Best model year WR 400

[victor xt]

Hi again, I'm decided to get a good 400 bike, I looked the XR400 but I love the WR 400. I want this bike to go to work and in the weekend, just go for off road, hills and that sort of thing. Now, why I chose the wr 400 instead the 450, just because I do not want any kind of problems on the top end of the engine, valves, etc, I know the 400 has steel valves instead titanium valves in the 450 engine, I know it has electric starter but reliability to me means all by now. I just need to make it street legal.

What do you guys recommend, is it a better pick, the 2000 model or the 99 or 98? here it is more easy to find a 98 than the 2000, more rare is to find a 2001. I heard the 2000 model has an improved wiring on the stator for more power output on the electricity department, is there any other improvement on this bike that make me just get a 2000 WR 400?

That's it, any help would be great.?

[matt4x4]

over here (canada and US) the 400 was made until 2000, then it was a 426 for the next 2 years, it's definitely the best of the 3 years - mine has a better carb than the 98 99 did and most initial bugs are fixed.

The 2000 was also the last to have SS valves, and for people who do not check their valves all the time - this is a saviour because SS valves degrade at the same rate where coated Ti valves degrade very fast once the coating is worn through, and if not caught in time you have issues.

Don't remember to what year they made the 400 for overseas - I know it's at least 01 but may have ti valves..then again - buying one from there would be $$$ on shipping.

[victor xt]

Thanks, I was told the 02'426 have titanium valves, not the 400, I'll have to do a research on that point. Bad to me about the valves, if the coating goes bad in that 400 motor tyhen I will have to decline with the WR400, better to get a 450 if I'm going to have the same problem ? . Thanks for that

[matt4x4]

I better rephrase : It sounded like you think the 400 was made until 2002 which is NOT the case (in North America).

98-00 is a 400 - have SS valves

01-02 is a 426 - have Ti valves

03 + is a 450 - have Ti valves

[spc mike]

yup, he's right

[bluebike1999]

over here in Australia the 99 had the huge tank and the 2000 had the YZ tank. the YZ tank is best for riding due to the feel of the bike.

I sell parts for WR's and YZ's and i can only base my opinion based on parts i sell, and i know i am biased due to owning a 99 wr 400, but i think that the 99 00 400 are the most reliable of the whole WR series along with the 06.

If im wrong im sure i'll find out, but this is the way i see it. The 98, being the first real production one was prone to 'teething issues' like hot starting, the small end on the conrod 'stretching' and knocking, and i think there were a couple of other things, the 99 suffered the same with the conrod, numerous 5th gear issues and a couple more, and the 00 model seemed to have ironed out a lot of those bugs.

i seem to do a lot of 426 parts given the limited time it was around, valves, gears.

the 02 426 was a good one.

03 450 where do i start...gearbox..woodruff key(although not as common here in aus for some reason) starter motors are all packing up now...the cam chain drive sprocket on the crank seems to wear out fast if new chains arent fitted regularly( requiring new lobe or comp crankshaft assy) , valves again ( i sell a bucket load of stainless sets for them)

04 the same issues, just not as many as 03

05 good model, had some weird cases though, a few countershaft seals mysteriously unloading all the oil and requiring big buck fixes

06 very few issues to report, although its only two years down the track

too early to tell what will be the 'issues' from 07 onwards...

so, get a 00 400, a yz 450 auto decomp cam..change your oil often... flog the shit out of it, and live happily ever after...

[victor xt]

over here in Australia the 99 had the huge tank and the 2000 had the YZ tank. the YZ tank is best for riding due to the feel of the bike.

I sell parts for WR's and YZ's and i can only base my opinion based on parts i sell, and i know i am biased due to owning a 99 wr 400, but i think that the 99 00 400 are the most reliable of the whole WR series along with the 06.

If im wrong im sure i'll find out, but this is the way i see it. The 98, being the first real production one was prone to 'teething issues' like hot starting, the small end on the conrod 'stretching' and knocking, and i think there were a couple of other things, the 99 suffered the same with the conrod, numerous 5th gear issues and a couple more, and the 00 model seemed to have ironed out a lot of those bugs.

i seem to do a lot of 426 parts given the limited time it was around, valves, gears.

the 02 426 was a good one.

03 450 where do i start...gearbox..woodruff key(although not as common here in aus for some reason) starter motors are all packing up now...the cam chain drive sprocket on the crank seems to wear out fast if new chains arent fitted regularly( requiring new lobe or comp crankshaft assy) , valves again ( i sell a bucket load of stainless sets for them)

04 the same issues, just not as many as 03

05 good model, had some weird cases though, a few countershaft seals mysteriously unloading all the oil and requiring big buck fixes

06 very few issues to report, although its only two years down the track

too early to tell what will be the 'issues' from 07 onwards...

so, get a 00 400, a yz 450 auto decomp cam..change your oil often... flog the shit out of it, and live happily ever after...

Thank so much for taking your time writing this, that was the best help I can get. I will go for a 00' WR400, didn't know about that bugs on those related models, good to know.

very appreciated

Cheers ?

[fix]

My 400 is on a 2001 number plate but i guess it was made in 2000 but didnt sell that year,so mine should have ss valves?

[R_Little]

The 426 has a better rod and counterbalancer drive.

[matt4x4]

My 400 is on a 2001 number plate but i guess it was made in 2000 but didnt sell that year,so mine should have ss valves?

Wrong - in europe the 400 was also made in 01 so your 01 IS an 01, not an unsold 00.

[Alternative]

I'm not sure where they were sold but the 400 was made until 2002, my manual for my 2002 426 is for the WR426F(P) and WR400F(P). And as far as I'm aware the whole model range went to titanium valves and 2nd gen. FCR carb in 2001, ie. the 250, 400 and 426. The rear suspension relay arm and swingarm were also changed slightly. Other changes exclusive to the 426 were a 1mm bigger wrist pin and different clutch assembly. There may have been a few others but that's all I'm aware of.

[fix]

Wrong - in europe the 400 was also made in 01 so your 01 IS an 01, not an unsold 00.

Fair enough i didnt realise that,so will mine have ss valves or not then?

Or am i gonna have to take it apart to be able to tell! ?

[thump mark]

i have a 2000 model wr400 it has 11000 miles on it it has just had 2.3.4 gears replaced it is the most reliable bike i have ever had