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Posted by: trx430ex
My budy and I did about 50 miles of tite woods riding last weekend.Him on his86 trx 250r and me on 99 400ex.And it seemed that the ex had a slight advantage in the woods. Having a longer suspentchion and being able to suck up wash outs on the trail easyer than the R did.
But once out of the rough stuff the R gained a length or to out of the hole.But he was having a hard time keeping tire to ground traction.
I found myself staying high in the RPM's to make up for the snap of (that loud) two stroke,Watching his roost in antisipation of his aceleration.Running with a 22 inch XCT tires and droping a tooth in the front sproket seemed to give me more tire to ground traction ground clearence and just plain straight line hook up when the R tryed to get away.
Finially after about a 10 mile battle and no place to pass I decided to back down, We were getting to close to each other at 40 miles per hour.If I pushed it any further both of us would have crashed.Becides I was tired on getting rocks thrown at me,One the size of my fist came down the left side at about three feet.
I thought I saw a scrambler at a intersection but that was just a blur and gone in about 4 seconds.
A little advice to 400exers if you want to overtake a R.Do it in the rough stuff mostly to the inside.The ex suspention can suck it up, And stay on the gas!The whole machine may lurch side to side at aucward angles but it will return to where you pointed it.
Posted by: TRXter
I like the idea of a sport/high performance 4x4, and don't object too much to the auto tranny, but floor boards and single lever braking? Come on!! It's pretty pathetic.
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TRXter
400EX
Posted by: TRXter
Chuck, I almost thought you said you liked floorboards and single lever braking on a "sport" machine. But then I realized nobody could be that moronic. Whew!! You really had me going there for a second.
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TRXter
400EX
Posted by: AlaskaTRX
The king of the GNCC XC circuit are the 250cc two-strokers... What this means is look around for a used Honda or Suzuki 250R and modify for low, low, and low-end power!!!
(Either that or build yourself a KXF...)
Tom Rawlins
'89 TRX250R (modified for low-end)
Posted by: Boger
You can ride real aggresive with the Blaster. I mean real aggresive.
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400EX LT250R Blaster
Posted by: Boger
Not to forget the 300EX is a great woods machine too. ITs the same as the 250X, with a little more power, electric start, and reverse. I don't know about the other updates they did.
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400EX- Big Gun Headers and Slipon. White Bros. Rev Kit. Looking at new carbs.
LT250R- FMF Pipe and Power Core Silencer. Keihin Carb. Boyesen Reeds.
Posted by: 01ds650
Sandman Blue,
On your top ten list a few things aren't true.
You can get immediate acceleration when hitting the throttle. Polaris tranny's are kinda soft out of the factory (like a car) so they appeal to all riders. You can change it to suit your needs if you want.
The 400's have enough power to blip the throttle and clear slow doubles etc.
You can roost your friend on a dune by punching the throttle.
My Scrambler 400 climbed every dune that every 250R, 400EX, lt250R, Lt500 & Banshee climbed sometimes even faster believe it or not.
The whoops is a good argument. Polaris are heavy, you just have to ride it rough like a large woman :)
As far as the envy from friends... I've never had anyone say anything bad about it.
I can't believe you haven't seen a Polaris ride a wheelie for more than a few yards. Was it a Sportsman or something?
I raced a 250R 3 wheeler & a Banshee awhile back. 3 of us side by side. I burnt both of them out of the hole and about had to sit on the damn gas tank to keep the front end down. I was only 3 quad lengths behind the Banshee. The 250R was damn fast though ! They both said they had never seen a Polaris leave the hole like that. This came straight from a Banshee owner who also said he couldn't believe a 4X4 ran with him.
They were racing at the dunes. I didn't participate because I didn't have paddles and 99.9% of the others did. And you know... even with 4WD it would have been over before it started. Anyway there were a couple of Sports that were beating 250R's & Banshees.
Maybe only 5 Sports there all together and one fast Scrambler 400. (not mine!)
It's too bad Polaris doesn't make a lightweight 2 stroke with a 5/6 speed. Because Polaris's are such junk none of you would ever own one anyway. Polaris biggest problem is the weight. The power is there.
Just think a light weight Polaris with the 400 2 stroke motor. Just remember Polaris has won the Jet ski racing title a couple years in a row, they make sleds that bust triple digits off the show room floor, if they want to whip your Banshee they will & I hope they do. Until then I will sink another $350 in my Scrambler so I can beat Banshees. Oh yeah, it's still less than a Banshee with all the mods.
I'm not trying to start an arguement. I never thought of Polaris quads being fast either. But the time shortly after my brother beat a 250R on his Sport I knew something was up with those slow automatics.
If you don't like them, then you don't like them. But give them some credit they are not that damn slow.
c-ya,
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Andrew Thomas
'99 Scrambler 400 (New & improved with RCR kit and more raisins than ever) & '99 Trailblazer for Baby Butt Cheeks...
Posted by: 01ds650
Yeah but Dirtwheels are idiots... Give me the 400Ex anyday over the 300.
c-ya,
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Andrew Thomas
'99 Scrambler 400 & '99 Trailblazer, both with RCR mods.
Posted by: RidE
What are some good sporty woods quads?
It appears that the original thread of this topic has been lost to a chat room dialog between two or more individuals, neither of them being the original poster.
We should remind those who wish to chat that such a facility does exist.
thread closed by moderator
[This message has been edited by atvbbs (edited 09-08-1999).]
Posted by: RidE
How can you consider ANY quad a "sport" quad that has 4 wheel drive and/or automatic transmission?
Posted by: RidE
That is true... Well, Honda has not only the 250R, but the 300EX and 400EX are two of the best woods quads ever. 400EX being in the top 3. Polaris makes some kick *ss quads, but this auto tranny/4X4 sport quad stuff is awkward.
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- 1996 Kawasaki Mojave, 1998 Kawasaki Mojave, http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Boulevard/8090/home.html
Posted by: RidE
DIDO, DIDO, DIDO...
You are right on. I don't ride a 2-stroke, but everytime I hear people saying Polaris is the BEST, I think of those aggressive sport riders that are into 2-stroke, 2wd, MANUAL tranny, hi-performance quads. It's not about this anyways, it's about simply having fun, but if you want claim a company the best, they better have the hi-performance racing side down first.
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- 1996 Kawasaki Mojave, 1998 Kawasaki Mojave, http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Boulevard/8090/home.html
Posted by: TheViper
If I were you I would go with the 250x. These are a really good woods bike and are not too expensive in the used market. With a few modifications you can have yourself a real woods rocket.
99 400ex Banshee 87 250x
Posted by: alibaba
If you can afford the 400ex take it. If you can't afford it take the 300ex. That simple.
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Alibaba
'98 Honda 300ex, '97 Honda Recon, '86 TRX125
Posted by: mxer
huh. The 300ex may be the best stock woods quad for every joe and george like the people here, but Barry Hawk would do much better on his R. But for every body else that is not a joe and george the R and the 400ex would be way better in everyway. So nuff BS from all you 300 owners about what DW and 4WA SAID!!!!
I think it is th first time you guys agrred with what the rags said. Maybe you didn't want your quad to look bad?
hmmmm...
Posted by: talon400
BUY A POLARIS> Honda and Yamaha have nothing over these Bad boys.
Chuck
Posted by: talon400
Fast & Red,
Dont be jealous just cause a Polaris would smoke your quad. Geez! Well it sounds like the rider had some problems handling his bike, not polaris's fault.
Happy Trail Riding!!!
I will pass you and you can eat my dust if you like.
'99 Scrambler 400 few Mods
Posted by: talon400
You know what, I never said it was a sport but the thing is IT IS 4 WHEEL DRIVE and only about 3 mph slower than the 400EX's. Gee, polaris can make a 4 wheel drive to almost beat a 400EX, that is something to talk about, So I guess my real question is when is Honda going to be able to market such a good bike? They cant, the best thing they ever made were the 250R's and that was it.
Happy riding. I dont care what you ride, who you are we are all pertenent to the sport.
Ride ON!!!
Chuck
Posted by: talon400
Floorboards are awesome, and the sinlge lever brake that kicks butt, man o man while you are sitting there jamming your foot on those pegs and smashing the brakes down with your foot I put 2 fingers on the brake and that is it. Oh well fellas I am not fighting I just stick up for what I like just like you do. I agree that Honda does make a good quad and that the 400EX and 300EX are nice, but when it all comes down in the end POLARIS is the caddilac of them all.
Hey have a good one fellas.
cHuCk '99 ScRaMbLeR
Posted by: talon400
So what you are saying is that you are jealous? I mean come on now you dont even really know that for sure do ya? I weigh about 220 and I can pull the front end from a dead stop, (wheelie that is if you dont understand.) and keep on going. I can do all of the things you do. Ok lets go through some mud or up hills I will whoop ya!
Posted by: talon400
Oh my this is funny. Anyway have you read some of the Honda owners posts? Man one guy stated that a honda 400EX had 52 HP STOCK!!! They always state that the 400EX is the king, but come on now! The 400EX speeds are rated slower than that of the Sport 400. (Just by like 1 or 2 mph) I have personally raced a 400EX on the flat (where all of you think you shine) and I didnt win, he had mods done already and I had none, but he only beat me by about three quads, now I have some mods of my own and I cant wait to see what happens this time. All in all I give Honda a 4 on a 5 scale, they look awesome, the look like a true racer, the speed and take off is definitely there. But here are some things I dont like, going up a hill it is like riding a freaking jackhammer!
BBBBBUUUUUUUUMMMMMMPPPPYYYYYY!!!!
Well have a good weekend folks!
Man if you want to know what would be really awesome? All of the members here at ATVING.COM should all get together and have one f%^$ING GOOD TIME ON A RIDE SOMEWHERE!!!!!
cHuCk '99 Scrambler and just love to have fun with you guys!
Posted by: SandmanBlue
Top ten things you can't do on a Polaris.
1. Use the front brakes only.
2. Downshift to a lower gear to increase engine braking.
3. Get immediate acceleration when hitting the throttle.
4. Pop the clutch to: explode from a corner, or lift the front end over an unexpected bump, or clear a slow double jump.
5. Roost your friends while cresting a dune.
6. Get to the top of larger dunes.
7. Go through whoops at speed.
8. Land from big jumps without creating a local earthquake.
9. Be the envy of your friends.
10. And… modify it enough to be competitive in the GNCC series races.
Posted by: SandmanBlue
Hmmm. That sounds like another lame challenge across the internet that will no doubt never happen considering I live in Arizona and you live in Pennsylvania. I suppose you're gonna say that I backed down. Uh, huh. Right.
I have yet to see a Polaris actually ride a wheelie for more than a few yards. It reminds me of my six year old son bragging to his friends about a wheelie on his bicycle. In reality, and I know that reality is a very difficult concept for some people here, his wheelie was about 4 inches high and lasted for a microsecond. So, I guess that's what you meant. Does any Polaris rider have a pic of them standing the quad on its tail in a wheelie? I'm dying to see one. In motion, that is.
I actually laugh at the posts here quite often. They're ridiculous. "I can't keep the front end down on my Polaris" is one of my favorites. Especially with a stock or mildly moded one. Back on planet reality, it's more like "I got the front end up, but I had to yank REALLY hard on the bars while I was sitting way back on the six pack rack, and the wheelie lasted for 15 feet with the front tires barely above the ground". Reality rarely impresses anyone. Sorry.
Then we have the "mud and hill" challenges. I really don't care about gnarly uphill mudholes you Polaris riders seem to find so often. If Polaris is soooo awesome, then why can't you find a single one winning hill races at the dunes? Huh? Gee, all it takes it power, light weight and suspension to be king of the hill. According to Polaris owners, they HAVE all of that and MORE!!! Yet, the people that DO show up with one usually sit at the bottom of the hill saying "I wish I had a V8", rather than get spanked in a race. Everyone always sidesteps this issue!!! They always say, "Oh yeah, well lets race in the mud". Well back at ya Mr. Mudbug - LET'S GO RACE IN THE SAND!!!! NEENER, NEENER, NEENER!!!
This isn't bashing Polaris. It's all about the fantasy rides some of the owners have been on. I should have simplified this entire post by saying, "You're high dudes!"
SandmanBlue and his mild mannered Banshee
Posted by: Fast_&_Red
My god Talon get over the Polaris'. I had a Trail Boss and my dad has a modified scrambler. The scrambler will flat out kill just about anything in a drag race but not in the trails and definatly not off jumps. I would take my 300ex over any automatic or any 4x4 for trail riding.
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300ex... The Big Red Machine
Posted by: cstark
Not only did DirtWheels say that the 300EX was the best woods machine. But this months issue of 4-Wheel Atv Action also states the same thing. I'm not saying that it is the best quad in the world or anything. But just look at it on paper. 25 lbs less than the 400EX, shorter wheel base, great suspension and chassis design, and reverse. True that the Polaris machines, a warrior and 400EX will beat it in a drag race. But lets flip the coin and race in the woods. The 300EX will win every time.(if ridin with equal riders). Plus with tons of mods, the 300EX can be made into a woods rocket.
Facts, the best duner: banshee
best mx: 250r
best woods quad: 300EX
best all around(woods, track, dunes): 400EX
If you have different opinions, let hear them.
Chris "00" 300EX
Posted by: Djinn
Unfortunately no one has answered your question....all to buisy arguing....bottom line is that "Dirtwheels" selected the 300ex as THE best woods machine of all time....better then a 400ex or whatever. That is if you arent going racing...if its just for you to ride on and build up...and YOU like it..get it....youll save big money over a 400ex too...
Posted by: Djinn
Unfortunately once again the forum has turned into a battle ground. mxer...I personally do not own a 300ex...I have a old 250x that works just fine. As far as the "rags" knowing more than you about a trail machine....I truley do not believe I even need to comment on their collection of knowledge vs. your opinion. And you can save the whole.."they have to say that or lose there advertising" bit..because it just aint so. Truth is Honda doesnt manufacture "bad" quads...in fact no one does...maybe they dont suit your taste..but that hardly makes them bad. Truth is a 300ex probably is the best woods machine ever made to date. Its lighter, more responsive to mods, costs less, and handles much better in the thick stuff. If the 400ex is "THE" woods machine why dont any pros use it?? Its not because of the chassis...they can handle ungodly amounts of power in extreme conditions. Can the average person ?? probably not. Truth is neither you or I can handle these machines. If we could we would be racing instead of discussing this. Im sure you are convinced that you are up to the challenge...maybe you are. But for the question that was posed I dont believe that either a 250r or a 400ex is the correct machine...although between the 2 the 400ex gets my nod.
Now for all the polaris owners...If you can truthfully tell me that a Pol whatever is better in the woods than a 400ex, 300ex, or even a 250x...than you are sadder than I thought. The facts are you weigh too much, and you have far less control of your quads than is necessary..(i.e. brakes, shifting) If you dont believe trail braking is necessary to ride fast in the woods, or being able to downshift to scrub off speed is important then you need to log some serious trail mile's. I like polaris...but for this case they shouldnt even be a consideration. They like all quads have a purpose...but woods racers they are not.
Now RIDe...my final thing to address is your question. You can find plenty of 250x's for under 2k...they are great in the woods. A 300ex is a good buy on the used market. And with the money saved from buying either one youll have plenty of cash for mods...which will allow you for a good set of hand guards, and a good helmet amongst other things. I think a 300ex would be the way to go depending on your familiarity with mechanics...newer bikes tend to break less than older ones. I believ your next bit of research should be finding prices and typical faults in each machine. above all buy the one you feel most comfortable on...a old 200x is better in the woods than a bike you dont really like...and it sure beats walking!!
Have fun, and enjoy your new quad no matter what you buy!!!
