Should i?

[w00dy845]

i am getting a quad for christmas and after much thought i think i want the 400ex
i am 14 almost 6' and 180 lbs with this atv have enough power for me?
and is it easy to minuver (sp?)
also i like to do wheelies and stuff on other things so is it a good quad for learning tricks and stuff?
this is going to be my first quad but ive rode my freinds honda 90's and then rode his polaris trail blazer a couple of times before he sold it
but im still a newb to this stuff but i learn fast

[Wheelie]

It's a good quad to start out with. Great balance point for wheelies, very easy to manuever, and ultra-reliable.

Power is decent, and the engine responds well to modifications.

[w00dy845]

ok thanks
but what are some mods that will make it faster out of the box
i mean like taking the baffle out of the muffler and taking off the airbox and stuff like that
and do i have to rejet after doing these mods?
and also is this quad any good in the snow since im hoping that we get alot of snow this winter

[Ruby Soho]

its a great quad.

i would get it if i were you. im 14 and im like 5'6 and 145 pounds and can handle my 406 with no problem. i would leave it 100% stock for alittle untill you get used to it, then start modding

[Wheelie]

Leave the stock baffle in. Without it all you'll gain is noise, and not good noise.

A good starting point is a slip-on, remove the airbox lid, filter and re-jet.

IMO--There isn't a sport/performance quad that does very well in the snow.

[w00dy845]

ok
but do i have to rejet after i do these things? i herd that after you do stuff like take off the airbox and stuff you need to rejet

[400exfan19]

ya u wuld have 2 rejet. a 400ex is a very good quad, its definately not a starter quad cause it has tons of power with aftermarket stuff. but i still recommend u buy 1 cause it has enuf power 2 keep u happy.

[w00dy845]

well ive ridin quads before so this is just my first time owning a quad and being able to use it more then 2-3 times a year since i only drove my freinds quad when i was at his summer house (ya hes pretty rich) before they sold it along with all of there quads and snowmobiles
but like i said i want something reliable and with enough power for me and when i want more power ill just upgrade

[ilpadrino113]

If that's all you;ve ridden then a 400ex would be awsome for you.

It has plenty of power and ultra reliable, the only thing you would need to do is change the oil for years unless you mod it.

there are plenty of mods if you choose go that route, most of which are easy enough to do.

I remove my airbox lid from time to time but i don't rejet becuase i mostly ride with it on, and the ower gain is noticable with just the removal of the lid. Rejetting would improve power is not necessary to run.

[w00dy845]

o ok
i had herd that if you didnt rejet u can seize your engine

if you increase any air in(better filter) or out(exhuast) of the motor, you will be lean. the fuel is actually used to help cool the piston. if you are lean, then you risk the chance of burning a hole in the piston. that would be bad.

the bikes you have ridden are like ford escorts compared and the 400ex is more like a corvette. there is a world of difference, no way to actually compare the 2. if all you have done is driven those bikes around a yard, you are in for a big shock when you get the 400ex. it is not really a beginner quad...and yes, you should be considered a beginner. i am not saying you shouldn't get the 400ex, but beware it can and will bite back a lot quicker and harder than the other 2 "kiddy" bikes you have ridden.

and i wouldn't worry about making it faster right away...with the limited experience you have, you have more than enough to keep you happy for a little while...

taking the sotck baffle out is a waste and will only p.o anybody within 3 miles...

[Hondabeefast]

a 400ex would be fine for your size,my dad is 6'2" and 240lbs and he can ride the heck out of his 400ex.he can still pull wheelies and stopies too.LOL

[Ruby Soho]

like speedyquad said, it is alot compared to the other quads you rode. i moved up from a 90, but i was used to riding my friends bigger quads, which i rode pretty much almost everyday this past year. the ex is powerful, i would keep it stock untill you get used to it, and know how to work the clutch well etc... all in all its a good, reliable quad that i think would suit you well. i you got a 300ex, you would outgrow it, and if you got a 450 it would be WAY to much. you should get the 400ex :)

[w00dy845]

ok thanks everyone for helping me out
im going to local honda dealer today and check out what they have
but as for it being lean i know what your talking about i race gas rc cars and i guess its pretty much the same becuase like you said the fuel cools down the motor and when you have it to lean the motor will get alot hotter since theres more friction on the piston and sleeve
and i know that i am a beginner theres no question in my mind but if i get the 400ex theres no doubt that i will be taking it slow and feeling it out for a while im not going to just hit the trails and try and tear it all up lol
but thanks again for all your help :)

[zdowell]

this quad is great for doing wheelies. First ride and im holding wheelies across fields. Great quad and for the money i am very impressed. I have a little experience doing wheelies on motorcycles, but the BP is really easy to maintain while riding a wheelie. Great QUAD!!!

[w00dy845]

ok well now i have a problem
the 3 closest honda dealers dont have any 400ex's and there not getting them until next year but they do have 450r's should i just get a 450r and go real easy when i get it?

[zdowell]

There are going to be 2 kinds of people who reply to this message. One is going to say you are to young and inexperienced to ride this type of quad, and another to say go ahead and get it. I say GO GET IT! you may take longer to get use to it, but i think if you are smart you will be ok.

[w00dy845]

well its not like i have 0 ride time on quads i know pretty much everything exept how to shift GOOD i suck at shifting but theres only room for improvment

and nvm i just called them back becuase i wanted to hear what they had to say about me being on a 450 and they said it will probably be to much for you and then they said we dont have 06 400ex's but they do have 07's so its all good :)

[schwaby09]

The 400 will be perfect, i got mine on christmas of 03 or 04. The previous owner had already modded it with a fmf titanium 4 slip on, and a k&n power kit. My dad has a 300ex he barely rides and i rode that a lot the summer previous to getting my 400. But getting used to the 400 is really easy and even with the mods right away i had no problem getting used to the quad, good power, easy to handle and now that i put razr 2's all around it hooks up even better.

[atvRiDa400ex]

im 6'1'' and 180 and i own a 400ex with a few mods.

its awesome and you will love it!:macho

[w00dy845]

ok i got a question about wheelies though
do u pull in the clutch shift and hit the throttle to wheely it or do u just put it in 2nd or 3rd and then pull in the clutch hit the throttle?

[fastyz85]

you shouldn't need to pull in the clutch to wheelie i know i don't.just hit the throttle and pull back at the same time then its just thottle control from there.and your going to love your ex i know i do and im 14 too.

[atvRiDa400ex]

yea you can do the 2nd and 3rd and let the clutch go, but you have to have your revs. up high enough or youll stall out.

all i do is put it in second and lean back and pull...i dont even use the clutch usually.

pic:

here im just pulling and leaning back and im in 2nd.

you are big enough to where thats all you really need to do. you can do the clutch to start.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/mestoe/2001371191656770152_rs.jpg

[Ruby Soho]

i use the clutch when i wanna walk it, or do a slow wheelie, but when i wanna go a a maintained speed i usually pull up in 1st and shift through the gears

[w00dy845]

well to start out im probably going to be doing slow wheelies but once i get it im going to try both ways
but nice pic though

[new400exrider]

yeah i started with a 90 when i was 7 and ive been lookin to get a new one since i was 13, im 14 now by the way and weigh 105 but yeah i got a 2003 400ex about 3 weeks ago and it is an awseome for wheelies even at my weight i can drive in second 3/4 throttle and let off lean foward and sit down and hit the throttle and im up it is easy to do, if u get close to hittin the grab bar use the back break not to fast of youll fly up front, but enough to get to get good balance agian, and if that gets esy start doing stadups on the grab bar or high chairs tho i have to put it in first and pop the clutch becasue im so lite but yeah it will last you for awhile its got plent of power and speed

[new400exrider]

yeah i started with a 90 when i was 7 and ive been lookin to get a new one since i was 13, im 14 now by the way and weigh 105 but yeah i got a 2003 400ex about 3 weeks ago and it is an awseome for wheelies even at my weight i can drive in second 3/4 throttle and let off lean foward and sit down, hit the throttle and im up it is easy to do, if u get close to hittin the grab bar use the back break not to fast of youll fly up front, but enough to get toa good balance agian, and if that gets esy start doing stadups on the grab bar or high chairs tho i have to put it in first and pop the clutch becasue im so lite but yeah it will last you for awhile its got plent of power and speed

[j450rking]

just amke shur to wear in the wheeler right if you don't it could be vary bad the dealer can tell you how to do it right but you shouldent have a problum seeing as you won't be riding hard at first

[Valder]

Originally posted by w00dy845
well its not like i have 0 ride time on quads i know pretty much everything exept how to shift GOOD i suck at shifting but theres only room for improvment

...we dont have 06 400ex's but they do have 07's so its all good :)



Shifting is easy you'll get used to it really quick. My first quad was a 250R back in 88. I had a little seat time on a 200m years before and a scary experience on my Bro's 1984 Tecate, but I said the heck with it. The machine was intimidating for about the first week after that I loved it.

I wanted the 06 Banshee, but ended up with a 05 400EX to putt around after my kid on his 90cc. If there isn't alot of difference
in price of a 06 450R and the 07 400EX go for the 450R.


Darrin

if your buying new get the 450r.

if you can't run a manual tranny all that well, stay away from the 450r...it is not an easy to use bike on the trails...the gearing is high and it like the throttle. it is not a beginners quad!

these are y 2 bikes right now: i know the comaprison pretty well i would think!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-12/921056/IDMMX-goodvsevil.JPG

[trxridr]

i just got an 05 400ex and i say that it is the best quad to learn on . it i great in the trails and has a good amount of power

[w00dy845]

ya i want something for trails since i dont know of any tracks near me
and tomarrow im going to the dealer to check everything out and see if the finacing is all good