While riding it today for no reason it just killed..? checked gas and ya 3/4 of a tank...kept riding, doesn't seem to take the gas 100% of the time mostly in 3rd and no I'm not lugging it.

sounds awful this 400ex has a muffled sound to it that I HATE it's coming from up front not the muffler it's just the way this motor sounds.

after always riding utilitys it does ok to my quickness wise but I honestly hoped for me the power and speed is what I exspected out of a 300ex and I ALMOST bought the 300ex good thing I didn't

and the worst thing of all is the friggin throttle is SO STIFF! and it rides like a brick compared to honda utilitys I've had..I figured it would be supple and a nice ride considering all the suspension travel?????

I bought it new friday put about an hour on it that day by, saturday didn't ride any rained...sunday put around 3 hrs on it.

put an hour at best on it today..so around 5ish hrs on it if that.

paid $4268.94 out the door for it hellova deal!

should I call the dealer? or is that a losing battle, just doesn't seem quiet right to me I know honda products and this one seems to not be quiet right.

run it in the paper for approx what I got in it seeing it is around $6400 tax and all out the door anywhere else but the deal I got.


main thing is .....I screwed up big time selling my fourtrax 300 2wd....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] BIG BIG MISTAKE I think foreman 500 4x4 might be more for me seeing as I loved the 300.

 

The 400EX is a fine machine! You may have gotten a weird one, but it is on warranty so they should make it right if it isn't running properly...but so far (from your numerous other posts) I suspect the problem is more you than the machine!!! If you don't like the power, that engine has a fair bit of hop up potential with some simple mods.

It isn't quite clear whether you regret not getting a utility because of the terrain that you ride, or you just don't like the EX. Go talk to the dealer and see if they will work a trade for you. I would suggest the Rancher 420 instead of the Foreman, seeing you don't need a work quad.......

 

I may do that, the quad is a bit quirky IMO I mean cutting off for no reason, hard starting. I don't want to start off with something like that.

besides that I've just not been happy with the ride, power, and just over all FEEL of it the throttle is just horribly stiff. I can't get used to that I'd have to change that somehow even if I do keep it.

I'm worn out feeling after riding it I mean it is cold as crap right now but still my joints and all ache compared to getting off my old 300 and I'm just 24 and in good shape 5ft8" 150lbs so I'm not old or over weight.

I turly figured it would ride like a dream with all that suspension I never woulda figured my 300 would ride better.

and for it to really show it's power u have to go pretty much full throttle to get it in it's power band.

 

i have a 07 400ex too.hard as hell to start in the cold .front shocks suck. too stiff at normal riding but bottom out on jumps? but i will stick with it.i had a 1996 warrior that i abused every time i rode and it would be ready for the next day no problems.hope the honda will live up to that but im not sure. also mine dies once in a while too.could this be the valves?

 

hey dude i feel for ya, it sux when you think your getting something great and it turns out you didn't, this happened with my 400ex, thought i got a great deal then all kinds of probs, im just now getting to the end of them now like 800$ later but i only spent like half of what you did, mine wasnt new though, i would def. seee if the dealer could do something for you

 

If you do trade, I don't think you can go wrong with the Rancher 420. It is very snappy for a utility and the trail handling is superb. I love mine and don't think I could give it up for anything!

 

Shock travel has nothing to do with suppleness of ride.Longer shock travel allows you to take jumps and whoops and bumps at speed without bottoming out. Your old quad had a smooth ride because it was designed that way.
Just as a big, heavy car will ride smoother than a sports car. It's designed that way.
Like reconranger said, there are many upgrades (hop up parts) available for the 400ex.
I bought a 400ex for my wife two years ago (brand ne '06) and added a slip on HMF Sports Series pipe last fall. I rejetted it and opened up the air box. I was vey pleasantly surprised at the difference in power!
If it cuts out on you while riding it, I suggest, as others have, that you take it into the dealer and have it checked since it is under warranty.

 

What temperature are you running the quad in? Are we talking Minnesota-cold here, like -15, 32 degrees, or somewhere in between?

These things are apt to run very lean at colder temperatures, since pretty much all sport quads are jetted lean from the factory to meet emissions. Have you attempted to fiddle with the fuel/air mixture screw on the side of the carburetor yet? Any idling problems, that would be the first thing I'd check.

I've ridden 400ex's, and for sport riding, they are a great, economical selection today. Nicely balanced, jump well, and decent amount of power. A guy I ride with has a modified one and truthfully, he's hard to keep up to sometimes with my YFZ.

As far as a sit-down put-around quad, mmmm, probably not going to be the most comfortable out there..

Have the dealer work with you through the problem ... if the quad still isn't "you", i don't think you'll lose a lot of money on your deal.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: klier

What temperature are you running the quad in? Are we talking Minnesota-cold here, like -15, 32 degrees, or somewhere in between?



These things are apt to run very lean at colder temperatures, since pretty much all sport quads are jetted lean from the factory to meet emissions. Have you attempted to fiddle with the fuel/air mixture screw on the side of the carburetor yet? Any idling problems, that would be the first thing I'd check.



I've ridden 400ex's, and for sport riding, they are a great, economical selection today. Nicely balanced, jump well, and decent amount of power. A guy I ride with has a modified one and truthfully, he's hard to keep up to sometimes with my YFZ.



As far as a sit-down put-around quad, mmmm, probably not going to be the most comfortable out there..



Have the dealer work with you through the problem ... if the quad still isn't "you", i don't think you'll lose a lot of money on your deal.</end quote></div>


Todays high was 40ish, this morning going to work my car read 19! eek was a cold walk in haha.

it's a ok machine but just OK imo..bc u mention power the power to sling the rear end around in 3rd isn't REALLY there I mean u have to be nailing it hard to get it around.....in it's defense it does BITE really good I could sling my 300 around better tho.....lower gears helping? who knows

 

I would get a different machine utility and sport are worlds apart. I am not sure what you are looking for. The 400ex is nearly a decade old now. I would get a more current machine. I had both a 00-400ex and 05-450R the 400ex felt like a weak dinosaur in comparison. I think they have a 700r now or something. I have a 06 Rincon now and am looking at a 08 KQ 750 or BF 750.