Lol, I was thinking about the opposite yesterday, getting a WR450 next to my XR4. How do you like the WR, a quick review/comparison please?
I can give a comparison! I sold my 96 XR4 for an 06 WR. The pros. e-start, oodles of power, fantastic suspension and handling. The cons. Rock hard seat, more maintenance. That about sums it! Although I wear padded shorts that make the seat bearable and the maintenance is really not that bad. Oil every 1000kms, and that is what I did on the XR4 anyway. If you are doing long days of trail riding and nothing too gnarly then the XR is probably better. If you are getting into some more technical areas then the WR takes over as it is lighter and a lot easier to wrangle around tight sections. Oh and the power! It is very different to the XR. Not as much of a torque monster but it has enough power to really get you into trouble if you are not concentrating. The WR is not very forgivable compared to the XR So is one bike better? No. If you love your XR and have no issues with it, then keep it. If you are finding that you have modded the suspension and handling as much as you can and you are still not satisfied and you want some more power, then get a WR. Sent with a leaf using a pointy stick.
Thanks, nice review! Most probably I don't need a new bike, it's just the kid in me (in all of us?), a new toy please! I need no more power (426 kit, I can and do get into trouble even with this), suspension is fine (CRFX USD forks), almost "e-start" with the pumper. And it's always nice to fly past some slick brand new KTMs on this old dog with trials tire on the rear
He summed it up really well. I wanted the HP, the WR definitely delivers. Ideally I would have one of each
I have only had my XR400 a short time and trying to get up to speed on the potential weak links. I picked up a spare subframe along with some other parts I wanted. I do not need the spare subframe, it is clean and unbent. I was going to sell it, but have considered keeping it if it my prove handy to have later. Input greatly appreciated.
There really aren't any weak links in the 400. The subframe will only be a problem if you carry a lot of weight back there over really rough terrain over extended periods, but it won't hurt to have a spare in your possession. Just keep everything lubed. You might want to pick up spare clutch and throttle cables and pre-route them and zip-tie them in place, just in case.
+1 more or less. The subframe can crack after heavy use but is easily welded, as it is mild steel. But it makes sense to have a spare subframe if one can get one cheap. The swing arm pivot bolt is known to get stuck, and the frame pipes can rust under the engine. That is about is as far as I know.
The sidestand mount can break off of the frame also. If, however, one were to use the sidestand for its intended purpose (holding the bike up), it will last forever. I believe the trouble arises when folks rest on the seat with the sidestand holding both them and the bike. The sidestand mount on my old '98 frame had been partially torn off and re-welded by a previous owner. Not my bike. Photo by 2old2race ----------- The subframes have been known to break for various reasons, curiously in pretty much the same spot. The small-diameter cross tube must flex quite a bit, and the triangular gusset stops that motion, creating a stress riser. Photo by Dr.Lewell Photo by Dr.Lewell Re-weld and reinforcement isn't difficult though. Mine had been broken by a previous owner and repaired & reinforced in the same manner illustrated above. More on Subframe Breakage here on the XR4 Thread: Post numbers 1682, 1691-98, 1713, 1768, & 2326
Austin Vince, famous Brit, did the Mondo Enduro and Terra Circa (basically a around the world low budget trip via the longest route possible on DR350s) has a new project, Mondo Sahara. Using XR400 Honda's http://youtu.be/JRNwBRbdx20 http://youtu.be/Jz6CmOpHG40 http://wemoto-news.blogspot.nl/2012/10/mondo-sahara-is-go-austin-vince-is-off.html http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=861224
Interesting, how almost every one of them has junk piled in front of the oil cooler.... :huh Not an issue? Edit: Just watched the video... it only looks that way in the pic. Only 2 of them have the cooler blocked in some way.
I have an XR's Only oil cooler thermometer...taking off my fender mounted tool pouch made a difference in my oil temps in hot weather
Hi Guy's, My XR400 seems to be smoking a fair bit from the exhaust. Now here's the story I was riding out with my son last weekend, and she started up OK hot or cold with no issues. After about 35 miles I stopped for a cigarette break and decided to quickly check the oil level, and found none on the dip stick, so I stuck in a litre of oil, but still not regestering. 25 miles later still no smoke, but still no oil regestering on the dip stick, so another litre and still no oil regestering but them she starts smoking like a train on the over run, it's only supposed to have 1.7 litres right? and there must have been oil in there from the get go or it would have seized or rumbled etc. Now I am as sure as anyone can be that there was oil in it to start with, and no oil leaks, so could it be that the oil is so clean that we cant see it and have over filled it? Also the choke started to play up on the trails, i.e. switching it's self on while riding, which in it's self is sort of counter intuative because in effect it's working it's way upwards, so I zip tyed it in the off position. Could it have overfueled? The bike has about 8000 Km's = 6000 or so, I had it in a garage and compression is spot on , and she is down about 2 bhp (with enduro tyres) from the standard output on the dyno. Air filter clean and oiled, I even concidered running without it but didn't want to suck in trail dirt. Can I dye the oil to be sure of oil levels, I was thinking food dye? or just measure 1.7 litres and refill her from empty and see what happens? I can't afford to blow her up, and the problem is getting to be the equivalent of a tooth ache, allways there and allways nagging. Thanks in advance for your help.
My choke was doing the same thing. check to make sure the screw is tight at the pivot point. There is a detent for each position and if its loose it will want to shut its self.
Checking the oil on these bikes is always a bit weird, and I'm 90% sure you overfilled. Draining/refilling is your best bet. For checking the oil in the future, you wanna warm up the bike and putt around at low speed for a minute or two, then let the bike sit a minute before checking the dipstick with the bike straight up and down.
Actually, you'll want to check it immediately. The longer it sits, the more oil will/can drain out of the tube and back into the engine and give you a false reading.
I believe the owners manual says to check it at an Idle with the engine warm. Thats how I have been doing it and I've had no issues.