Jeffman, its people like you that are the reason why we don't have a 450R or 450EX, liquid-cooled may be more matenance, but it ain't much, and it makes the motor run a lot better a lot longer. Heck if we are lucky enough to get a 650 motor we will probably end up with the 650L engine, which I believe is air-cooled. Liquid cooling is better, plain and simple. Reverse is a good thing also, and why would you call everyone lazy for using it? I would much rather hit a button or pull a lever than get off and pick it up. The way I see it, we are all lazy because we would rather have a motor do all the work, maybe we should all push our own ATV's around the trails. Are you just to brand loyal to see this or something? The Z400 is better, plain and simple, like I said, Suzuki has been one upping Honda at everything lately. Does this mean Honda sucks now or something? No, its just means they aren't the best, as if the 400EX has been the best in a while, The Raptor, Cannondales, and even the new Z400 are better than the 400EX now. So I agree with binfordw.

 

cant we all just get along?...who cares who is faster, who cares who has more power....go ride somewhere, and hopefully..dont go get into an argument w/ your riding buddy because you have more or less power , or more or less speed.

honda built the 400ex to beat some of the warriors and banshees(in some terrains, not all) other manufacturers sales went down, then yamaha came out w/ the raptor to beat the 400ex...suzuki is the last to come out w/ the best, before you know it honda will get on the ball and get their heads together and come out with something to get infront of the pack again...

everything takes time, and most of us have plenty of time to wait for the new honda and be happy again.

untill then STOP COMPLAINING and go hit the TRAILS or DUNES or whatever, just have FUN with whatever you have....for some of us that is 400ex's and for others its Z's....


pismoguy

 

I have put in about 5 hrs of break in riding on the Z, and here are my opinions: Low end power on the Z is disapointing. This engine is a real rever!! It likes to be ridden reved out like a 2-stroke. Not the best power plant for trail riding though. Maybe some aftermarket mods will help.

Handling on the other had is INCREDIBLE!!!!! I would never have thought it possible, but this thing handles even better than a 400EX!!. It corners like it is on rails. High speed handling is beyond excellent. The stock Z is almost as good as my EX is with aftermarket suspension. With aftermarket suspension, the Z will easily be the best bike there is.

If you are a trail rider, the 400EX is the way to go with its ample low end power. If you ride open country, go with the reved out Z. But I have to say, if I could only have one bike it would have to be the Z!!!! Suzuki has raised the bar, and the other manufacturers will have to come out with something even better. The future is looking real bright!!!!

 

I was very surprised to see how many Z400's where already hitting the sand at little sahara.
Kind sucks they only come in yellow [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img], They are pretty cool looking though.

I didn't see many on the drag strip though, and the ones that where on the strip where getting spanked by raptors and banshee's. Never saw a 400ex line up with one though.

 

I would go with the 400 EX. The Z is too new. Remember all the problems with the Raptor when it first came out.

 

Some thoughts on this thread:

Liquid cooling is superior to air cooling. No question about it. The engines can be built with tighter tolerences because the temp is kept more constant; the engine will run cooler in many situations such as slow going or idling plus when you add engine mods tha liquid cooling can keep up or be increased where air cooling can't. It's not really any more maintenance; come on.

If every 400ex owner keeps blindly following Honda and buying 400exs do you REALLY think that's going to make Honda step up to the plate??? NO.

When the 400ex came out it was superior to the Warrior and 300ex and Mojave. It never competed with the Banshee since they are 2 different worlds in my opinion.

Look around now, there are Raptors, C-Dales, Bombardiers, and Suzukis which are better performers than the 400ex. Even Polaris and Arctic cat are jumping into the sport/high performance arena. In a couple months, Honda will be really, really, really at the bottom of the heap. How long are people going to keep defending and following the 400ex. Sure it's an OK machine but WAY behind the times and no longer competitive. Admit it already.

Reverse; who needs it. Well I do for one. I ride a Banshee and a Warriop so I am aware of life with and without reverse. When I'm in woods or tight stuff I like having revers. If 2 machines are the same in every way except one has reverse you better believe I'll take the one with reverse even if it adds a whopping 5 pounds to the weight.

Reliability - that don't fly. There is no real difference in relaiability between the Japanese brands. The Bombardiers have even proven to be very relaiable and rugged as well. Don't know about Arctic cat or Polaris. BTW, you Honda lovers are aware that Honda is NOT the most reliable or troublefree automobile maker, right???

It is true that what matters is not WHAT you ride but just THAT YOU RIDE and enjoy it. But... come on, don't drive a VW Bug and claim it's better than a Corvette because it's simpler!

 

YZGUY, my friend's Z400 was disappointing the first 10 hours or so. After that, everyone we ride with was given the shock of their lives. As far as bottom end goes, he pulled ahead of a raptor and a 250R. The 250R still has the top end advantage, but the raptor cannot pull ahead top or bottom end. Note, these are all stock bikes. When he raced the 400ex on his Z, he stopped and asked if the 400ex missed a gear and almost got punched in the face. The 400ex rider was embarrassed at how bad he got beat.

 

wyoduner...

both you and i (as well as the rest of the forum members) KNOW that honda will step up to the plate again and hit a homerun...

and we both know, like i said earlier, that it will take some time to do so, but it will eventually come around.

look at how long it took suzuki to get back into the high performance ranking....it took them a long time , but they finally got there....give honda a fourth of the time that 'zuki had and they WILL be on top again

I know that all the other manufacturers make very reliable quads, but we cant say this for suzuki.after 2 months....so far so good but just wait...people are bound to find problems w/ the Z, and if not...thumbs up suzuki.

as time goes on...people will get on hondas case because the z is superior to the EX in most every way. after time they will realize that they NEED a new quad.

ive got nothing left to say so...
good luck on whatever you choose manhandlez.

pismoguy

 

<< [i]Honda is NOT the most reliable or troublefree automobile maker, right???

<< [i]


Ummmm, actually your wrong buddy! We once had a 87' Honda Accord with 244,000 miles on it and we bought it used in good cond. And when we sold it it still ran great! We didnt have any trouble with it at all! I think we put brakes and stuff like that on it, but your gonna have to do that on any car. So you tell me a Ford or a Chevy that will do that....

 

Yes, a Chevy will do that and so will a Pontiac and a Buick. The Suburban I traded in last year had 238,000 on it and still ran like a top. And it's not uncommon at all to see GM cars with the 3800 V6 run well into the 200,000 range with no problems. I traded a 92 Bonneville SSEI in on a 96 Impala SS and the Bonneville had 158,000 miles without a single problem. People tend to use the so called better quality ruse as a way to make them feel better for buying foreign made auto's. There is nothing like putting more American's out of work by purchasing foreign made items. And they are going to be building Z400's in the states before long. Where are 400EX's built? Just wondering?