First 450 owner

[HondaRacing83]

Whatsup guys i bought my first 450 today its an 08 special edition. Anything i should know about these or what im used to air cooled 400ex motors haha. Any tips or free mods let me know so far im really happy with ot

[CJM]

Check with your dealer to see if the cam recall was done.

The auto decompressor setup anyways on the 08+ suck, find a cam tower off an 06-07 and a cam and swap them in.

[2001400exrida]

Get yourself an owners manual so you can do the basics. The oil on the 450's is seperate, you have tranny oil on one side and motor oil on the other. The recall is free so definitely look into it if it's not been done already.

[HondaRacing83]

This thing wasnt local and i bought it used its been through a few owners so idk where it was originally purchased. How do i figure out ifthe recall was done? Will my local honda dealership do it anyway?

[2001400exrida]

yup, any honda dealer will do it. get the vin, call em up and ask them.

[HondaRacing83]

Thanks man ill call them later

[fastredrider44]

You probably won't learn much from an owners manual, you need a service manual. Anyway, keeping the oil and filter changed and a clean air filter is the life of these things. Ride with a dirty air filter a few times and you can count on a head job and new valves, or maybe even piston, rings and a cylinder. So a little maintenance will go a LOONNNGGGG way on the 450s.

[HondaRacing83]

Yeah im not used to it considerin my 400exs air filter is black lol. How often do you guys reccomend changing the oil? Im not racing just fast trail riding an hill climbing with my buddie so far races will come next year. The book says like 4 hours but hell sometimes i go on rides longer than that? How often do i replace the tranny oil too?

[chronicsmoke]

Yeah im not used to it considerin my 400exs air filter is black lol. How often do you guys reccomend changing the oil? Im not racing just fast trail riding an hill climbing with my buddie so far races will come next year. The book says like 4 hours but hell sometimes i go on rides longer than that? How often do i replace the tranny oil too?

I'd suggest running a synthetic oil if you're not keen on very frequent changes.. that or run Rotella and change it every 3-4. If you go on a 4 hour ride, just change it when you get back.

You CAN'T let your airfilter get that dirty on your 450r. you'll destroy your valves in a month lol.

Buy a STACK (5-10) of oil filters and have 1-2 extra air filters and always have one clean one on stand by then clean them all at once. Makes 'increased' maintenance of a 450 easily managable.

Lets see some pics when you get a chance ;)

[HondaRacing83]

How often should i change it if run a synthetic? I planne on getting extra filters and how much are oil filters ill buy a stack soon i need to get some axle bearings

[chronicsmoke]

How often should i change it if run a synthetic?

I always went under 10 for sure.. I'd feel comfortable at like 6-10 but I like to run conventional oil and open the filter every 3-4 hours to inspect for shavings but it's personal pereference really.. some guys barely change their oil every 30-50 hours :eek2:

those guys don't have healthy running quads for long, lol.

[HondaRacing83]

This is it yesterday before i started swapping parts off ol red
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/28038627-3298-4401-8EDE-D8663A080155-3507-00000261DA7E4B81_zps33a8d6ad.jpg
And here is how it sitts now as im figuring out what i wanna do with key and lights as im swapping over my bars handguards and risers. In this pic it has my swapped over wheels tires bumper shock covers
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/720E483B-C496-421B-A3B2-4AAE7C4C37A0-3507-00000261E8CD9968_zps16742f07.jpg

[chronicsmoke]

That's hella clean for under 2k!

nice score

[2001400exrida]

You probably won't learn much from an owners manual, you need a service manual. Anyway, keeping the oil and filter changed and a clean air filter is the life of these things. Ride with a dirty air filter a few times and you can count on a head job and new valves, or maybe even piston, rings and a cylinder. So a little maintenance will go a LOONNNGGGG way on the 450s.

The owners manual explains basics such as oil changes and filter cleaning......you will learn everything in the owners manual to keep the machine maintained. Anything deeper will require a service manual.

There is alot to be said about air filter maintenance, the fact that your 400ex one is black doesn't mean much. Dirty air filters are doing their job, they're catching the dirt and crap.

After i ride woods with my lid off my air filter will look horrible on the outside, when i take the filter off and look at the inside....it's spotless and looks brand new. Just because a filter is dirty does not mean you have let dirt into your motor, it means your air filter has trapped lots of dirt. Eventually it will become clogged or will start to let certain particle throught. A dirty air filter will probably trap and catch more dirt than a clean air filter will......the problem is it starts to get clogged.

Maintain the oil and the filter on any machine. The 400's and 450's need clean air filters just the same as any other machine.

In my opinion 4-6 hours is a little overkill with the oil changes. I ran rotella for years and years and i changed it every 10-15 hours. No exact science, but my 450r that i've taken apart looks mint condition after years of running this oil and doing changes 10-15 hours apart. Synthetic will go a little longer. Some guys do the 4 hour changes, in my opinion they're wasting oil. I do 10-15 on any and all oils and have never had a problem.

just wanted to offer you a couple schools of thought. In the end just make sure you maintain the filter and change the oil every 10-15 hours and you'll be good. I don't change the oil without putting a clean filter on.....and when i clean the filter i always take a clean rag and wipe the intake to see if anything has gone through, like i said even on filthy filters the inside of the filter is almsot always clean as a whistle, which means the fitlers doing it's job.

[HondaRacing83]

Thanks dude im really happy with it and illkeep that in mind as im ordering maintenance items soon. I have big plans for this thing its gonna be an xc machine for next year

[2001400exrida]

oh chronic there you go again advertising other websites lol, isn't that against the TOS? I'll tell on you!

the org is good, i'm on there, but the problem is some of the mods will pick and choose so it's not as open as this site.

Chronic, you admitted your maintenance crazy, i think that's the exactly point i tried to make....a little overkill. i'll take that oil please ship it to me. Rotella withstands extreme conditions better than many oils that are labeled for racing and our motors. even though rotella is not directly formulated for our machines it can handle some serious stuff before it becomes less effective.

I would be interested in seeing some tests that show Rotella is THAT bad after 15 hours,.....maybe it's just me, but i've run it in all my machines for that long, like i said the motor i just took apart looks immaculate and that's all it ran.

also, i can run honda oil in my motor for 10 minutes and it looks like the oil you posted in the picture....does that mean i should change it every 10 minutes? I've noticed out of all the oils, rotella keeps it's color and transparency better than any oil. Not sure if tha tmeans anything, but if i change from rotella after 4 hours the stuff still looks brand new....honda oil on the other hand, black!

[2001400exrida]

nobody says anybody's wrong....we just all love to give our input....me just the same as you. now, have another toke and take er easy bud.....you said it best when you said it's personal preference, why get offensive and shoot me down as well as advertise your other website seems childish Dave.....also, contrary to you and your cronies beliefs....i'm there :) I pm my buds on a regular basis, I just don't partake in the forum slander threads, we leave that for the kids.

[2001400exrida]

did i get upset? cya Dave, have a good day, i enjoyed our discussion although i wish i could have given some input without being called out for giving my opinion about oil change frequencies. I think 4 hours is over kill, we all know it's a personal preference, but no reason to get moody about it. You change yours i'll change mine, but the most important part is that the person who started this thread gets all sorts of opinions not just one, there's nothing right or wrong, it's just good to see multiple opinions.

[2001400exrida]

chronic i said "In my opinion 4-6 hours is a little overkill with the oil changes" it's just my opinion and it shouldn't get your butt hurt, but it did, thick skin and all.

sorry that offended you. I'm done you win! also when you call me ryry it turns me on.....do you really want that? i'm like a dog a heat.

[Baileygunns]

i'm like a dog a heat.
Yup.... A b*tch.

[2001400exrida]

Aww Ed, come on now, just because you can't take shots at me on the org anymore doesn't mean you have to come here and do it. Keep that trash over on the org man that's where it belongs.

[HondaRacing83]

I didnt buy a 450 to play this homo **** i asked a question lol

[2001400exrida]

HondaRacing if you don't have a service manual let me know i can email you the pdf one.

[HondaRacing83]

I don't have one. Can you send it to my dads email and mine? Mine is Woodsracer997@gmail.com my dads is dieselsmith@zoominternet.net, mines just on my phone my dads is on the computer which i use alot

[2001400exrida]

i sent it, let me know if it works for ya.

[coryatver]

I change my oil every race (2 hrs) or every riding weekend. These things only hold 3/4 a quart of oil in the motor and 3/4 quart in the tranny. VERY VERY little oil going about 10,000 rpm it gets wore out fast. Just change it. Keep your air filter clean. Clean one after every ride. Buy extras. Dirty ones will let dirt in and screw up your jetting.

Also DO NOT drain tranny oil from tranny drain bolt. These bolts strip out very easy especially when ridden by a good rider. The engine cases flex and the treads get trashed. Drain the tranny oil from the neutral sensor bolt.

get service manual. You are going to have to learn how to work on things real quick cuase these are not a gas and go like a 400. If you ride a lot plan on new intake valves every year. When it starts starting hard, thats the valves they tightened up. Adjusting them is a waste of time if they are wore they are already worn through the hardenend layer on the valve and will tighten right back up. The carb is very sensitive and jetting can change just with change in temperature and need a air fuel screw adjustment. Use the best gas you can. Do not touch gas when starting. The starter clutch will rip right out of it. You will eventually need a new one some time and you got to pull the side case cover off, clutch, clutchbasket to get to it and its expensive parts. The 400 has a bullet proof tranny you can pretty much pound through it and it will take it. Make sure you make good shifts on the 450 06+ especially 2nd and 3rd gear. They are known to go bad.

Your going to have to learn to ride all over again coming from a 400. 400s are torque you can putt putt around on them or ride them hard. 450r you got to ride it hard. It will take a while to get used to and you will stall a lot. You got to put it in neutral to start it especially on first start up or the clutch with drag. They are a lot harder starting than 400exs. You will have to learn the routine of what works for yours but don't touch the gas. Good luck!

[fastredrider44]

I think I missed something in this thread, but what I did manage to get out of it is there is a know it all on here...

Back to the topic at hand, people do whatever they want, and a beginner won't be nearly as hard on their quad as I am on mine, but I change my oil every two race hours or every 4 hours ride time. On my stock bike, I usually go every 6 hours. Just because you load up and go ride from sun up to sundown doesn't mean you just rode for 14 hours. Get an hour meter, they will really help you keep up with things.

And please quit riding your fourwheeler til you get those bearings changed out. :cool:

[CJM]

I think I missed something in this thread, but what I did manage to get out of it is there is a know it all on here...


Yup.

I change my oil every 3-4 rides. Its due to be changed before I go out again.

[2001400exrida]

I think I missed something in this thread, but what I did manage to get out of it is there is a know it all on here... l:

Yup

[HondaRacing83]

Thanks for the advice guys i got everything swapped over except my maie hood and my wrap around handguards this is how it is now
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/F5CC362C-81C3-4FCE-9399-D5B2B92A39AD-267-00000009C6143924_zps6d97e94a.jpg
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/5A146F77-42D9-4675-AC5D-608634D20341-267-00000009CEBF3165_zpsc4d37544.jpg
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/36BBBA30-DB67-4FFC-B0E4-372C7E8AC101-267-00000009D7673123_zps6bb4aa25.jpg
Dash i whipped up tonight
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/00B10F67-0970-4276-9D34-902CE33692F2-267-00000009DF447BB4_zpsc29d4a7b.jpg
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/1E03CC66-7F3C-40BB-B98F-70D525EFE44C-267-00000009E75D479F_zps3d2047eb.jpg the rest of the stuff goes on tomorrow

[Stickman400]

I'd keep the stock hood on it for now, it would look better imo. Also I'd think about getting an XC bumper that doesn't cover the light like that big brash Iron Cross does. It looks good, but it renders your headlight useless. Looks good though man! Deff. a deal for something that clean.

[beastlywarrior]

Man, you're lucky I didn't see that first

[2001400exrida]

after seeing more pictures you got a killer deal on that machine bro! I want to know how somebody gets one of those dash plates that the key and lights are installed onto. looks simple and clean.

[HondaRacing83]

I made it. Ive made about 5 of them for my buddies with 400ex's but had to redesign this one for the 450. Yeah im still undecided on the hood. I like the bumper and dont care about headlight usage becaus i really dont think ill use it much. Yeah i got a good deal got it off an old guy too not some young kid thatll beat on it like me Lol!

[HondaRacing83]

Here it is with my parts swapped over
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/C6F3B656-9449-4642-8620-C0288F49673E-998-000000E89B9500F0_zps8e2745da.jpg
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/C4F14D0F-E346-41AB-89DB-E0BD747AD378-998-000000E8AAD53D44_zpsffb46490.jpg
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/8A473C7D-323E-4793-8C4B-21DCC78B95EC-998-000000E8B731778C_zpsa148328a.jpg
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/44A0432F-CEEF-436B-9808-2805BAA9C1F1-998-000000E8BE51593F_zpsd8f3c0f4.jpg
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a488/brandonsmith789/79494BCD-B573-47E2-9729-9EBF2E038E7B-998-000000E8C5EE234E_zpsaa667d34.jpg

[blacknblue#2]

Im not adding to get bashed just adding from my experience. I seen someone stated to plan on installing valves every year. the 06+ valves are titanium. Once they 0 out trash them and go with stainless steel. I put stainless in all my 06+ trx and CRF's and my valve problem goes away. Once the stainless wears to set with your seats then thats it. they almost never move after that.

[Stickman400]

About the only thing it's missing is the stance. Try and play with the pre-load in the rear to get it to sit a little lower, set your sag on it.

[Lquad71]

Im not adding to get bashed just adding from my experience. I seen someone stated to plan on installing valves every year. the 06+ valves are titanium. Once they 0 out trash them and go with stainless steel. I put stainless in all my 06+ trx and CRF's and my valve problem goes away. Once the stainless wears to set with your seats then thats it. they almost never move after that.

X2
If you are not racing you do not need ti valves. around 70+ for each valve and they are trashed once they are wore out. a stainless valve can get a regrind. If you go with a high rpm motor and +1 valves with an aggressive cam, sure go Titanium. But no need to waste money on something you wont even notice.

[2001400exrida]

I 2nd the SS valves, titanium is not necessary and wears out quicker.