I am looking to purchase or build a quad. I used to own a trx 250x and loved it. There are a lot of frames and such on ebay that I have been looking at. Then I also have access to totalled and salvaged stuff. I want to know what is the biggest difference between the two? Which would you build? I remember the 250R was way faster than my 250X, but if I am going to build this thing from scratch, either would be fast. Not intended on racing, just taking it to trails and stuff. thanks

 

First off, the 250R was a 2-stroke, and your 250X was 4-stroke...hence the huge difference!

These engines make their power in very different ways. The 400EX engine is a torquey lugger with good bottom end. It makes it power down low in the rpm range. The 450R on the other hand is all rev. It makes its power while screaming at high rpm.

I own both, so I speak from experience here. I don't like trail riding the R, because it requires a lot of clutch slipping. It wants to rev and it wants to run, and it doesn't ever like going slow. The EX on the other hand is the ultimate trail quad. That engine will lug down, and you can pick your way throught the rough stuff in 1st gear at an idle.

As for frames, either one is excellent.

 

thanks, i thought that was the difference, as far as the two and four stroke. yeah, it sounds like the 400 ex would suit me better.

 

Let me chime in here too because I also own both and I know how reconranger loves his EX [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]. He is right, the EX is the ultimate trail quad specially on tight slow stuff. The 450 however will handle faster trails fine. I upgraded because I got into more open stuff and hill climbing. Climbing on the 450 is just so much more fun than it is on the EX.

If you plan on staying to the slower wooded trails go with the air cooled EX no question. The 400EX is alot of slower riding fun. If you plan on going fast most of the time go with the 450, its alot of fast riding fun.

If your close to Oklahoma I have 2 nice '02 400EX's for sale. Good luck with the build or search.

 

im down in georgia. i just bought a 4x4 polaris but would like to have something to go fast on. i used to have a TRX250x and had a blast on. we dont have a lot of hills and such around here, mostly trails. not a lot of open country either. i wish i could find someone wanting to trade of a paint job on a car for an 400.