08 400ex

[JPhonda]

alright honda is holding back the relase of their new 08 400ex. Do you guys think that they are finally going to do some changes to it besides plastics and gearing. i know the 400ex is a solid quad, but its time for changes. What do you guys think they are going to do. beef up the motor, suspension, or do a complete new design in all areas.

[ebo 4356]

I doubt that they will change much of anything maybe the suspension but i like the way it is now. It would be cool if they made a special edition with white plastics and more engine mods.

[XXXRACER165]

I second that!

[tar]

I bet they put a little better suspension on it.

[C_Fizzle]

it'll be REALLY nice if they decide to go fuel injected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CHEVYZ]

I like what ebo 4356 said. If they put fuel injection on the 400EX, I would be pissed. The 400EX is a bike all about simplicity...not to mention that I will take a carb over EFI anyday.

[almostred434]

id liek to see it water cooled instead of air cooled thatd be nice IMO

x2

[casey_lamm]

agree.
Originally posted by almostred434
id liek to see it water cooled instead of air cooled thatd be nice IMO

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by CHEVYZ
I like what ebo 4356 said. If they put fuel injection on the 400EX, I would be pissed. The 400EX is a bike all about simplicity...not to mention that I will take a carb over EFI anyday.


yea, but liquid cooling would be nice, and some better front suspension

[zje400ex]

i'd like to see better suspension and liquid cooled...that would make it awesome!!!

[medicdude]

Originally posted by zje400ex
i'd like to see better suspension and liquid cooled...that would make it awesome!!!
yep

[07250ex]

if they gave it liquid cooling and better shocks Z400 sales would drop like a mother lol also isn't the ack shock on 400ex's decent

[tar]

Originally posted by 07250ex
if they gave it liquid cooling and better shocks Z400 sales would drop like a mother lol also isn't the ack shock on 400ex's decent

Yea the back shock on them are actually pretty good especially if you get them revalved etc.

[400exfan19]

ya liquid cooled would make it sell,

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by tar
Yea the back shock on them are actually pretty good especially if you get them revalved etc.


mine hardly ever kicks or bucks. the stock rear is pretty good on them. i had to play with the adjustment for a loooong time to get it just right though. i think i went all the in on comp, almost all the way in on rebound, and took all the preload out of it. sits really low and rides nice and smooth now...work for nice sized jumps too...not for jumps higher than about 8 ft though

[BluBeaSSt]

Guessing new color's?

I hope theres no HUGE differance since i just bought an 07

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by R_Hoaglin2
Guessing new color's?

I hope theres no HUGE differance since i just bought an 07


that would suck

[JPhonda]

they have to be doing something new besides changing the plastics and color. If thats all they were doing then it would be released like all the other sport quads are already. my hopes for this quad is to see the 450r front shocks, different style plastics (to many of their quads look like the 450r), a motor similar to the 450r but with a smaller bore or stroke to make it a 400. it would be awesome to have a that kind of motor because the 400ex could use about 5-7 hp extra and liquid cooling. These are just my hopes and iam assuming they'll never happen because of the simple fact that honda sucks when it comes to updating there quads, for example look at the 08 450r. With all the other high tech 450's coming out you would think they would improve something.

[400ex_rider13]

Originally posted by JPhonda
they have to be doing something new besides changing the plastics and color. If thats all they were doing then it would be released like all the other sport quads are already. my hopes for this quad is to see the 450r front shocks, different style plastics (to many of their quads look like the 450r), a motor similar to the 450r but with a smaller bore or stroke to make it a 400. it would be awesome to have a that kind of motor because the 400ex could use about 5-7 hp extra and liquid cooling. These are just my hopes and iam assuming they'll never happen because of the simple fact that honda sucks when it comes to updating there quads, for example look at the 08 450r. With all the other high tech 450's coming out you would think they would improve something.


I second this! A 400 based on the 450R would be awesome!, but I hope they would keep the same frame, cause the geometry of the EX is better than the R.

[XXXRACER165]

Originally posted by 400ex_rider13
I second this! A 400 based on the 450R would be awesome!, but I hope they would keep the same frame, cause the geometry of the EX is better than the R.


So thats why with equal power & suspension, my 440 is faster on the track than stock 450r's. LMFAO!!! I just got that now, lol.

[2004exrider]

I dont think we'll ever see liquid cooling on the 400ex, the engine is perfect the way it is. It would be pretty cool if they put the 450R front shocks on it, but revalved. Heck, maybe even a bigger oil cooler would be nice. But, I can already take a wild guess and say what they're gonna do that may surprise you... absolutely nothing lol:p

Jimmy

[Ruby Soho]

changing the engine would hurt the 400ex. if it was meant to be as powerful as the 450r they wouldnt have needed the 450r. i think some better suspension and go back to the old plastic would be insane.

[400ex_rider13]

Originally posted by Ruby Soho
changing the engine would hurt the 400ex. if it was meant to be as powerful as the 450r they wouldnt have needed the 450r. i think some better suspension and go back to the old plastic would be insane.

Who ever said anything about it making it as powerful as the R? I wouldn't go back to the old plastic. I would be some thing that would look like the old plastic but no where near the '05's to the '07's. Something different.

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by XXXRACER165
So thats why with equal power & suspension, my 440 is faster on the track than stock 450r's. LMFAO!!! I just got that now, lol.


dude, its true though. they handle alot better than the 450 chassis

[yellow400ex05]

thats because they have 250r geometry.. :macho

[400ex_rider13]

Originally posted by krt400ex
dude, its true though. they handle alot better than the 450 chassis

It's so true. Guys that race the 450r. Wish they had a 250r or 400ex chassic with a 450 engine in them. They're simiple and better.

[07250ex]

what do you mean by chassis? frame? swinger?

[MadMark]

I want the 400 engine to stay air cooled. Simpler and less to go wrong. Maybe a little better flowing exhaust and intake. I think the area to improve is the front shocks.

[400exstud]

Keep it as is. It isn't a race quad. It's a trail quad. I have over 3000 hard miles on mine with only one $40 electrical problem. That shows reliability.

[sahlberg]

I bet they'll just change the colored plastics like on the 300ex from black and red to white and red options.

[07250ex]

yeah there prolly just going to update the front shocks a bit for the people that attempt to race MX on a stock 400

[Joecool1264]

I just heard about the 08 updates! Bold New Graphics! Just kidding.:D Better front shocks would be cool.

[07250ex]

Originally posted by Joecool1264
I just heard about the 08 updates! Bold New Graphics! Just kidding.:D Better front shocks would be cool.

well if they say bold maybe they'll actully put out a cool looking bike for once jeesh yammys yfz is by far the best looking quad on in the solar system with the kfx-r and lt-r behind

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by 07250ex
well if they say bold maybe they'll actully put out a cool looking bike for once jeesh yammys yfz is by far the best looking quad on in the solar system with the kfx-r and lt-r behind


i disagree. i like the 450R's better, but i like the older ones the best

[400ex_rider13]

I like the look's of the old 400EX. As for 450's the LTR and KFX are my favourite once you take the head lights off. I like both styles of the 450R, and the YFZ is pretty cool.

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by 400ex_rider13
I like the look's of the old 400EX. As for 450's the LTR and KFX are my favourite once you take the head lights off. I like both styles of the 450R, and the YFZ is pretty cool.


sometimes i wish honda never changed the 400ex, especially when i see an older yellow one. they are sweet lookin

[XXXRACER165]

Maybe Honda stopped making the 400, and is brewing up a high-performance 650R. With full ajustable piggy back res shocks, cool plastic and good tires. They would have to use this engine though, it's very powerful.

[250Renvy]

Originally posted by XXXRACER165
Maybe Honda stopped making the 400, and is brewing up a high-performance 650R. With full ajustable piggy back res shocks, cool plastic and good tires. They would have to use this engine though, it's very powerful.


I'm really curious to see what they come up with. I suspect suspension may not be there but EFI could be a real possibility. Think of what they did to the Rancher 350 a tried and true, top selling utility which was air cooled and very reliable. They bumped it up to a 420 and added EFI as well as liquid cooling!

I read in some quad magazine that Suzuki has a big bore 750 quadracer type machine in the works for late 08/09 to compete with the raptor 700.
Next year they will have out their LTR 250 quadracer, so the following year they'll probably go with the big bore.

[eliasxr400]

!BUMP!

Has any info came out yet?
I hope there aren't going to stop making the 400.

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by eliasxr400
!BUMP!

Has any info came out yet?
I hope there aren't going to stop making the 400.


they cant stop making it. it is one of the most popular quads on the planet.

[07250ex]

If they do their idiots, just because alot of us dont want liquid cooling it will eventuly be for the best u guys say u dont need it your right u probably dont but when your buying a bike from a class like the 400's and you don know a whole heck of alot about them u and your friend your probably looking at them with basicly go hey dude check out that yellow bike its got liquid cooling and cans on its shocks its got to be better which it is, for straight lines and and smoothing out bumps, with the 400ex and liquid cooling + new shocks it will attract alot more buyers hey dude that ones lower ( which makes it look wider even though its .6 inches less wide) it wont flip as much (and it is more stable) see what i mean?

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by 07250ex
If they do their idiots, just because alot of us dont want liquid cooling it will eventuly be for the best u guys say u dont need it your right u probably dont but when your buying a bike from a class like the 400's and you don know a whole heck of alot about them u and your friend your probably looking at them with basicly go hey dude check out that yellow bike its got liquid cooling and cans on its shocks its got to be better which it is, for straight lines and and smoothing out bumps, with the 400ex and liquid cooling + new shocks it will attract alot more buyers hey dude that ones lower ( which makes it look wider even though its .6 inches less wide) it wont flip as much (and it is more stable) see what i mean?


that was the biggest f**kin run on i have ever seen....lol

nah, you have a good point, but with the 400ex, i think that simplicity rules. there isnt a better bike in the 400 class IMO

[Ruby Soho]

thats whats so great about the 400ex though. its so simple and reliable, why change it and mess all that up? the 400ex isnt meant to be super competitive, but it can easily be made to

the only improvements possible would be a slightly bigger oil cooler and better front shocks. Other than that its the most reliable quad and as far as i'm concerned the best sport atv. 450r has more complications and is basically only for the track. 400ex can do anything. Best trail quad.

[2004exrider]

Originally posted by XXXRACER165
Maybe Honda stopped making the 400, and is brewing up a high-performance 650R. With full ajustable piggy back res shocks, cool plastic and good tires. They would have to use this engine though, it's very powerful.

That would be a bad quad! Im quite suprised (SP?) that Honda hasnt made a quad like that already?

Jimmy

[07250ex]

Originally posted by krt400ex
there isnt a better bike in the 400 class IMO

yes thats your opinion though not the guy that says hey check this out its got liquid cooling and its 100 $ cheaper and the shocks look better to lets get this 1

[Eviltanker]

Maybe it will have the 420 engine in it with EFI?

EFI = more complications i'm sure. Also the reason its so realiable is because they built it just right, 397cc. I would just like to see some new front suspension.

[LRD450R]

I hope they dont mess up the reliability of it

[bigH]

Honda doesn't need to change the EX around i mean maybe front shocks but the stock shocks work fine on them now....usually people switch anyways....the bike runs strong and isnt much slower then a liquid cooled, DOHC, LTZ 400 so why would they have to change it.....but Honda's going to do whatever they want so i could deal with a new styled engine on the 400ex but the bike is fine they way it is

[bigH]

Originally posted by 07250ex
yes thats your opinion though not the guy that says hey check this out its got liquid cooling and its 100 $ cheaper and the shocks look better to lets get this 1

thats why he said IMO and i agree with him.

[07250ex]

Originally posted by bigH
thats why he said IMO and i agree with him.

i also agree im just saying when it comes down to browsing at the dealer most people will "assume" that the Z engine is way better and the truth is you don't really need liquid cooling on these bikes

[Valhalla]

Originally posted by 07250ex
i also agree im just saying when it comes down to browsing at the dealer most people will "assume" that the Z engine is way better and the truth is you don't really need liquid cooling on these bikes


move out here to arizona with me and tell me if the liquid cooling makes a diffrence. i cant even ride my honda in the summer time here because of overheating. but, i can fire up a water cooled bike and ride all day long.

if the 400ex were liquid cooled and had a more updated suspension, it would be the perfect quad. not too big, plenty of grunt, and well priced.

[Ruby Soho]

i can ride my 440ex all day in 90 degree weather without it overheating. just keep moving:D

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by bigH
thats why he said IMO and i agree with him.


thank you

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by Ruby Soho
i can ride my 440ex all day in 90 degree weather without it overheating. just keep moving:D


yea, we had a couple days over the summer last yr when it was almost 110 and mine ran just fine

[Eviltanker]

Mine got REAL hot at the poker run last sunday and it was only about 98 degrees. The 400 EX gets a little too hot if your not moving fast enough.

Thats why a slightly bigger oil cooler like double the size wouldbe great and just better front suspension. I hope to see gas shocks on the 400ex fronts for the 08 and the bigger oil cooler. Other than that leave it the same being the great quad it is anyhow.

[07250ex]

but now that i thought about it i want it to get liquid cooled so i can pick up a left over 06 or 07 for real cheap

liquid cooled = bad, i want the new one to be bad *** so a few years down the road i can pick up a used one. Better shocks and bigger oil cooler would be great

[N300exJ]

Id be happy with better shocks and a seat like the 450R. the 400ex couch seat sucks. (white plastic would be sick as well)