450r plastics on 400ex= pain in the *****

[Dave16]

Right now I'm fitting 450r plastics onto my 400ex, I can tell you it's possible, but you need fab skills. There is a lot of cutting and welding, but I believe it will be worth the result.

[MtnEX]

I was thinking a few people here did it, and only had to make some brackets.

Fit up well and looked about the same except how much of the top frame rail is exposed.

I've looked at the 400's and 450's many times over, and I think the 400's look better... all of them. I realized the only thing I really like more about the 450 is the gas tank, and the associated simplicity... But heck the simplicity is nill also because you don't need to remove it to get at the 400 spark plug.

[DnB_racing]

Originally posted by MtnEX
But heck the simplicity is nill also because you don't need to remove it to get at the 400 spark plug. Im not sure if your saying that the gas tank has to be removed for the 450r?...

but I have never had to remove any Honda tank to get to plug, they are all real simple machines to maintain, I cant count how many different Honda's Ive owned and my 450 is almost as easy as my 250 for ease of maintenance, ,

right now i dont own a 400 but when i did, believe it or not was the most complicated Honda to work on,actually even just a little more cramped and tighter then the 300, but is still very simple compared to any other brand,

the LTR in my opinion is one of the harder to work on,with the complicated electronics and packed engine space, and to be honest Im not crazy about the thought the kfx engineers put into track side maintenance, the yfz is a little better the these 2 but very far from how easy any Honda is,
but I guess that is what to expect when you get electric start an external oil tank and duel cams and Fi

but Honda made it right for that aspect for all there machines

[dxcody]

Originally posted by DnB_racing
Im not sure if your saying that the gas tank has to be removed for the 450r?...

but I have never had to remove any Honda tank to get to plug,

The you are a miracle worker LOL :D

I dont think i have ever seen anyone get to a 450R plug without taking the tank and plastic shield off.


I have seen people cut a hole in the shield so you dont have to take that off but IMO it would be a bigger pain trying to do it without taking the tank off rather than just popping the tank off and doing it.

[DnB_racing]

Originally posted by dxcody
The you are a miracle worker LOL :D

I dont think i have ever seen anyone get to a 450R plug without taking the tank and plastic shield off.


I have seen people cut a hole in the shield so you dont have to take that off but IMO it would be a bigger pain trying to do it without taking the tank off rather than just popping the tank off and doing it. really? lol ...

it takes a little finese, on the 04/05 its tougher but the +06 not any problem.. but you absolutly have to use the honda plug socket and a 14mm open end wrench,

no possible way with ratchet and socket

im even able to propely index a new plug with out removing any plastic, just need the right plug wrench, not a standard socket set, with the right tools 20 seconds tops

[HondaPohl]

Its a slut but I've got them out. Like DnB said you need the right tools.

[Stickman400]

My friend used to have an '06 450 and I remeber him never wanting to change the plug just because you had to take the plastic and tank off. I remeber trying to look it over and see if it was possible to do it without taking it off and I just couldn't see it happeing.

[DnB_racing]

Originally posted by Stickman400
My friend used to have an '06 450 and I remeber him never wanting to change the plug just because you had to take the plastic and tank off. I remeber trying to look it over and see if it was possible to do it without taking it off and I just couldn't see it happeing. this isn't what this thread is about, and im not trying to start any arguments but I just want to clear up a HUGE misconception,

the 450 is much easier the the 400 to work on, Ive owned several of both and built even more, its just a learning curve

the 450 might take little more maintenance, but right now I have my 450 and a customers 450 in my shop, 20 seconds plugs out ....

but you do need the right socket... there is plenty of room, believe me Ive done it at least 100 times, on at least 10 450rs..

anyone that cant get the plug out , either never tried with the right tool, or is very inexperienced with the 450, the 450 is almost as easy as the 250r, which in my opinion is the very least complicated quad ever made

like i said im just trying to help those that have never tried, or just heard different , not tring to start an argument or jack the thread, if you have a hard time get the right tool and you will see, how easy it is

[B.C.#11TRX400EX]

Lets see a pic of this Bad Boy

[01boneless]

^^x2

[Dave16]

I'll try to get pics asap, but the plastics aren't mounted on the bike yet, I'm still working on it. I've made some mounts for the tank and they're probably going to be welded on soon. And I might need to fab up the seat clamp plate on the sub-frame and move it back.

[Dave16]

pic

[Dave16]

rear plastic, alignment

[Dave16]

rear tank mounts

[Dave16]

I know some of the welds may be sloppy, but I've just started to weld. And I know that it's probably not the best fab job, that's because I'm only 14 :rolleyes:

[CJM]

Booger welds dont have to be pretty, so long as they hold thats all that matters.

If your using a mig, get some shielding gas or use fluxcore wire.

[trailrider894]

Here is my question... why are we even trying to make something look like something else.... 450r plastics on a 400ex is like being a phony..

Just my personal opinion... lol ha ha i don't get on here enough anymore...

[Dave16]

I love the torque of a 400, and the look of a 450. And I can't afford a 450 right now. So to make it look better, in my opinion. I'm putting on 450r plastics.

[B.C.#11TRX400EX]

i wish the 400ex was sort of like the 450r cause of the gas tank and plastic, i have a 08 400ex and i love the look better than the 450r but i wish they had the same type of set up with the gas tank and not two tone plastic, but the newer style 400's look SICK!!!! they look the best they ever have

[chronicsmoke]

I kind of like this idea.

I never really minded the 400ex plastics though, I'm not to fond of the rears, but the fronts look good with a hood (if you're going for that racer look) I always found the rears too bulky.

Anybody here trim their rears?

[Stickman400]

I have a friend I went riding with today who bought a 400 off of someone who modded his 400 with 04-05 450R plastic. It looks pretty good. He still has to make mounts for the seat, so it was only zip-tie'd on when we were riding. He also said the tank needed some fiddling with to get in the right spot. I don't think he had it mounted right though. Here's some pics for motivation! lol :p
http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/Stickman400/Quad%20Pics/IMAG0181.jpg
http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/Stickman400/Quad%20Pics/IMAG0180.jpg
http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/Stickman400/Quad%20Pics/IMAG0179.jpg

[HondaRacing83]

damn that bike looks all kinds of shotty

[Zakradu398]

.....

[MtnEX]

Looking at two black ones side by side... yeah I am sure I like everything about the 400EX plastics better to be honest.

Only thing I really like about the 450R is the tank part.

[chronicsmoke]

I actually like it. I've always liked the rear fenders of a 450r more.. the fronts are alright, I'd throw a hood on it if it was me, or the 06+ headlight/hood.

Any progress from the OP?

[flyboy1294]

Anyone else notice he has no rear brakes? :eek2:

[HondaRacing83]

Originally posted by HondaRacing83
damn that bike looks all kinds of shotty ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


btw, does he wanna sell any of those parts or trade for stockers?

[HondaRacing83]

Originally posted by HondaRacing83
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


btw, does he wanna sell any of those parts or trade for stockers? like arms, axle, pipe and rotor?

[Stickman400]

Ok, @Zakradu398, what did you write on that pic? You circled a butterfly that randomly landed on the fender while I was taking the shots. So yea......

@flyboy1294 Yea, he didn't have his brakes setup on it right now, he had front ones though.

@HondaRacing83 If you're refering to the guys 400 in the pic, no. He is still trying to build it up.

Yes it was pretty shotty looking, but he just bought it in parts(400 in a box type of deals) and is still in the process of building it up, that's while it still looks half assed. It has a 416 kit and runs on E85. It was pretty quick.

[evan402]

any updates?