I just put money down on a 2001 yellow 400ex, and will pick it up on the 29th. Andrews of Ohio gave me a deal I didn't think I could pass up, price was $5,610.00 out the door, including setup, tax, title ect...! The last bike I had was a Tecate4, and only the 400ex has exited me enough to get another quad.
Honda has always had a good reputation for being reliable, but after reading post after post about the 400ex I am starting to wonder if I should buy it? I have heard many, many owners talk about fouling plugs, carb too lean, and the one that really gets me is "My 400ex won't start in the cold!"(I live in ohio), then turn around and say "it's the most reliable quad on the market". How can something so reliable not start 4-5 mons a year? I would hate to see an unreliable quad!
I love the 400ex, and have always loved Honda but this is making me nervous about what I am headed for. Please help me make a decision! I want one so bad but don't want a 5000 dollar headache. Thanks in advance!

 

I've had mine almost a year and have never had any problems. Except when I fouled a plug, but that was my fault not Honda's. As for hard starting in the cold, yes 4-strokes can be tempermental. You just need to bip the throttle a little during warm up.
The only problem I have with the 400 is not enough power. But that's what the aftermarket is for.

 

After owning 2 Honda quads (a 98 Recon and a 00 400ex) for almost 3 years now, I don't think you'll have to worry about reliability. Our riding partners who own Yamahas and Polarisis have had to put in a minimum of $1500 worth of maintenance money. My husband and I have had to put in a total of $5 for 2 sparkplugs. As for starting in cold weather, our local cycle shop recommended a different spark plug that made the cold starting easier. The 400 has never not started, but has required a little coaxing. I think the pros of owning the 400 seriously outweigh the cons. The cold start thing isn't that bad...ya just gotta talk to it sweet
'98 Recon
'99 GMC Sierra (red)
'00 400ex

 

before i modified anything to my quad, it ran flawlessly.

if it is hard to start...

pump the gas 2-4 times before hitting the electric starter.

hit the electric starter, and at the same time, SLIGHTLY pump the throttle. as soon as it starts hold the throttle in the smallest amount you can to get a noticible higher rev, but not that night of an RPM, very low. The lowest RPM you can get without it stalling.

My bike starts real easy, and i haev a lot of stuff modified.

400ex are really reliable, after break in use a synthetic oil "mobil 1 15x50" but until then use synthetic, which porbably comes in the 400.


The start up proceedure may be different when breaking a quad in. I just broke mine in, but it was still easy to start...

good luck

 

any fourwheeler will foul a plug or two. you cant get away from that. I mean comone. You never hear about bending aarms, breaking axles, cracking frames, or blowing up motors do you!? no, the only complaint is that swingarms i think will fatigue if you ride hard on it for a long period of time. The 400ex is the most reliable quad ever built if it takes after the 300ex which is the most reliable of all time!

 

I have had my 400EX since Sept 98. I live in nordern Minnesota. It will start in cold weather. I have started it at -10 F. I didn't ride it tho, I am not that tough. I only started it to prove it would start.

To make it start in the cold, I had to open up the pilot jet about 1/4 to 1/2 turn. I also have to pump the throttle several times, about 8 pumps. Sometimes it won't stay running and I have to tease the throttle to keep it going until it warms up a little. I also let it warm up, usually about 5 minutes, before riding it. It has been too cold lately to ride (I am getting old...) I do like to ride in the snow when it is warm enough so the snow grips the tires and flings all over the place, that is fun! If you plan on only riding in 20 above or better, you shouldn't be dissapointed.
Since you have owned a Tecate, I assume you are familiar with working on quads. You will have to expect to do some dialing in, unless the mechanics at your dealer are competent. The EX isn't going to seem so butt kicking fast, but it is still a heck of a lot of fun!

My motor is doing great, still has power, starts good, etc. I do a lot of hill climbing, that is very hard on the motor. I have also raced MX several times, and did well, except for a DNF cuz of a broken aftermarket axle.
I had to change the front shocks, and handlebars because I like to do bigger jumps and I am no lightweight (190-200#). The stock bars just turn to jelly after a while. The stock shocks bottom out a lot, even on small jumps, and they get worse the more abuse they take(of course). If you keep bottoming the shocks, the upper mounts will start to peel off the frame, mine and some of my friends did.

The only bad thing about the yellow 400EX is they didn't yellow or black the springs and hubs. That is just my opinion tho, don't take it personal.

PS: I am still running the original spark plug. I have never fouled the plug, EVER.

 

Thanks guys (and Queens)for the quick response! I still have some time to make up my mind, but you nice people have me siding with the 400ex! After having the Tecate4, I thought I would get something fairly fast that needed no work, or something blistering fast that took some TLC. I still like the thought of BLISTERING FAST, but now at 30yrs old I think I just want no headaches and to have some fun! I thought about the Raptor, but it hasn't been out long enough to stake it's claim to reliability yet either. At least with the 400 I know what I am in for.

Thanks again!

 

Another question,was the $5,610 out the door a good price? That was for a yellow one. In Ohio the yellow ones are $100 higher than the red/black.

 

Here in Ontario I think they are the same price. I am looking at a 2001 yellow 400ex too but they are asking 7199 before all the bull for the goverment. Most of my friends are still on 2 wheels but i feel alot better on 4 ( dirt anyways). By the sounds of it I am looking at the right quad as well. Was thinking about the Raptor but I do to much trail riding and it just alittle too much for that.

Ride safe and merry christmas to everyone

 

i never had any second thoughts about my 400EX.. its reliable but i cant compare it to my old 200SX since i've only had it for 6 months now, i live in Northern Montana and it can get cold (no wonder we have a 27' Penguin) i went out to start it today to move it and it wouldnt start up, i sat a space heater next to it for 15 min and still it wouldnt start up, i hooked it up to a battery charger and it fired right up