its been about 10 years since ive been into quads and am looking to get back into it. i am currently torn between buying a honda 250r and a 400ex. i am a 2 stroke guy at heart, but am wondering if the thumper would be a better option because this will also become a family sport, so slower speeds and alot of wating will be in my future. terrain will be trails and dunes.

so is the 400ex comparable to a 250r in power and handling?
does the 400ex have reverse?
does the 400ex respond well to mods?

thank you in advance!

 

Welcome to the forum1 The 250r and the 400ex are both sport bikes but in dwo diffrent classes the 250r was built for one thing and one thing only SPEED!! the 400ex is the trail bike of the two and in my opionion one of the best allaround quads made!!!

 

The EX is the all time best trail quad, because it has an engine that will lug down and go slow. I can put mine in 1st gear, and just idle throught the nasty technical stuff. This is its market niche, but it isn't a slouch on the top end either. Later models (after 05 I think) have reverse. Engine mods up real nice too. Great handling and dead solid reliable....it will run forever with minimal maintenance!

Can you even find a 250R???? If you got the 250, it would probably require a lot of work and be more of a project quad than a rider. It's still my all time favorite, but you can't even get a crate engine anymore....

 

surprisingly thare are quite a few 250r's in my area, washington state. i was looking at the 2002 400ex, it seems to be selling in my price range, but without reverse i really am not interested anymore.

i have absolutely no problem with fixing and upgrading some things on a 250r, and deep down it is the ultimate quad to me.

 

The 400 is going to be a better family ride by far. Other options that DO have reverse would be the Suzuki Z400 and its siblings and the Yamaha Raptor 660 or 700. I see 250Rs for sale all the time around me also. For a while they were going dirt cheap with the glut of new 450s out there. Locally prices on nice 250Rs are climbing again for some reason. If set up right, you could make the 2 stroke work for family rides, but you still won't have reverse.

 

the z400 looks nice, how will it perform in dunes(note- i am comparing any prospective quad to my old 240 blaster, which was never really jetted right and far from as powerfull as a bone stock 250r). ive also read that the suzuki isnt as reliable as the 400ex, but assuming proper care do i have any worries? i would be buying used but am used to lots of maintinance when it comes to anything gas powered.

sorry for all the questions, just like information!

 

The Zuk should be every bit as reliable as the Honda. '03 models had a weak axle, so if you look at one of those it should have an updated or aftermarket on it. That is about it though.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: dmopar74but without reverse i really am not interested anymore.</end quote></div>

250R doesn't have reverse either!!!

The Z is a fine machine, and every bit as reliable as the venerable EX. The enigne is however a bit more revy (but nothing like the 450's) and is doesn't lug as well, so it isn't my first choice for very tight trails or a "family" machine.

 

Not much of a dunner but I do see allot of people useing the Z for that pupose. I think the zuke will make wonderfull dune machine plenty of aftermarket support for it. It was is the bike I wanted till I rode the 700R and I still do as a second/backup trail bike!

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: reconranger

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: dmopar74but without reverse i really am not interested anymore.</end quote></div>



[b]250R doesn't have reverse either!!![b]</end quote></div>

yes i am very well aware of that, the only reason i am even considering a thumper is due to the reverse.