Yesterday I traded My 00 Scrambler 500 in for a 01 400ex. I went for a ride last night on the MC track, I love it. This puts the Scrambler to shame. It handles and jumps excellent. Can't wait to go riding again. I wished I would of just got the Honda the first time, it would of been alot cheaper. I may miss the reverse and 4x4 but while I am going forward ahead there will be not regrets.

 

congrads

 

Man ,thats the same thing I'm about to do. I bought a 00 scrambler 400 4x4 and hate it. Iv'e only put 4 tanks of gas in it. I can't wait for the 01 400ex. Just like you, I should have bought it in the first place. Did they give you a good trade-in value for your scrambler?

 

The more you ride it, the more you will like it!

00 400ex

 

My freinds the same way only he wished he bought the raptor instead of the 400ex. Almost twice the horsepower and liquid cooled. Only cost 800$ more. My freind also bent his grabbar which bent his subframe on his 400. Why didn't Honda make the grabbar seperate like Yamaha did with the raptor? Because this is where they make $ in parts. A grabbar cost 30 bucks but since they attatched it to the subframe try over $200. Not to mention the looks of the Raptor alone destroys the 400ex. Just watch those honda performance quad sales go like the 1929 stockmarket. Only their new kiddie bike 250ex and there utility quads will keep them going. Come on Honda make a new 2 stroke high performance quad and a super 4 stroke. Honda fans if I were you I wouldn't hold my breath. Don't get me wrong growing up through the 80's I owned Honda's and liked them very much. But since then they have made one true bike the 400ex and now that's not really that special. At least Yamaha is listening to us speed demon high performance junkies not to $ hungry jewish lawyers like honda. Why hasn't honda stepped up? Because they're scared of lawsuits what Pussies!

 

Really the Raptor only puts out about 37hp, which is a far cry from the 54 RWHP that it would take to double a 400EX. Now take the Raptor's gearing, extra weight, and the use of CV carbs - and the power difference is fairly minimal. Note that everyone in the Yamaha forum is complaining and already looking for hop-up's to make their bike perform like it was supposed to in the first place. Also note that it is quite easy and to bring the EX up to around 38 RWHP, you then have a lighter, higher revving, correctly geared, proven machine - with vast aftermarket support.

Looks are completely subjective, I really liked the looks of the Raptor at first, but that's fading now & now I think it's a little goofy looking, but that's just one guy's opinion. We'll see about sales, but I think you are off base, completely...

As far as parts go, you may be correct about the grab bar (although I believe it is closer to $150 than the "over $200" you suggest), although I have found very few that have actually had to replace a subframe. You can also buy an aftermarket grab bar that bolts to the subframe if that concerns you. If you are concerned about parts prices, why don't you price fenders, steering stems, axles, air box, etc.. between the Raptor and 400EX - I think you will find a surprizing, substantial price differnce there. Parts for the 400 are exceptionally cheap because they are manufactured in America (Rear axle - $70, Ft Fenders $50, R Fenders $70, air box $12, etc..)

The aluminum control arms also really concern me, if you have visited my page, you will probably notice that I like to jump, I absolutely would not trust those in my jumping situations.

Honda is just cautious about releasing new machines, for 2 reasons, they don't like to release a half assed machine with obvious problems (gearing from a streetbike, weak aluminum control arms, exposed oil filter, etc..) and, since they were the largest at the time, really got torn into by the govt in the late '80s...

While I'm not trying to put down your Raptor, I just think that some of you with your high and mighty attitudes need a little reality check (aren't you the one that was in here a couple months ago spouting this same crap about the Warrior?). Enter a race, harescramble or MX, see what you and your machine are really made of, you might just find that a lowly 400EX can hold it's own pretty well....

I also seriously doubt that the 400EX will be the last performance quad from Honda (unless the govt cracks down on us again because of people getting hurt on the new big bores (I won't mention any names)).

 

well said Gabe.

 

I've gotta say, listen to Gabe! Buddy, that Raptor isn't what its all wraped up to be. Honda will prob. not come out with a new machine for at least a year. Look what happened to the sales for the 400ex when the DS was released. They kept rising. Why would Honda just rush and throw together a new big bore quad!? On the other hand, Yamaha comes to mind, laws against two stokes are heating up, Yamaha needs some new excitement. (they haven't had any since '87) and a Raptor was born. THe atv world goes crazy, everyone wants one. Then, once people get them, ohh, mixed feelings! Did you see anyone complaing about a 400ex when they where first released in 99?! NO! I don't think so! SO to sum this all up, Honda will have a new big bore sport quad....just dotting the "i's" and crossing the "t's" since the 400ex is still selling good. Ask someone who's tried to get a yellow ex......they're backed up and waiting a month.

 

As I have said before, I'm waiting at the track to see the Raptors show up & perform, but my money is on the 400EX in the 4 stroke class.

Scrambler & Polaris: Welcome to the world of Honda. You guys will need to come up with new log in names.

 

War99,

I'd like to know where you get your information about the subframe cost. A buddy of mine just replaced his for $120. Just a FYI. Oh and that was a part from the dealer.

Eric