Honda 400EX guys

I was out poking around today and came across a 2002 400EX at a used bike dealership for $1600, it is all stock and unmolested. My friend has a 01 that he got last spring and after riding it, I have fallen for racing quads and have been debating to sell my dirtbike for one. So I talked to the guy about it, he said he'd give me a trade for my bike for the quad, plus a few hundred for my bike which books for around $2,000, its a 09 CRF230. So, I plan to test ride the quad either tomorrow or sometime later in the week. I looked it over good, chain and sprockets are in good shape and the cases are not cracked or damaged. Is there anything else in particular I need to look out for on these things?

Here it is, thanks for helping!

 

That's a 10 yr. old quad so I'd look at the front steering componets for wear, rear axle shafts for being straight and condition of the brake pads and rotors. Also, ask when the brake and clutch fluids were changed. Take a look at the air filter and air box, they should be clean.
I'm a bike guy, but my wife has had a few quads over ther years.
Good luck.

 

Thanks for the input, will check those out.

 

Check the rear axle and swing arm bearings also.

I had an 02 also but was yellow. I loved it and miss it. Me and a friend both bought identical ones at the same time and place which helped us get a better deal. Those models are a pita to crank when cold. Strange thing I found with mine is that it was easier to crank cold if I moved the gas to the reserve position, just had to remember to move it back to the regular position after warm. I have no idea why that made a difference.

I like the fact that it's stock, so many have so much done to them and make me think they were abused more than one that is stock. Good luck!

 

I am a firm believer that Honda's are cold blooded animals. But they will run for a long while with your basic maintenance. Have a 300ex myself since 03. No problems yet!

 

Will def try that if I get it, it gets real cold up here, even summer nights are chilly. My friend always has a hell of a time starting his, will tell him to try the reserve trick. The whole part of it being stock is what really lured me to it, I've had my run in with modified toys and it was a bad experience. Had a 2004 KX250F with all sorts of aftermarket racing mods done to it, only rode it 15 hrs and it went to hell in a hand basket, never got it running again.

Don't doubt it for a minute, heard nothing but good things about the EX being a reliable beast for trails, stock suspension isn't best for racing or high jumping though I guess. I've never had a Honda that wasn't cold blooded, think its just the way they are, but once they warm up they run like raped apes all day long!

 

The Raptor next to it is a 450 I think, but is all modified for racing. I'll let some other sucker buy into that money pit lol.

 

Good bike that thing will go for ever if taken care of and from the one pic it does not look to have been ridden hard. The right fender looks to have been repaired but that is no big deal. Also the factory bars bend easy so if it still has factory bars it probably was never flipped in a hard crash. I have bent my fair share of bars normally the first time they go over hard they bend. Just my .02.

 

Pull the oil filter and look for shavings. Those motors are pretty bullet proof though. Slow but bullet proof. I just sold my Honda 450r quad and it was super dependable too you just have to do 10x the maintenance on the 450's that you do the 400ex motors. The 400ex is plenty fast for dirt and trail type riding but I do mostly sand riding and need the extra power. My 450r is basically worthless on gravel roads and stuff though because it just spins the tires the whole freaking time and your fighting to keep it in a straight line lol.

 

Yeah, the guy at the shop said he riveted the front fender back together, did a good job. Most times on quad this old the fenders are all busted off and the whole thing is just beat to fuck. If the bars go on it though, I will find some ProTapers for it.

I like the simplicity of air cooled motors like this, will make sure to check the oil filter as well.

 

Make sure you have them clean the carb if it has been sitting for a while. I just fixed a 400ex at a TW meet and it had been sitting for a while. The carb was so bad that the float needle was stuck closed. So if it has been sitting for a while get the carb cleaned.

 

Well I just got back from testing it out. Runs like a raped ape, starts and shuts off fine, the oil is clean and does not smell gassy. Didn't see any oil seeping from the head gasket anywhere. Has a new battery which is a bonus, but the headlights don't work, I am assuming this is an easy fix? They are not a huge priority, I only ride in the daylight, but would be nice to have them just in case I get caught somewhere around dusk. Tires still got lots of life left in em, nothing rattles or shakes. Only thing that really drives me nuts is there is no baffle in the muffler so it spits and pops when I let off the throttle, the guy is gonna put one on there if he can find one, but if not it will be up to me. Really considering doing it though, rarely does a guy find a quad in this good of shape in this neck of the woods.

 

Bad thing about the baffle is if you ride in a national park. We used to and you were not allowed w/o a baffle. And they would check occasionally.

 

Yeah, I am gonna get one on it either way, don't wanna start something on fire, plus the sound is annoying as all hell. Most places around here like on Forest Service or BLM land require spark arrestors, if you get caught without one its a big ass fine.