I have been riding quads now for about 3 years. The only thing I have ridden though is my 97 Polaris Magnum 425. I have ridden some friends' auto-manuals....and one friends Raptor, although there was snow on he ground so I didnt do too much on it. My main interests are trail riding and there are some tracks near where I live. I want to upgrade to a sport quad from my Polaris and I am pretty stuck on the 400ex. Is this a good decision or should I consider another model?

 

Of all the performance bikes, the 400 is the best trail ride. The thing is bulletproof, and mods up pretty well, when you want to get more power.

 

My first quad was a 400EX. For aggressive novices it's the best bike on the planet, bar none (and I WILL go to the mat on this one!). It's such a point and shoot machine, and so forgiving, it'll make you feel like a pro after just a few rides.

It is very durable, but I did find a way to beat one up a bit. If you push it extreamly hard in the sand, it can get hot and damage the valves. I spent several hours carving small bowls at Pismo one day, full throttle with little air moving over the engine, and burned an exhaust valve. Also, fanning the clutch will cause that sweet Honda tranny to start acting up pretty quickly. Otherwise it's typically Honda tough.

 

What does fanning the clutch mean?

 

It's a technique that two stroke riders use all time, where the clutch is partially engaged & disengaged rapidly with full throttle to keep the motor spinning in the most efficient part of the power band (man, did I just butch that explanation? Somebody save me from myself!). Only an idiot fans the clutch on a four stoke anyway, so I didn't mean to say that the EX has a weak clutch. IF you insist on brutalizing your bike, as I did, even a Honda will break down. Speed shifting, clutch fanning, or not using the clutch at all will wear out the clutch and/or gears in a hurry. If you use it as it is intended it'll hold up for a long time.

 

The 400EX is a great choice for a first sport bike. Its nearly bullet proof and when you decide to "beef" it up some there are more than enough aftermarket parts out there for it.