z 400

[SCEADU]

I have a couple of questions about the Z 400.

I have been trying to get rid of my Banshee for about a month now so I posted it up on Craig's list for sale or trade. Tonight I got a guy that has a 03 z 400 that is willing to trade . I don't know much about the 400's except what I see on the trails and in the mags. The fact is I built the Banshee too radical for my 16 year old son and his desription of the bike is simply "Intimidating". I need a riding partner and I see this as an opportunity to bond with my only "man-child" so even though I have around $5000 invested in the Shee I am willing to take a loss in order to get a machine my son will ride. Shee's are not real popular around here because they are "generaly" not condsidered good trail quads for the GA trails. I know that some would disagree, but where I ride I have only seen 3 Shees and they don't stray far from the dragstrip. I have never once seen one on any of the MX tracks and only one on the trails. The fact that I have had it on Craig's list and have not gotten but maybe 2 replies in a month also leads me to the conclusion that Shee's are not a choice machine here. I have an " in great condition" 250R so my oppinion is even tainted further when it comes to riding the Shee on the trails.

So here are my questions

1) how much have they changed the "Z" from 02 to 08
2) How often does the engine need rebuilt or adjusted
3) how is the suspension
4) any thing one should look for when buying a used Z

Here is a photo of the Z and my Shee.




Fire away with your oppinions lads and lasses (Mrs Mosh) I am all ears.

[willrideanythin]

Ok, First off the Z came out in 03.

03s had a non removable grab bar
03-04 had crappy front shocks Find some 05 and up
05-08 ran a different CDI plug
03-09 are know for a weak spot on the frame right above the shocks
05-08 is unchanged
09 have LTR450 styling and EFI
Somewhere in there they changed the carb models from a BSR36 to a BSR37, I think it was 05.

You can build them to roughly a really mean 510cc big bore Shee eater (for latter)

I have an 04 and love it, The man child would be a great fit on a Z.

IMO I would not trade even based on how stock the Z is compared to the Shee.
The Z has nerfs bumpers and an exhaust, Big deal. Bide your time and dont rush it. Or you can put the Shee back to a stock like setting via Ebay and make some cash too.

[cody2]

Yeah, that is a nice shee. The shocks on the older z's are pretty lame (have them on my kfx 400), i would go for a newer model like the 2005 and up, the 09 has efi which is really a positive.

[z400guy28]

I to have an 03 and ride some rough trails. I also owned a banshee and i feel my Z is way better on the trails than my banshee was. One thing to also inspect on the Z's is the axle bearing carrier. When i bought my Z it must have had a crack in it and me beating on it cracked it even more. I thought it was just the bearings but when i pulled the axle off i saw the carrier had about an inch crack on it. So i bought the new carrier for 200.00. Imo the Z is a way better trail quad than a Shee. Also the newer one's i think 05 and newer had the messed water pump covers. They corrode and you lose all your coolant and your motor blows up.

[cr480r]

I am a 2-stroke guy, But I have found the Z400's to be a pleasure on the trails.. They have decent power and if your son is "intimidated" by a banshee, the '03 suspension will be plenty adequate for his skill level, and can easily be upgraded later... Its far better than what the banshee comes with..

[SCEADU]

Well it is a done deal. After about 2 hours on the trail yesterday I was sold on the "Z". I really enjoyed building the Banshee and it was fun hitting the drags with it but the Z just simply feels better in the woods. The z had more mods than I expected when I went to pick it up and it turns out that I think I got the better of the deal .

[Mosh]

I always liked the Z 400.I rode a few of them.They are great all around machines.
They only complaint I had with them, is they felt tall or tippy to me,but those stock rear tires are probably the cause of that feeling.

You made the right choice getting that for your son,over a Banshee.He will have much more confidence on it,and just the reverse and starting make it easier to ride.
The only problems I know of with them is the frames crack near the front shocks in heavy MX use,and the timing chain tensioners are known to fail.But some comapany makes a manual adjuser for them that helps the problem.

Good choice!

I wont give you Mrs's Mosh's opinion,but I will anticipate her repsonse.
She would ride one if she has to,but if it dont have reeds,It dont fill her needs.LOL

[SCEADU]

More developements have happened in this trade. The misses who is not a quite a nature girl, has said that she might like to give riding a whurl because she said the Z is a cute li bugger that reminds her of Bumble Bee from the Transformers movie. Today she said that I can give her some riding lessons. With any luck I may have a new riding partner that I so desparately am seeking.

[cody2]

Bore that z400 out and throw some razr 2's on it and it will be a completely different bike!

[SYKO]

whooo hooo chicks that ride rule!! mine does when she can, bring her down in october man!! mine will be out there on her pink blaster!!

[SCEADU]

Well we are takin baby steps here.

Yesterday's instruction sesion didn't go quite as planned but we are getting there!!! At least I got her on the bike and she knows how to start it. the clutch thing is given her a bit of problems. A few more weekends and I'll have her roostin fo sho.

[z400guy28]

I have some holeshots on mine and it did improve the handling alot better. I'm in the same boat trying to teach my girl how to ride but the same problem the clutch, but she's getting there. I'll try and post some pics of my Z tomorrow.

[z400guy28]

Well i said i'd post some pics of my 03 Z. In the pics you'll notice the bumper is bent to the left and the clutch lever is bent ( I actually like it better now ) and the choke is broke. This is what happens when you don't strap your quad down in your buddies truck. We had them in his truck side by side in a 6ft bed. His Raptor and my Z both fell out and no real bad damage. We got chased by the cops and they told us to have someone pick them up. Our buddy did but no straps to strap them down. Well my Z is pretty much stock except for Holeshot tires all the way around, Full Yoshimura pipe, and the carb is jetted. I sold my Shee for 1000.00 and basically paid 900.00 for this,( it was 1900.00 ) .

[WaimakRydah]

$900 for a z400? I dont know alot about american currency but over here you would be lucky to find a z400 for under $5000.

I cant say alot about the z400 as the only time i rode one was on my mates driveway. One of my mates has one and he rides it pretty crazily and usually it is up to it he has had a couple of problems with it but it looks pretty quick.

Im 16 I sure wish my dad was willing to buy me a z400

[rdlsz24]

z / kfx 400's are sweet. I have had my '03 kfx for 4 years now. Only difference from mine to yours is the green plastic.



Rob