At its dealer meeting in Nashville, Tenn., Honda announced a newly updated TRX400EX. For the sport quad that started the four-stroke revolution, 2005 is the year that could put it "back" on the map. More importantly, Honda dealers know have a middle-of-the-road sport quad and reverse gear to pitch to potential customers.
ATV Sport
With the introduction of the 450R last year, Honda could have easily killed the aging 400EX in favor of the newer, more powerful and far more attractive 450R. Instead, Honda updated its old 400 to be more in line with today's recreational four-stroke-powered quads. The strategic upgrades, including reverse, new looks and improved gear ratios, made the 400EX a more complete model and far more attractive to the sport quad buyer. Let's face it, the 400EX is not a race quad. Even though it was raced soon after its introduction in 1998, it has steadily gone done hill since. Now, with the re-creation of this highly popular model, Honda has an attractive model for all but serious racers and a competitor for the Z400 and its cousins.
The new styling gives buyers a refreshed look and a more modern appearance and an ATV that is as attractive as its brother the 450R, only without the sticker price or race-oriented setup. For 2005, along with 450R-inspired looks, the 400EX received a new brake light. To better match it intended audience, Honda engineers added a convenient reverse knob (similar to that found on the Suzuki Z400, Yamaha 660R Raptor and the 2005 Polaris Predator. Like the '05 Predators, the updated 400EX gets newer gear ratios that Honda calls improved.
The remainder of the 400EX stays mostly the same. It still gets it power from the 397cc dry-sump, air-cooled four-stroke single-cylinder engine, the same engine that powered the bulletproof XR400R. Triple disc brakes provide superb stopping power.
Honda says the 400EX uses a heavy-duty clutch with 2mm-thick plates designed to stand up to sport ATV demands. The 400EX uses the same five-speed transmission, exect reverse gear was added and the ratios were spaced specifically for sport ATV use.
ATV Sport
Unlike some of its competition, the 400EX retained is double A-arm front suspension with five-position adjustable spring preload and Pro-Link rear suspension with a fully adjustable large-diameter aluminum-body piggyback Showa shock.
The 450R styling package includes aggressive styling of front cowl, fuel tank, fenders and durable plastic fuel tank. New dual 30-watt headlights give the 400EX copycat 450R looks. The new rear brake light is standard.
The 2005 400EX is assembled in Timmonsville, S.C. It is available in dealerships this September and retails for $5,799. As announced earlier in the year, this model and its engine meets California Air Resources Board (CARB) off-road emissions standards.
2005 Honda TRX400EX Specs Engine Type: 397cc RFVC air-cooled dry-sump single-cylinder four-stroke
Bore and Stroke: 85mm x 70mm
Carburetion: 38mm piston-valve with accelerator pump
Ignition: CD with electronic advance
Starter: Electric
Clutch: Manual
Transmission: Five-speed with reverse
Driveline: O-ring-sealed chain
Suspension
Front: Independent double-wishbone with Showa shocks, five-position spring preload adjustability; 8.2 inches travel
Rear: Pro-Link fully adjustable single Showa shock; 9.1 inches travel
Brakes
Front: Dual hydraulic 174mm discs
Rear: Single 220mm disc
Tires
Front: 22 x 7-10 knobby radial
