Hey guys first of all I just wanted to say hi to everyone as I am a new member.

So I'm gonna get a bike soon and was looking at the 400ex what do you guys think of it?

I'm gonna be doing strictly trails and some jumps.

How is the durability of the bike?

Also would it fit me I am about 6ft tall. I'm also on the heavy side like 260lbs.
I drove my buddies 300ex and it was a blast so I'm thinking the 400 can only be better right?

Thanks ahead,
-Tony

 

Really depends on your funds... for your size and weight I would get a Raptor 660-700 or a honda 700x.. The 400ex is a great machine get one after 2005 because they have reverse.. its super tough too...just for yur size seems a little small.

 

My funds is not a lot trying to stay under 3000$, the 300ex seemed to pull me around pretty good so I thought the 400 would be perfect cause as I learn I can push it harder.

The only thing I am worried about the is the rear shock when I'm jumping can I adjust the dampening of that for my weight?

 

If you are worried about the shocks you can change them out for 450 shocks with little moddificaion its a popular swap. btw i love mine for trail ridding. I dont know were your located but aroun my area 3k will go a long way you can easily get an 05+ for that if not 2500. The 400ex ride height is a little lower than others but i prefer it me being on the shorter side. I would also check out kfx/ltz400's raptor660's/700's to see what is a good fit for you they are also going to be faster if your looking to push the limits. But for trail ridding i like my ex you can creep around and bog down on the motor (they don't need to be reved up constantly) on tight techinical trails and open up on the long straight aways and open fields. The 400ex is tough as nails and reliable imo, also very easy to work on being an air cooled engine. Tons of parts out there too.

 

I just picked up a 2002 400ex this past monday. So far I have only ridden it once but I had it at full speed on a dirt road and it was FAST! Love how it rides. Tomorrow I will be at an ATV park for the first time ever. Cant wait. Ill take lots of pictures and post back. Oh and I found mine for $1500 and the only problem with it was a cracked fender.

 

I picked up my 01 for 1400 a few months ago so the older ones can be had for little if you would rather save a little money if you are uneasy about dropping 3k, reverse is handy but i have no problem picking mine up and turning it around and im only 5'7" 155 so at 6' 260lbs you should have no trouble moving it expecially if you ride with buddies.

 

I have a 02 400ex. Hands down the best sport/trail quad I have ever owned. Its got good speed, great torque, and I have never had to walk out of the woods.

 

Oh and Im also 6'ish and 265lbs. It rides fine with me on it.

 

i was looking into this also, and i'm 6 ft 250 lbs, i've only ever ridden brute force 750's and a bayou 250. i ride on very tight trails on top of a mountain where my wheels barely fit between tree's and rocks sometimes and there's some big rocks i need to go over or clear that are pointy and almost a foot high. with the brute i just tank everything and let my wheels eat the rocks but with the bayou i can steer around them and have alot more fun. i also hate the engine brake on my brute force which you don't have to worry about on the bayou 250. but the bayou doesn't have nearly enough power for me. i was lookin at the wolverine also, but i just don't know how i feel about cvt or automatics anymore. only thing is i might hate clutches/manuals/ whatever you call it that aren't automatic like the bayou where you just push up or down to change gears.

the ex's sound perfect for me, but i'm just torn cause there's so many different choices, between raptors, and yfz, wolverine, ex's, and so on.

 

the ex's sound perfect for me, but i'm just torn cause there's so many different choices, between raptors, and yfz, wolverine, ex's, and so on.[/quote]

I would stay away from any 450 for trail ridding its just not practical at all. Unless you plan on doin racing there is no way I would buy a 450 for tight trail ridding. You can't putt around on 450's like you can on 400ex's. 450's will be a ton more maitenece too. I would look between the raptor 660/700, 400ex and ltz/kfx 400. However he kfx/ltz dont like to go as slow and putt around like you can on the raptors and ex's. Even the raptor 350's are not to bad on the trails but I would go for the 660/700 or the 400ex for the low end torque on the tight trails. I really like the handling of the 400ex too IMO its better than the raptor and kfx/ltz's. I bought mine because I was just getting into ridding and wanted something simple to work on and something super reliable and a quad I didnt have to spend a ton on. Also as mentioned before they arent the fastest in there class but they deffinatly can still throw you around. Plus there are a ton on mods out there for them.