I miss my ex...

 

Sounds like the 400ex is the right bike for you. It's plenty fast for the trails and still winds out to about 65 mph in stock form. Simple mods can get a little bit more out of it without sacrificing reliability. The 250r is a great bike and is certainly the better race bike but I never did like a 2t for trails. Plus the maintenance will be less frequent on the ex.


Now when it comes to GC, a SRA sport bike will not get thru a 1/4 of mud/rocky terrain that a 4x4 will but then again, a 4x4 won't be able to climb the same verticals or rip thru tight terrain nearly as fast as a sport bike can so it's give and take. Just depends on your riding style

 

My ex would climb rock hills or go through rock gardens much faster and easier than my 4x4. I know it sounds stupid... But the ex was so much lighter and more maneuverable than a 4x4. The ride was brutal tho.
In the mud a sra does suck.

 

I agree, the speed that you can hit things at coupled with a light front end make sport quads much more versatile on any type of climb or non muddy terrain. Just shift your body and the bike goes with it.

 

Another advantage that Jgar's EX had was it was narrow. We got on a steep hill on a powerline trail that had a massive runoff ditch on one side. He had the room to go up the left side without going into the trees and without going into the deep rut. With the width of my Outlander I kept getting sucked into that ditch so the quad was resting on its right side. Finally just got the winch out and dragged it up the hill. It was then that Jgar told me there was a way around...

 

Sorry Moose....