I know everyone in the Honda forum is going to have some Honda bias but there is no way it's as bad as the Polaris forum so I figured I would ask the question here.

I currently have an 05 Grizzly and a 99 400 Scrambler. I am selling the Scrambler to get a sport quad and I have a few questions. Before the questions I want to let you know that 90% of my riding is trail riding. With some dirt road riding and hill climbing.

This will be the first sport bike I have ever owned. The sportiest thing I have ever rode is my Scrambler which doesn't compare because it is very heavy and doesn't handle near as good as a sport bike, although that 2 stroke does has pretty good power.

1.) How does the 400ex compare to the z400 and the Predator (power, handling on trails)

2.) Price is important so for this reason I am also considering the 300ex. How huge is the power and size difference in the 300ex and the 400ex. The 300 looks small but I have never sat on one. I am 6'2" but fairly light for my height at 180lbs. Plus I like the fact that the 300ex has reverse. (I know the new 400ex does too, but a new bike is not an option because of the wife!)

3.) Is there a lot of maintenance that needs to be done on the 400ex? Not that I hate doing maintenance, I am a firm believer in keeping my quads in good condition but it always seems like I have to fix something on that stupid Scrambler of mine.

That's all for now I may have more later. Thanks

 

At 6'2" you will be getting crowded on a 300ex. You could ride it, but it will be small. I ride a 400ex in the woods, and love it. They have great power, and love tp torque through the tight stuff. The z-400 has more power, but doesn't have as much bottom end. If you want reverse, I would say look for an 03 z-400. They are around $3,000 and less for decent ones.

 

Hes prolly right. The 300ex is one heck of a solid trail bike, (for 20 or so years running) but I'm only five ten. As for your Scrambler, it breaks because It's domestic. I swear I could never keep on top of all three of our family's bikes if they were artic cats and polaris's. I have friends that believe in the american cause (buy domestic), and I spend more time getting to their house to fix their bikes so they can ride with us than I do working on all three of our Hondas combined. As for everything else, ^what he said^. I do have a suggested plan of action, though. Try to convince the wife to allow financing of an 06 400ex. If that doesnt fly, get the z-400 because they're cool and have reverse, unlike late model 400ex's.

 

I am also interested in getting a 400 EX. Trying to convince the wife is tough. I have the 300 Fourtrax but I want to add a sport to the collection. LOL she doesn't think we need another ATV!!! I told her I would sell off part of the arsenal to finance it. She agreed to that.

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I believe that reverse is way over rated on a sport quad. So if all you can afford is a 300 with reverse or a 400 w/o reverse get the 400. The extra power is way more important than reverse. It is very easy to hop off and drag the rear around. Once you get used to not having reverse you usually will not get into situations needing it.

 

As much as I would like a new 400ex my Grizzly isn't quite paid off yet so I am going to have to go with something used. I am leaning toward the z400 unless I come across a good deal on a 400ex. It seems they sell a little cheaper than the z400 from what I have seen.

I was thinking about looking into the Kawasaki's as well, but I really hate that color. Although I guess that can be taken care of with new plastics.

As for reverse, I can see why most people wouldn't need reverse on a sport quad. The one reason I would like to have it is I do a lot of riding in West Virginia on trails I have never been down. Every now and again we will get to a narrow trail that just ends. That's when the reverse is handy. However, I could live without it. Besides, I have the Grizzly for exploring.