I have the money in the bank and it's starting to burn a hole in my pocket. I was dead set on buying a Warrior due to its all around reputation of being reliable and sporty. However, I just started researching some info. on the 400 EX. Other than the "reverse" option provided by the Warrior, the 400 EX looks like it comes out ahead in every aspect. Would love to hear public opinion. Oh! I’ll probably be riding mostly trails with a 50/50 mix of hills and flats. Hey, thanks buddies…ride safe, but hard.

 

yeah, your right on - if you can do without the reverse the 400 will shine in every category. About the only thing that has changed on the warrior over the last 13 years is the price and graphics. The honda is a way better machine for the money.

 

Ok...me again. FYI: I posted similar messages in both Yamaha and Honda's forums. So far, based on feedback, I am leaning towards the 400 EX. Hardly anyone replied in Yamaha's website, which means to me, they have nothing bad to say about the 400 EX. Furthermore, no one gave me anything to defend the Warrior. As for Honda's forum, I got tons of replies in favor of the 400 EX...of course it WAS Honda's forum. In favor of the Warrior, no one said anything negative about it in Honda's forum. I figure 99% of my riding will be done going forward. The compromise of not having reverse will be made up by everything else the 400 EX has to offer.

 

Your making the right choice!!! 400EX.

 

I bought a 2000 Warrior in Sep of 99, and added a Pro Flow filter kit, White Bros E-Series Pro-Meg exhaust, torque stuffer, and Bandit AT's on all fours. It was a great machine and never once had a mechanical problem with it, but it wasn't what I wanted when considering the type of riding I do, and where I wanted to be "quad-wise" in 2-3 years (think about this before buying). So, just a month or so ago I sold it and bought a 2000 400EX.

I can tell you that the 400EX is a much better machine in almost every area. The suspension is much better, and I can now run harder over whoops and uneven terrain where the Warrior would bounce and get out of control. The 400EX also seems to have a lower center of gravity which also helps with handling and climbing hills--power and torque are always on-hand from bottom to top. There have been a few times now where reverse would have been nice to have, but I either get off and man-handle it or gas the rear end around, and if you get into a precarious situation (nose down) with a Warrior, then you're off it and pushing anyhow since the rears can't get enough traction to back you up.

If you want to hear the advice from someone who in the past six months has owned both, then try to find both machines and ride them--that's the only way you can compare the two machines yourself. Bottom line though...buy the Warrior if you're mainly into trail riding with some agressive riding mixed in, or go with the 400EX if you're more agressive and ride on trails occasionally...having said that though, the 400EX is every bit a trail machine as the Warrior. Hope I've helped!

 

hey i am a kid so dont get mad at me but i think that is about the stupidest qestion i ever heard. WHo needs reverse anyway. And if u actually do need reverse at least get a 300ex. mY freiends have had the worst luck with warriors. THye r very unreliable as i have seen. So i say without a second thought go with the 400 ex

 

Well, I read a review somewhere and the article kinda dumped on the ease of using the reverse on a Warrior, but I didn't think it was all that hard. I gotta add though, on my brand new Warrior the reverse worked fine for the first month or so, but then started having an annoying problem where I couldn't get it back into forward after using reverse. Sometimes it would go, others it wouldn't, and adjusting the rod didn't make a difference. When it wouldn't go into forward I'd have to kill the engine, and then it would drop right in...didn't ever figure out the problem.

 

For your trail riding needs I would buy bigger tires (22's) the 400 is quite low to the ground. It hasn't been a big problem for me but you do always have the worry of bashing the rear in the back of your mind. I've had mine for 13months and had no problems yet it is a great machine that puts a smile on your face like no other when you ride it. You will see what I mean if you buy one. I always refer to what the magazines said when they 1st tested one it just does everything great no one spot sticks out more than another great balance of power, handling and comfort. Buy it and you will not regret it. Only bad thing about it I can think of is it is really cold blooded but this can be easily fixed by rejetting. Have fun ride hard.

Proud Owner: 98 Honda Foreman 450ES
99 Honda Fourtrax 400EX