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Competitive 400ex
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Posted by: Ryan

Latley I have been thinking alot about buying a 400ex shortly. Then, im going to begin racing (Local Mx's). I wanted to know how competitive some of you guys are against the other quads on the track? I know that the rider plays a big factor in this but, power and handling does count.

So my question is, How competitive will I be on a 400ex compared to some of the badder quads out there, and how well do you compete against them? Also, I will probably have a few minor mods by then.

Oh yeah, I will be racing class "C".

Thanks

Posted by: Derek

quote:
Originally posted by Ryan
Latley I have been thinking alot about buying a 400ex shortly. Then, im going to begin racing (Local Mx's). I wanted to know how competitive some of you guys are against the other quads on the track? I know that the rider plays a big factor in this but, power and handling does count.

So my question is, How competitive will I be on a 400ex compared to some of the badder quads out there, and how well do you compete against them? Also, I will probably have a few minor mods by then.

Oh yeah, I will be racing class "C".

Thanks

Around here a stock 400 wont run with C class.

Posted by: quad_62

that depends on what mods you do. i would go with a pipe, nerfs, then work on the suspension: a-arms, etc. I race C Class Supercross in our local series (KORR) and i took 2nd at the last race. I just installed a stage 1 hotcam, 11:1 86mm piston, and have ohlins piggyback front shocks, and a pro-circuit t-4 exhaust. I have only raced 1 MX race and got screwed on the start in both motos cause a guy wrecked into me both times. you should do pretty good with a 400, i love mine.

Posted by: Sick0

You are right the rider makes the most diffrance. Last year a guy(MXchamp82) won the championship on a stock 400ex. And theres was a lot of fast guys on completely done up quads. I think if you built a 400ex right it can be almost as fast as any othere qaud out there. I won't buy a brand new 400ex though. you would be beter off buying a Z400.

Posted by: quad_62

i have heard about problems with frame durability for the Z on a MX track. have you heard about this?

Posted by: Derek

Definatly get shocks and go wider. Im getting screwed right now because im not wide enough.

Posted by: I-7

I guess your gonna race district 34 if you live in warwick so the novice class here is definatley competitive... ive seen stock 400ex beat highly modded 250r and 450 racing quads so suspension mods are the most important. You really dont need to get into Serious engine mods until amatuer... but do what you have to do.. someone on here... (mx517) races novice in D34 with an almost stock banshee cept for pipes and a arms so its mostly rider skill that is most important 85%rider...15%quad

Posted by: Moto92

An Ex will do you just fine in the C class. You going out there to learn just like the rest off the guys.

Posted by: CaliQuadRcr

buy a Z400 they have way more potential than a 400ex

Posted by: Nausty

get some shocks and you should be able to do just fine. Just a matter of using what you got.

Posted by: Ryan

Thanks for all the replys guys. I will probably be buying a used 400ex and hopefully I can find some minor things done to it. Once I get a good sum of money to work on it, I would like to put +2 a-arms (Probably Houser) +3 Axle, Elka's without Rezzies or Works with Rezzies, and maybe a +1 1/4 swingarm. Those are just some idea's, I'd work with the motor later.

I have also though about a LTZ/KFX400 but I have heard a few bad things about them. I will probably just go with the EX for awhile and stick with that.

Posted by: MX26

I've seen a few guys on 400's do decent in C around here, but to be really competitive it takes a little money. If I were to have a stock 400, i'd get a UNI filter, rejet it, do all the little tweaking stuff to the EX that you can do, then start suspension mods.

Posted by: YLW400

I am running D-7 on a stock motor 400EX, I am doing ok. get suspension upgrades first

Posted by: Tommy 17

quote:
Originally posted by Derek
Around here a stock 400 wont run with C class.

both races i've went to in d5 stk 400ex ran away in c clase... the race at pvr a yellow stk 400ex with everything stk but nerfs and a teather was killin in 1st till he lost it and ended up 3rd i think... i can't remember...

i've seen blasters, warriors, etc run very good in c clase...

Posted by: redrizza

Definately 95% rider. A 400ex is still competitive in mx. I race a very mildly modified 400ex and I feel as though I do need to work a little harder than the guys with LT frames and 450f motors, but damn just think about when I can build something like that.... WATCH OUT COMPETITION:devil And damn does it feel good when i roll off the track in front of all those 15-20K dollar bikes on my (if I'm lucky) $4500 bike.

Nausty's reply is right on.......

Posted by: Derek

quote:
Originally posted by Tommy 17
both races i've went to in d5 stk 400ex ran away in c clase... the race at pvr a yellow stk 400ex with everything stk but nerfs and a teather was killin in 1st till he lost it and ended up 3rd i think... i can't remember...

i've seen blasters, warriors, etc run very good in c clase...

Well for the races that ive went to and raced in i know that the rider is alot but the machine is alot to. I saw 2 kids that were exactly the same ability on a stock 400 and a souped 400. They were neck and neck until the turns and then the souped 400 pulled cause it was wider.

Posted by: AtvMxRider

quote:
Originally posted by CaliQuadRcr
buy a Z400 they have way more potential than a 400ex

Posted by:

I have to agree wit him ^^^^^

Posted by: QuadTrix6

im running a stock motor for the begining of the season , untill i can get some cash together, im sure youll do fine

Posted by: ridered86

quote:
Originally posted by Nausty
get some shocks and you should be able to do just fine. Just a matter of using what you got.

yup suspension and a-arms first.

Posted by: bradley300

doug eichner won four stroke wars on his roll/axis EX agaist lots of nice cannondales, including kory ellis'

Posted by: Nausty

Also last year racing a almost stock machine just made winning so much better like somone said. I mean you win the race and to top it off there quad is twice is good as yours and boy you better watch out once you get some mods.:confused2

Posted by: NacsRacing400

Ya last year i took 4th overall on a stock motored 400ex, just had a pipe and a few little things at the beggining of the year and spent some money on siome good shocks and my 400 was competive although now with the 450f its alittle bit easier but its not great seeing the bills come in for it. For your first year racing a 400ex will do you great, its reliable and they go for cheap these days.

Posted by: Glow Plug

go with the 400 you won't be sorry start with your shocks and then arms and hten swingarm etc etc you get the picture lol, with the 400ex you have unmatched relabitly with a very good plate for to start from

Posted by: Sick0

I think race a stock last year has help me alot. now thats I have some mods in my 400ex it is as competitive as any quad out there. I'm sure when you get to Expert in higher it start becoming tough to win on a 400ex but at that level most of the quads out there are so modded up they really ain't 400ex,raptor , banshee, z-400 or what ever,.

Posted by: cjpoole1

quote:
Originally posted by CaliQuadRcr
buy a Z400 they have way more potential than a 400ex

I'm a fan of both and I wont make as drastic a statement as that but i will say that the z400 is dominating the pro prodution classes in the GNC and GNCC. Here's an interesting quote I found on ATV Scene on the pro prodution class in GNC. "A Suzuki Z400 has claimed 1st, 2nd and 3rd place positions at every round of the nationals so far."

Posted by: Ryan

Thanks for all the replys guys. This really helped me out alot. Im definitly going for the 400ex now.

BTW, now that im really drunk, what do you do when you run out of beer :devil

.

Thanks again! :blah

Posted by: NTPRacing#19

uh go find some slut

Posted by: dirtriderex

I have rode the z400 and it is very snappy and fast, But I think the z's too high up and the HONDA is a better all around quad. It's the rider mainly and until then have some patients and wait for Honda to come out with another quad (it will happen).

Posted by: NTPRacing#19

a 400ex can be competitive prety much up to the bclass. a class maybe have a tuff time with holeshots but its mostly rider at that point.

Posted by: chris29

Um this ain't no B class quad, 400ex's can rule any class. Ill be running Money class at local tracks and probably A class at the nationals and no z400 will look this good!

Posted by: chris29

here

Posted by: 400EXrider#91

hey chris, do you have anymore pictures of that thing it looks pretty good

Posted by: NTPRacing#19

it is a sweet LOOKING 400ex and yes they can compete but not as a consistent as more crf450s are showing up

Posted by: Tommy 17

did u ever think that the z400 is winning the clases bc the top riders are riding them... and the reason they are riding them is for one reason only...

suzuki is goin to give rider support!!!! suzuki is alot more into the racing program with rider contengency(sp?) then honda is... its always been that way and always will... thats the only way suzuki can get people to buy their stuff including bikes... thats y u see so many of them at the races

Posted by: cjpoole1

From everything I've read, and I could be wrong, suzuki only offers support for bike riders only. The only Manufactuer that I know of that has contengencies for ATV's is Kawasaki and I think that doesn't apply to the KFX400 since technically its a Suzuki. As far as that being the way its always been, Suzuki produced the first ATV and was the first dominate manufactuer in ATV racing in 1985.

Posted by: methyman

I did my 400ex full suspension and motor work and it was great on the MX track until I rode a 1986 TRX250R with some motor work and stock suspension, which would wip up on the 400ex in a MX race. I bought the 250r and later sold my fully modded 400ex and got a second 86250R. I think they are the ideal bike if you want to MX.

Posted by:

Riders aren't getting money yet from suzuki but there is a much better chance of getting money from suzuki than anyone else out there right now... I still haven't seen what's so special about the Z 400's yet...

I think cut fenders on them is absolutely hideous...

Posted by: Ryan

I think what I might do is wait untill Honda or Yamaha come out with a new quad, and just buy one or the other. I really hate to say it but it really seems like the 400ex's are really being outdated by all these upper class machines. Then again, its not far behind from a ltz/kfx400 and their racing them in the Pro Production classes.

If I do end up wanting to race XC, then I will probably go for the 400ex. As for MX, it seems engine power plays quite a big factor. Of course its mostly the rider then anything, though. I will probably end up waiting for something new, and better to come out with

Posted by: Ryan

quote:
Originally posted by Rico
I think cut fenders on them is absolutely hideous...

Tell me about it. I wonder why some of the guys racing the "Pro Production" classes don't just put 250r style fenders back on them?

Posted by: methyman

Well we call the Suzuki Honzuki because they copied so much from Honda it is amazing. I got rid of my 400ex to wait and see what Honda comes out with a more powerful quad then the others. Im a HONDA man 100%. I hope you enjoy what ever quad you get. That is what really matters. Enjoy yourself!!!

Posted by: 400exRacerX

My 400 does fine in the B class, I've been in the top 5 with it for the first couple races of this season.

Posted by: Ryan

quote:
Originally posted by 400exRacerX
My 400 does fine in the B class, I've been in the top 5 with it for the first couple races of this season.

Its looks like you got a good sum of money put into that thing, though

.

Thanks methyman