hey i am wanting to know a few things about the honda 400ex and 450r. I would likt to know the approx. top speed of the 400 and also the 450r. Also which if the two is an all around better atv. If there is any other good info. that i should know please let me know. Thanks alot.

 

The EX is an "old school" air cooled engine design, based on the venerable XR400 dirt bike. This engine will run forever, with just basic maintenance. The beauty of the EX is that its engine will lug down. This makes it the all time great tight trail quad! As far as top speed, it is probably the slowest of all the performance quads. Handling is great, and suspension is good!

The R has a completely different engine design. It uses Formula 1 technology, like a light little slipper piston. It is water cooled, but not yet fuel injected (hopefully we will see that in the near future). These engines scream, and make their power way up in the rpm range. They don't grunt like the EX does. The real beauty is, that these are the do more with less machines! Handling and suspension are excellent! They come in at around 350 pounds, which is where a sport quad weight should be. They need frequent oil changes. More about this engine type:

http://www.belray.com/scripts/...41d7-b921-64a4cf6d0144

I own both, and I pick the R for the wide open desert (it is after all the king of endurance desert races, like Baja!). I pick the EX for the tight woods trails, that we have in the local mountains.

 

Like recon is saying the EX is better all around for tight trails and putting around. Great quad and rock solid. Top speed guessing around 60 safely. Maybe 62 - 63 piped.

The 450 is more fun all around in open areas where you want to rip down a open trail at high speeds. Insane power to weight ratio on these things. As for speed. I like the quote from a host on my Fav British tv series called Top Gear when he rode a 450. His words, "One million, billion miles an hour."

Seriously tho top speed should play no factor whatsoever in your decision.

 

Top Gear....a fave show of mine!

 

Not trying to go off topic but, I've heard there is an American version in the works recon. With host Adam Corolla. It'll be interesting to see how it does because, to me the British hosts make top gear. Some in my family are as far from gear heads as you can get but, they love watching because, the hosts personalities make everything so fun.

This is one of the shows on my "If your not watching you should" list.

*According to Wikipedia the USA version has been canceled.