Good and bad about Honda 400ex - ATVConnection.com ATV Enthusiast Community

4wheelerRider · #1 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 05:21 PM

I really like honda's atvs. I 've looked at 250x, 300ex, and 400ex. Whats good and bad about the 400ex?? I want to buy a 400ex that is a 2005 or newer because of the reverse. I ride trails and thats it. I dont race. How good of a trail quad is the 400ex?? Also if you live near southern maine and you have a 400ex for sale tell me. I might be interested if the price is right (probuly won't spend over $2000) Thanks

reconranger · #2 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 05:28 PM

Best tight trail quad on the planet (along with its little brother the 300EX)! This is a great machine that will run forever with just basic maintenance. Solid, basic, trouble free old school air cooled engine. Mine is an 00 that runs as good as the day it was new!

The only negative is that it is the slowest of the performance quads, but some simple aftermarket mods like vent the airbox and an aftermarket header and exhaust, can perk it up a fair bit however. I ride my EX almost exclusively in the local mountains, which is mostly tight woods trails. I rarely get out of 3rd gear, so who cares?

The other good trail quads are the Z400 and the Raptor 700. I like the Z for faster open trails and wide open country, and I don't like the Raptor much at all.

4wheelerRider · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 05:36 PM

thanks for the info recon. I was wondering if you wish your 400ex had reverse or if it is just easier to push it???

Koopa · #4 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 08:05 AM

Occasionally wish I had reverse. It don't take long before you learn what to watch for and find ways of working around the fact. I wouldn't let it let you pass up a good deal.

As far as problems the only thing I have seen to be a common issue on the 400EX is the wiring harness behind the headlights. It tends to get wore out and show wires leading to shorts. Every time I hit my brights it would pop a fuse under the seat. My buddies lights wouldn't work at all. Easy enough to fix but, it's something to check.

reconranger · #5 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wheelerRider

thanks for the info recon. I was wondering if you wish your 400ex had reverse or if it is just easier to push it???

For what I ride (no mud by the way....when it snows I ride the Rancher), reverse is a nice luxury but hardly a necessity.

reconranger · #6 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koopa

As far as problems the only thing I have seen to be a common issue on the 400EX is the wiring harness behind the headlights. It tends to get wore out and show wires leading to shorts. Every time I hit my brights it would pop a fuse under the seat. My buddies lights wouldn't work at all. Easy enough to fix but, it's something to check.

Ditto! This may have improved with later models that have different body work. We don't see these posts much anymore.

Only thing I have had to replace is the rear bearings. It was really my own fault, for riding in very fine silt in a flash flood. Some silt much have gotten past the seals, and toasted the bearings. Again, my own doing!