Trx 400 Vs. Trx300 Reliability

[flatrx300]

I WAS RECENTLY INJURED ON MY YZ250 AND I WANT TO NOW GET A QUAD. MY WIFE HAS A 2006 TRX300, I HAVE RIDDEN IT AND AM PLEASED WITH EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. I WILL ONLY BE TRAIL RIDING AND MAY RACE IN SOME HAIR SCRAMBLES WITH MY WIFE. THE RACES CATER TO THE DIRTBIKES, SO THE TRAILS ARE NORMALLY PRETTY TIGHT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS ABOUT THE TRX400 HAVING OVERHEATING ISSUES. IS THE TRX300 MOTOR MORE RELIABLE. I WAS CONSIDERING GETTING THE TRX400 BUT THERE SEEM TO BE MORE MAINT. ISSUES WITH IT THAN THE TRX300. THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE.

[08400EX]

???? Dang, the people you have been talking to must be from an alternate reality! The 400EX is well know as one of the most reliable bulletproof quads you could ever buy.

I too went from dirt bikes to quads, and trust me, get the 400, add a pipe and a few simple mods and you will be smiling from ear to ear on the trails!!

BTW, if you like the 300, you will LOVE the 400!

[mittman]

imo 400 is the best. i have an 02 400 and i have a full yosh, filter i love it. honda hasnt changed anything but plastic and small stuff and the 400ex is bullet proof one of my friends has a 99 ex and its been to h3ll and back and it still runs like its brand new.

[79400ex]

I have had several 400ex. I had them get hot, however, but over heat. They are about umbreakable. They only time I had any trouble with the motor is when I forgot to clean the oiler cooler.

[08400EX]

Originally posted by 79400ex
They only time I had any trouble with the motor is when I forgot to clean the oiler cooler.

That is way more common than it should be. I see pics of quads all the time that are obviously caked with mud/dirt over long periods. At a minimum you should always wash(preferably pressure wash) out the oil cooler from both sides and of course the engine fins after each ride. It is fine if you are OK with not washing the rest, but at least do those for a longer lasting engine.

My brother has a 500 Foreman and was having cooling issues with it (electric fan came on way too often). He had always pressure washed it and even got the oil cooler... he forgot there are 2 coolers, an upper and a lower. Once he figured it out the lower that you can't see well was completely caked over. Cleaned it up good and no more cooling issues.

IMHO most overheating issues are "user" issues, not related to the quad. Improper cleaning, and improper jetting(too lean) are the most common culprits.

[flatrx300]

THANKS, FOR THE REPLYS. I WAS LEANING TOWARDS THE 400EX. MY WIFES 300EX AND DAUGHTERS RECON250 HAVE BEEN GREAT QUADS. I WAS JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE OVERHEATING ISSUUES I HAD READ ABOUT.

[r-exrider0003]

i'd say that 300ex is going to be a bit more reliable, only because its smaller and less to worry about. overall, youll probably never have any problems with a good shape 400ex as long as you maintain it and take care of it. after awhile on a 300ex, your going to want a 400ex anyways, so just get a 400, get a decent exhaust, jet it, and youll have all youll ever need. plus you can find some great deals on used ones nowadays as the 450's have lowered the market.

[fulltiltrider]

I have a friend with a 400ex. He beats the crap out of it. Keeps it clean, but his maintanance consists of turning it on its side to drain out the oil and add more lol. I always laugh at him when I see it but this thing wont quit. It sees long wide open rides on the roads daily (he rides it to work about 5 miles each way) and is in the mud all weakend. lol. They are the most reliable machine Ive ever seen.

[TRXRacer1]

The 300ex and 400ex are basically the school of design, one is just as reliable as the other.

[Hondamaster5505]

Hahaha.

The guy that rode my 400ex before i bought it was a complete dumbarse.:rolleyes:

He was running dry of oil completely, and i didnt realize till i went on my first big riding trip.

So basically it was running without oil for a while, and never overheated or broke anything, whats that tell ya:eek2:

I was amazed myself, there wasnt even any metal shavings in the oil:eek2:

Now all she gets is rotilla, i take care of my stuff:macho

[Wheelie]

The 300ex and 400ex are both absolutely bulletproof. Change the oil on a regular basis and they will run forever.

The 400ex is the most reliable sport/performance machine built.

[RideRed84]

I've never had an over heating issue. They are great quads and the only problem I had was it seemed to be pinging and bogging but that went away as soon as I cleaned the carb.