is a 400ex worth it

[quadslider]

im looking to get a sport quad and a 400ex seems to be the best thing in my price range. my question is are they worth it or should i just save up more money and get a 450r. are 400ex's fun stock and are they pretty reliable, i'm going from a 96 400 bayou and this thing is like a tank so i know most anything will seem faster.
i just dont want to get one and be diappointed in a month.

[troutman561]

The 400ex is a good choice... very dependable, easy to maintain. It also has good power.. ride it stock for a few months then if you are bored you can add exhaust and a few other things if you wish. All parts are easy to find and cheap with the 400 too....

[hondaracer57]

it depends what u plan on doin with it...if ur gonna race or just for trail ridin....if ur just trail ridin then yeah its perfect but for racing u have too be a pretty good rider and have some money not a ton but some into a 400ex too keep up and win against 450s....

[drsnugfit]

the great thing about the 400ex as apposed to some of the latest 450s, is the fact the motor can be "woke up" for not a lot of money.

[BigFish]

Originally posted by drsnugfit
the great thing about the 400ex as apposed to some of the latest 450s, is the fact the motor can be "woke up" for not a lot of money.

I must disagree w/ this statement. Plus, here u can buy new '05 450r's cheaper than 400s;)

[Ruby Soho]

400ex's are probably one of the most reliable quads out there, if you leave your engine stock or close to stock you can pretty much not maintain it at all and it will run fine for you for many years.

[drsnugfit]

Originally posted by BigFish
I must disagree w/ this statement. Plus, here u can buy new '05 450r's cheaper than 400s;)

thats your opinion, but if you know what you are doing you can get a lot from an EX with little investment compared with what you would have to spend to get the same sort of gains out of a 450.

[stang9gt]

Originally posted by BigFish
I must disagree w/ this statement. Plus, here u can buy new '05 450r's cheaper than 400s;)

Unless you compare the left over 05 450R to the price of the left over 05 400EX's instead of an 06 or 07 400.

[northwest Texas]

You can't go wrong with the 400EX. They're a rock solid reliable quad. There's so many parts out there for them you can buy plenty of good used stuff and have little investment in it.

About the only difference other than plastic is the 05's and up have reverse. Otherwise, you're buying the same quad.

You can buy them all day long for less than $2500.

If you were to do mostly racing then I would steer you in the direction of the 450R. For primarily trail riding, the 400 is just about perfect.

If you decide you need more pep, you can make it run with the stock 450's for not a lot of money (well less than $1,000)

[BigFish]

Originally posted by drsnugfit
thats your opinion, but if you know what you are doing you can get a lot from an EX with little investment compared with what you would have to spend to get the same sort of gains out of a 450.

Wow:( U must have never rode a built 450. W/ a pipe, filter, and jetting (nothing built internally), a 450 will outpower most of the 400s out there.

On the prices... That is a new 05' 450r compared to '06 and '07 400ex's

[drsnugfit]

Originally posted by BigFish
Wow:( U must have never rode a built 450. W/ a pipe, filter, and jetting (nothing built internally), a 450 will outpower most of the 400s out there.

On the prices... That is a new 05' 450r compared to '06 and '07 400ex's

I am talking like for like, you can invest less in a 400ex and get a bigger gain than investing the same in a 450r and get a smaller gain, as for never riding a trick 450, this is my 450r I had a few years back, it was one of the first brought into the UK

[redline400ex]

I wouldn't trade my 400ex for a 450 ... 400 ex's are way more reliable unless you don't care about that buy a 450 they will clean a 400... as they should but very high expensive maintance race bike...

[stvemerz]

This same dilema...faced me as well....I was in the market to purchase an new HONDA quad..400 ex vs. 450r....Cost was not an issue...several things swayed me to the 400ex....tons of aftermarket parts...easy to work on, super reliable...and a better trail machine....which is what I wanted to do...You can really wake up a 400 ex with a pipe and filter and jetting. That should keep you happy for a long time...I love to work on my own machines when possible and the 400ex is just a lot easier...KISS...principal..Keep it simple stupid...really applies...The less that can break..the better it is...Buy the 400 ex for a great trail riding machine that has the guts to run with the higher powered machines on the trails...but in the dunes and flat out racing, that is why they designed the 450r....You will not regret the purchase.

[dannyboy20]

I am also trying to decide between a 450 or another 400. I am looking at an 05 450 for $3995. But i am worried about keeping the thing maintened. I dont want to have to dump money into it just to keep it running. My old 03 400 ran flawlessly, but i was always wanting a little more power.

[idro]

hmmm just got done riding. went through a creek that came up to the top of the motor no prob. Yea, its bullet proof. :cool:

I still love my 400, and my bud has a 450r.

[krt400ex]

go to servicehonda.com (www.servicehonda.com) . they have leftover '04 450Rs for $5400 shipped, and pre assembled. an amzing deal.

otherwise the 400 is a great bike

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by drsnugfit
I am talking like for like, you can invest less in a 400ex and get a bigger gain than investing the same in a 450r and get a smaller gain, as for never riding a trick 450, this is my 450r I had a few years back, it was one of the first brought into the UK


you are off. with just a pipe, filter, no airbox lid, and jetting some 450's can make a 10 HP gain. it would take porting, high perfomance cam, high comp piston, big bore, 450R carb(or other better carb), and a pipe to make a significant increase in power like that on a 400...and with all that you will be lucky to break 40 ponies on a 400

[400EXTRA]

I RECCOMEND A 400EX AS YOU CAN SEE