400ex good bad ugly? - ATVConnection.com ATV Enthusiast Community

sqvick · #1 (**permalink**) 09-14-2009, 07:32 PM

Im looking for a good quad to trail ride or run at the track? is there anything better? I want electric start! most people are telling me to get a liquid cooled quad? which it isnt!

Rkangel777 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-14-2009, 08:59 PM

For trail riding I kind of like the fact that it is air cooled. No radiator to jam sticks through. The 400ex also lugs down well. Overall it is a pretty bulletproof quad. I can't say that I've ever found anything bad or ugly about mine. They are solid, well put together machines.

As for tracks or racing I can't really help you out there. I'm strictly a play rider myself.

moto134 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-14-2009, 10:59 PM

keep your valves adjusted and oil changed your good to go,one of the most reliable quads out there. lol and you can make them look pretty bitchin too

Scooter86 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 06:06 AM

Great play quad, but they are down on power and suspension compared to the Z400 and 450 class. If you are planning much track time at all those are going to make a better ride.

reconranger · #5 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 09:06 AM

The 400EX is the best tight trail quad out there! Workable on the track, but not its forte. My favorite for freestyle jumping! Dead solid reliable, and it will run forever with just basic maintenance. Good handling and good suspension. Air cooled so it is trouble free, but it is the slowest of the performance quads.

The Z400 is very similar, but water cooled and a fair bit faster. The Raptor 700 is a torque monster, but falls a little flat on the top end. The 450's are a better choice if you want to go screaming fast.

nuckinfuts · #6 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 03:12 PM

I have a 450 for the dunes and I still have my 400ex for the trails and backup. It truely is ol' reliable and plus it really puts down its own with a 426 bore, cam and exhaust. You gotta decide what you're going to use it the most for. If I had to choose between one, it would be a 450r. The 450r is more high strung and likes to be wound out where as the 400 is happy right off idle with a killer bottom and midrange.

duster · #7 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 03:45 AM

The 400EX is a good old tight woods, squeezing between the trees technical trail quad.
It has that good old hard stalling grunt on the bottom for that.

It also has enough to keep up enough to stay in sight most of the time if you are a good rider.

It can be raced if you want to dump a bunch of money in it.
And with a good rider aboard, it can do OK at XC type races.
But if you are going to race it, you are going to be at a severe disadvantage.

If you ride much more than "wheeler-made" trails, you should probably step up to a Z400, Outlaw 525 or 700R...

And if you are going to spend more time racing than trailing, there is really not much way to avoid the 450R bandwagon.

00 440ex · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 09:47 PM

I bought a 2000 model 400 ex not to long ago for 400 dollars that was smoking really bad. Since one of my buddies had a 450r i decided to buy it and fix it up so we could ride. When i took the lid off i realized right away it had a bad piston and rings. I found a 440 bigbore kit from wiseco for 350.00 on ebay. Got it put back together and took it riding. With mine wide open he would ride by me like i was setting still. So i found a stage 3 hotcam and put in it for 119.00. Now it will standup in all four gears and thier is no more leaving me behind. I dont know about it taking alot of money to build a fast reliable bike out of a 400ex i have about 900.00 in mine including buying it for 400.00 and it will run with my buddies 09 450r no problem. I would like to find a race fuel that will burn a little cooler though. Did i mention he paid 6800 for his 450r and i have 900 in my my 400ex. I guess it comes down to spend a little to beef it up or spend a fortune to buy a 450r

reconranger · #9 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00 440ex

I bought a 2000 model 400 ex not to long ago for 400 dollars that was smoking really bad. Since one of my buddies had a 450r i decided to buy it and fix it up so we could ride. When i took the lid off i realized right away it had a bad piston and rings. I found a 440 bigbore kit from wiseco for 350.00 on ebay. Got it put back together and took it riding. With mine wide open he would ride by me like i was setting still. So i found a stage 3 hotcam and put in it for 119.00. Now it will standup in all four gears and thier is no more leaving me behind. I dont know about it taking alot of money to build a fast reliable bike out of a 400ex i have about 900.00 in mine including buying it for 400.00 and it will run with my buddies 09 450r no problem. I would like to find a race fuel that will burn a little cooler though. Did i mention he paid 6800 for his 450r and i have 900 in my my 400ex. I guess it comes down to spend a little to beef it up or spend a fortune to buy a 450r

But the EX's legendary reliability is now gone! Don't go far from your truck, without taking along a buddy who can tow you home!

00 440ex · #10 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 12:19 AM

If the reliability is gone then i guess the 450r is not reliable either because that is all honda did was take a 400ex platform and beef it up to make the 450r. So i guess as long as honda is the one doing it it is called reliable.