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12-02-2001, 12:59 AM
Good news, Q-heads, I saw the new Suzuki @ the Seattle Motorcycle Show. It's looking VERY good. A few items: the seat removal process is simple and straightforward, it has a decent toolkit, the shift mechanism is direct-acting (no extraneous linkage), and the entire exhaust system is unpainted stainless. According to the reps at the show, there is still no exact pricing, and dealer-arrival is February/March.

12-02-2001, 02:02 PM
im going to get one. i already requested a quote at my dealer i cant wait. no more lil 250EX.

nyle13
12-02-2001, 06:51 PM
are they gonna be better then 400ex's?:confused:

trx400ex
12-02-2001, 07:16 PM
most people would say yes,, id rather have a 400 though, simpler is better

Warrioreater400ex
12-02-2001, 09:04 PM
i say well see when we see...... im not worried bout it.... cuz tis 80% rider! not quad

Tommy 17
12-03-2001, 12:39 PM
i think it will have alittle more power then the 400ex but something tells me its gonna hanle like a raptor... i mean i think its gonna be a nice quad hell any quad is nice as long as it runs....

stocktires
12-03-2001, 03:24 PM
I think it will handle the same as a 400ex. The power will be much better, and i luv liquid cooled quads, so i'd probably buy the suk over a 400. that is if the zuk is reliable

12-04-2001, 05:54 PM
Ive gotten some inside info from a guy I know inside of Suzuki, and theyve tested it against a few other quads already. HEre goes:

Faster Top speed than the raptor
Handling as good as 400EX

That would make it the fastest Quad made, as long as it would out run the Cannondale's.

Evan
12-04-2001, 06:25 PM
Yeah but that is coming from a Suzuki guy. Everyone said the same thing about the cannondale and the raptor and look at them. I just hope I am wrong, 400EX's need some competition.

Chef
12-04-2001, 06:48 PM
Originally posted by 400ex21
i think it will have alittle more power then the 400ex but something tells me its gonna hanle like a raptor... i mean i think its gonna be a nice quad hell any quad is nice as long as it runs....

the raptor does not, and i repeat does not handle badly. you just have to get some seat of the pants time in on it. not just go by what people say on a honda board. i would rather ride the raptor about 25% of the time. its more comfortable, and it doesnt ring in your ears after a day of riding. however, its not as fast as my quad, but then again, if it was, we would have gotten ripped off!:cool:

Tommy 17
12-04-2001, 07:22 PM
hott i have rode raptors b4 and i could get use to it but i will take my handling any day over it and all i have to do it put a 416 in my quad and i have the 406 and it still will cost less and it will beat it anywhere track or trial if u have equal riders.

TrX465
12-05-2001, 11:10 AM
hey hott goin with the lrd pipe huh :D get the big bore one

freakystone
12-05-2001, 02:50 PM
Sounds like a nice quad... To tell you the truth, I hate hearing about the Z400 since I dont want there to be a 400cc quad that is better than a 400EX. What I like about the Z400 is reverse, liquid cooled and more power. I dont anticipate it to handle as well as a 400EX. Look at the comparision between the ol' 250R's and the LT250's. The R's were much better handlers than the LT's. What I do like, is seeing the other manufacturers step up and raise the bar for Honda. Unfortunately Honda has proven that they arent moved by the displacement of others. Let's hope the Z400, Raptor, Kawi's new ride and the Cannondales wittle the sales of the 400EX down, then Honda has no choice but to step up.

12-05-2001, 03:26 PM
All enthusiasts stand to benefit from competition between mfgs. Apparently, Suzuki is shooting for a quad with "400ex" handling, and "Cannondale" power. That's smart. At some point, other mfgs will up the ante...

Meanwhile, we Suzuki fans finally have an up-to-date sport-quad. It's all good.;)

Chef
12-05-2001, 05:14 PM
Originally posted by TrX465
hey hott goin with the lrd pipe huh :D get the big bore one

yep! chrome big bore to be exact :D

4punksdad
12-08-2001, 07:51 PM
I am very excited about the new suzuki. I hope it is a monster. I am a honda fan, but suzuki makes a good quality product, and as you can see from my list of prviously owned bikes, the Z400 would not be my first suzuki.

thanks for sharing the news lateapex

12-10-2001, 01:27 PM
anybody else know anything on it??? i cant wait till i got get mine.

12-25-2001, 08:23 PM
Gentlemen don't get me wrong I love my 400, but it is an outdated quad. Same bike since 99. So until someone who is unbias compares them, than I'll make my descision. Just my 2 cents.

MOFO
12-27-2001, 03:41 PM
Ummmm "Since 99..." 3 years is NOT a long time for a quad to be run in production AS-IS. Now the only thing I will agree with you is the fact that the engine on the 400EX is outdated. As for the frame and the rest of the quad, it does not get any better than what it already is (for the most part).

There is no way Honda (or any other ATV company) can change a quad every 2-3 years and keep the price down. I estimate on average it takes the company atleast 2-3 years to recoup all of their R&D and other expenses.


Eric

freakystone
12-27-2001, 04:49 PM
Agreed! The 400EX might could use a bit of tweeking to compete with the bigger displacement quads but the engineering department can take the next decade off with the redesigning (copying) of the 250R frame. I anticipate the Z400 to be quicker and faster than a stock 400EX but from all I have heard and read, Suzuki rushed the Z400 out and chances are the Z400 frame will not compare to the 250R or 400EX frame. Look at the Raptor, DS, Banshee, etc., etc.

I keep hearing rumors about a 650EX. Why? An upgraded 400 with liquid cooling, dual overhead cam, higher compression ratio and reverse will run with most if not all and still out handle them too.

12-28-2001, 06:38 AM
More power and speed. But probably the same traction.

MOFO
12-28-2001, 06:40 AM
Originally posted by QuadKid250EX
More power and speed. But probably the same traction.




:huh

kabd69667
12-28-2001, 07:30 AM
The simplest, most logical thing, for Honda to do is put the crf450 motor in a quad. They'd have the fastest, most horsepower, best acceleration quad on the market

stocktires
12-28-2001, 11:53 AM
Honda probably, WILL NOT put the 450 motor in a 400ex/250r chassis without seriously detuning it, if they even do i at all

freakystone
12-28-2001, 12:16 PM
What Honda faithfuls need to realize is that Honda has never really been the "power & speed king". History has shown that they dont go to the drawing board looking for that title. The 250R was not the fastest in it's class and neither is the 400EX. But the 400EX is the best handling quad since the 250R, even better in a lot of respects. What other quad of any brand has handling close to the 400EX or the 250R? Heck most of the 250R's are so modified that few people know how they handled in new stock form anyway. Sounds like more of a legend to most, but you all can know that the 400EX is close and none are even remotely similar.

Please justify or better yet, provide a detailed cost/benefit analysist as to why Honda should so quicky dump the 400EX and bless us with an "updated" version? After all, what sport quad in the last ten years sells better than a 400EX? What sport quad in the last ten years has won more races? And dont think for a moment that the Z400 will fair any better than the Raptor did.