Actually there are quite a few reasons to pick the 400ex over the Raptor, like reliability. For some reason I've never trusted the Raptor transmissions, or Yamaha transmissions in general, the one on my Warrior is a piece o' crap. The only thing the EX lacks is straight line power, but they are still equal, or the Honda has the edge in some of the other areas. I don't know how the Raptor jumps, but supposedly the 400ex is one of the most balanced, easy to jump quads out there. The 400ex still has the great handling, while people call the Raptor tippy, I don't, but people do. And you can find 400ex's with tons of mods for hundreds less than a Raptor. Why would you want a Raptor now?

 

I would get the 400ex. No maintainence. Great fuel economy. No liquid cooling to worry about. These bikes are as dependable as a Peterbilt.

Raptor's are fun in the dunes once they are widened and better suspended. They definitely have power hiding in that big engine. None of that though is cheap.

But if I still lived back east I wouldn't even think about anything else but a Honda. Nothing goes through the woods like a Honda.

Also, ask yourself this question. How many 15-20 year old 3 wheelers / 4 wheelers of Suzuki, Kawasaki or Yamaha do you see runing around your local riding areas? Then ask how many 15-20 year old Hondas do you see? From the looks of the crowds at Glamis you'd think Honda outsold the other 3 by 100 to 1. Hondas last the others don't. For example: The last known 87 Banshee left in the world recently rusted in half. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I definatly want a 400ex, and this 440 sounds really good to me, the only thing i heard about them is that, you can't ride them as long as stock or 416's, but then again i don't plan on riding 30mi. at a time. Anyone think that it is a bad choice?

 

Lol, trx440, I would have said the same thing until today, my 1980 ATC 70 finally gave up. The carb fell off. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

Hey i have a 1979 i think 250XL dirtbike, old as dust but still runs strong, and a 69' trail 90, still runs strong too...

 

I have a 400ex, just upgraded to a kfx, if you think on leaving the 400ex stock, get a kfx, if not you need to spend money to keep up with raptors,z's,dvx's,kfx's I say just get the raptor or buy a kfx or z. My 400ex was a piece o' **** till i added mods to it, spent near 2000 bux into it, take it from me I have a 400ex, get a Raptor660R or Z400/KFX400/DVX400(Artic Cat).
Rob