I'm ready when you are. I have quite a bit of seat time on both of them, more on the EX. A good rider with a steady clutch hand on a 250r will wax an EX.

 

Have a little seat time on both myself. Raced about a half-dozen 250's too.

 

Honestly, it's sort of a mute point. I think I've seen ONE completely stock 250 in like the last 10 years.

 

I think it would be a fairly close race my self

 

stock they both put out the same hp but the 400 ex has a better suspension stock. the better rider would win. and once you go aftermarket on each its obvious the 250r will smoke it. I use to own both.

 

I'd go with that.

 

Seeing a stock 250r is very rare, I will definatly agree with you there.

 

all good points. im going with the R on this one though.

It has a good 40+lb weight advantage over the 400 and actually puts out a little bit more power. Not much more, but measurable. once it gets traction, its over.

but, yes a bone stock 250R is hard to find. mine is about as close to stock as you will find with the only changes being a pipe, boysen rad valve and reeds, uni air filter. with just these mods i can stay right with and beat some raptors. it has suprised alot of people.

the 86R's taller gearing helps it out in the long runs with the raptors. they think they shook you off but then look to the side, their throttll is pinned and you are still gaining on them and there is nothing they can do. it's priceless.

 

Thats far from stock. you just went from 29hp to about 40 hp with that setup depending on airbox setup. yeah your definetly going to beat a raptor.

 

Good points on both sides, but we are comparing completely diffferent machines here. The 400EX was probably built to be used as it came from the factory - a very dependable machine with good power that is very versatile. The 250R was not built to remain stock. Back before the lawsuits rolled in in the late 80s, the quad manufacturers focused on both atv and dirtbike racing.....Honda knew the CR250 dirtbike was not going to remain stock by most of those who purchased it, just as they also knew the TRX250R was not going to remain stock by most of those who purchased it. But back to the questionat hand, Id still put my money on a stock R. My father had a BONE STOCK 87 R about 8 years ago that I used to ride. I have also ridden a stock 400EX.....I gotta go with the R.