I'm 33 years old, and mostly ride trails... sometimes we may venture onto an MX track, but I'm mostly playing with 4x4's on my slightly modified 400EX...

I love my EX and am perfectly happy with it, but will admit being teased with the thoughts of a new 450R with the HRC kit...

my questions for all the Honda guys that now have experience with both quads are...
"Would it be worth the price of buying a new 450R for trail riding? is it truely a better TRAIL quad than the EX? or is it more closely an MX quad and should I just keep the EX since I'm happy with it?"

 

I would probably just keep the 400EX for trailriding and save your money unless you are racing. Maybe throw another $500 or so in upgrades to the EX to "renew your love" [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Both the 400EX and 450R are fine machines.

 

No! The 450 has a great trail frame, but not a great trail engine. This thing likes to rev, doesn't lug down, has a light flywheel, and it is geared WAY tall. This is a machine for more open country. Now that does includes the fast more open trails (after some gearing changes!), but not the real tight stuff, and definitely NOT the technical stuff.

If I am going on a mountain trail ride, I will chose the 400EX, Z400, or Rancher (in that order), and leave the 450 for the more open desert. You already have the best trail bike ever made (except for maybe the 300EX???), so why tamper with perfection?

 

keep the 400.

 

i would keep the 400ex u wont need the xtra speed the 450 gives u since your in trails

 

I'd wait. see what happend when the raptor came out. Everyone went and bought one and they came out with a better faster bike lighter and with less cc's. wait and see what come's out next.

 

i do mostly trail riding also...the 450 is definatly faster, but man your left arm will be gettin a serious work out. i wish i could have both, because the 400 is much better for exploring/following/waiting for people. the 450r just wants to go, or stall. just put my 13t sprocket on last night, but havent had a chance to test it out yet because of the snow. the thing that makes the 450 is the suspension....theres nothin like butter smooth landings, if your jumpin it....but a 400ex can do the same with some decent suspension work.
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Keep the EX

 

lol i don't get it? you have to feather the clutch alot? i'd say stick with the EX. its reliable (won't stand you in the middle on the trail) and its set up more for trails. plus you got electric start.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] i think you'll be better off with the EX, IMO

 

Ditto..... sounds like your plenty happy with the EX. I'd wait and maybe down the road once you've run the EX into the ground a little and let them work any bugs that may crop up out of the 450r out for a year or two.