]

Maybe, but if i don't like it when the 450R cames out I trade the 400Ex for the 450R, there is no problem

[CJM]

Remember the 440 kit creates heat and may cause the motor to end life prematurely.

I looked into doing all kinds of rebuilds and bore jobs and came back to the fact the only reliable ones are 406 and 416. Once you get over that the overheating issues and tuning issues will cause problems b/c the engine is air cooled vs liquid cooled.

Personally the 400 with a mild tune and some goodies will do the job for most everyone. I still have not figured out if mine has a stock or modified motor since I bought it used but my friends stock 05 can keep up with me pretty good. Mine does seem to have a bit more power...

[Miguel1994]

What would I have to do to chage da motor to a 416? A all new kit?

Maybe for the first year i buy some scoops, can you show me a good one from ebay?

[CJM]

Bore out the engine, basically machine the bore for a larger piston.

[Hondamaster5505]

Originally posted by CJM
Bore out the engine, basically machine the bore for a larger piston.

Not if it's already a 440.

You would need a new cylinder, and then bore that one to a 416. There's no going back from a 440.

Shouldn't have a problem with it though. Install a Spal 4" fan on the oil cooler, and get some scoops.

[CJM]

I wasnt aware it was already a 440 Steve, good advice :)

[Hondamaster5505]

Originally posted by CJM
I wasnt aware it was already a 440 Steve, good advice :)

haha, my name is Eric, but thanks.

[honda400ex2003]

Originally posted by Hondamaster5505
haha, my name is Eric, but thanks.

Im steve lol. Steve