"Buy the 400"
"Id get the 300 if I were you"
"youll outgrow the 300, buy the 400"
"get the 300"
"get the 400"

Man, just go and ride them both and buy the one you want.

If you are interested in reverse, nice trail machine and spending less money, look into the 300EX. If you dont care about reverse, want to jump far or motoX race, look into the 400EX.

SIT ON THEM, AND RIDE THEM BOTH. After you do that, these posts wont matter to you.

-Matt

 

TRXter-I was making my 300EX/XR250R and 400EX/XR400R comparisons based more on HANDLING characteristics rather than a comparison of POWER. If you are comparing quads in STOCK form to the dirt bikes, I would be more inclined to agree with your 300EX/XR200 (chicks bike), etc analogy. However, the little 300 and the 400 engines hop-up pretty well, so I have a harder time agreeing if the quads are moded up.

 

YZGUY, yea I see your point. I was thinking of it more from a who would ride it angle. The same riders who fit well on the XR200 usually like the 300EX for ATVing, and the same with the XR250/400EX.

 

TRXter-I see you are form So. Cal. Where do you usually ride? How do you like the DS? I am dying for a desert racer. The DS Baja is a great concept, but the bike is just so big, and 100 lbs. to heavy. I could mod a 400EX or 250R, but right now I'm holding out for a 650EX. If Honda doesn't get with it though, I may reconsider the DS. Thanks!

I see your point about rider size. As a trail bike, the 300 is at its best with a larger (but not to heavy), stronger rider, who can MANHANDLE the bike (as opposed to just being a passenger!). Ridden like this, you can utilize all of the quick handling ability the bike has. But, for smaller riders, the 300 just makes a good general purpose machine.

 

YZGUY, lol. Actually I'm in Nor Ca. The "Brentwood" you're thinking of (OJ's Brentwood) I believe is Brentwood Heights. Our Brentwood has about 99% less millionairs and alot more orchards than it's evil twin to the south.

I ride all over the northern end of the state, even venturing into Nevada and as far south as Hungry Valley. I have a buddy in Escondito who keeps bugging me to come down to Ocotillo Wells, so I hope to make it down there before too long.

I'm loving the DS. I had a 400EX before and really liked the way it handled, but wanted something with a bit more umph. I also like the stretched out riding posotion of the Bomb. I won't lie to you, though, it's freaking huge! Single tracking is totally out of the question. The weight really only shows when you get hung up and have to lug it around by hand. While I rarely missed not having reverse on my EX, it would be handy on the DS. The Baja is the way to go if you're thinking of getting one. It doesn't have the flaws of the DS; lousy tires, soft wheels, twitchy high speed handling, and a bothersome rev limiter.

As far as concepts go, I think the DS platform would be perfect for a true high performance 4x4. I looked at the Scrambler before I got my EX and really liked the idea, but couldn't get past the auto tranny, floor boards, and idiotic controlls. Wouldn't it be cool if Bombardier followed through with Polaris's origional Idea (I'm assuming that the brains behind the Scrambler had designed a true sport quad but got quashed by upper the management pukes)? Talk about a go anywhere dessert quad!