Rode a 300EX this weekend

Went to Ocotillo this past weekend with some friends and rode my friend's wife's 2002 300EX. Its a cool quad to look at and it was easy to start and easy to shift and almost impossible to stall out, even climbing hills in too high a gear. But, man, was it BORING to ride. Handling was nothing compared to my 250R 3 wheeler, it nose dived in the whoops and pushed in the turns. Power wasnt anwhere close to my R, even climbing hills. My impression is its a sheep in wolf's clothing. I thought it was gonna be all great cause a how he just spent like 5 grand buying it and I was like, man, my old 1500 dollar ATC is funner than this.... Guess I wont plan on buying a 4 stroke quad in the future.... I'll stick to 3 wheels!

[OldSchoolin86]

I feel sorry for your buddy. If he paid $5000 then he paid a grand more than you have to to get a new one. It's a fun machine but a little borring for those who know better. I'm suprised they still offer it now that the 250EX is out. Why have two entry level quads?

[karnivore660r]

True. I thought they would drop it when the 250ex came out.

I guess it still sells and what sells will stay.

It is a great intermediate quad.

[Kilborg]

The 300ex is one of the best trail sporty quads you can get right now. It has a very nice lowend pull, and you can lighten the frontend for getting over logs and such with ease. I'll stick to my 250r, but its still a excellent quad for which it was intended.

[ATC crazy]

I guess the 250ex is for the beginners who want to learn to ride without learning on a manual clutch and the 300ex for thoes who do. The 300ex could also be for the larger riders who feel more cramped on the 250ex. And of course the 300ex doesn't have the power or handling of a 250R. :D

Yeah he pays top dollar for everything he owns. Plus he got the insurance on it and all that. It should be pretty easy for someone to learn to clutch and shift on that quad, its very easy to operate it. I would probly like it a little better if it had a twist throttle on it since thats what Im used to. I would like to ride a Banshee or a TRX250R just to see what a performance quad is like. I still cant imagine the TRX-R being faster or better than the ATC-R though, unless the TRX has a big bore kit to make up for the extra weight of it.

[mtbikr]

2 brothers that ride with me went to Mississippi and gave $4300 cash each for a new 400ex. Here in Nashville area they are around $5200.

[Honda300ex]

You should ride my 300ex it only runs about 50 but it is a heck of a wood thumper. The bottom end will make you fall of the back if you fit it hard! :)

[ATCRYDER]

The 250EX & 300EX are not even close of the same machine, Neither are fast, but both do handle excellently : and thats where the comparison stops. The 250EX is an autclutch 5 speed woman or children's machine, whereas the 300ex is geared for the intermediate crowd, who arent ready to temp fate yet. Honda has a reason for everything they do, and with the 250, the 300 and 400 EX models; Theyve got every class taken care of, with the exception of a big bore performance (which Honda will never do in my opinion, a 600EX someday, but nothing over that..)

[OldSchoolin86]

I felt like Homer Simpson reading your post with the idea of a 600ex.

Mmmmmm....... 600EX.

[ATCRYDER]

well, on accaount as This: http://www.hondamotorcycles.com/assets/images/model/model_hero_shot/atvs/2003/small/Sportrax_400EX_red.jpg is nothing more than this (with 2 more wheels): http://www.hondamotorcycles.com/assets/images/model/model_hero_shot/motorcycles/2003/small/XR_400R_red.jpg

Im sure Honda could take this and either leave it alone or bore it down and have the same result :-D : http://www.hondamotorcycles.com/assets/images/model/model_hero_shot/motorcycles/2003/small/XR_650R_red.jpg

....we can hope atleast...maybe theyll get the picture and have that Liquid Cooled 450 that they a supposedly working on come out next year...

[Instinctz]

lol.. I really like those picture threads, helps me follow along. :shock:

[ATCRYDER]

No doubt.......I do what i can :bounce

[OldSchoolin86]

So Ryder, would a move like that restore your faith in Honda? Why is it we can see that a 600ex would sell like crazy but yet they won't make it? I personaly think they're just being a bunch of pussies.

[ATCRYDER]

I have a lot of respect for Honda for 2 primary reasons: 1, They invented the off road 3 wheeler and perfected it, and kept up with technology with Quads about 8 years ago as well. and 2, THey make everrrrrything from hybrid cars to weedwackers to generators to motor oil, so theres no doubt theyve got alot on their plate and cant always focus on the atv market (becuase compared to cycles, atv's are barely even in the picture). It'd be nice to Honda come out on top but with all their weight rules, I cant see them making an LC Big Bore to compete with the other machines....and with the 4 stroke engine, a big bore is where its at. Allll Honda's problems would be rather simple to correct if they just brought back the TRX R, right??? lol

[redrider200x]

atcryder, atv's out sell dirtbikes and streetbikes combined in every state exept california. i read about it in a past dirtwheels mag.

[ATCRYDER]

I completely absolutely do not believe that. Feel free to give me the month & year where they lied.

[redrider200x]

nov. 02