i am swiching frome a 400ex and i ride on trails dirt roads jumps every thing and i want somthing reliable fast as hell and wheely able,i have herd that both need alot of oil changes and rebilding any help or edvise would be awsome thanks

p.s. if any body is loking for a 2003 400ex and is willing to come to new york to get it its in awsome shape $5300 or best

 

dude, you're not going to get $5300 for a 2003 400EX. at least not around here in the south. I can get a brand new one for that. I can almost get a new 450R for a little more.

the 450 is a good bike. it is very reliable but you have to keep up with the maintenance. ive had mine for 2yrs and never had a problem and i dont think its anywhere near needing a rebuild. most people that have these bikes wont rebuild them unless they race all the time and need a fresh engine. the average rider will probably have moved on to the next bike by the time it occurs for it to be rebuilt. (or they would have already modded it)

as you may know for '06, honda changed a bunch of stuff that i know i was complaining about- gearing, estart, longer swingarm, etc. but this year they took off the oil cooler, raised the compression, stiffened up the suspension...i havent rode one yet but have heard it was really fast and will blow away an 04/05 model. However, i think the 04/05 engine is a better engine for trails (even though the tranny is geared higher in first) and will prove to be more reliable b/c they have the oil cooler and less volitile engine. the 06 is more race oriented.

then theres the YFZ. over 80 improvements, has a softer seat, revised ergos, suspension, better chain adj, etc. hard decison. the line is blurred between the 2 models now..... YFZ's are good bikes (and they actually look a little better than the new 450R), but 2005 was dominated at the tracks by the 450R and the baja1000 had 450R all over the place. that could factor into your decision...

if i was to buy a 450 again, and since i would have already had the 450R, id check out the new suzuki then maybe a YFZ. I almost bought a YFZ, but I didnt like the riduculously hard seat or the chain adj proceedure (hey I went thru warriors, banshees- dont want 3 different size tools to adjust the chain). Honda maintenace is simpler and it always has been. That was a factor in my decison- once you buy it, you have to live with it in the everyday. But also, i like honda and it just felt better. the YFZ wasnt bad and I actually liked it, but the honda felt a few notches better. the suspension of the stock 450r is outstanding (well not unless they screwed it up in 06) but the rear needs a little help. bottomline, through all my psychobabble- try them all out and see which one you like best.

 

If you had the 400ex and enjoyed it then don't even think about anything else but the 450r. it has the 400ex feel with all the extra power you will need and then some. It also has that fun factor like the 400ex but it is lot more fun than the 400. Smoother ride, faster revving, better handling, lighter, sweeter looking, hops up to mods better, just an all around better quad. It just has that honda feel that makes you feel so confident. I think i now realize why yamaha riders care about one thing only; and that is drag racing. If you are a good rider you can take a yfz in a drag race every time, stock for stock that is. I am telling you if youlove the honda feel of the 400 but want the extra ponies of the new 450s get the R. I know youlike the wheelies because u had a 400, well the R is just as good. Be the smart man and go with the R
just my 2 cents