You won't go wrong with the 400EX, I think it handles a tad better than a stock 250R, and is almost as fast. Big advantage is that one can be bought new. It is a very fun to ride and non fatiguing bike. You can ride it on the edge for quite a while without it wearing you down.

I have updated my pics page of jumping my stock 400EX in the dunes if you are interested.. <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~gellett/sahara.htm">Click here</a>. It took that pounding all day with no real problems.

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Gabe

'86ATC250R
'86ATC350X
'00TRX400EX

 

Gabe,
Cool pics! Were those gold 250R rims I spotted on that 400ex????
c-ya,

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Andrew Thomas

'99 Scrambler 400 & '99 Trailblazer, both with RCR mods.

 

Gabe:How did the quad handle on those jumps? Were you always bottoming out on the suspension?

 

No design engineer, i dont have a polaris Ranger, although i wouldn't mind having something like it for around the farm. That is my name cuz i have a '75 Ford F100 RANGER XLT, that i just rebuilt, and the SX is cuz of my Honda 200SX! thanks man!

Ranger

 

Good eye Andrew! Yes those were off my 86ATC250R, they had new Holeshots on them, so I thought I would try them out in the sand.

On bottoming.... Unless you don't land correctly the bottoming was very minimal for the amt of air. Very seldom did the rear bottom noticeably, the fronts bottomed on most of the big jumps, but nothing severe, it handles bottoming well, and it would usually come up in a wheelie when I landed and hit the throttle (crowd pleaser ). Nothing was broken or bent (except a couple bends in the wheels). For the most part, unless you are going for the really big air, the 400's suspension really soaks up the landings well, esp in the sand.

I do have some areas on the A-arms that have flexed and cracked the paint, but I have inspected them pretty thoroughly and don't see any real problem, I just wish Honda would have powdercoated the frames like they did in the 3-wheeler days.

Most people couldn't believe it when I showed them the only stuff on the bike that wasn't stock was the rear wheels & tires and the crossbar I added to the factory handlebars (too springy after a couple hard landings). I really had a lot of fun out there and wish I had some of the pics & vid footage other people took.

Judging by your username, if you like mx style tracks and riding, you will enjoy the 400 as well, I ride mine alot on our private track, there are 2 400's that ride our track and they are the bikes to beat. At the local commercial MX track, the EX's have been winning pretty consistantly even over the 250R's (from what I have seen anyway). That's what prompted a friend to buy one in '98 and in turn promped me to ride it, and in turn prompted me to buy a '00 model .

BTW I am about 6' and weigh about 170~175.

------------------
Gabe

'86ATC250R
'86ATC350X
'00TRX400EX



[This message has been edited by 86atc250r (edited 12-30-1999).]

 

I have to agree with Gabe. Out of the 4, the Honda's are the ones to beat. The 250R is an awesome machine and it's light. If they were available new, I would probably own one. Since the Ex I can buy new, then that is the choice.

It jumps and handles better than the Scrambler. The power is good, but with a few mods (Pipe, rev kit, filter) it can wake it up even more. The 440 kits and such make it a high performance racer. The suspension is the best avaliable on a stock machine and Aftermarket parts (shocks, a-arms, axle, swing arm) make it into a race-capable machine.

The areas where the scrambler shines are: Mud, Snow or Ice, traction, and straight line acceleration. That CVT and the potential in that 400cc two stroke make it a hard machine to beat in a straight line. The AWD also makes it hook up like crazy. It is too fun in the mud, but if no one else has one, what fun is it to play alone? I feel it sits up to high and doesn't handle or corner as good as the Ex, and it doesn't like riding fast through woods or trails like the EX. It is also about 200 lbs heavier than the EX. It makes a difference.

They are really different machines. If you want to hang with the bikes, banshees, and 250Rs, then the Ex is the way to go. If you want to smoke the Sportsmans, Wolverines, and Foremans (and don't plan on much utility work), then the Scrambler will embarass them. It is all about use.

I have both. I ride the EX because I can jump, wheelie, and rip with the rest of the gang. But when the ice comes up here in Ontario, the studs go into the tires, and the Scrambler is something to ride! What a blast.

I also feel that Polaris has succeded in improving their quality in their newer machines, but I have yet to have a problem with my EX.

Good luck,

RM

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99 400EX 95 Scrambler 400 85 LT250R

 

ok, I have decicded that I would like to go with the 400EX. Now is there a difference between the 99 model and the 00 model besides the year. and how much power and speed will the 440 kit for the EX give me.

 

The only differences between the '99 and the '00 are the tank stickers, seat graphics, and the factory throttle adjustment.

I'll allow someone else to reply about the 440 kit. Keep in mind that there is a 500 kit as well....


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Gabe

'86ATC250R
'86ATC350X
'00TRX400EX

 

The 440EX will give u wood. Its nothing like the 400EX.

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Evan Johnson 99 400EX 88 LT250R I apologize ahead of time for my bad spelling/typing

 

get a 400 or a 250R they are hondas and they are lighter than the polaris and faster and smaller and.....better
rebember ride red