400ex...?

[Blstr88]

Hey guys, I've been a Yamaha guy forever but the maintenance on my YFZ450 has just pushed me over the edge, Im always trying to get it to run right while my buddies with 400s ride around. Im thinkin of selling it and getting either a Raptor or a 400 (400ex or Z400)...Im leaning more towards 400ex because of Hondas reputation for reliability. I dont race really, mostly ride in sandpits and trails. My question is really how does the 400ex compare to the YFZ450? I know its hard to compare a 400 and 450 but I mean mostly like its size/handling...I jump on my buddies Z400 and I feel sooo top heavy and unstable, its just a lot taller and higher center of gravity than my YFZ, is the 400ex the same way? Also is there any advantage of any certain year of 400ex? I like the newer 450R styling, what year did they start doing that to the 400ex? Thanks guys.

[DementeD]

i cant answer ur 400 to 450 ?..since ive never rode a 450

however the year they changed plastics was 05 also came out with reverse.
however if u wanted a 99-04 ex u can easily obtain 05-07 plastics

any year is a good year since they are really all the same other then the reverse..some small differences but nothing to noticable

honda definitely is reliable..

comparin to the z400 id still get a 400ex..
they are great for trails..have more bottom end then the z400 less issues great aftermarket thats pretty cheap and less maintainence..which u should enjoy :D

[Outdoorsmanjjw]

I am just coming off of a 450r and I am now getting a 400ex if you get a 05 or up 400ex with revese you will have no regrets I am buying a mint 05 with maybe 10hrs on it for $2,600

[montsb]

I have had friends of mine that own 400EXs say the same about the Z400, with it feeling more top heavy and not really much more for power if you have a 400EX with after market jetting and air filter. A friend of mine and I have owned our 400EXs sense '01, have many hours of playing on them, along with some hard riding, and they just keep on going. A very good bike IMO!!! Although, you will notice some power difference between the 450's and the 400's (as both of us have 450's as well). I also think the suspension on a stock 450 is better than the stock suspension on the 400EX. Also, the 450's seem to be lighter as well. Just some thoughts...

[ridinga400ex]

I saw some pics of the 08 honda400ex and the thing looks sick..great redisign on the plastics...

[justin1022]

Originally posted by Blstr88
Hey guys, I've been a Yamaha guy forever but the maintenance on my YFZ450 has just pushed me over the edge, Im always trying to get it to run right while my buddies with 400s ride around. Im thinkin of selling it and getting either a Raptor or a 400 (400ex or Z400)...Im leaning more towards 400ex because of Hondas reputation for reliability. I dont race really, mostly ride in sandpits and trails. My question is really how does the 400ex compare to the YFZ450? I know its hard to compare a 400 and 450 but I mean mostly like its size/handling...I jump on my buddies Z400 and I feel sooo top heavy and unstable, its just a lot taller and higher center of gravity than my YFZ, is the 400ex the same way? Also is there any advantage of any certain year of 400ex? I like the newer 450R styling, what year did they start doing that to the 400ex? Thanks guys.

if you do hot cams rev box and a pipe you should take a 450r i can i have stage 2 rev box stage 2 hot cams and a hmf full syst the hot cams give u ur top end the rev box makes u get there faster and same with the pipe and i can take a stock trx.

400ex in the trails is like a jetski in the water because they both go together. If you ride trails the 400ex geometry will suit you well.

[Hondamaster5505]

Comparing the YFZ to the 400ex, heres my take on that. The YFZ (like all the other 450's) has more of a dirtbike feel to it. Whereas the 400ex actually feels like a quad, and feel's a lot lower than the z400. The 450 feels a little more stable in turns and such, and jumps better because of its suspension. Whereas the 400ex is still fairly stable, though if you do any serious jumping the stock front shocks suck. They're great for trails.

So basically, im comfortable on both. If I was going to a coalmine or riding on a field or track, i'd rather ride the yfz. But if I was doing heavy trails, and exploring new places, id rather be on the 400ex. Better ergonomics and engine for trails IMO.

Power, after being on a YFZ, will dissapoint you. Nothing a 416 with a cam and high compression and exhaust cant fix. Yet still being reliable.

Now, if you plan on getting a 660, they're much more maintaince then the 450's, lol. They werent that great, at least in their earlier years.

But, selling the YFZ, you would almost have enough for a 700 raptor. And between the 400 and 700, id rather pick the 700. Much more power, fairly reliable, and great for the trails too. They do feel a little tall, but not too tall. Like the Z and 660

[coryatver]

wow I actually agree with what hondamaster said


Originally posted by Hondamaster5505
Comparing the YFZ to the 400ex, heres my take on that. The YFZ (like all the other 450's) has more of a dirtbike feel to it. Whereas the 400ex actually feels like a quad, and feel's a lot lower than the z400. The 450 feels a little more stable in turns and such, and jumps better because of its suspension. Whereas the 400ex is still fairly stable, though if you do any serious jumping the stock front shocks suck. They're great for trails.

So basically, im comfortable on both. If I was going to a coalmine or riding on a field or track, i'd rather ride the yfz. But if I was doing heavy trails, and exploring new places, id rather be on the 400ex. Better ergonomics and engine for trails IMO.

Power, after being on a YFZ, will dissapoint you. Nothing a 416 with a cam and high compression and exhaust cant fix. Yet still being reliable.

Now, if you plan on getting a 660, they're much more maintaince then the 450's, lol. They werent that great, at least in their earlier years.

But, selling the YFZ, you would almost have enough for a 700 raptor. And between the 400 and 700, id rather pick the 700. Much more power, fairly reliable, and great for the trails too. They do feel a little tall, but not too tall. Like the Z and 660

[NickG5755]

the 400 feels way better than the Z.

coming off your YFZ youll fell slow.. but like someone else said a 416 wit a cam and 11:1 comp should fix that along with the full exhaust.

as for the rappy. i had 2 the one in my sig and. i was unlucky enough to have an 01 :( the tranny went in that POS after 1 race but after i did the updates that thing was a beastttt. Everyon says they feel tippy and whatnot but i never felt that way. i had no prob throwin it around with stock susp stock width. Theyre torque monsters in the trail absolutely great trail quads. esp with reverse

id go with the rappy over the 400. as long as the rappy is 03 or newer. as long as you get it and the jetting is right i dont think youll have any problems. i loved that thing for hill climbin 3rd gear would take me up any hill. i had 22's on mine runnin next to a harley and i was doin well over 70 mph. People say thay are unreliable (most of those people never had one) i beat the snottt out of mine. i once tried to smoke realtors off the back of mine 3rd gear pinned on the road for a good 5 mins and nothing happened to it.. we even did a compression test on it and it was good

heres a pic of my on my rappy after a longg nintes ride lol i loved the feel of that thing esp after i put the barkbusters on it off my race bike... i threw a pic of the race bike in there to why do you ask? becasue i can haha

<a href="http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l275/ngarulle/?action=view&current=meee.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l275/ngarulle/meee.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l275/ngarulle/?action=view&current=racebike.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l275/ngarulle/racebike.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[krt400ex]

i rode a yfz, and to be honest, i didnt like it. i felt like i was on top of it rather than part of it. the 400ex makes you feel like you are part of the bike...it is much easier for me to ride it fast because i am more comfy on it. i hate the Z cuz it is super tall and tippy...too top heavy and it doesnt feel at all as grunty off the bottom as the ex IMO.

stock for stock, i like the 400ex better than any other quad i have rode including the 450R(except for the power of course).

the newer styles ex's started in '05

[vAnS_77]

Just wait til 2009 for the z400 EFI, the best trail quad ever probably. That is really low I MEAN low matience quad. Anything efi will be a blast plus you don't have to rejet for a new pipe. I would just wait for that.

Originally posted by vAnS_77
Just wait til 2009 for the z400 EFI, the best trail quad ever probably. That is really low I MEAN low matience quad. Anything efi will be a blast plus you don't have to rejet for a new pipe. I would just wait for that.

EFI isnt all that great. Have you looked at how much tuners cost? Its much cheaper to buy jets than buy a tuner. EFI weighs more, some Suzuki LTR450 riders have actually put a carb on instead of the EFI. And saying the Z400 will be the best trail quad just because it has an EFI is whack and if thats how you think then go buy a z400 with an EFI and we will do a shootout 400ex vs z400.

[YELLOW_TRX400EX]

im going to say that coming out of yfz you should get a 450r they are way faster and have better suspension i got both and my mod 400ex dont beat the450r stock that i got if ou get the 400ex eventyaly u gonna spend money buying te 450r shocks and carb plus cams and making it 440 or416 save the money and get the 450 i love my o5400ex and not planning on seling it lol.....:D

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by YELLOW_TRX400EX
im going to say that coming out of yfz you should get a 450r they are way faster and have better suspension i got both and my mod 400ex dont beat the450r stock that i got if ou get the 400ex eventyaly u gonna spend money buying te 450r shocks and carb plus cams and making it 440 or416 save the money and get the 450 i love my o5400ex and not planning on seling it lol.....:D

2 pitfalls to the 450R, more maintenance and it doesnt handle as well in the trails IMO