Should I buy a 400ex or blaster?

[jjblaster]

I am looking to ice race is a blaster faster then a 400ex if they are both stock?

 

[best]

400ex is faster stock.
It is also 50 lbs heavier and has very little performance potential beyond what it does stock.
Some my argue that, but I stand by it. A 5-10% performance improvement would be expensive and hard to achieve on a 400ex. The stock 400ex has a better suspension than a stock Blaster and better brakes than the 2003 and earlier Blasters.

The Blaster weighs 50lbs less than the 400ex, is a much simpler machine. The 2003 and up have hydraulic brakes that are the equal of the 400ex, not so the earlier cable operated drums and rear disk. The shocks on the Blaster are basic and not up to high speeds on rough terrain. They will do ice just fine, where suspension and shocks are not so important. The Blaster motor makes half the HP of the 400ex, but is easily and cheaply improved to equal the HP of the 400ex.

The Blaster will take a lot of work to equal a 400ex, but when you do, it will be a lighter machine, simple to work on and easily and cheaply repaired.


Here is an interesting bit of info from a guy named "chigger" on the ATV fourm.
I cannot vouch for its accuracy but I don't see anything too crazy:

1. Suzuki Quadzilla LT500 ---------> 51srwhp / 390lbs = 0.1308 horsepower per pound
2. Cannondale Cannibal -------------> 38srwhp / 375lbs = 0.1013 horsepower per pound
3. Yamaha Banshee ------------------> 37srwhp / 386lbs = 0.0959 horsepower per pound
4. Suzuki QuadRacer 250R --------> 31srwhp / 327lbs = 0.0948 horsepower per pound
5. Kawasaki Tecate 4 ----------------> 33srwhp / 339lbs = 0.0944 horsepower per pound
6. Honda 250R --------------------------> 31srwhp / 329lbs = 0.0942 horsepower per pound
7. Yamaha Raptor 660R -------------> 35srwhp / 399lbs = 0.0877 horsepower per pound
8. Suzuki Z400 / Kawasaki X400 -> 32srwhp / 370lbs = 0.0865 horsepower per pound
9. Bombardier DS650 BAJA --------> 39srwhp / 475lbs = 0.0821 horsepower per pound
10. Honda 400EX -----------------------> 29srwhp / 374lbs = 0.0775 horsepower per pound
11. Polaris Sport 400 ------------------> 34srwhp / 481lbs = 0.0707 horsepower per pound
12. Polaris Scrambler 500 2WD ---> 35srwhp / 523lbs = 0.0669 horsepower per pound
13. Yamaha Blaster --------------------> 20srwhp / 320lbs = 0.0625 horsepower per pound
14. Yamaha Warrior -------------------> 21srwhp / 397lbs = 0.0529 horsepower per pound
15. Honda 300EX -----------------------> 17srwhp / 377lbs = 0.0451 horsepower per pound
16. Kawasaki Mojave -----------------> 17srwhp / 379lbs = 0.0449 horsepower per pound
17. Honda 250X -------------------------> 15srwhp / 351lbs = 0.0427 horsepower per pound
18. Honda 250EX -----------------------> 13srwhp / 349lbs = 0.0372 horsepower per pound
19. Suzuki QuadSport 230 ----------> 11srwhp / 309lbs = 0.0356 horsepower per pound
20. Wal-Mart PowerWheels ---------> 0.5srwhp / 50lbs = 0.0100 horsepower per pound

The HP/lb figures don't take into consideration the weight of the rider.
I thought I saw a figure of 28hp for the 400ex and a Blaster is like 17hp.
We have no problem getting Blasters over 30hp.

Steve

 

[Awk08]

The HP/lb figures don't take into consideration the weight of the rider.
I thought I saw a figure of 28hp for the 400ex and a Blaster is like 17hp.
We have no problem getting Blasters over 30hp.

good reply steve !

factor the blaster @ the easily atttainable 30+ hp into the hp to weight ratio chart above and we quickly move way up that list into 3rd place

1. Suzuki Quadzilla LT500 ---------> 51srwhp / 390lbs = 0.1308 horsepower per pound
2. Cannondale Cannibal -------------> 38srwhp / 375lbs = 0.1013 horsepower per pound
3. Yamaha Blaster --------------------> 32srwhp / 320lbs = 0.1 horsepower per pound

 

[best]

So Awk08, your 32 hp value is excellent because it is the factory hp value of the DT200 engine based on the Blaster and is easily achievable with only a rechambered head, 2mm exhaust raise, pipe and airbox mod. If we strip some of the extras off a Blaster like this it weighs well under 300 lbs:

I feel compelled to be completely objective here and point out you need to add the weight of the rider to make these figures comparable. So if we add an average 200 lbs rider (I know some of us are 140 lbs and some of us are uh, a more manly girth) we get:
1. Suzuki Quadzilla LT500 ---------> 51srwhp / 390lbs+200= 0.086 horsepower per pound
2. Cannondale Cannibal -------------> 38srwhp / 375lbs = 0.066 horsepower per pound
3. Yamaha Banshee ------------------> 37srwhp / 386lbs = 0.063 horsepower per pound
4. Suzuki QuadRacer 250R --------> 31srwhp / 327lbs = 0.058horsepower per pound
5. Kawasaki Tecate 4 ----------------> 33srwhp / 339lbs = 0.061 horsepower per pound
6. Honda 250R --------------------------> 31srwhp / 329lbs = 0.058 horsepower per pound
7. Yamaha Raptor 660R -------------> 35srwhp / 399lbs = 0.058 horsepower per pound
8. Suzuki Z400 / Kawasaki X400 -> 32srwhp / 370lbs = 0.056 horsepower per pound
9. Bombardier DS650 BAJA --------> 39srwhp / 475lbs = 0.057 horsepower per pound
10. Honda 400EX -----------------------> 29srwhp / 374lbs = 0.050horsepower per pound
11. Polaris Sport 400 ------------------> 34srwhp / 481lbs = 0.049 horsepower per pound
12. Polaris Scrambler 500 2WD ---> 35srwhp / 523lbs = 0.048 horsepower per pound
13. Yamaha Blaster --------------------> 20srwhp / 320lbs = 0.038 horsepower per pound

That 300 lbs Blaster with a mildly tuned 32 hp motor still comes out at 0.064 HP/lbs.
Still #3 on the power-machine list. No wonder we ride them Awk, they rock!

Steve