What year is the best?

Hi, I'm new here and I am looking at a Honda 400ex. I heard only good things about them and alot of my freinds have them. What year would you guys think is the best. I know when a company makes something good they keep making it like that. Well I heard that the Honda 400ex is basicaly the same drivetrain for several years now. They have something good they stick with it. Maybe I'm really asking what year did they start making them? What years did they do majer changes to them? Any problems with certein years?

[troutman561]

They Hit the market in late 98(model year 99) they really made no changes until 05 which was just simple plastic change and reverse, but thats about it.. There was also a carb change in 03 i think but I dont think it is some drastic performance change if any...

[81 clark racing]

no problems and all yrs are good how ever i like the 99 to 04 body style

[Grant Casey]

yeah i really like the 99 to 04 style plastics.

[Bigdaddy52302]

I like the 2002, I just bought this one for 2,700 and spent 2hrs shining it up. I think I got a steal, it has a stage one hotshots cam, a fmf slip on silencer that makes this thing sound so good its sick, duglas rims, K&N Procharger airfilter, jeted, runs on 50/50 racing gas and 92octane witch makes the exhaust smell so good, stainles steel nurf bars with brand new netting, and brand new Mud Shark Tires in the rear, and a aftermarket rev limiter box. I thought it was a pretty good deal......

[-copyguy-]

I've got a 2000 and the graphics are ok on it...I guess. I'd prefer to have the 05+ body style...and the reverse too. Although you learn to not need reverse :)

[4wydnr]

I've got a 99 model and have had no problems with it. There are plenty of faster quads out there, but you can't beat the reliability of the 400ex in stock form. Besides if you ride trails that have something other than mile long straight aways with some skill you can easily keep up or pull away from the other guys.

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by Bigdaddy52302
I like the 2002, I just bought this one for 2,700 and spent 2hrs shining it up. I think I got a steal, it has a stage one hotshots cam, a fmf slip on silencer that makes this thing sound so good its sick, duglas rims, K&N Procharger airfilter, jeted, runs on 50/50 racing gas and 92octane witch makes the exhaust smell so good, stainles steel nurf bars with brand new netting, and brand new Mud Shark Tires in the rear, and a aftermarket rev limiter box. I thought it was a pretty good deal......

were the rims mounted on it in that pic? because those r stock rims. i am almost 100% sure.

anyway, nice bike

[Bigdaddy52302]

Actualy I just found out today those are stock rims I thought since they said DnD on them they were douglas rims but I was wrong, oh well something i can buy now, i have been looking for some good mods to do.

[Franky G]

well best year his the 99's !! lol!!

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j295/FrankyG_1/IMG_2141.jpg

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by Bigdaddy52302
Actualy I just found out today those are stock rims I thought since they said DnD on them they were douglas rims but I was wrong, oh well something i can buy now, i have been looking for some good mods to do.


i love the quadroks. they r on franky's bike.

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by Franky G
well best year his the 99's !! lol!!

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j295/FrankyG_1/IMG_2141.jpg


if they all looked like urs, then i would have to agree :D

[chrisrzz1012]

With out the doubt the 1999-2004 are the best 400's . They look better and in my opinion the more reliable. I own a 2001, and (2) 2002's. I'm making one of the 02's into a predator/ outlaw killer. I'm installing a honda xr-500r motor (modded) into it. I race hare- scrambles and cross-country and they are the machine to race for it.

[2004exrider]

Originally posted by Bigdaddy52302
runs on 50/50 racing gas and 92octane witch makes the exhaust smell so good,

Why are you running race gas, what kind of piston do you have?

Jimmy

[Eviltanker]

They changed sprockets in 05

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by 2004exrider
Why are you running race gas, what kind of piston do you have?

Jimmy


he said because it makes it smell good.

[hondajoe05]

now how in the hell are you gonna tell this guy that 99-04's are more reliable than 05-07's????? only difference is plastic added reverse gear and a lower front sprocket in the front....


Originally posted by chrisrzz1012
With out the doubt the 1999-2004 are the best 400's . They look better and in my opinion the more reliable. I own a 2001, and (2) 2002's. I'm making one of the 02's into a predator/ outlaw killer. I'm installing a honda xr-500r motor (modded) into it. I race hare- scrambles and cross-country and they are the machine to race for it.

[chrisrzz1012]

Originally posted by hondajoe05
now how in the hell are you gonna tell this guy that 99-04's are more reliable than 05-07's????? only difference is plastic added reverse gear and a lower front sprocket in the front.... hondajoe05
I know I got you mad about the reliablity of 05-07's. But a friend of mine bought a 05 and he had nothing but trouble with it he sold at a lost to get a 04, because my stock 01 out ran his 05. What I should say now is this. If you want a reverse go look for 05-07 but on average an 99-04 will be cheaper. Both machines are great. Its good to see people still buying the 400ex. I tried the rest and they are the best in my opinion.

[jason43050]

Originally posted by chrisrzz1012
hondajoe05
I know I got you mad about the reliablity of 05-07's. But a friend of mine bought a 05 and he had nothing but trouble with it he sold at a lost to get a 04, because my stock 01 out ran his 05. What I should say now is this. If you want a reverse go look for 05-07 but on average an 99-04 will be cheaper. Both machines are great. Its good to see people still buying the 400ex. I tried the rest and they are the best in my opinion. i have a 05 model and got no problems at all. great machine. only problem i got with it is me wrecking it lol.