Differences between 300ex and 400 ex?

[jaredboy]

hey everyone

im a beginnner rider, and am looking at either the 300 ex or 400 ex.

i wont be racing with it, im mainly interested in getting a quad to go on trails thru the woods.

At first i was considering just a utility quad, but then after thinking about it, i know i'll get bored with it and wanna go fast and spin out and crap.

so i went by my local honda dealer and they have a good deal on both the 300ex and 400ex. the 300 is $4200 and the 400ex is on sale for 4800.

so for a 600 dollar difference, and seeing as how the 300 has reverse.. do you think this quad will be adequate for what im going to use it for?
i only plan on buying once, and i dont wanna shortchange myself.

any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

(Again im a noob and dont even know how to drive a manual- this will be my first quad)

[Honda4trax250x]

for only 600 more i would def go with the 400ex

dont get me wrong the 300 is a great quad, but ur gunna want more power sooner or later and youll be kicking urself in the butt


as for learning a clutch, it wil be pretty much the same on both, should be pretty easy to learn and get used to, to the point youll forget ur even doing it

[dpizz450]

if you do not want to buy another new one in the next year or so, go wit the 400. ALOT more power.

[bayou boy]

I have both... the 300 is a great trail quad you can zip around in the trees pretty easy but the 400 is much better imo. the suspension is alot more forgiving than the 300, alot more power also and now I really don't miss the reverse. After i got the 400 i did not ride the 300 for about 2 months one day I decided to take it out for the day just to see the difference. after about 15 minutes I was wishing I had took the 400...if you get the 300 in a few months you will want to mod it out. it will take alot of $$$ to make it run with the 400....more than $600. I debated it for a while but decided not too after I added up the cost of everything it just was not worth it. I just took the $$ and picked up a nice 01 400ex for a good price. my daughter is almost big enough for the 300 so I will pass it on to her.

[gratzracing24]

My first quad was a 300ex and i still have it and its been about a year since i got it and i want something bigger

[TheFontMaster]

My first quad was a 300ex too. Fun to cruse around on but I got tired of the power it had after about a year. And the new 400ex's do have reverse if your willing to spend a little more on the machine.

[LsMxRaCeR]

get the 450 and not worry about it

[gyt-r450]

Originally posted by LsMxRaCeR
get the 450 and not worry about it


what he said^^^^^^^^^^^

[polabareus]

If your going to be doing alot of trail riding it's in your best interests to get something with reverse. Although it does depend on your local enviroment if you actually need reverse or not. Let me explain. At my cousins in southern Minnesota the landscape is mostly prairie with small groves of trees that don't have very much underbrush. In that type of landscape reverse is not that important. However up by Duluth (in northern mn) where I live the woods are thick and the trails are narrow. Infact just last night I went down a trail for a half mile only to come to a huge tree that had fallen and blocked the path. This trail was so narrow and the forest was so thick that I had to go in reverse for a couple hundred yards (just a guess) before I could find a place to actually turn around. It was so thick the only way to turn it around would have been to flip it upside down and then flip it over. These are the kind of trails I ride on so to me reverse is a must. My suggestion would be to get an 05 400ex.

are you honestly going to reccommend the 450 to a beginner to the ATV scene.....wow...go with the 400ex man...i went from a 4x4 fourtrax 300 to the 400ex to the 450r...400ex is a great four wheeler to start on & I do the same riding as you...you will love it...look around too for some used ones & u can save ALOT of money but have a friend go with you to look for problems wiith them...;) ;) good luck on your debut to the ATV scene

[jaredboy]

thanks very much everyone for your input.

but here's the final decision that i need your help on.

im sold on the 400 ex but i was also looking at the raptor 350.

here's the dilemma:

raptor: i like its looks and color a little better ( i know thats kinda gay and that def wont be the decidiing factor- but it is something to consider) i think the raptors look badass.

also, the finance plan yamaha offered me is a little better for me at this time- 39 dollars a month for first two years- then it would be about 100. honda has you do a straight out payment- it would come to about 90 a month- but at the same time, the honda is also about 500 bucks cheaper... and i would have to end up paying 100 in two years anyway.. vs. 90 the whole time...

so whats your input on the raptor 350 vs 400 ex for me as a beginner rider, probably only going to use it on trails.

from what it seems, the 400 ex is a better machine, but will i even really take advantage of all its capabilities? somehow i get the gut feeling that the raptor would be more than enough handling and power for myself... and it has reverse....

i'm just having a tough time deciding now, because i really like honda's reputation for quality... whatcha think??

[TheFontMaster]

I still say the 400ex. The warrior/raptor350 motor is old and outdated. The 300ex beats the raptor350 in just about every catagory except a drag race. And if the 400ex is 500 dollars cheaper, thats even more reoson to buy it. Why would you want to spend more money on a lesser quad?

go ride your riding lawnmower & then ride a raptor 350...they handle about the same

[jaredboy]

really??

well im glad i asked.. thats exactly why im posting on here.. i wanna get ppl's opinion that are experienced with atv's.

so the raptor 350 is no good?

it looks nice lol.

if thats the case i'll prolly stick with the 400ex then.

tell me, is there anyone that disagrees and thinks the raptor 350 is a good bike?

if most of you say its not good, then i wont go for it...

[Tommy 17]

i'd buy the 400ex for one reason... they are bullet proof...


also parts for a 400ex are dirt cheap bc they are made in america... the 300ex, raptor 350(warrior with new plastic), are made over seas and the parts cost more...


ruff idea... 400ex front fender was like 70$... the 300ex was over 200$ and the warrior is even more...

[mack63]

I faced the same dilema 4 years ago and i went with the 300ex for reverse and because it was less money. I had the 300ex for 4 years and it is a great machine. I just bought a 400ex 2 weeks ago and I'm wishing I would have bought it 4 years ago. It is much faster and soaks up the bumps better. I am very happy with it.

[polabareus]

Just out of curiousity Jaredboy, what kind of trails are you going to be riding? What kind of terrain?

[jaredboy]

im in north nj.. so these would be dirt trails thru the woods, mostly clear, although im sure there will be parts where trails could get a little tight. I dont think the trails will be overly difficult though.

although i have a buddy with property up in Lake george, which is not entirely cleared yet... so im guessing the trails would be a little rougher.- im pretty sure the 400 ex could handle it though...

reverse would be nice, but i think i'll be able to do without it.

[TheFontMaster]

Originally posted by jaredboy
reverse would be nice, but i think i'll be able to do without it.

Spend a little more and get the new 400ex with reverse.

[polabareus]

Originally posted by TheFontMaster
Spend a little more and get the new 400ex with reverse.

I agree.

You seem not to really like the 400ex's plastics, but are you aware that the 2005 400ex has new plastics like that of the 450r? Also it has reverse just incase you ever do need it. But keep in mind, you're the one that needs to make the final decision. So get the quad that you think you would enjoy the most.

[Quadworks]

Most definatly get the 400EX or wait and spend alittle more and get the new 05 400EX when your dealer gets them. You will like it a whole lot better than a 300. I went from my old 300 to a new 400 and will never think about another 300 ever. I suggest DO NOT think about the craptor 350!!