Back in september of '02, I finally sold my '96 CR 250. That bike hauled a$$!! I miss it sometimes, but then I go ride on some slick stuff w/ my 400EX and i love it all over again. i hit the starter and listen to that T-4 rumble!!!
Getting back to the point, Go with the 400EX. Back when I was rideless (sept.), I was looking at LTZ's, Raptors, and 400EX's. Raptors were too expensive, and there were no used z's out there yet. well, actually there were, but they were few and far between. I didn't want the hassle of a newly designed quad with little aftermarket support. I bought a one-year-old 400EX and haven't regretted it over another quad for a second. As you can read in my other topic, I can hang with full piped LTZ's, and pull whellies in 4th gear with only a slip-on!! Right now I am going to ride it for the summer, then next winter I am going to rebuild with Wiseco piston, and while I'm in the motor, I'm going to install an XR400 cam. I don't see myself ever getting rid of this quad because I'll never need anything bigger, or faster!! I ride mostly trails and at silver lake sand dunes ( I get to go on monday-I'm so excited!!) I really don't think reverse is an issue because I am off a bike without reverse, and my EX is light enough that I can move it around . I have only been in a couple situations where reverse would have been nice. After awhile you will get used to no reverse, and it won't bother you. Like, when you park somewhere, you park with an open spot in front of you.

 

yeah if you want to go fast brake something spend down time and a arm and a leg fixing suz or kx if you want to go fast have fun and try to blow it up go ahead go red oh yeah get off your fat a** and use a little of it to turn it around who needs reverse

 

I second the notion that buying a used 400ex is a good idea, especially with the way ATV's depreciate.

I still like my Z, but a good price for a reliable quad is the best.

 

thanks for all the info guys. i think i am going to go with the 400ex just because honda is known for reliability and i really dont need anything faster or reverse. other than reverse these two quads seem pretty much the same accept i dont know about the reliablility of the z. i like hondas a lot, and i want the reliablility.

 

good choice, atvmadman. I just got back from riding at the Cedar Creek trails here in west michigan, and my 400EX was the perfect tool for the ride. I was running in like 3rd gear on the trails, and beating my brother on his 300EX. He says its a horsepower issue, but I think he just can't ride!! LOL we found some sweet hills out there too. you won't be dissapointed with a 400EX because if you ever find that you don't have enough power, more than likely, someone makes something to add more power to it. And when you've got the motor tapped out, you can try an XR 650 engine swap!!! Sounds like a lot of fabbing to me, and you don't get electric start on the liquid cooled model.

 

ex's are going to be sold cheeper to get rid of all the ones they haven't sold thts why they didn't debut it at the trade show it was a great time but they have it built and ready to go but if you want a great quad flip a coin they are both great quads the z is better by all means and has the same price at 5699 but the z is better in every way but i would wait till i see honda's new one thats what i am doing and i heard it is going for about 5899 so wait and save and put a deposite down now cause when they come it is going to at leaste 6 months till you get yours trust me the guys from honda already said that they only have 100.000 to go around right now for the states later man

 

check up man those problems have already been fixed with recalls depending on where you live

 

If you dont need reverse get a predator. Now thats a beast! One of the fastest out there[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

You can get them for about $5800-6000 OTD

 

the reason that the 400ex is cheaper is because it is old. That is also why the parts are cheaper to. After a while the z will have more parts and it will be cheaper also.