HONDA 400 EX !!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks everyone for the info. I still don't know what to buy, but at least I have some more info from all of you to help me make the decision.

 

Hey Brian, as you already know, I bought the Raptor! I just wanted to update my original post!

-Mitch

 

it is not always good to have reverse for a newbie atv rider, some people dont no its limits and will just blow the whole thing up.

 

Kukerdan I agree with you that a scrambler 400 would be a good choice but if he is planning on buying new he can not get a 400 4x4 because they no longer make them.

 

Area 51, since you still havn't made up your mind, you might want to hook up with your local ATV club. There's usually a few kind souls who will let you take a short spin on their bikes to get a feel for what you like and don't like. Also, there used to be a place in L.V. that rented quads. Look in the phone book and see if they're still around. If not, they rent 400EX's and a couple of different Polaris's at Pismo.

I have to agree with Cory that the 400EX is a great bike. It is extreamly user friendly; stable, torguey, and durable. It has no flaws, but it's not super powerful and feels a little cramped for riders 6' or taller. I found that at most riding areas I never got past fouth gear (i.e. it had more power than I could use). The big exception to this is at the dunes. In the sand it seemed pretty anemic. I rode mine very, very hard and in the dirt it held up fine, but when I took it to Pismo and started carving bowls, power shifting, and slipping the clutch, the top end and tranny started acting up. There are limits to what you can do with 30 hp. Otherwise, it's the most well ballanced, best engineered sport quad you can buy.

 

if you were going to buy a new one i would get a polaris scrambler 850xp they have alot of good reviews and has great power and has fox shocks plus they have a nice look to them or i would get the outlaw525 they have great power and can haddle almost any terrian.

 

You Might Want To Look At The Can Am Outlander 800R. Really Nice Rugged ATV. I've Owned One For A Few Years Now. No Complaints Whtsoever. With You Living In The Desert & the Mountain Region. The 4X4 Will Come In Really Handy When You Need It. Plus, It's A Nice Looking Machine Too. I Also Own A Bombardier DS-650 For The "Kid" In Me. LOL !!!!!, But Your Right With All The New ATVs Out There. It's Hard To Choose The Right One To Fit Your Needs.

Good Luck On Your Quest !!!!!!

 

Dry desert makes it sound like 4wd it not a biggie for you. The thing I do not like about chain drive sport ATVs is with there small rear wheels combined with there large rear chain sprocket and its skid plate you have maybe 3" of ground clearance.

If you have rocky terrain its not good. A 5" high rock will beat a sprocket 3" off the ground every time in a battle and a 5" rock on the trail is the small ones around here.

Plus you have to adjust chains and lube them where a shaft drive is a "forget all about it" feature.
And even if you do hit a rock a rear diff is alot tuffer then a Sprocket.