I just bought a '04 Z400 for my wife for Xmas. How many of you guys own them and what works and what doesn't? I'm not planning on doing much to it, probably just the typical pipe, jets, K&N air filter. So what's a good pipe? Jetting for G? Anything else of note? Thanks!

Dont waste your money on a DynoJet kit, just buy the makuni jets that you need. I have gone through hell with the DJ and now I am running 172 main(makuni) and Stock PJ. I am running with no air box lid and HMF full system. It runs great from Glamis to Mojave. I hope that helps.

well, I too have an 04 Z400

I have done a lot to mine but some of the little things that helped me before all the big stuff were:

drop down to a 13 tooth front sprocket. it will raise your bottom end torque a noticable amount and will only take a little away from the top speed of the bike.

I used to run a yoshi slip on and that worked well. I have since switched to an Alba full system but the yosh worked well for me for the first season.

I can't remember my jetting numbers but they wouldn't help you much anyway with a stock bike.

I have torn my Z down about three times and know that SOB in and out. if you run into any problems or have any questions feel free to post them on the board. There are a lot of people here who would be willing and able to help you out.

and let me save Shocker the time and tell you ALBA is the schiznit.

If you are just going to filter and pipe. I would say just get a slip on. The head pipe works ok. White Bros isn't bad. They have a kit high flow filter, slip on, and a jet.

Drop to a 13 tooth front, CT pipe (great numbers for the z) knn no lid, 160 jet.

The top 3 best pipes for the z are HMF, Yoshi, and Sparks. Go team alba for K&N clamp on kit.

I would get a pipe, rejet, get a K&N filter, toss the airbox lid and get a CDI. These mods will make it a lot more fun to ride.

Hey Kelso, how have you been guy? How's that bike of your running?

why dont we see more big bore zuki's running in glamis? i see tons of 400ex and raptor big bore bikes and now even 450's, but ive never seen a hard runnnig z400. i know they are out there.

I haven't gotten around to do the bore job yet. I blew my nut on supsension and lights. During the off season this year I plan on stripping her down again and beefing her up.

I see a lot of do's posted so let me give you a don't.......

Don't tow your 400 behind a lt rail through the dunes.

I just picked up my new Z400 05' yesterday! I'm sooo excited, I can't wait for New Years!!!

Save yourself some trouble and sell it.

Then buy a Yamahammer 450. Pretty simple eh?


Another invaluable peice of advice - always... no, NEVER follow Chevota off a jump.


See there, I just saved your life twice in one post.

Just bought my daughter a white '05 for christmas. I can't wait to ride it. I hope she believes that I bought it for her!!!

I KNOW A GUY RUNNING A 440 (50??) IN HIS Z, AND HE LIKES IT. HE HAS HAD A FEW PROBLEMSW ITH IT, BUT I DID BEAT HIM ON MY DADS CRAPER....

I have no clue what happened to the pic ???

first...

loose the air box lid and go with a k&n filter (alba makes a nice adaptor kit for this)...

pop in a 65 main jet, raise the needle all the way up...and your good.

next...

replace the cyl base gasket with the gasket from a DRZ-E dirt bike. (this up's the compression almost a full point). If you can swing it, replace the intake cam with a HotCams intake.

next...

loose the stock pipe and get a Sparks pipe. Get the one with the disc pack, and when u wanna go loud, you can replace the pack with a Trinity end cap. Youll prolly need a 75 main jet and an aftermarket needle by now.

then...

get a new rev box with a higher rev limit. Dyna is set to have a replacement model out *very* soon. I have the beta unit on my bike and it works great.

go up one tooth on the rear sprocket and down one on the front.

this will give u a very reliable machine that is fun and easy to ride.



o yeah...and get rid of the crapy stock shocks!!! (see me)

I did the cams, gasket mod, and cdi, plus my pipe and filter kit and i think its best for my stock gearing, never shall i have to hit 1st up a hill, or even hit 2nd, i can dune in 3rd pretty good now instead of having to shift between 2nd and 3rd constantly,

i would have to agree on the shocks

Thanks to everyone for the info. That's what I was wanting to hear. I took my wife and daughter out to G this wekend and let them ride it and get a feel for the dunes. A pipe is a MUST! More than anything, the stocker is just way to damn quiet. I think being able to actually hear the engine work will help them with shifting and gassing it. I am going for the K&N (loosing the airbox lid) and jets as well. I'll let them see what that does for them before I go messing with anything else. If they still need help after that, I'll go for the sprockets.

Rivermobster, The reason why I bought a '04 over a '05 was I saved quite a bit and knew I could get much better shocks elsewhere. What do you get for a front pair?

Socaldmax, I've known/been riding with Chevota aka LAWNDART for about a year now. I'm well aware of his style...or lack there of brains Great dude though.

Thanks again to everyone for the feed back. I was hoping to get the Z400 crowd to represent!

Well, as recommended, I went with the ALBA pipe/jet/filter kit. I also bought a 13 tooth front sprocket and a DID chain. Anything else anyone can think of? As I mentioned, this is for my wife and kid. But hey, as long as it looks like an accident, I'll be free to date by spring! JK Thanks again for the input!

do the base gasket...wont cost ya much...and u will notice a difference!

One more stupid question.... I bought the Sand Star paddles...does the little quarter paddle go on the inside or the outside? I assume it goes on the outside, but the pretty Sand Star name would be on the inside then. I never had this problem on my CRF! Thanks.

outside.

but they only scoop sand one way. try it both ways and you'll see what I'm talking about. one way will scoop sand the other will not

That little scoop is on the inside and the sticker faces the outside, ill have to check mine

TAKE REFERENCE OF THERE THE VALVE STEM IS....

I THINK I SPELLED A FEW OF THSE WORDS WRONG....

I know that there is a new problem evolving as people ride their Z's longer, its not to big of a problem, but if you notice valve train noise, and its just starts out of no where its most likely the cam chain, just like a chain does it gets stretched over time and can be replaced with a stronger d.i.d one, or you can get the cam chain adjuster extension from alba so it will stay tigther for a little longer, im thinking of getting it next time im up there just because its cheap and good to have when the cam chain does start getting to stretched

Check out ESR race series for $350, ESR intake for $65 (remove box), and buy indivisual jets.

how does the 13 tooth sprocket help out for example at Olds. ? If I am on the right side of the hill I cant leave second. Would I Be able to get some torque out of third at the top?

Well, for what it's worth... We were out over New Years and I took my wife's Z400 up Olds (with a 13 tooth sprocket) for the first time and it plowed up just fine in 3rd all the way and I didn't even get much of a running start. They aren't much ($17 at Alba). It does seem to limit top end a little though in fifth.

Alba has them for an ok price, but if you go to rockymountainatv.com and then go to the top and select suzuki, then select z400 after tha, then whatever year you have and it will have a list of all the parts they have, they have some titax i believe, not sure front sprockets on clearence/closeout, they are like $10

ah never mind heres the link to the list:

***click here***

and heres the ling to the sprockets on clearence/closeout:

***CLICK HERE***



its a great site, i ordered my rear tires from there, and they got in so cal in about 2-3 days, i just ordered my front shocks sunday, should be hre tomorrow-thursday, and soon im gonna order a g-force axle great site and shipping si good since they are close, i think utah, and prices are great

I should have known it was only a matter of time...Now she wants a twist throttle.

Anyone have the ends and outs on switching from a thumb throttle to a twist grip? Any change in jetting or settings? I wouldn't think so but I have to ask. Any brands to stay away from? Thanks.

Look at the Motion Pro kits if your going to do a twist throttle, they have pretty nice kits. That was first thing my wife gripped about. I dont want to put a twist throttle on so I'm looking at getting her the thumb saver deal.

This is the thumb saver I was going to try before I spend the money on the twist conversion Thumb Saver

WWW.Z-400CENTRAL.COM

ALL YOU NEED CHECK IT OUT...................................

Its z400central.com. There is no little dash in there.

By the way, why did you get the D.I.D. chain? With a 13t sprocket you dont need to get a new chain. Just wondering.

I noticed that when I broke the chain, that the OME was already an O-ring. I was use to 2 wheelers and the chains they come with are CRAP! I did keep it as a spare though.