New 400EX or 450R which one???

[jlstang351]

Looking to move to a honda. Currently have a blaster and I hate it. IM looking for a reliable bike,mostly for trails and maybe tracks,but more trails and field riding. I really want elec. start and REVERSE,it comes in handy on the trails! Ive never driven a 450 and its been years since I drove a 400ex. How does the 400 compare in power and overall feel.

Also take the prices into consideration.
.
.These are out the door prices
..............2005 ........ 2006
400EX .... $4383 ..... $4983
450R ..... $4983 ..... $5633

[04'400ex'er]

450r will dust an ex any day. a stock ex is nothing now a days with the power other quads are making. with the mods i have i have DECENT acceleration but nothing special. a stock R should out accelerate my setup. get a new R and be done with it. otherwise you will be buyin one a year later.

[4ABURN]

IF reverse is important and so is the price than the ex would be great for you. Getting of a blaster on to a ex will make it feel like a rocket. The r is better but is it worth no reverse and more money, it is to me,but this is your money not mine.

Just my 2cents:D

[SDPNRG]

I got an 05 400 recently. My friends 450R is fast but is not practical for tough trail riding. I'm glad I didnt get the 450.

[emaxxjeremy]

Originally posted by SDPNRG
I got an 05 400 recently. My friends 450R is fast but is not practical for tough trail riding. I'm glad I didnt get the 450.

thats the truth. i bought a 450r and it is hella fast, but not very practical on trails. maybe those wide open dirt road "trails", but not tight woods trails. i wish i had bought a 400ex :(

[quad9]

we ride tight trails all the time with the 450r and love it.
you need to test ride both bikes and make sure it is not just in the parking lot of the dealer.

[450Redrider5]

I think my 450r is awesome and they are pretty reliable if you just do regular maitnence and i think if you put a 13 tooth front sprocket they are alot more easier to ride in tight technical woods

[shamisc]

Originally posted by emaxxjeremy
thats the truth. i bought a 450r and it is hella fast, but not very practical on trails. maybe those wide open dirt road "trails", but not tight woods trails. i wish i had bought a 400ex :(

This is the first time I've ever heard this!!! I trail ride mine every weekend with no problems in tight trails. I think it all goes back to rider ability. The only thing I miss about my EX is the fact that it was paid for! Who needs reverse??:cool: Buy which ever one you think you'll be the happiest with. Just remember, it takes alot of money just to make the 400EX run with the R, and like someone said, you'll probably be trying to sell the 400ex in a year to buy an R. JMO!

[2006trx450r]

since when was there a problem with to much power, plus reverse is lame, and I hope i never hear that again it put a frown on my face. but in all reallity if you lookin for something to lug around on in the highs of mountain ranges and check the views then a EX with satisfy you for a year or so but if you wanna haul some *** and not "PUT" around get an ER its worth it

[jlstang351]

Do those prices seem pretty fair for OTD? Ive been reading about how much better the 06 450 is compared to 05. Is it worth dropping the extra money on it? More than likely I will get a 05 model,on either machine b/c of price. Im closing on my first house next week,so money is deffinately an issue right now

[bwamos]

Here's my pennies worth.

If you have to have a brand new quad.. get a 450
But, if your willing to buy a 3 year old quad with a crapload of aftermarket parts for $2000-3000 less.. then I'd get a 400ex. ;)

In all honesty... I'll never buy an ATV off the showroom floor. I'll buy a used one off of someone who barely rides it. There's no way, most of the average people out there put nearly the beating on a quad that I do. ;) Note: Nobody on here would be considered "average". If your on the site you're at least a semi-hardcore rider. I'm talking about the guys, that take their quads out less than 10 times a year and never leave 3rd gear. ;)

Originally posted by emaxxjeremy
thats the truth. i bought a 450r and it is hella fast, but not very practical on trails. maybe those wide open dirt road "trails", but not tight woods trails. i wish i had bought a 400ex :(

im guessing this is stock geared? :confused:

a 450r with a 13t front sprocket will smoke a 400ex in the trails, at least thats with me on it, i have a 400ex and a 450r, i feel a lot faster on the 450r, the 450r is not only lighter but you can power it into anything and jus slide it around, my 400ex on the other hand, when stock it is worthless compaired to the 450r, the 50 pound weight differance u really feel when hitting the huge rocks and trees, id go with the 450, plus who needs reverse when you can just pick the bike up :macho :blah:

[jlstang351]

Went to my local bike shop today. The 450 deffinately looks the part. I will think it over this week. I plan on buying next weekend or the following week. How does the 450 compare to a piped and jetted raptor 660? My neighbor has one and that thing will straight out haul @ss. Has almost too much torque down low,all it will do is pop up in the air first and second!

[watts16]

i ride w/ 2 other 450r's they are awesome in the trails. I rode a 450 the other day w/ a recluse clutch and it was really nice on the trails

[emaxxjeremy]

ya my last trail experience was with the stock 14t gear. i now swapped to a 13t and will give that a try. it definitly makes a difference just playing around. much easier to ride

[shamisc]

Originally posted by jlstang351
Went to my local bike shop today. The 450 deffinately looks the part. I will think it over this week. I plan on buying next weekend or the following week. How does the 450 compare to a piped and jetted raptor 660? My neighbor has one and that thing will straight out haul @ss. Has almost too much torque down low,all it will do is pop up in the air first and second!

There's no comparison!! Unless the Raptor has a big bore and lots of work, they'll play h3ll keeping up with the 450r!:muscle:

[Lonestar_R]

The power delivery on a 400EX is much better than the 450 for trail riding....I have an 06 450 and an have owned a 400EX....for trail riding the 400EX is much easier to ride.....you have to keep in the throttle to get the 450 to run...if you don't you will hate it to ride trails.....my 250R is better trail machine than the 450....that is just my opinion....

[jlstang351]

I think I will go with the 400ex. Sounds like its more of what im looking for. The 450 must be a pretty bad machine,if the raptor will have to play catch up.
Anyone know how the 400ex will compare to a 660 raptor? I like everything about the 660 except the size of it. feels so big when riding.
Thanks for all the advise BTW.

[ThumPIN_450R]

get a kawi 400 it's got more power and electric start with reverse and is a very fun bike and reliable also.

[Lonestar_R]

the raptor will all out smoke the 400......the 450 is a fun and fast machine....but you have to ride it almost wide open all the time....well sorta......that is when the suspension and motor work and run the best.....now the new raptor 700 is a much nicer and overall better bike than the 660......fit, finish and ergonomics are much better than the 660.....

[jlstang351]

If the money wasnt a issue the 700 would be in my garage! I love that Quad. But $4000 and $7000 is big difference, That will hopefully be my next Toy,after the 400. We colse friday so hopefully after that I can get up there!Now I have to decide on yellow or red:confused:

[UbeenSmoked]

Originally posted by Lonestar_R
The power delivery on a 400EX is much better than the 450 for trail riding....I have an 06 450 and an have owned a 400EX....for trail riding the 400EX is much easier to ride.....you have to keep in the throttle to get the 450 to run...if you don't you will hate it to ride trails.....my 250R is better trail machine than the 450....that is just my opinion....

get the 450r u cant go wrong cause ur going to be wanting more power later, and also about keeping the 450r running turn ur idle screw up and u wont have a trouple with it running, and u dont have to go full throttle to keep it running, not sure wut wrong with ur but sounds like something if u have to have it full throttle to stay running

he turned up the idle...not that it need to be full throttle to keep running, the main problem now is the gearing is a little high...from the limited time i have on lonestars 06 450, it needs to be run more like a 2 stroke that a 4 stroke, keeping the rpms a little higher and witht he lag in the fcr carb...it is a little harder to lug around than my 400ex.

[Lonestar_R]

exactly speedy....I guess maybe I didn't word my reply right....but for an all out woods machine....the 400 is much better....if your lookin at a 450 you must be looking at used ones or leftovers....cause the new 450 is the same price as the raptor 700

[jlstang351]

Originally posted by Lonestar_R
exactly speedy....I guess maybe I didn't word my reply right....but for an all out woods machine....the 400 is much better....if your lookin at a 450 you must be looking at used ones or leftovers....cause the new 450 is the same price as the raptor 700
Brand new 06 450r is $5633 out the door,and a brand new 05 450r is $4983 OTD. These prices are at www.southernhonda.com

[Jonas]

That is not out the door. That is alot of asterisks though.

[one450r32]

hey lonestar, u must be a panzy if u can keep ur 450r running to ride trails, there a much better machine then the 400ex, a real rider can keep a 450r running threw the trails, look at Borich u saying he wins and keep his bike running

GET THE 450R AND BE DONE WITH IT!!!!!!!!!

[jlstang351]

Originally posted by Jonas
That is not out the door. That is alot of asterisks though.
That is out the door. No set up fees,no tax b/c I live in GA. I bought my sons crf 50 fomr them last year for $685 OTD. They told me they have a warehouse with over 2000 units in it right down the road from the showroom. Also said they do the most volume in America for Honda.

[stevo3176]

I had a 400ex and I sold it to get a 450r. I was very dissappointed. Yes they are fast as hell compared with a 400ex but that is if you ride on dunes and fields. In my opinion the 450r is good for tracks, dunes and open spaces. The first gear was so tall it was ridiculous. I even changed the front sprocket down and went up on the rear. It helped but it was too much clutch work. If you ride on rocky tight trails like I do then the 400 will be perfect. On the trails I ride speed doesn't matter any way.

lonestar and i run the he77 out of our bikes...we don't beat on them by any means, but we don't baby them either...we sometimes ride with his wife and stepson...she has only been out a few times and has a 250ex...and rides slow as she is completely new to the sport...his step son rides a 'zuki 80 and has a few more hours than his mom does, but still takes it easy...we also have regular family rides where other people bring along their kids and some even have passengers so the speed on those rides are slow compared to how he and i usually ride... there are also some utility bikes in our group that are usually the leaders 'cause they know the trails better than us...so this is where the 400ex could be considered a better trail bike

i am buying an r in the spring and giving my wife the 400ex...after the 1st time i rode lonestar's r, i considered buying a new 400ex for the wife and keeping mine...simply because it was so hard to ride...that was the day after he bought it and we were not really riding, we were out doing a little trail maintenance so it was a slower ride, plus he had not broken it in yet...he has since turned up the idle and that made it more rideable, but still not as easy to ride as the 400...like i said before, you have to keep the rpms higher and sometimes on a trail, that is just not possible

[Lonestar_R]

Look here one450r32.....I never said I couldn't it running......never did I say that...it is much harder to ride trails with.....I run the Sh$$ out it.......I don't think there should be any name calling...that is very uncalled for......the guy wanted opinions....everyone has one.....I was trying to be honest...and wasn't calling any names or making fun of anyone.....if you think I'm a panzy that is your opinion.....if that is all you have to say to me keep it to yourself

[khen]

If you're looking for the easiest sport quad to ride(not race) through tight technical trails, the 400EX is the best machine on the market IMO. If you don't mind working(clutching) a race engine in liu of a quicker quad, the 450R won't do you wrong.

Originally posted by Lonestar_R
Look here one450r32.....I never said I couldn't it running......never did I say that...it is much harder to ride trails with.....I run the Sh$$ out it.......I don't think there should be any name calling...that is very uncalled for......the guy wanted opinions....everyone has one.....I was trying to be honest...and wasn't calling any names or making fun of anyone.....if you think I'm a panzy that is your opinion.....if that is all you have to say to me keep it to yourself

thats a lot of periods:eek2: :huh

Originally posted by jlstang351
I think I will go with the 400ex. Sounds like its more of what im looking for. The 450 must be a pretty bad machine,if the raptor will have to play catch up.
Anyone know how the 400ex will compare to a 660 raptor? I like everything about the 660 except the size of it. feels so big when riding.
Thanks for all the advise BTW.

my 400ex beats or sticks with a stock rapter and i have a stock engine and slip on.

BUY MY BLUE 400EX