Honda 400ex Ski Kit?

[cheater13]

Where would I be able to buy a complete snow ski kit with skidoo quality skis to bolt right up to my 400ex and go?

[82toyota]

lmao

[cheater13]

What!? I'm new to the ski attachments.

[MisterGraphic]

The real setup are very expensive, around here people replace the stock front hub with a plate that has 3 holes. (1 for the spindle shaft, and 2 for the caliper mounting point) That way there's not way it turns around.

(Some will make plates to fit on the hubs but then it's dangerous because you have to lock your front brakes and there's always a chance it unlocks)

Then you have to figure out a way to attach the lower part of the plates to a snowmobile ski.

Sorry I don't have pictures...

[cheater13]

O wow that's expensive. I was hopin to get a whole kit instead if buying a snowmobile. How much do they cost though?

[700Xxrida]

this is the dimound j customs ski kit u can weld metal skis to it or get ski soo percisoson skis that the kits are made for but they are a paine in the @$$ to find

http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b412/hondarider1/?action=view&current=002.jpg&newest=1

http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b412/hondarider1/?action=view&current=nht003.mp4&newest=1

http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b412/hondarider1/?action=view&current=nht001.mp4&newest=1

http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b412/hondarider1/?action=view&current=nht002.mp4&newest=1

this is what i did to get traction went through 20+ of snow

http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b412/hondarider1/?action=view&current=ftw007.jpg&newest=1

[CJM]

Originally posted by 82toyota
lmao

If you have nothing to add please do not post..

As for the skis:

Seen several setups, most adapt some snowmobile front skis and lock the brake hub with a bolt thru it so it doesnt spin on ya to much, then stud the tires. Works rather well from what I gather.

[MisterGraphic]

Front Skis and 4snow tires would work wonder! Sweet vids man :)

[daves97]

Looks like sand paddles in the rear would help a bit!!!

[MisterGraphic]

imo snow is too light to use sand paddles,
the expansion of the 4 snow and less aggressive
threads makes it the best snow tire. Sand Paddles
would dig too fast and let you jacked up before you go forward.

There's also "Zippers" available in larger rim sizes.
(Same as 4-snows but from a different manufacturer)

[daves97]

It does look like fun though!!

[cheater13]

Thanks! But where would I buy that kit at? I'm thinkin of making a snow setup of skis ad 4 snows and seein how it goes bit need some ski's first

[MisterGraphic]

You can get cheap plates on ebay and buy Precision Skis (bombardier) at the dealer. The new skis might cost you an arm and a leg though!

[cheater13]

Haha it is probably expensive. What kind of plates am I looking for though? And I can buy the skis off there website?

[700Xxrida]

this is the adapter plate that i got for 70 bucks http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tires-Precision-Skis-300ex-Z400-450r-TRX90-400ex-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a04d83c27QQitemZ18046 9906471QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_ 2402wt_1165

then u have to get ski doo percision skis but they dont make em anymore they are the only 1s that fit but u can weld the plates to any metal pare of skis
they do have the percision skis used on ebay sometims or ur stealer ship might have a used pare (mine did)
this is the kind of skis u need
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/skidoo-ski-doo-OEM-plastic-precision-ski-rev-mxz-PAIR-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3cb4c16986QQitemZ26073 0612102QQptZSnowmobileQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_50 0wt_1182

[cheater13]

Ok thanks! I'll have too look into his as a project for next winter maybe. Anyone here have a snow setup?

[beags86]

Originally posted by MisterGraphic
[B]imo snow is too light to use sand paddles,
the expansion of the 4 snow and less aggressive
threads makes it the best snow tire. Sand Paddles
would dig too fast and let you jacked up before you go forward.


sorry but you are wrong. i got a set of paddles when i bought my 400ex. i had no use for them so i figured i would build some skis and use the paddles. i have since moved and the skis were just sitting so i sold them to a buddy of mine. (also a member) he posted a thread about it. (posted a pic as well)

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=454734

anyway, the paddles are awesome, you see in the video that 700Xxrida posted when he gets into fresh power and starting from a stop he spins a fair amount. this is where the paddles shine. they will really get you moving fairly quickly (still slower then a sled but way faster then any sort of stock tires)

the big problem in the snow is the draging that the swinger does, really slows you down and sucks power like you won't believe until you ride it.

they also don't float real well, i always thought about duals, but thats a whole other topic...

the ski and paddle setup really shines is on a trail that sleds have went down. the skis slide nicely and there is no fresh powder drag on the swinger/carrier, and the paddles hook in the hardpack like crazy.

they do dig hard and quick but not enough to leave you sitting on a drift like MisterGraphic thinks.

bewarned that the cold will tear up the paddles over time. i didn't care since mine were free.

not saying anything bad about the 4snow, i always wanted to try time. i hear they are awesome, but i didn't want to spend that kind of money when i thought the paddles would work for the limited rideing i was going to do with the quad (have a sled)

just saying if you have a old set or paddles or can get some for cheap/ free, you will not be dispointed in it.

[MisterGraphic]

I never tried paddles so I can't say you're wrong. Same way you can't know
how well 4snows work in the powder and hard packed because you never tried them.

I've even heard about people using them (4snows) at the dunes and being very impressed.

It's good to know the sand paddles work well too so people have more than 1 options for winter.
Always good to have more opinions, thanks man :)

[cheater13]

Yeah thanks! But wouldn't 4 snows perform and last better because they are made for the snow rather than paddles?

[trxPOWER]

just wondering why you would run percisions?!? i have a 02 700 with percisions on it and they float terrable in the fluff! i would imagion you want to be on top of the snow, not in it?

[cheater13]

700Xxrida your links aren't working and what's better than them precisions? I would want to ride ontop of the snow.

[beags86]

Originally posted by MisterGraphic
I never tried paddles so I can't say you're wrong. Same way you can't know
how well 4snows work in the powder and hard packed because you never tried them.

I've even heard about people using them (4snows) at the dunes and being very impressed.

It's good to know the sand paddles work well too so people have more than 1 options for winter.
Always good to have more opinions, thanks man :)

sorry if i sounded harsh on ya man, after reading it tonight i realize should have wrote it a bit differently.

[MisterGraphic]

No problem man, I didn't take it personally

Around here we already have more than
3 feet of snow...lol Something I noticed
is that everyone with 400, 450 or 700 run them
without a rear skid plate.

It's incredible how fast I would get stuck compared to them.
I took it off for this season :)
Guess it sorted acted like a big paddle stopping me/jacking me up.

[cheater13]

What setup you have on your wheeler? You should post some pics up on it if your could.

[MisterGraphic]

I just have 4 snows on the rear and running it with no rear skid plate.
Actually my 4wheeler is currently in pieces right now...(rebuild)

I'll post pictures when I'm done, here the trails
are groomed so we can drive year round.

[MisterGraphic]

you can sorta see the 4snows in this picture from 2 years ago, not much else to see...haha

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/omgvwgolf/2001%20400ex%202011%20Build/n611650599_2515092_7999.jpg

[cheater13]

Nice 400ex! And yeah I never had a skid plate on mine but hows the 4 snows work and hold up? They work good in 1ft of snow?

[MisterGraphic]

They work well considering it's a 2x4 with 4" of ground clearance...
but it's no snowmobile when you're running tires in front.

Here we run them on groomed trail and they work well if you
have to shoot through snow drifts. We have too much snow (3 feet) to just
drive everywhere.

Only time we have a hard time is where the ruts
are very deep from the 800cc 4x4.

My buddy had skis with 4 snows on his and it was obviously
alot better than with tires up front.

Id be curious to see vids of sand paddles in the snow though, Beags86 got me curious!

[cheater13]

Oh that sounds nice. I'll have to pick some of them tires up someday. And yes I want to see some paddles in the snow! Anyone have pics or videos or feedback?

[700Xxrida]

i dont think u would have to worry about sinking in to the snow with ski doo percicions skis mabee on a snowmobile with the engine up front but even on my heavy beast the skis stay on top of the fluffy stuff
http://www.diamondjcustoms.com/atskis-kit.htm

[cheater13]

Ok cool but what is the difference between the mm ones and the slotted ones on that website?

[700Xxrida]

the mm ones bolt right up like a wheel would idk about the other ones the mm is just the bolt pattern 4x144 mm is the ones u want
http://stores.ebay.com/Diamond-J-Customs/_i.html?_nkw=ski&_sid=143502163

[cheater13]

Alright thanks! When I get the cash I'll have to pick me up some.