im getting ready to buy my first atv and i think i have found the right one, its a 2002 honda 400ex with 40 hrs on it and it has nerf bars and a white brothes pipe, they are asking 2600 for it and i want to know if that is a good quad and if the price is decent?

 

It's seems decent money wise. Does it look like it only has forty hours on it? How does it ride? Whats the maintenance history? With 40 hours it should show very little use. The tires should be good and it should not have any blems. Of coarse, if it has sat outside since 02 then it would look pretty old. If it looks about new I'd offer $2000 it is a 7 year old machine. Sometimes age does more harm than use. For example if it only has 40 hours and he has never changed the oil, I would steer clear. If he has changed the oil at least once per year with that many hours it may be worth it. That is less than 6 hours per year average, seems suspect. I would question why so little use? Ask him about oil changes and if the valve have been adjusted. How old is the person selling this ATV? Anyhow, Welcome to the forum.

 

yea you cant really take a sellers word about the hrs on a bike. theres no way to count them unless he has a hr clock installed which i doubt. i found a 03 400 for 2500 and talked him down to 1900, but it does have a slight ticking at start up. heard this could be normal but im gonna replace the timing chain anyways. either way if it looks good, not all cracked and faded. and runs n shifts good then id feel safe buying it. hondas are very TUFF. even under some of the worst circumstances. good luck and let us know how it goes. the 400ex is a great bike.

 

Adjust the valves, first thing! This is something that almost eveyone neglects. The "ticking" might go away....

And do an oil/filter change to be sure you have a descent quality (motorcycle specific API SG/JASO MA) oil in there. (I recommend any oil from Maxima. Extra if you are willing to pay the higher price.)

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>and i want to know if that is a good quad </end quote></div>

As far as the 400ex in general goes, it seems to be one of the most bullet proof in its class...

 

just a note i got my 2003 400ex (pipe,jet,k&n,extra front sprocket) and i paid 2,000. I would try to talk him down some. You can see the pics in my photo section, it is in really good shape and only had two owners. 2600 is steep IMO.


Hope this helps.