Hello forum, just found ya ... proud new owner of a 99 Honda 400EX. I haven't really ridden a four-wheeler since my cousin's Honda 80 when I was a kid (I'm 38 now). Previous owner just installed all new plastic from Honda. It has an HMF muffler, K&N air filter and has supposedly been jetted. I am a car mechanic but need to now learn four-stroke Hondas I guess. Well, again just saying hey and wondering if there are any bugs to worry about.....or anyting I should watch out for.... Honnda 400 reliable ????? I know it's air-cooled does it overheat easily? I took it out and put maybe 5 miles on it and it surprised me. But I'n new to quads so..... a buddy of mine had a Polaris 400 4x4 Sportsman I think fully automatic, this seems WAY faster.

 

Welcome and congratulations. The 400 ex is virtually bullet proof. The axle bearings will be the most likely place to need attention. When the bearings go bad you don't have much time before the ruin the carrier housing. To check the bearings stand the quad on it grab bar and rock it back and forth looking for play between the swingarm and axle.

If it isn't jetted correctly it won't run right. If it goes when you want it to and the header isn't glowing red, it is jetted close.

 

k, thanx man. It definitely goes when I want it to. I'll have to check it for the bearing play you mention. Thx again.