400ex hands down

 

If you have to do a lot of accelerating and top speed isn't necessarily a concern, a used 400ex will be the best bet. It's got brutal amounts of low end grunt to keep you going.

I like my z400 and all, but when it comes to low speed (tight) trail riding, that low end grunt the 400ex has comes in handy.

 

The 400ex may have the best handling and low end grunt, but it won't do so well when you come to a dead end trail and have to BACK UP. Honda could sell more of those if they would just add reverse to it.

 

I just bought a VForce to replace a stolen 400ex. I guess I might get flamed for this, but as much as I love the VForce, the 400ex was an awesome trail bike. If your trails are long, then the 400ex might be a good shot because it is BULLETPROOF. I also have seen them for sale in near mint condition here for as low as 2700 bucks used. I did buy the VForce because I am a big guy at 6' 230lbs, and needed more horses in the sand and mud, but the 400ex was a blast to ride. Everybody has their opinions, but you should go sit on a 400ex, and pull the clutch and press the throttle lever. It is the smoothest shifting, easiest to ride bike out there.
I loved it, will replace it, but I do love this VForce too.
Best of luck whatever you decide on!!

 

wait for the new yamaha 450[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I'd say that the 400EX might be the best out there too. Despite the fact that it doesn't have reverse. They will turn on a dime if you get the rear end to slide. They also have the power down low for tight spots on trails. Having to rev a quad to get anywhere can get tiresome (ever try riding a banshee through tight woods?) All in all it's a very forgiving quad.

 

no you get the z,b/c it makes me glee, and if you see the z ,an' get the z you'll see the z-400 is better than all three.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I'm surprised noone has chimed in about the Predator. It rides as well as any in the woods. I had a z400 and a 400ex trying to keep up with me all day Saturday. Both were impressed by what it will do. I am not an experienced sport quad rider, and I run off and left them more than once. With the right gearing and the right tires, the Predator is the way to go.

 

To me for a trail quad the best choices would be Raptor & Vforce next in line very close behind are the LTZ400 and 400EX.

Vforce: Low end power, High ground clearence, Reverse Knocks Heavy
Raptor: Low end power, Light front end for going over obsticles, reverse, Knocks Tall and thin
400EX: Low end Power, Light, handles great, Light front end, Reliablility, Cheap, No reverse only knock!
LTZ400: Great handling, Light,Reverse, knock needs to rev a little
Predator: Great handling, Knocks Needs to rev, front end harder to lift over obsticles, No reverse.

To me for mostly all trails if the 400EX had reverse it would be number 1 you cannot overrate reliabily and some of the others are new models yet unproven, I only put the Raptor ahead of the ex because of reverse If you do not require it then go EX. If you would prefer an Automatic Vforce. They all have positives and negatives.

Remember this is Trails, Track or dunes or something else would change the whole order!

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