We were preparing the ORC Project Honda for display at the 2001 OffRoad Expo in Pomona, and knew it needed something more than the boring factory graphics. After researching available products, we contacted Factory Effex and ordered their graphics kit and a matching seat cover. Since our plastic is all still in good shape, we chose a kit that stays true to the factory red and black color scheme. Nothing drastic, just add a little "zing."

What sold us on Factory Effex product line was the quality - the decals are manufactured using 16 mil. ultracurve vinyl that is four-times thicker than stock and features advanced adhesive, with a special formulation used for fuel tank areas. The seat kit is a durable, triple-stitched, rubberized, maximum-traction seat cover. There is a sewn-in locator pocket on the nose to make sure the installation lines up perfectly and stays put while you staple. The rear graphic section of the seat cover is 30 mil back-printed, scratch-proof vinyl. These will well outlast anything put on there by the factory. We had taken photos showing the full install but someone decided that they needed the laptop that contained the new digital photos worse than we did, and walked off with it at the OffRoad Expo. What goes around, comes around, so we're certain the bad Karma they took out the door will last much longer than even the photos for four articles we had waiting on the hard drive - we figure you can guess what it looks like to peel the backing off a sticker and how a stapler looks when you attach a seat cover, so let's just go through the Before and After views, and let the Factory Effex Products speak for themselves!

Up close or from a distance, the factory decals are just BORING.	We're sure that with flashy decals, the 400EX will sail!

We chose to replace the decal on the front cowling with the Honda logo provided in the Effex kit, though it was tempting to leave the 400EX moniker intact...	The bold graphics on the vinyl seat match perfectly with the adjacent gas-tank cover decal.  Lining up the stripes is key, so don't rush this step. (Edelbrock decal not included.)

Factory Effex provides several sets of decals in the kit - you are not limited as to where to stick'em, though we tried to stay true to the recommended placement.	Streteching and stapling the new cover is rather difficult since you are covering a concave surface, but by easing it a small area at a time, we eventually got a good fit.

The design of the decal on the nose displays the Honda banner proudly...	And Factory Effex conveniently provides several sizes of their own logo.

Just as we thought,	with shiny new graphics, the 400EX can fly with STYLE!