Looking to buy either a 400 EX w/ reverse or Z400. I will be keeping the machine for at least 3 years and I am looking for the following:

1. Reliability
2. Best features for Trail Riding
3. Ease of use
4. Durability
5. Not concerned with top speed in its class at this point

I am 6'2" and about 200 lbs if that helps. Also, this will be my first quad. Have driven friend's quads, but never owned. For all intents and purposes, I am a novice. Looking to invest in one of these in the next few days. I'm just torn over which of these to buy. Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks....

 

Well the Z will perform better, in power form and handling, but nothing beats the EX in reliability. Not that the Z isn't reliable, but the honda takes that. They are both great trail quads but the Z IMO is better. Don't worry about power because both quads have it. And they are both easy to maintain and use. But if you plan on making further mods, you will be better off wiht the Z. Hope that helped!

 

I own both, so I am not giving you any brand loyalty BS. Get the Z, unless you exclusively ride very tight, slow, semi-technical trails. The Z is just an EX knockoff, with a better motor. The Z is by far the best all-around machine available! It is tame enough for a beginner, yet an experienced rider can have fun on it. It is a laugher that Honda tries to charge the same MSRP for the EX that Suzuki charges for the Z.

 

the best trail qaud is the Z, but if you want raw speed, the 400EX is slightly faster

 

I believe the Z tops out at about 68-70 while the ex tops out around 65ish?...

The Ex like recon said is a bettter bike for really tight technical trails where lugging the bike is essential... The Z is a better all around bike, but it doesn't like to be lugged down as much

 

If I'm not mistaken Dirtwheels just came out with a shootout on the z400 and 400ex and dvx400, pick up their latest issue and see what they got,it should say on the cover what quads they shootout, I have the issue and the z400 was all around good fourwheeler, but the 400ex was right behind it. also you should know that the z400 has liquid cooling , and the 400ex is air cooled wich doesn't really matter but i own a 400ex and i'm very proud of it, it is a nice quad, the z400 has more to it i think though.

 

I own and DVX (z400 same motor) and i've found it to be good all around. I've rode my friends EX and i'd say they are both good quads but the Z has move ground clearance and it's liquid cooled....the honda is just a bit out-dated

 

in the end you will be more happy with the z400 JMO

 

Z400 water cooled new technology not saying the ex is a bad bike i own one and really like it, but at this stage i would go with the Z [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

the 400ex is probably a little better with reliability and durability. i know people that have 400exs and their happy with theirs and i know people with z400s and their happy with theirs.