Torn

[OldGuyonaQuad]

Ok so as I've posted before, my 2008 400ex was stolen from my garage in mid August. I am going to buy something next week and I really want the same thing I had. I like the 08 plastics in Red & Black. I found a couple that are right around 3 k. The problem is my brothers friend has a yellow 08 Yamaha 450 for 2k.

It's an incredible deal & the extra power is tempting but I've heard that the 400 is a much better trail bike for a modest rider like me. Plus my brother is my mechanic and he is strickly a big red guy so if anything goes wrong I'm grabbing my ankles and going to the dealer.

So idk what to do here, do I go to the dark side or stick with old faithful? Did I mention it's yellow?

[01boneless]

do the 450 lol no brainer! but if your no hardcore or anything and just want a trail ride go 400ex

[HondaPohl]

2k is a sweet deal if its not whooped. U can still putt around on the 450 if thats your style. The suspension will be better. If its cheaper go with the 450. I wouldnt spend 3000 on a 08 EX unless it was showroom with no hours on it.

[tayyo789]

The 400 is going to be less work to maintain, easier to ride, easier on your body (I'm going by your username and guessing you don't race) and all around cheaper in the long run, I feel. Plus its reliable, and has reverse. But it's up to you. In my mind, a yfz for 2k has been beat pretty good. If you have pictures, that would really help. All the racers on here are going to tell you to go with the yfz, but in reality, it might not be the best choice. There's a lot more factors than which one is faster and cheaper

[Pappy]

If your main deal is trails...the 400 wins hands down.

[wykyd450R]

Sounds like you need a z400. They are reliable, more power, and respond alot better to mods than a 400ex....any day. They have reverse and fuel injection too. They are pretty much between the 400ex, and 450's. More close to a 450 than a 400ex. I had several 400ex's and several 450r's....The z was the best trail quad IMO.

[fastredrider44]

I'm a die hard honda guy, but if I was to get a trail fourwheeler, it would be a 450 or a Z400. The 400ex is a great bike, but not 3k great.

[Tommy Warren]

take off your skirt and buy a raptor:D

[01boneless]

^^ then he can realy pracitce his mechanical skills :devil: lol jk

[TheLane]

Originally posted by Tommy Warren
take off your skirt and buy a raptor:D

Then you can go REALLY REALLY fast in a straight line.....and thats it.:devil:

[chucked]

yea wtf, never buy a raptor unless you are forced at gunpoint, unless you are stupid...

[rollie]

Originally posted by chucked
never buy a raptor unless you are forced at gunpoint

this.

Get the 400ex for sure like someone else mentioned you'll never even have to work on the thing! they are as close to bulletproof as you can come

Or get the 450 to be cooler than the next guy, change your oil constantly, spend a bunch to maintain it, motor wont last as long as an ex, keep it revved to not stall, have to worry about all the electrical and radiator.

This is comming from someone who its strictly an MX guy on a 450, put simply, to be maintained CORRECTLY, they are wayyy more work than a 400ex.

[CJM]

While the extra power of the 450 is tempting I would do it-not for a yfz anyways. Too much trouble to maintain.

I still think the EX is the best trail quad around, it might not be fast or handle the best but you wont be the one being pulled out of the woods for something failing.

[Tommy Warren]

if you laugh at my raptor I'll laugh at your funeral:D

[HondaRacing83]

me being a young kid, i'd obviously snap that 450 up. but for now im sticking with the 400, for reasons im saving up for something else and wouldnt be able to save as well with always having to pay for maintenance on a 450, so im keeping the 400 for now because its cheap to maintain and reliable. ive roded 450s and a 660 raptor. the raptor seemed like a ***** for everything. the 450s require a lot of throttle. ive straight up idled back a lot of trails in my woods. i should probably get around to replacing the clutch cable, its getting stiff. so before i snap that i should replace it. and swingarm bearings are starting to go bad. i spend about 30 buck every month in a half- 2 months to maintain my 400. cant do that with a 450.

[blaster12s]

buy the yfz, ride it for a wihle if you dont like it sell it at a profit, you cant lose money on a 450 for 2k

[Hondamaster5505]

All of you people are CRAZY.

I would take the YFZ because I am a Yamaha guy AND I love the 450's, but when it comes down to it, there's no doubt the 400EX or Z400 sounds like the better choice for him.

BUT,.....

Why would he turn down the YFZ for 2k? He can EASILY trade that for a really nice 400ex. There are always people looking to trade their 400's for 450's due to the whole 450 crazy now-a-days.

So whether he likes it or not.. if it's in good shape.. buy it.

[wickdYFZ450R]

Back in 06 I bought a YFZ450SE and I rode/Raced it and it never gave me one problem It didn't have the oil mod either. I just went and bought a 11 YFZ450R,I don't see where the YFZ isn't reliable. It wouldn't hurt going and looking at the YFZ.

But I have never bought a used Quad.Because you don't now how bad it been run **** out of.

[slightlybent47]

Useable power! Many trails are short and twisty so the Ex will be best for that allocation.
That’s why the Ex does so well on trails, the power band is just rite.

[slightlybent47]

Originally posted by blaster12s
buy the yfz, ride it for a wihle if you dont like it sell it at a profit, you cant lose money on a 450 for 2k

I’m sure there is a reason for the low price on the 450, (buyers market, or there something wrong with it).

[blaster12s]

Originally posted by slightlybent47
I’m sure there is a reason for the low price on the 450, (buyers market, or there something wrong with it).

not true. i sold my full race blaster i had spent 20k on and raced one season so i could buy a 450. there are always reasons to sell. my current 450 i bought race ready for almost nothing because the kid knocked up his gf. there are deals to be had and he may of just found one.
but hey if you dont wanna buy it send me a link and ill buy the thing for 2k

[slightlybent47]

Originally posted by blaster12s
not true. i sold my full race blaster i had spent 20k on and raced one season so i could buy a 450. there are always reasons to sell. my current 450 i bought race ready for almost nothing because the kid knocked up his gf. there are deals to be had and he may of just found one.
but hey if you dont wanna buy it send me a link and ill buy the thing for 2k


And what did you get for that full race Blaster? I’ll bet you didn’t get much for it!

I had my duel sport bike up for sale for over a year with no takers. I even had it at a local motorcycle dealer for the last six months and I finally sold it for a big loss a few weeks ago.
Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s a deal. Like I said it’s a buyers market and he probably has the price cheap because it won’t move otherwise.
If you bought it and didn’t like it and wanted to sell it, would be in the same boat as he is.
Buying and reselling in this market is hard to do. No one is spending any money rite now.
Just sayin………..

[CJM]

That and its, well a blaster. Fully built ones dont sell for much Im sorry to say to those diehard blaster guys. Not making fun of anyone who owns or rides one, but 1500 bucks you one built to the hilt usually.

Anyways. My take is simple:
A 450 of any make/model is going to need more maintaining than a 400ex. 400ex is the epitome of reliable. So long as a person changes the oil that engine will run dang near forever. Now a 450 will last a good while-but not like the EX will. Another bad thing about a 450 is you need throttle to keep it going, 400ex is like a tractor, barely any throttle and it will crawl all day (or be like me and turn the idle up and it wont ever stall!)

[lonnie1977]

WOW you live 10 min from me. Not cool that happened. YFZ is cool. I'll let ya ride mine if ya want to check it out. For trails you can't beat the 400 though. Low maintance fees and solid as a rock. YFZ a little more maintance and cost alot more if it breaks. If you get the YFZ I can do hte valves and what not for ya. I'm $25 in the hole with ya any way. YFZ power band is no where as smooth as the 400. 400 is a great bike. Can't believe this happened to ya. If ya need anything let me know.

[slightlybent47]

Not sayin the 450’s not worth it. does theYFZ have reverse?

[OldGuyonaQuad]

thanks guys for the replies some of you made me think and laugh.
thanks Lonnie, yea it blows I'll tell the story next time we get together.

Anyway the debate is over he sold it last night. It wasn't beat it was a great machine. If i bought it I would have to ride it because there are so few 400ex 08 with black and red plastics let alone finding someone to trade for the 450. If it wasn't such a great deal I wouldn't even of considered it because of the many points brought up in this thread (and the many similar threads prior).

You can check the quad out in this youtube video, he is obviously the second guy to go up the hill.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOxfyCKE6SQ

As for me well I think I can pick up an '08 400ex(stock) for around 2500 and throw another 6 or 7 in it with nerf bars, skid plate, tires and a slip on.