Should I get 400ex or 450r

[hancadam]

I am going to be getting a new toy soon. I have narrowed it down to these two. I don't want anything except a Honda, so please remember that. I like the 400ex's price and it sounds like it is pretty fast, but I know the 450r is faster but cost a llittle more. My main concern will be ease of maintenance and best trail rider. Since I don't race should I just stick with the 400ex or go all out and get the 450r? Which would last longer? How would maintenance differ? Any input or thoughts would be great. Thanks, Adam.

[ride_red_95]

if you don't mind not having reverse you might as well go ahead and get the 450r, the 400ex is a great bike don't get me wrong, the 450r has more power for those big hills but if you want reverse get the 400ex there both great bikes you'll be happy with either one because, you know, its a honda, lol

[hancadam]

Thanks for your response. I didn't think about the reverse. Since the 400ex comes with reverse and electric start I think I will get it. I know you can get tehe 450r with the optional electric start now though. The 400ex sounds like more what I want.

[smokinwrench]

If racing will not be an issue I would get the 400ex. I had one they are great bikes. Once you get used to the power it will need a filter, cam and piston. They are bullet proof. Don't let anyone fool you if you wanna race it it can do that also, with stock suspension you'll be sore as helll but it can be done and you can win races. My 400ex was great, only problem was that it was gonna cost about the same to upgrade it as it was to trade into a new machine with better suspension.

[OldSchoolin86]

I like the 400ex's price and it sounds like it is pretty fast, but I know the 450r is faster but cost a llittle more.
For performance you'll be hard pressed to beat a 450r. If you think that someday you'll regret not having the faster machine then you should start with the 450r.

My main concern will be ease of maintenance and best trail rider. Since I don't race should I just stick with the 400ex or go all out and get the 450r? Which would last longer? How would maintenance differ? Any input or thoughts would be great. Thanks, Adam.Adam, if you're just a trail rider and you want a machine that takes a lickin and keeps on tickin then the 400ex might be a solid option. I'm a 400ex owner and I love it. I bang trails with the best of the new machines and have no desire to upgrade to something bigger. I just don't need it for what I enjoy. I beat the hell out of my quad and it takes it well. I'm content that I'm not going to beat the new machines on the drag strip and like Smokin said you can make a decent MX'er out of a 400ex.

Just take a hard look at your desires and goals here. If you want to be top dog on the strip and MX then you might want to start with the 450r. If you want a fairly cheap machine that has a lot of good cheap upgrades available and you're only looking to have a powerful machine to have some fun on then I'd say get a 400ex.

Good Luck.

[MichiganRedneck]

i love my ex. i dont regret buying it at all. very dependable and handles great on trails.

[hancadam]

Thanks for all the replies. I thinkl the 400ex is my best bet. I don't really care about being the fastest. Everyone I ride with has utility quads anyways. Thanks again, Adam.

[smokinwrench]

Shocks is the one upgrade I would look inot for a 400ex.

Mine was a great machien and I loved how it handled. I done 2 mx races with it being 100% stock, I took 2nd at both races against a group of yfz's, raptors and predators.

I like anyone who races just wanted more power and better suspension and for me it was near the same price for me to upgrade as to mod the 400 even more.

[OldSchoolin86]

The rear shock never gave me any trouble but those fronts work like they came from the dollar store.

[TimSr]

Ill agree with the 400ex guys for it being a better choice. The 450R had one main objective market, and that was motocross. If you are not running MX, you are paying lots of money for features you may not need, and may even be undesireable for the trails. The 450R is pretty impressive on the MX track, but the ones Ive run against in Harescarmbles of the cross country variety, which is hard core difficult trail riding left me completely unimpressed in that environment.
Let me also mention that any machine requires the suspension to be setup to the weight and riding style of the rider, so its hard to say one has bad or good susension without qualifying those factors. I found the quality of the 400EX suspension to be fine by design, but that it was way, way too stiff for a rider of my weight (170lbs) on an MX track. The rear was like riding a hardtail, but the front wasnt nearly as bad for me and I was impressed by the amount of travel. Lighter suspension is usually much better for trail riding. OldSchoolin is a lot bigger than me, which would account for his results of the rear being okay, and the front too soft. Both the ones I test drove were very early models, and I dont know if theyve changed anything. The 400EX is suspended for a big rider, and Ill agree that if you are a lighter rider, especially 185 and under, it will be pretty stiff to you.

[OldSchoolin86]

Good point Tim, I'm 280lbs so that rear would be stiff for a normal sized rider.

[hancadam]

Sounds like I need to got the 400ex. I weigh in at 250.

[OldSchoolin86]

Sounds like I need to got the 400ex. I weigh in at 250.If you're coming to TF just look me up and I'll let you try mine out. :beer

[hancadam]

Thanks for the offer, thats nice of you. I would really like to go, but my wife is 8 months pregnant. She wouldn't like that to much.

[OldSchoolin86]

Thanks for the offer, thats nice of you. I would really like to go, but my wife is 8 months pregnant. She wouldn't like that to much.
Ah that's cool, a new child is far better then a ride on a 400ex. Best wishes!

[jdparsons1]

If you get the EX get yourself some 450r front shocks off ebay. they mount right up and are a HUGE improvement. They are compression, rebound, and preload adjustable.

[OldSchoolin86]

If you get the EX get yourself some 450r front shocks off ebay. they mount right up and are a HUGE improvement. They are compression, rebound, and preload adjustable.
Good idea. I was going to go that route but 450r shocks are going for a high dollar these days so I just spent a couple more bucks and got aftermarket.