ok dudes, the more i get closer and closer to gettin a new 400ex, the more and more I hear frame problems about it. If anyone out there owns a 400ex and just does trail ridin, did ur frame crack at all? ppl keep tellin me that it cracks and they tell me not to get one, i need ur dudes opinion. thanx

 

I've have a 2001 400ex and I have raced MX and rode trails with it for over a year now and havn't had a bit of problem with it. There are a lot of 400's in this area and the only one that I've seen with a cracked frame was one that had hit a tree.

In my opinion is it a great quad.

 

you can crack the frame if your repeadetly goin off huge jumps on the stock suspension. if you haven't cracked your 300ex frame yet the 400 frame will stand up just fine.

 

I own a 99 400 EX that is mainly driven on the trails. No frame problem or any problem since new in January 99. Rock solid bike if you ask me. Only suggestion's I would make are change to 20w 50 motor oil and larger diameter tires. Motor oil suggested because the 400 seems to break down the stock Honda oil rather quickly when ridden hard. Only need the larger diameter tires for rockier and mudier areas as this will give you more clearance. 22 inch tire requires 14 tooth front sprocket to correct to stock gear ratio. Love my 400 EX wouldn't trade for anything else yet.

1999 Honda Fourtrax 400 EX
1998 Honda Foreman 450 ES

 

The 400EX is amazing. The tranny and the handling are spot on. You really have to abuse it to crack the frame. It is THE quad for trail riding, MX, and recreational jumping.

If you feel the need to hit BIG jumps for eight hours a day, look into an aftermarket swingarm, and you'll be fine.

 

overall opinion of the 400ex.............. the best overall bike made.. you can use the 400ex for just recreational riding, add a little money and have a good bike for romps thru the woods, a little more money, and you're ready to hit the hard cross country tracks, just a little more dough, and you can be ready to hit it with the big boys on the MX track, either 250 open class or bore it out and run witht he nationals,or just take it to the dunes and roost sand.. it's the best bike overall, you see the 400ex in more situations than any other quad on the market,, it's up there with the 250R in any situation.. it's a great quad, the best all around in my opinion, but thats just me,, my .02 dont count for much.

 

I love my 400 ex! I ride in the Arizona desert and sand dunes of So.California. It's very dependable and with a few mods will kick some butt!

 

if your a really good rider you might wanna add a pipe uin filter and a cam with heavier spring's it lack's stock.ill bet im in the top 10 list for the biggest quad nut on this site iv NEVER heard anything bad about it's dependabilty frame or otherwise. it's a honda come on now you know you can trust it.the front end float's some tho but it's just the somewhat soft front shock's it wheelies good and iv seen bone stock 400ex's take some crazy hill's. it would be really close in my personal list of greatest quad's ever built no worries dude go get your ex you'll be happy with it

 

BDuTcH300EX,
If it says "Honda" and "400EX" on it, it will most likely have frame problems and be way down on power.

 

That's a good one. Can't say I didn't deserve it.