I went over and read the post on the Honda forum and I have to agree with one of the other posts...... Reliable is spelled with 5 simple letters H-O-N-D-A ! sorry Suzuki but you have to admit Honda is far more reliable and dependable, I admit this and I own a Suzuki so that is about as non-biased as it gets. yeah more power and better handling with Suzuki but you have to think which is better in the long run ?

 

I am sorry but looking at the long run I still thing the Z-400 is better than the 400EX. If you are going to do most of your riding in sand a liquid cooled bike is going to run cooler than an air cooled bike. That tells me you are going to have more power and less chance of overheating on the Z than on the EX. Just my 2 cents but Honda is not the best anymore-they are building a quad with old technology and selling it for the same price as the Z.

 

Are you wanting to buy new, or used? If used, a 400ex is a smoking deal now. They are going cheap with the new models having reverse and everyone wanting to get a 450r. I hada thumper racing 44ex and it was a bad *** bike. I now have a z400 with an fmf full exhaust. I think it handles better and is all in all a better bike. Stock they are very close. But, having reverse is a big time plus. Also, the removable grab bar is nice and so is the liquid cooling. If you are buying new, get a z400. Their new upgrades with the bigger carb, rezzy shocks, etc make them an even better deal than the new 400ex with just reverse. If you are buying used you can score some pretty sweet 400ex's with after market shocks and pipes etc.. for around 3 grand or so.

 

I WAS ABOUT READY TO SETTLE WITH A 400 EX WHEN I WAS LOOKIN AROUND CUZ MY BROS HAVE EX 'S BUT THEN MY FRIEND GOT A Z400 AND I RODE IT AND I FELL IN LOVE!!! SO I BOUGHT ONE FOR MYSELF AND I HAVE NO REGRETS WHAT SO EVER IT HANDLES BETTER AND JUST FITS MY RIDING STYLE. THATS MY OPINION GO 4 THE ZUKER!!!

 

That sucks! A bored out 470 should be smokin, literally smoking piped banshees and Raptors! Back to the topic the only thing the 400EX has over the Z400 is reliability. Other than that, the Z handles better, it's faster both in top speed and acceleration, better suspension, responds better to mods.

 

your answer is plain as day, just as the post above mine. do you want hear say or do you want RELIABLITY ? H-O-N-D-A ! get your money's worth not your wrench's worth ! just as the slogan says " if it ain't flying it must be dying " GO WITH THE WINGS!

 

SINCE RELIABILITY IS SO CONCERNED WITH MOST PEOPLE WUT ARE SOME PROBLEMS THAT THE SUZUKERS HAVE COMPARED TO THE HONDAS ????

 

The ealrly models had weak frame problems, which is a big deal! Please don't type in all caps, it's rude and hard to read!

 

Any frame is weak to a point. I have had NO problems with my Z. It is an 03, knock on wood, I can see if I was jumping 30 feet and the frame breaks, thats life!

 

If ya decide to go with the Z,remember there is the DVX400 by Artic Cat,KFX400 by Kawasaki,and of course the Z400 by suzuki.
They all have the same engine,carb etc.
I love my KFX.