450r as trail bike????

[shoebox]

I really want this bike, but my young son on his 90 won't be able to keep up with me. And from what I'm reading this bike does not like to be lug around. Can this bike be used as a trail bike? Or am I better off getting a 400?

We ride fire roads, tight single tracks, desert, mud, and dunes.

Experienced riders/owners adivce would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance

[GIXXER1KR]

Heres mine!!!And it the best quad ive ever owned!!!!And i do trails and MX.Just swapping the tires and minor shock adjustment!!!

[clutt225]

I have had both the 400ex and the 450r. If I was going to trail ride I would sell my 450r and buy a 400ex. Now here are the reasons.

The 450R holds very little oil so a little burn can be very bad.
450R uses more gas than a 400ex
Rebuilds are more money and more frequent on the 450r.
Seat is not as comfortable as 400ex.
No reverse. the new 400ex has reverse.
400ex has a more friendly power for the trails.
My 400ex was cheaper to insure and cheaper to buy.

The 450R is a great race bike with crap piles of power but for riding around with the kids the 400 is the best choise hands down.

[j_cyrus3]

Originally posted by clutt225
I have had both the 400ex and the 450r. If I was going to trail ride I would sell my 450r and buy a 400ex. Now here are the reasons.

The 450R holds very little oil so a little burn can be very bad.
450R uses more gas than a 400ex
Rebuilds are more money and more frequent on the 450r.
Seat is not as comfortable as 400ex.
No reverse. the new 400ex has reverse.
400ex has a more friendly power for the trails.
My 400ex was cheaper to insure and cheaper to buy.

The 450R is a great race bike with crap piles of power but for riding around with the kids the 400 is the best choise hands down.


He said it best. Get the 400. Also one of the toughest quads ever made.

[Lonestar_R]

I agree with the above.....I've owned both...and the 400 is a much better trail quad....hands down better.....if your going to do the family ride thing you are better off getting the 400.....its cheaper to buy and to maintain, and much better power curve for trail riding.....I love my 450 but if I didn't ride as aggressively as I do the 400 would be plenty

[shoebox]

Thanks guys, now I'll start looking into a 400ex, ltz 400 or a rappy 700r.

[GIXXER1KR]

Id hate to say it but the Z400 is a much better bike than a 400ex.Better suspension,liquid cooled,and on and on.Although i do love Honda!!!A Rappy 700!!!!!!!:confused:

[Phills450r]

The 450r is harder to maintain? I have owned mine for 2 years now racing MX and trail riding and haven't done anything to the motor besides change the oil and clean the airfilter.

450r > 400ex

[firefighterjosh]

Originally posted by shoebox
Thanks guys, now I'll start looking into a 400ex, ltz 400 or a rappy 700r.

A Raptor??? I thought you were worried about power? It is just as fast as a 450r

[shoebox]

I'm not worried about power on tap at all or speed at all. I can ride fast very well. There are times when I ride with my son very slow, especially thru technical areas. I give him a few directions and tell him to follow my line.

His 90 can only go so fast and the suspension is not up to par with any 250 and up. It would not be fair to him if I blow through a section 4 times faster than him. Besides that, I have two future riders to teach too.

I need something I can "lug" around 50% of the time. I really don't want something where I'm feathering the clutch 90% of the time.

Make sense?

[300exHILLER]

Try a Rincon

[organiz3d_chaos]

The only thing I have used my 450r for has been trails, I like it... I put a 12t sprocket on the front. Granted I know no other quads so I can't compare to anything

[Coolidge]

I ride mostly desert/trails. My Kids both have 110's & I have 06 450er. I gotta admit, it is a little tough sometimes, as the 450 wants to run. But, on long hard-pack trails, the kids do good staying w/the 'big kids'. I really love the hard-hitting power though. I almost got the Z400, but am real happy w/my Honda 450

[TCracin440ex]

i have a 450r and i used to have a 400ex....i love my 450r, but i will say that you can putt the 400ex arround alot eazier then the 450r....i took my 450 to the mx track and at the track they have trails....really tight trails....harescrambles trails...and it requires some fancy fancy clutch and throttle work in tight trails on the 450r where as on the 400ex it was alot eazier to ride in tight trails....im not sure but it seems to me the first gear on my 450r feels like 2nd or 3rd on the 400ex...but i love it...i wonder if a sprocket will change that

[organiz3d_chaos]

Originally posted by TCracin440ex
i have a 450r and i used to have a 400ex....i love my 450r, but i will say that you can putt the 400ex arround alot eazier then the 450r....i took my 450 to the mx track and at the track they have trails....really tight trails....harescrambles trails...and it requires some fancy fancy clutch and throttle work in tight trails on the 450r where as on the 400ex it was alot eazier to ride in tight trails....im not sure but it seems to me the first gear on my 450r feels like 2nd or 3rd on the 400ex...but i love it...i wonder if a sprocket will change that

A sprocket change is deffinately worth trying... I really liked it after changing mine, and if you don't like it, well it was only around $20

[TCracin440ex]

Originally posted by organiz3d_chaos
A sprocket change is deffinately worth trying... I really liked it after changing mine, and if you don't like it, well it was only around $20


idk ive gotten used to the way it is....i actually like it because it just seems so punchy

[organiz3d_chaos]

Originally posted by TCracin440ex
idk ive gotten used to the way it is....i actually like it because it just seems so punchy

Not sure if I am interpretting "punchy" differnt then you mean it, but the 12t sprocket seems to me to make it "punchier".... You can go a lot slower but when you give it gas it takes off, and raises up) like a SOB

[shoebox]

I like these responses, but I'm more confused than ever.

Rincon, not my style. I prefer something light, fast, and a kick start. That's why I'm leaning towards a left over 05 for $100 more than a 400. A 400 is also very tempting less work more fun. I have a few more days to decide:confused:

[TCracin440ex]

Originally posted by shoebox
I like these responses, but I'm more confused than ever.

Rincon, not my style. I prefer something light, fast, and a kick start. That's why I'm leaning towards a left over 05 for $100 more than a 400. A 400 is also very tempting less work more fun. I have a few more days to decide:confused:


to be perfectly honest with you bro....you can get a 2006 proally another hundred dollars more then the 05...and the 06 has e-start...dont say the 400ex is less work more fun because to be honest with you if you keep both of them maintained like your supposed to then you wont have problems....keep the oil changed and filter clean...it'll last you forever

organiz3d. idk how to explain im jus used to the way it is now...i cant even get on a 400ex and ride it anymore thats how used to the 450r i am....and i rode a 400ex for 5 years and had masterd it...i cant even get on it anymore to ride it due to the big difference in bike and everything....

[shoebox]

"Less work more fun" was meant by riding not maintenance. Riding a bike is more work than an atv, right?

My quotes:

06 450er $6499 otd
05 450r $5299 otd
05 400ex $4999 otd
06 400ex $5699 otd
06 z400 $5199 otd

[TCracin440ex]

Originally posted by shoebox
"Less work more fun" was meant by riding not maintenance. Riding a bike is more work than an atv, right?

My quotes:

06 450er $6499 otd
05 450r $5299 otd
05 400ex $4999 otd
06 400ex $5699 otd
06 z400 $5199 otd


dude 06 450er is 6499 your dealer is trying to rip you a new one....i got my 06 for 5800 out, plus i added the hrc kit to it....so 500 for the hrc kit....6200 dollars for everything....

MOST dealers are trying to get rid of the 06's so they are knocking off bout a 1000 dollars off msrp so they can get the 07s on the floor...thats how i got mine at a deal....

[shoebox]

Well, I do not doubt for a fact any dealer will try to get as much as they can. These $ are in CA. Maybe your $ may be lower. dunno. hrc kit is under 300 here.

[roundsy]

i own a 450r and owned a 400ex before, and as someone stated earlier it is impossible to go back to a 400 after a 450....lol, anyways IMO the 400ex was easier in the trails when riding with a slower group of riders...if i was in your situation id pick up an 05 400ex, and use it til your young one is old enough to ride it, at that point down the road you can pick up a 450r or whatever you choose

[awj8074]

Originally posted by clutt225
I have had both the 400ex and the 450r. If I was going to trail ride I would sell my 450r and buy a 400ex. Now here are the reasons.

The 450R holds very little oil so a little burn can be very bad.
450R uses more gas than a 400ex
Rebuilds are more money and more frequent on the 450r.
Seat is not as comfortable as 400ex.
No reverse. the new 400ex has reverse.
400ex has a more friendly power for the trails.
My 400ex was cheaper to insure and cheaper to buy.

The 450R is a great race bike with crap piles of power but for riding around with the kids the 400 is the best choise hands down. Ive never had a problem with my 450 and all I do is trails. I ride with my friend that has a 400ex and I burn less gas then him. Not having reverse is no problem for me just find a hill on the side of a trial drive up and roll back down and go the other way or just blow a doughnut. I dont know about insurance differences because mine is not insured.

[awj8074]

Originally posted by roundsy
i own a 450r and owned a 400ex before, and as someone stated earlier it is impossible to go back to a 400 after a 450....lol, anyways IMO the 400ex was easier in the trails when riding with a slower group of riders...if i was in your situation id pick up an 05 400ex, and use it til your young one is old enough to ride it, at that point down the road you can pick up a 450r or whatever you choose yea picking up a 400ex now while he learns to ride then giving him the 400 and you getting the 450 would probly be the best plan. But IMO you are going to be happy with either the 400 or the 450.

[Toadz400]

Originally posted by TCracin440ex
dude 06 450er is 6499 your dealer is trying to rip you a new one....i got my 06 for 5800 out, plus i added the hrc kit to it....so 500 for the hrc kit....6200 dollars for everything....

MOST dealers are trying to get rid of the 06's so they are knocking off bout a 1000 dollars off msrp so they can get the 07s on the floor...thats how i got mine at a deal....

Those prices are low for what I'd pay around here.

I would definately go with the Z400 because of the better suspension and liquid cooling for that slower riding. You won't be disappointed.

for the type of riding you are describing, especially with your son, the 400ex is the machine for you...i should know, i have both...

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-12/921056/MYVVR-goodvsevil2.JPG

Originally posted by roundsy
i own a 450r and owned a 400ex before, and as someone stated earlier it is impossible to go back to a 400 after a 450....lol, anyways IMO the 400ex was easier in the trails when riding with a slower group of riders...if i was in your situation id pick up an 05 400ex, and use it til your young one is old enough to ride it, at that point down the road you can pick up a 450r or whatever you choose


Kyle smith owns you hands down on his stock 400ex:blah:


And so dose ben.:ermm: LMAO.