Im sure its been asked a bunch of times, but im thinking of getting a sport 4 wheeler to go along with my rubicon and im not sure which I want or is best for me between a honda 400ex or a honda 450r. My riding consists of hills, fast trails, slow trails, technical woods riding, and road riding. Which would be best for me? Ive ridin a 400ex before but never ridin a 450r. I would be looking at bone stock used 400's and 450's when I decide which to get because I want to be able to mod them myself.

 

Welcome to the forums. I can tell you that a 450 will be more fun on hills, fast trails and more fun all around in my opinion. They are high geared and not great on slow trails because they get hot fast and bad for technical trails because you'll use clutch way too much. 400ex is a solid machine great for all around and can handle slow trials better and can make it through technical stuff.

But, if it were me, and already have a rubi use it for slow, technical trails and get yourself a 450. They are light, more powerful and tons of fun. I do lots of trails and love hill climbing. The 450 is much more fun than my old EX was.

 

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

... bad for technical trails because you'll use clutch way too much......</end quote></div>

maybe you need to consider this clutch....

http://www.dp-brakes.com/dp.php?load=clutches&sec=atv


all i can say is steel..... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: howardz71

Im sure its been asked a bunch of times, but im thinking of getting a sport 4 wheeler to go along with my rubicon and im not sure which I want or is best for me between a 400ex or a 450r. My riding consists of hills, fast trails, slow trails, technical woods riding, and road riding. Which would be best for me? Ive ridin a 400ex before but never ridin a 450r. I would be looking at bone stock used 400's and 450's when I decide which to get because I want to be able to mod them myself.</end quote></div>

Are you looking to buy new or used?

 

Ill be buying used. Also when I do buy I will be buying a stock used one as I want to add mods to the bike myself if I choose to. If I buy a 400ex im looking for a 2004 model old body style yellow ive always liked that old style, and for the honda 450r Im not pickey on what year for it.

 

The EX is the best trail quad of all time (along with its little brother the 300). This engine will lug down, and you can idle through the technical stuff in 1st gear. It is no slouch on the top end either.....

The R loves open country. This engine wants to rev, so on a tight trail it is a pain to keep this thing reved and requires a lot of annoying clutch slipping. There is no lugging this engine. Mine goes 25 mph in 1st gear at idle. In open country it is wicked fast, but on a tigh trail it is a pain....

My solution is BOTH, but if I could have only one quad that had to do everything, it would be the 400EX!

Have you considered the Z400? It falls somewhere in between the 400EX and 450R.

 

I would agree the Z would fill more of your niche as it reves a little more than the EX allowing higher speeds but still makes a great trail quad!

 

Ive looked at the other brands but all Ive owned is a honda and with there reliable and my experience with them I just cant see myself owning anything but a honda. Would a 400ex with say a standard bore 11.1 piston, hot cam stage 1 cam, high flow air filter and lid, and performance full exhaust still be a good trail quad and be very reliable? Also how would that compare to a stock honda 450r?

 

Both the Ex and Z are just about as bulit proof as they come but onece you start to mod anything you reliability goes out the door so if this is what you are planning on doing with the bike you might as well go bigger or more power to begin with.

Not to tell what to buy but you are missing out an allot by being brand biased! I thought the same thing about Polaris Sportsman tell I rode my Yamaha Grizzly! If you want a trail bike that will still smoke the 450's in the straight's take a look at a Raptor 700 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] esp once you do the basic 3 mod setup!

 

I want a sport bike that I can easily just putt around on the trails but when I get out on the open ground I want it to be pretty wicked and flat out run, but I also want a bike that I can never have to really do anything to but normal maintence and it last forever. My first 4 wheeler was a 1985 honda 250 fourtrax I still have it and it still runs as good today as it did when it was brand new and ive never done a thing to it but put a new battery on it change the oil and air filter