Looking To Get A New Atv

[04silverado1500]

hey everyone im thinkin im going to get an atv this winter before spring or this fall whenever i find the right deal im looking to buy a sport atv. im looking mainly at the 400ex from honda i would like to get a used one and i think i can find a 2000 and up for less then 2500 i would like to spend no more then that and want one newer then 2000. i also like the yamaha but dont think ill get one i want between a 400 and 450 full manual and it has to be reliable. we have had 3 atvs in our family an 04 kodiak 450, 05 grizzley 660 and now an 07 grizzley 700 w/ power steering and fuel injection its a great maching but its my dads and i want something sporty since i wont need to do work with it (already have the work horse!) so what do you guys think i guess my options are honda yamaha (my two fav)....polaris, kawasuky , susuky, and bombardier. and any others i might be forgetting. anyways let me know what you think i like honda very reliable bikes and quads and i think i can get a good deal i also would like to have revearse on the atv. also if known whats fastest out of the hole and top end i would like to know. i know there is a guy on here that used to have a colorado with some type of atv so i figure its a good place to ask anyways.

[thecraft]

 

 

kawasuky

I don't know where you get the idea that Kawasaki's suck. The three we have are absolutely f'in indestructible. If I could only tell you all the stuff we put those things through...

[rgibbs11]

Honda all the way.

[04silverado1500]

im sorry. i have never been a fan i just dont like there product line much and the ones i have ridden i didnt like either. my dad is the same way to i guess it just runs through the family

[thecraft]

It's cool. I'm sorry if I came off sounding like an asshat (I just got off work).

[04silverado1500]

so anyone else have an opinion i have seen 2002s with work done for 2250 seems like a good deal for a 400ex from honda dont it?

[Billdog350]

I have had a Kawasaki Mojave 250, Honda 400ex, Honda Foreman 450S 4x4, Suzuki z400, and now a Kawi Brute Force 750i.

 

The honda's are d**n reliable, but definitely not NEARLY as refined as the Suzuki was. Air cooled vs liquid cooled means less compression and less hp on the honda's (also less things to go wrong). The honda's aren't twin OHC like the Suzuki is. Lastly, the lack of reverse (on older 400ex) plus the weaker suspension made it rank lower than my z400 in both trail and sport riding. When I say "weaker" I just mean that the shocks and springs are not as smooth on trails and jumps with the 400ex.

 

I had some decent mods on my 400ex like a sparks racing advance key, rejetted carb, k&N filter, and a billet endcap (removed spark arrestor). It still wasn't even close to the stock z400. I believe 400ex's are about 27hp stock, and the Z's are 32hp. It takes quite a bit of mods to get a true 5hp increase on a quad.

 

The z400's are down to $2500 used now...you get twin cams, liquid cooling, REVERSE, and a better suspension.

 

After selling my Foreman and picking up my Brute, I have since sold my Z400 because the brute can replace both the foreman and the Z. I raced someone with him riding my Z and I was on my Brute (both machines were close to stock except endcap and jetting on the Z) and my Brute would get him off the line and keep walking away. At 50mph for instance, the Brute could still walk away from the Z, regardless of what gear the Z was in. 750cc twin cyl helps

 

Sounds like you hate suzuki/kawi and have your mind set on a Honda anyway. $2000-2500 is a good price for a used 400ex that is in real good condition. I wouldn't pay more than $2200 for anything that needs ANY sort of work (chain, bearings, bushings, tires, plastic, etc). 400ex's like going thru front ball joints and wheel bearings too.

 

JMO.

[Wingnut]

I'll sell you my '03 Z400 for 3 grand.

[04silverado1500]

you have one in good shape? 3k is steep and i cant buy it until around late november early december (turn 18) i want something more for less then 2500 when were you looking to get rid of it.

 

billdog thanks for your info its been a real help also im not totally against kawi i am just partial to other brands and had to say what i said being that my blood is mainly blue

[Wingnut]

Even if I sold it to you for $2500, you'd spend $500 coming to get it anyway

 

It's in great shape....I've been watching the trader. I can get 3k for it locally.

[jsbossert]

i would get a polaris predator500 or yamaho yfz450, or if you dont want to shift the kawa 700 or 750 sport quad is bad ass, tons of torque!

[jsbossert]

oops yamaho! Sport quads for hookers, to make that quick get away from the popo! Yamaha!

[04silverado1500]

update 1998 300ex for 1,200 or best offer if i can get this for 1000 do you think its worth it? seems like a good deal to me he said it runs great and he has used amsoil every 10 hours and always lubed everything including the chain. it seems to have been tipped by the previous owner though cuz it has a cracked headlight housing (how much does this cost to replace?????) also he said the tires on the back are replaced and good but the front might need new ones in a year or so depending on how much how hard and what surface i ride it on.he also said when you let of the gas it back fires a little he htinks its because it needs to be jetted (running to rich) and also he thinks its partially cuz of the Pipe it has on it what do you guys think good deal for just kickin around and having fun riding??? i dont need the fastest machine just a reliable one thats quick enough to keep up with my dads GRIZZ 700. also he said it will do 62 i have heard they only do 55 online. Let me know what you think

[BigJayDogg3]

Personally, and this is coming from someone who doesn't ride ATVs, but you can only take what someone trying to sell you someting says with a grain of salt. They may not tell the total truth, or flat out lie just to offload their merchandise. Now for every person that would do that there are probably 20 that will be honest, but IMHO when it comes to buying something from a private seller the good have to suffer for the bad. Now if this is someone who you know well, that is a different story, but in this case I am making gross generalizations.

[04silverado1500]

i understand and i will be taking it for a ride to make sure and taking my friend who knows alot about these things so i think ill be ok to but you never know what you said is true there are those people. but atleast ill be able to drive it and get the feel for it you know and i guess i will take it to a mechanic near by to make sure everything is good. he seems trust worthy but then again who knows