2006 Honda 400ex Top Speed
Can the 400X, a trail quad, possibly be better than the 450R, a high-tech, highperformance racing machine? Not for racing, but not every rider is a racer, and not every ride is a race, so we compared the two in a variety of categories and conditions with riders of different skill levels to find out.
HOW DOES COST COMPARE?
If you want a sport quad and money is an issue, the $6399 400X is easier to reach than the $7799 450R. For recreational riders, the 400X will likely be less expensive to maintain as well since its less highly stressed, aircooled engine requires less frequent oil changes and will never need a coolant change.
HOW DIFFERENT ARE THE ENGINES?
Very different. Both are carbureted, single-overhead-cam, four-valve engines, but the 400X is less sophisticated and far less highly tuned. The 450R is designed to rev quicker and higher, so its piston and crankshaft are far lighter than the 400's, and its bore is much larger than its stroke. The 450's cam opens the intake valves directly to eliminate the weight of rocker arms for better control at high revs. Liquid cooling helps manage the extra heat the high-performance 450 produces. The 400X's air-cooled engine has an oil cooler to dissipate excess heat, and it uses rocker arms to operate its four valves. Even though the 400's compression ratio is much lower than the 450's—9.1:1 versus 12:1—both machines require premium pump gas.
WHICH ONE IS FASTER?
The 450R, by a huge margin. The beating the 450R put on the 400X in our drag race tests says a lot about why the 450R is the preferred machine for all kinds of racing. That's not to say the 400X is slow. The 400X is a sport quad with serious performance; it's just not as blisteringly fast as the 450R.
HOW DO THE MACHINES' POWER DELIVERY COMPARE ON THE TRAIL?
These two machines have very different kinds of power. The 450R revs faster and higher than the 400. It also makes more power and responds instantly. The 400X is responsive and powerful, but it's much more smooth. The 450R's power advantage made it faster in easy, open terrain; on big hills; and even on tight, difficult, technical trails—for our pro racer. Most of the time our trail rider was as fast on the 400X as on the 450 because he wasn't using all the 450's power. When we hit the tougher parts of the trail, the 450's abrupt power actually slowed our trail rider down. The 450 is harder to control at very low speeds, stalls more easily and doesn't pull from a dead stop as smoothly as the 400X, which made the twisty, rocky uphill canyon trail on our route tough for our trail rider when he was on the 450. The 450 doesn't have reverse like the 400, which makes tackling some tough situations extra hard.
HOW DIFFERENT ARE THE SUSPENSIONS?
About as different as sport quad suspensions can be. Both machines have double-A-arm front ends and rear swingarm suspension, but there's a big difference in the shocks. The 450R also has .2-inch more travel front and rear. The 450R has piggyback reservoir shocks with adjustable compression, rebound and spring preload front and rear. The 400X has a fully adjustable piggyback reservoir rear shock, but the front shocks have no reservoirs and are only adjustable for spring preload.
HOW DID THE SUSPENSION WORK FOR OUR TESTERS?
This was interesting. At a glance, the 450R's suspension looks superior, but how the suspension works for the rider is really what's important. Our testers' quotes say it best. Darin, the pro racer said, "The 450R's suspension handles high speeds and jumps much better than the 400X, but it's pretty harsh, and backing out the compression doesn't change the feel much. The 400X is too soft for the way I ride, but it's a lot more comfortable for cruising." Tyler, our trail rider, said, "The 450 rides too stiff for me, to the point that it takes away from the fun of riding it. The 450R's suspension felt too stiff even at the softest settings. The 400 rides much smoother, and I didn't have any problem with it bottoming."
HOW ABOUT HANDLING?
Both our pro and our trail rider noted the 450R's more stable, agile handling and cornering feel. We expected that, because the 450 is lighter, wider and has firmer suspension than the 400, which helps it corner flatter. The 400 handles well and very predictably; there's just some body roll in quick corners you don't feel on the 450.
HOW ABOUT MAINTENANCE?
Both machines have solid reputations for durability and reliability. For a highperformance racing machine, the 450R is very easy to live with, requiring only regular air-filter maintenance and oil changes, though the 400X's maintenance schedule is more relaxed. The higher-revving 450R holds less oil than the 400X, so it will need more frequent oil changes. The air-cooled 400X has no coolant, radiator or water pump like the 450R, which makes it more worry-free.
HOW ARE THE DETAILS?
These two machines are among the most comfortable sport quads made, with roomy ergonomics and slender midsections that give riders plenty of freedom to move. The seats are also remarkably comfortable. Both Hondas have powerful, controllable brakes, just what you want on fast sport quads. Both machines have cold-starting habits that require some care. The choke on the 400X is on the carburetor and not very easy to get to, and the machine needs a pretty long warm-up time before it will idle without the choke. The 450's choke is also on the carb, but it's easier to reach. The 450 usually needs a shot of throttle to prime the engine for cold starting with the carburetor's accelerator pump. Then you want to be careful not to give it throttle until it starts or you could flood the engine.
WHAT IS OUR FINAL ANSWER?
For racers and highly skilled riders, the 450R is the machine to have, but a race quad isn't the best trail quad for everyone. The 450R's hard-hitting power and firm suspension can't match the control and comfort the 400X's trail tuned engine and suspension offer at less intense trail-riding speeds. If you're more into fun on the trail than battling for trophies, the 400X may be the better machine for you.
SPECS
………………………………………… HONDA 400X ………………………………………HONDA 450R
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION
Engine type ……….. Air-cooled, SOHC, 4-valve 4-stroke ………………… Liquid-cooled, OHC, 4-valve, 4-stroke
Displacement ………………………………………….397cc ………………………………………………………..450cc
Bore and stroke …………………………85mm x 70.0mm …………………………………………….96mm x 62mm
Compression ratio ……………………………………. 9.1:1 …………………………………………………………. 12:1
Lubrication ……………………………………….. Dry sump ………………………………………………….. Wet sump
Carburetion ………………………………. 38mm Keihin CV ………………………………………… 40mm Keihin FCR
Additional cooling …………………………………………N/A …………………………………………………………… Fan
Starting/back-up ………………………………Electric/none ………………………………………………..Electric/none
Choke location …………………………….Left side of carb …………………………………………………………. Carb
Starting procedure …In neutral or any gear w/ clutch in …………………………………………………. In any gear
Idle adjustment ……………………………………………N/A …………………….. Thumbscrew on right side of carb
Air filter:
Type …………………………………..Reusable oiled foam …………………………………….. Washable oiled foam
Access …….Unlatch seat, remove airbox lid (6 clips), …… Unlatch seat, unlatch 6 thumb clips, remove lid
………………………………unscrew filter retaining screw
Drive system ………………………………………………N/A ………………………………………………………….2WD
Transmission ……..Fully manual five speed with reverse …………………. Manual shift, manual clutch 5-speed
Final drive …………………………………520 O-ring chain ………………………………………………………… Chain
DIMENSIONS/CAPACITIES/WEIGHTS
Fuel capacity ………………………………………… 2.6 gal. ……………………………………………………… 2.7 gal.
Recommended fuel …………………. 91 octane unleaded ……………………………………………………………N/A
Wheelbase ……………………………………………… 48.4" ………………………………………………………… 50.2"
Overall length/width/height …………..71.7"/45.5"/43.7" ……………………………………………73"/46.3"/43.3"
Seat height …………………………………………….. 31.9" ………………………………………………………… 32.8"
Wet weight ……………………………………………408 lb. ……………………………………………………….388 lb.
ROLLING CHASSIS
Frame …………………………………….. Steel round tube …………………………………. Round mild-steel tubing
Suspension/wheel travel
Front ……….Double A-arms w/ prel.-adj. shocks/8.2" …. Double A-arms w/ spring prel., comp. & reb.-adj.
………………………………………………………………………………………………piggyback reservoir shocks/8.4"
Rear ………. Double A-arms w/ prel., comp. and reb. ………. Swingarm w/ spring prel., comp. & reb.-adj.
……………………………………..damping-adj. shock/9.1" ………………………… piggyback reservoir shock/9.3"
Brakes/actuation:
Front …………………. Hydraulic discs/right-hand lever ……………………….. Hydraulic discs/right-hand lever
Rear …………………… Hydraulic disc/right-foot pedal …………………………………. Hydraulic disc/right foot
Parking brake …………………………………… Rear brake …………………………………….. Rear brake-lever lock
Tires:
Front ……………………………… 21×7-10 Ohtsu radial …………………………21×7-10 Dunlop KT371 radials
Rear ……………………………… 20×11-9 Ohtsu radial ……………………… 20×10-9 Dunlop KT335H radials
DETAILS
Lighting:
Front …………………….Body-mounted 35W headlight …………………………………….30W/30W headlights
Rear ………………………………………. Tail/brake light ………………………………….. LED taillight/brake light
Instruments ………………. Neutral, reverse, high beam, ……………………………. Neutral and temp indicators
……………………………………high temp indicator lights
Colors ………………………………………………………Red ………………………….. Red, Special Edition Tri-Color
Minimum operator age ………………………………….. 16 ……………………………………………………………N/A
Suggested retail price ……………………………… $6399 ………………………………………………………. $7799
Contact ………………………………………………………………………………. American Honda, (866) 784-1870
Source: https://utvactionmag.com/shootout-honda-trx400x-vs-trx450r/
Tidak ada komentar: