[New addition to the family....Z400] - ATV Riders Forums - Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Polaris, CanAm, Arctic Cat, Kymco ATVs

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New addition to the family....Z400
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Posted by: New-400ex_guy

got it saturday, rode it only a couple time to start the break in process. so far i love it, great suspension, good power, super smooth clutch, and i cant wait to open it up

. made a good addition to the honda home.

Posted by: New-400ex_guy

another

Posted by: New-400ex_guy

1 more, pictures didnt turn out that good stupid camera. its should be better for 1.3 megapixel camera.

Posted by: knighttime

:blah

Posted by: yamaha1470

Looks really nice. Why does suzuki shape all there seats really wide in the back? Let us know how it is after u break it in

Posted by: JustRace

Have fun with it

Posted by: Guy400

quote:
Originally posted by yamaha1470
Looks really nice. Why does suzuki shape all there seats really wide in the back? Let us know how it is after u break it in

Suzuki's reasoning is that it allows for a seat under your butt at all times when you're shifting your weight from side to side while cornering instead of hanging your ***** on the rear fenders. Does it work? I don't know, I guess it depends on the rider. I actually prefer it to a straight seat.

Posted by: adrenalinejunke

congrads nice bike:devil

Posted by: Nausty

I wounder if they will ever make a front cover for it like the mair front plastic for the lt's like in h4 in the hawaii part. I think they might look pretty cool if they did something like that.

Posted by: Zero Z400

I'm so jealous!! I'm still waiting but it'll be worth it. Have fun on the new quad.

Later

Posted by: kid300ex

Where you down at sand lakes the 19th? (last sunday) because i saw a z400 there with paddles on it.....

Posted by: 440

dude, u blind, the 400ex has the paddles, not the z

Posted by: beerock

quote:
Originally posted by 440
dude, u blind, the 400ex has the paddles, not the z

LOL:blah

Posted by: New-400ex_guy

hehe, no i wasnt at sand lake, i live in northbend so im out at the dunes around boxcar, hauser, spinreal.

ill be there this memorial day weekend with my red and orange ribbons.

and the paddles are now on my bike

Posted by: kid300ex

my cuzins going down there with a buncha friends, i wish i could go.....

Posted by: RideRed04

Amen on the smooth clutch, I was looking at one at the dealership, and it reminded me of the time a year back when I was looking at a dr-z400 and thinking, man this clutch is really smooth for the amount of power they say the engine has! put it in a quad frame! lol.

Posted by: Matrix250R

pretty sweeeeet

Matrix

Posted by: 4punksdad

quote:
Originally posted by New-400ex_guy
hehe, no i wasnt at sand lake, i live in northbend so im out at the dunes around boxcar, hauser, spinreal.

ill be there this memorial day weekend with my red and orange ribbons. and the paddles are now on my bike

are the rims interchangable? or did you break them off the rim to swap them?

Posted by: New-400ex_guy

the bolt pattern is the same as the honda. i rode it in the dunes all this weekend and it does really good

the one thing is you cant really lug it like the 400ex it doesnt have alot of bottom end, it likes to be in the upper rpm's and it does really well there

Posted by: Zero Z400

I rode a high-performance quad today for the first time ever. It was a 400ex and damn did that fly!! The low end was awesome!! It was fun but the midrange was nothing special but way better than the 90!! I get my Z400 tomorrow!!! I'll probaly kill myself with the Z but its worth it. I'll be racing that 400ex this weekend, it will be my first time on an mx on a fast quad, i've been on the track with the 90 and it was harsh and not much fun.

Later

Posted by: DillonTMNT

cool Zero but just be carefull and know your limits. the first time I was on a high performance quad I pulled the front end up and freaked and slide right off the back (I have vinal wind pants on

) and when I slide off the back I fell on the ground(I was in my cul-de-sac) and grabbed the rear grab bar and it drug me until it hit a neighbors brick mailbox.

-Dillon

Posted by: Zero Z400

That pic is awesome. Well u gotta learn ur limits sometime...

Later

Posted by: freakystone

The clutch is smooth, but takes a bit getting use to. I adjusted mine to be a bit less touchy. I had about a 2 mm difference between engaged and not. I must have killed it 50 times when I was technical trail riding and needed to feather it over rocks and what not.

I tell you though. Go through your new Z400 and check the screws. I have found no loose bolts or nuts, but alot of the smaller screws were loose and I lost two of them.

This is the second time I read the low end was weak compared to the 400EX. I tell you, ride it again and comment. The low end is awesome as long as you give it gas. The power is just deceiving since it is a must wider powerband.

A couple times I was riding a wheelie in second or third and it came up with just a tap of the gas and once 5 to 6K rpm hit, it about bucked me off. It isnt that low end lacks, it is just that mid range hits really hard whereas a 400EX lacks mid range power.

Posted by: RideRed04

If you give it gas, you are out of the low range. It is like saying my banshee has a ton of low end because if I am idling around and I pin it it pulls really hard.

Posted by: Guy400

I agree, the phrase "bottom end" refers to an RPM range and not to ground speed. It would be the same as slipping the clutch as you rev the bike to 6k but are only travelling at 10mph and saying you're using bottom end.

Posted by: 4punksdad

maybe the Z could use a one tooth smaller front sprocket like the 400ex???

Posted by: Zero Z400

I just got my Z400 today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This thing is so freakin awesome!!! Its about time my 175 pound 15 year old @$$ got off the 90!! I think it has great bottom end. I was riding my friends 400 before i went to pick it up and i think the ex has a SLIGHT better bottom-end. I think its worth the bottom for top, cuz i can just gear down. I was put-putting in third giving it 1/4 throttle tap and a little tug on the bars and the front end was getting up. I love this quad!!

Later

Posted by: freakystone

I dont want to argue about what rpm range is low end vs top end. My suggestion is to ride one ane see for yourself. The bottom end may be a slight pubic hair less for the first milli-second than a 400EX, but I am still not convinced. The low end in first gear is almost "jerky" if you are use to a 400EX and I am talking less than 3000 rpm here. Where some riders may get confused, is the additional hit in the 5 to 6K range that the 400EX lacks big time.

Again guys, I love the 400EX. I would not have bought a Z400 if the EX had reverse. I would have just modded the **** out of it. I didnt except the Z to have the bang it did. I didnt expect it to handle as nice either, but we tight trail ride and mud and I needed reverse. Not to mention I was able to pick up the Z for $4954 OTD... Blame me?

I really suggest you ride one and then hope back and forth between 400EX and Z400. I am not suggesting a modded 440 is a dog, but if we are talking stock vs. stock, the Z eats up the EX considerably.

Posted by: RideRed04

How did you get one for $4950? They cant keep them in stock, ordered up for the next month, and you got yours for cheaper then most new 400ex's? Why dont you just go sell yours for $5600 to someone, and go get another for cheaper!

Posted by:

quote:
Originally posted by freakystone
but if we are talking stock vs. stock, the Z eats up the EX considerably.

Well I'd hope so with a much higher compression piston, dual cams, water cooled, new technology through out the entire engine. Of course nobody around here has one for me to ride and the dealers just got them in,,but I'll get a chance to ride one soon I hope.. It's nice to see Honda promoted so many companies to come out with new sport quads after the release of the 400ex in late 1998..now it's their turn.

Posted by: freakystone

I think the comparision of a EX to a Z is fair. People compared the 400 to the Warrior when it first came out. As far as the praise for Honda releasing the 400EX and "saving the sport", come on. Someone was bound to release a sport quad if Honda didnt. But as long as we are patting companies on the back, we should recognize the following:

Suzuki for releasing the first quad.

Kawasaki for releasing the fastest 2 stroke 250cc quad.

Yamaha for releasing the first and only 2 stroke 2 cylinder 350cc quad.

Suzuki again for releasing the first and only 2 stroke 500cc quad.

Polaris for releasing the first and only 2 stroke 400cc, automatic quad.

I could go on but I am bored.

No doubt that Honda makes a heck of a quad. So does the other three but credit goes to all manufacturers not just Honda.

By the way, here is a pic of the Z...

Posted by: freakystone

Here is another...

Posted by: freakystone

Here is the swing arm...

Posted by:

Freaky I think it would look better with a shiney aftermarket pipe on the back of it..

Posted by: freakystone

Stay tuned Rico... Full Yoshimura Titanium, DRZ cam, DRZ carb, filter, jetting and Holeshot's on ITP's coming soon.

Posted by: Guy400

Ken, what's the plug for on top of the swingarm just forward of the bearing carrier?

Posted by: freakystone

Collecting mud??? Just kidding Guy. I really dont know. The dealer didnt have any owners manuals in stock, so there are sending me one next week. I saw an LT500 the other day and the swingarm looked the same. I dont recall if it had the plug or no though.

Posted by: Guy400

Ken, I doubt that it does. I know the '91-'92 250 swingarm didn't.

Posted by: 4punksdad

the Z looks cool & sounds impressive. Too bad suzuki didn't choose a better chain adjuster set up than that quadracer copy. Its a poor design if you ask me. Then again, most quads have funky chain adjuster set ups.

as fas as innovation in manufacturing goes...........none of us would know what an ATV was at all, if honda hadn't dreamed up the ATC's

Posted by:

wow the z400 looks real good! Do you prefer it over the ex??

Posted by: Zero Z400

I prefer it over Appleman847's 400ex. Heres why:
1. They don't shake as much
2. Smoother clutch
3. Reverse
4. Liquid cooling
5. Faster reving
6. Shock are softer but will bottom easier than ex's
7. High tech engine
But Reliability still has to proven as well as toughness. But we'll see

Later

Posted by: freakystone

There is no doubt that other manufacturers are sure to release some top notch quads. The rumored 450EX or 650EX, or the 650 twin by Kawi or the 5 speed manual racer by polaris or the 250F Blaster or the 426F Yama or even the Z clone Kawi, competition is sure to get stiff in the sport industry. Ride what you like and have fun.

I think the opitomy of that statement is a group of three guys I saw at Attica last weekend. One guy had an 86' 250R, one had an older 4x4 Foreman and the other had an old early 80's 200 three wheeler with no suspension. All three of those guys were having a ball. Each one spending part of the day in terrain less condusive for their ride.

I love my Z. But I also loved just about every atv or atc I've ever had (except that darn hunk of crap Warrior). If I was broke and didnt have a dime, I'd pick up some hunk of junk 82' atc 110 and still have fun.

Posted by: 4punksdad

quote:
Originally posted by freakystone
There is no doubt that other manufacturers are sure to release some top notch quads. The rumored 450EX or 650EX, or the 650 twin by Kawi or the 5 speed manual racer by polaris or the 250F Blaster or the 426F Yama or even the Z clone Kawi, competition is sure to get stiff in the sport industry. Ride what you like and have fun.

I think the opitomy of that statement is a group of three guys I saw at Attica last weekend. One guy had an 86' 250R, one had an older 4x4 Foreman and the other had an old early 80's 200 three wheeler with no suspension. All three of those guys were having a ball. Each one spending part of the day in terrain less condusive for their ride.

I love my Z. But I also loved just about every atv or atc I've ever had (except that darn hunk of crap Warrior). If I was broke and didnt have a dime, I'd pick up some hunk of junk 82' atc 110 and still have fun.

amen brother

Posted by: 250gtbai

what about that honda? is it for sale??? I'm looking to buy....Get back to me

Posted by: 73watermutt

Nice looking Z400

Posted by: Tri-valleyracin

guys this post was dead in 2002 y would u ever bring it back up.