Sorry Gaff I didn't mean to offend you. The Lakota is a very good quad also. It went everywhere our sports went.

 

Well if you go w/ the 400ex, you will spend a little more than you would a Raptor to make it go as fast as the Raptor but if you decide on the honda for reliability reasons but you want to make the EX faster than the raptor you'll have to add a pipe, jetting, cam, rev box, and 440 kit and then there goes your reliability. Go w/ the Raptor or C-dale if you want a lot of speed and reliability. I haven't heard of enough mechanical complaints about the Raptor to make me think it's not reliable (not counting the 01 models) so if you like trails and speed, buy the Raptor. It looks great, and has reverse, and you can get a decent amount of power out of it from a pipe and jet kit alone. Even though it lacks power (compared to what a 660 cc motor should have) it has LOTS more than the 400ex.

 

If you buy the 400ex and save approximately 800.00 to 1000.00 You will spend that much just to stay with the STOCK raptor. And then you can also mod out the raptor and be alot faster. The 400ex does handle better, but the raptor is quicker and faster. (JMO) Buy the raptor!!! You will be very happy with it. (PS) your friend with the ex will not be able to keep up!!!

 

hey here is a thought! how about the z400! it has the power of the raptor and the handeling of the 400ex! it looks kewl and has a proven motor! and the same price as the 400ex! just my 2 cents! i am leaning towords the z unless kawi comes out with one too! (i am a kawi rider)!

 

i have a 400ex but i also tried a raptor. i think the 400ex is the best way to go...it's fast, better handlen, and 100% more relyable...

 

It's not all about how fast you can go...
You can always tell when youth or experience is talking.

 

heres my two cents, im the kinda of person that every one comes to with questions about fourwheelers and bikes, i like to read up on all the differint bikes on the market and the ups and downs of all of them and i herd that the first owners of the first few raptors did not like how the gearing was. So if you like to hill climb like you say you do you just may want to go with the 400ex it has the best low end power and would not bog as fast as the raptor, but i have been on both bikes and i would have to say that i like the 400ex the best.

 

thanks riderofa300ex that reply really helped me out in my choice. My friend with the 400ex put 22" tires on his and it bogged down on the hills and he barely made it up them. He changed the front sprocket to a 14 tooth so it would even out the low end more. I think that hekps me out alot. Thanks for everbody elses replys too.

 

Why would he buy bigger tires and than gear it lower w/ the sprockets??? Do the 22's have any advantage? From my own experience, smaller tires corner much better and just look better. I know someone that got 22's on his 400ex and the tires always hits his nerfs. Now he says that is the stupidest buy he has ever made. Originally he did it to get more top end, but you said your friend got a bigger front sprocket too, so I guess I just don't get what the point would be.

 

When my friend went to 22's he went to a 14 tooth because it had a 15 tooth on it. That way it would have more low end. He don't have nerfs on his so he don't have to worry about it rubbing.