Honda's future line-up???

[cracer250]

I think Honda will discontiue one of it's sport quads. Right now they have trx90, 250ex, 300ex, 400ex, 450r. Don't you think that having the new 450r will hurt 400ex sales? I can't think of anyone choosing a 400ex over a 450r.

Why discontinue one of the winningest and most bullet proof quads honda has ever released:confused:

I've heard several riders including top GNCC racers say the kick start is not their cup of tea. I'm sure lots of customers also feel the same.

[bradley300]

whatabout the people that want an easier quad to ride, electric start and lower maintence? i think the 400ex still has a niche, just not n the racing scene

[MOFO]

Originally posted by bradley300
whatabout the people that want an easier quad to ride, electric start and lower maintence? i think the 400ex still has a niche, just not n the racing scene


exactly... I'm not a racer, but ride as much as possible for the fun of it. The 400EX is still perfect for me.... bulletproof, easy to maintain, tons of parts... I cant find one down side for what I use it for.

[cracer250]

I just look at it this way. If you imagine that you don't have a quad right now and you go to the honda dealer. You have the 300ex, 400ex, and 450r sitting in front of you. What are you going to pick? Maybe the 300ex will be gone?? The addition of a quad is going to make less sales for all others because a lot of people are going to be choosing the 450r over the others.

[Tommy 17]

not only that its the perfect quad to get a kid racing on...


u can make a 400ex keep up with any of the other quads out there... put a 416 kit in it, shocks, etc and u'll keep up with the group...


its the perfect quad for C class etc... i know i'll be racing mine and i feel that ic an do perfectly fine on it... 450rs need a rider remember that;)

[zephead400ex]

One reason a person might pick a 400ex over a 450r is $, big factor. I personally would love to have a 450r, but finances will not allow. A lot of younger kids, teenagers, do not have enough money for a 450r. This is when the majority of kids get involved in quads.

later

[4TraxRider]

There will always be a spot among riders for a 400ex. I'm racing one this year, and will be the only one left in D34 with one i beleive. The 400ex's racing career was great but is now becoming very limited with the new breed of thumpers. A simple trip to Rausch creek and a spin around the trails and MX track will provide you with a great example of what a 400ex is used for, FUN. Nomatter what you do with it its a great machine. I'll always have one nomatter what.

[QuadJunkies]

Originally posted by cracer250
Maybe the 300ex will be gone??

this is my thoughts..... and them keeping the 250 ex for entry rider...... Too bad if they do.ll the 300ex is a great machine

[Quadworks]

I know I would rather have my 400 with electric start over a 450R anyday. But maybe HONDA will come out with a 650EX that has electric start and reverse. Now if that would happen I would much rather have one of those instead.

[deathman53]

give me a break gncc riders complaining about a kick start, all of them used to ride 250r's, 250r's with 350x motors. Also what about all of them using the crf, yzf 450, 426, 400 motor for years I guess those bike motors weren't kick start if the riders weren't complaining? I for one like a kick start, as I don't trust electric start. Kick starting a bike isn't that hard. Yes, it can be a pain sometimes, but no enough to prevent people from buying a bike. It all comes down to being lazy. I beleive that if someone was gonna give you a 400ex or 450r you would take the 400ex for the electric start, yeh, right. According to the mags the 450r kick starts easily. I believe that no atv's should be eliinated, the trx90 has the kids, 250ex 13-16 who need to a easy bike to learn to shift, 300ex for the 16+ to master using a cluth and the mass of casual riders, 400ex for people who want a bike with some power ,great handling and easy ridablilty. 450r for the hardcore racer. all the bikes fit the niches.

[JTRtrx250r]

Originally posted by deathman53
give me a break gncc riders complaining about a kick start, all of them used to ride 250r's, 250r's with 350x motors. Also what about all of them using the crf, yzf 450, 426, 400 motor for years I guess those bike motors weren't kick start if the riders weren't complaining? I for one like a kick start, as I don't trust electric start. Kick starting a bike isn't that hard. Yes, it can be a pain sometimes, but no enough to prevent people from buying a bike. It all comes down to being lazy. I beleive that if someone was gonna give you a 400ex or 450r you would take the 400ex for the electric start, yeh, right. According to the mags the 450r kick starts easily. I believe that no atv's should be eliinated, the trx90 has the kids, 250ex 13-16 who need to a easy bike to learn to shift, 300ex for the 16+ to master using a cluth and the mass of casual riders, 400ex for people who want a bike with some power ,great handling and easy ridablilty. 450r for the hardcore racer. all the bikes fit the niches. I hear what your saying.., I kinda think they're SALLYS for complaining haha, a kicker makes me feel like its more reliable(in case of dead batt) BUT...ES is good for dead-starts,you can just leave the button stabbed till it fires, a kicker might take a few kicks and most guys that race dead-start races feel that gives them an advantage,

quite a few weeks back(b4 i broke my thumb), it was so cold/wet 1 morning, 2 z400's and 2 400exs starters were trippin' out b/c of it,must have been the mositure that froze or something, all the batterys seemed ok too(lights nice n bright),was kinda weird,got the day off to a slow start to say the least, had to take and aim my exhaust to the starters to thaw them out haha, it worked :D :cool: they give me chit b/c I gotta find TDC and all that..so you know I rubbed in the fact my R was at least started and was running lol:macho :D :cool:

[Tommy 17]

the thing is this...


how many times have u accidentally stalled the bike... i know on the h.m. trip i did it alot... and all u have to do is pull the clutch hit the button and ur gone in about 2 seconds...


with a kick starter it may take u 15 or 20... thats lost time that there is no reason for... its nice to just hit the button and go...

[JTRtrx250r]

Originally posted by Tommy 17
the thing is this...


how many times have u accidentally stalled the bike... i know on the h.m. trip i did it alot... and all u have to do is pull the clutch hit the button and ur gone in about 2 seconds...


with a kick starter it may take u 15 or 20... thats lost time that there is no reason for... its nice to just hit the button and go... Dude brings up a good point!!

[crashinmatt]

alls im gonna say is ive seen the new 450r started, and it took one kick. the longest part was reachin down to pull the kicker out. the way i see it, if u us the 450r for racin and u r good, u dont stall all that many times. and it takes 5 secs or so to start if u do stall. the 400ex takes 2 secs or less, not much of a difference. so the way i see it is, that should be as much of a factor as say power. but yeah the 400ex is a great machine and very reliable. i cant see them takin it away.

[Toadz400]

Wow...people like to argue on this site...some people like other things than other people...get over it and stop trying to convince other people of what is "better".

I love the kick start on my banshee for cold starts and I love the ES on my 400EX because in case I do stall or something like that I just pull in the clutch and hit the button...no big deal, it's just that a battery can be a hassle sometimes.

Now stop arguing about which is better....they both have their downsides!

[Out_Sider]

i heard somin about them redesignin all their quads? anyone else heard of this?

[JD400exrider]

Originally posted by MOFO
exactly... I'm not a racer, but ride as much as possible for the fun of it. The 400EX is still perfect for me.... bulletproof, easy to maintain, tons of parts... I cant find one down side for what I use it for.


My Thoughts Exactly

400ex's are so slow

[QuadJunkies]

Originally posted by Jumbo747
400ex's are so slow not for everyone.:) . Not all riders want a Raped Ape for a Quad( I dont understand why not but.....:p ) You can do alot to an 400ex to make it fast, maybe not like the newer quads,but not everyone races so I think its a good quad for the Ave. rider IMO.......I still a GREAT Machine!!!:blah: looks how many of us bought one. Cant be all that bad;)

[Syrus]

The honda electric start is bulletproof, you gotta remember.. is a fkin honda.

[cracer250]

looks how many of us bought one. Cant be all that bad


Exactly what I meant when I started this thread. We only bought the 400ex because at the time, that was honda's top dog. Before that, the 300ex was one bad machine. Now, we have the 450r. What are you going to buy next???? Another 400ex??

[CTmxyfz]

my local dealer has sold everyone they have had since they were first released. they still are hot but they are more hot for regular riders and not as much as racers these days.

[xr50layke]

my 2 on what honda should do....

they need: an entry quad

a low maintance sport quad

a racer quad

thats the trx90, the 400ex and the 450r

stick a 1-6 year old on a trx90, after, a 400ex? maybe they should just have a ....250ex, 400ex, 450r.

[Ryan]

As far as I know, its possible to hook up an electric start on the 450r.


I could be wrong, though.

[QuadJunkies]

Originally posted by cracer250
Exactly what I meant when I started this thread. We only bought the 400ex because at the time, that was honda's top dog. Before that, the 300ex was one bad machine. Now, we have the 450r. What are you going to buy next???? Another 400ex??

Nope..... Ill just keep mine and pimp it out......only becasue I love my 400ex THAT much...:macho

[cracer250]

There is a lot of good discussion here. I also love my 400ex and 300ex.

I can say that my next atv will probably be a 450R. I expect Honda to be discontinuing either the 300ex or 400ex in a year or two. I just don't know which one.

[sweet300ex]

I think the 300ex is gonna get cut:(

[QuadJunkies]

Originally posted by sweet300ex
I think the 300ex is gonna get cut:( so do I........:(

[dannyboy20]

ya i can see the 300 being gone. The 400 is a great entry quad for all ages i think. Considering my friends 11 year old cousin was riding his 400 this past weekend and he loved it. I can see maybe honda Getting rid of the 300 and putting reverse on the 400. That would make sence to me but ya never know .