After much searching on CL finally found a ATV on reasonable good ondition.

Bone stock, no mods, tires have good thread, some scuff war marks etc. All in all not bad.

Buying new was out of the equation.

Honda 400ex, not sure if true or not the guy stated one can top 70 + miles on the ATV.
He seemed cool about the sale, no less than 2000 for it. Will pick it up tomorrow. He had to be brief as he was heading out the door to his anniversary.

 

Ok, I will pick up the ATV tomorrow.

How do I know that it is really a 2007 model?

I have searched on bikepics for photos of the 400ex 07 model, and same goes for youtube.

Why some atvs show the neutral, brake led panel and some others its just like a box on the center of the handlebars.

The guy stated that like on dirt bikes, its difficult to find where neutral is.











Its strange, some 2007 models have the front grill, others it is a round tube, others is more of a butterfly design on the front bumper.

Will take more pictures tomorrow, the only gripe I got it does not have rear brake light, and where the light goes the metal piping is missing, somehow it got ripped off. If you see closely its just two pieces of tube sticking out. No big deal, besides that it ran good, no leaks, started on the first try, frame seemed straight, no weird shaking, tight chain, good engagement, etc.

 

2,000 for an 07 is a pretty good deal, even with a missing brake/tail light, you can find an OEM one on eBay cheap, or custom fab an nice LED one yourself. You can verify the year off the frame number, I believe, just give that number to a dealer, or even the DMV should be able to tell you, or you might be able to google the info.
Looks pretty clean, and like you said, it starts and runs good, no leaks or funny noises, sounds like you got a really good deal.

 

There should be a sticker on one of the frame down tubes just behind the bumper that says what year it is.
Also the bumper is after market, that is why it is different.
The tubes, ask you call them, sticking out the back where the grab bar should be is part of what is called the subframe. For some reason the previous owner must have cut or broken off the grab bar.

 

Honda400ex :: 400ex_idle.mp4 video by psiturbo - Photobucket

Not sure if thats how Hondas sound at idle, to me it has a lot of ticking.

But man I can go to cruising speed and chillin on the woods, and hit the throttle and has a sweet grunting sound.

Its my first clutch bike so takes a while to find 1st and neutral, and predict revving down, turns, hills.

 

Probably wouldn't hurt to check the valve lash. From the pics it doesn't really look to have many hard hours on it, but you never know. I almost bought a 400EX a few years ago. Was set up pretty much how I wanted. Then I popped the seat off however. The air filter was just laying in the box, not connected. There was dirt in the intake tract. Even though the motor ran and sounded OK, it just felt like a time bomb to me.

 

The rear panel is cracked, some zip ties do the work, one broke during transit.



Missing rear light, wires exposed, just got to clean and tuck away.



I guess at some point wheelie attempts were not that effective. It brakes on a dime, in fact front brake must be adjusted or will do endos on demand.






I got the center pad, have not put it back.



A little dirt, dust here and there, its meant to be driven.



Checked each and every ball joint, spacer, bushings, its all there, no wobble. In fact I can push the ATV out the garage and rolls by itself out.



Some ghetto rig about neutral that does not light up.



Some scuff marks, seems a weird location to me. A branch or maybe went down a ditch.





A little more dust and dirt, but everything lined up and straight. Typical 6 year old rust for an atv, slightly on the edges etc, nothing some sand paper and spray cannot fix.



Tip is slightly dented, very very minor from him doing wheelies.



Final shot

The seller would not go any lower than 2000 dollars. It runs strong, plenty of power all across the powerband, low to high end. Still got to work on my launch and coming out of corners and control tail spin. Changed the filter and oil yesterday, little bit of seafoam (about 2 ounces on the tank) to clean up. It was back firing a little and after a full throttle passes the engine woke up once again. Seemed running much cooler after oil change.

I think I could have gone lower than 2, which to me its very difficult for a 400 line model. Its more aesthetics, it shifts well, has no oil leaks, good low/ middle and top end. Yesterday it rained and went out across all these poddles of watery mud, and dirt, some throttle and out we go, shift shift and brace for dear life, lol.

 

That is a nice looking bike. Ride safe and have fun!

 

Did the oil change, adjusted the valves, check spark gap, clean air filter, etc. It seems the 400ex engine tends to be a little valve ticky, usually when it warms up, not too much but definite ticking. It runs strong, has plenty of power and does not smoke, spark plug looks fine, no whitish, no signs of oil residue or detonation.

Carry a compact infrared temp gun, have been making readings on all conditions.

Cruising on 2nd gear, 180F.
High speed runs, pulling through all gears and then making readings, 155F.

All readings done where the strainer screen is.
Have made similar readings pointing the into the hole where the dip stick is and are usually 20 degrees lower, and also to the dipstick tip itself, (usually 130F).

The highest readings in the screen, just in case make readings all across the oil tank and go with the highest spot.

 

Go on eBay, they have aftermarket tips for the stock exhaust, it takes out the restrictive baffle/spark arrestor, and replaces it with a 2" open tip with a spark screen on it, gives it a nice deep tone, you would probably like it.