But what about riders of the 400ex? Can those riders, past and present, be considered stable?

JK This former rider of a Honda 400ex cleared some amazing obstacles in his day.

 

We owned both a 300EX and a 400EX when my kids were growing up. If you can ride a 300EX you can ride a 400EX. There is not that much difference in power and the 400 is a better machine, with more room, that is easier to ride. Have him just get a 400EX.

 

The Suzuki Z400 would be another one to consider too unless he only rides Hondas. The Z400 had reverse all years, 400ex only had it from 2005 on I believe. You might not use it much but its easier to reverse out of a tight spot than put it in neutral and push. Slightly more power than the 400ex too and roughly about the same price used.

 

A guy that used to occasionally ride with us needed that reverse on his Z400 when he was trying to keep up and took a curve just a little too wide. His Z got skewered by a fallen tree that was pushed off the side of the trail. But it wasn't his fault. The tree jumped out in front of him after everyone else went by. It seemed like a nice quad if you're into sport quads.

 

I've rode locally with some guys and one of them had a Z400. He went through some stuff that you wouldn't think it would make it through. The rest of us all had utility 4x4 quads. So if he got stuck and couldn't muscle it out, we had him covered. Never did get it completely stuck though.