Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O.


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Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O.

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Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/27/2008 5:13:49 PM

G H O S T

Posts: 2040
Joined: 6/15/2006
From: Bradford, PA
Status: offline

a freind of mine got one when they first came out......had a few issues....most came down to bad service.....i am still trying to think of a reason not to get me one in the spring....it is about the perfect quad for the type of riding i do and for where i ride....not that i'm going to get rid of my trx300 but i want a 4x4 and that polaris AWD in that small powerfull package is hard to resist........and glaring issues that i would have to worry about with one?? and yes i know it is just a Hawkeye on roids

_____________________________

'90 Honda trx300 4x2 (soon to be turbocharged)
376, cam, ported, 400ex carb, supertrap, extreme winch, Maxxis Lynx tires, Rokstars, nerf bars, 4 wheel disc, 1.5" lift, trail tech, dial-a-jet & much more

'02 Yamaha Big Bear 400 4x4
26" Foxes, Grizzly wheels, 2" lift, Warn winch

'84 Suzuki LT185
supertrap, jetkit, Uni, NOS

selling my dual wheel set up, pm me if interested......

Post #: 1

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/27/2008 6:27:35 PM

REBELRIDER

Posts: 1479
Joined: 2/2/2004
From: Vidor, TX
Status: offline

Its going to be hard beating a 300 fourtraxx as far as reliability goes. I had a 99' fourtraxx 4x4, but sold it to get an 02' 500 HO Sportsman and havent looked back since. Get it, treat it right and maintain it. You will not be dissapointed........................

_____________________________

07' Polaris 700
29 Outlaws
AAEN
Snorkt' Through The Tunes
Visions
Keystone Light

(in reply to G H O S T)

Post #: 2

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/27/2008 7:22:47 PM

TenesseeTider

Posts: 74
Joined: 4/4/2006
Status: offline

I have a Hawkeye and I love it. The 400HO should be a ton better in the same small package that is easily driven in the woods.

(in reply to REBELRIDER)

Post #: 3

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/27/2008 7:26:48 PM

GWC

Posts: 22380
Joined: 5/7/2004
From: Kansas
Status: offline

quote:

i am still trying to think of a reason not to get me one in the spring....it is about the perfect quad for the type of riding i do and for where i ride....

Buy what will do what you want not what brand it is if you think this quad is what you need then dont let the brand blind you , somtimes being brand loyal you miss out on the good stuff..

_____________________________

08 650H1 LE
Warn 3.0
Snorkeled,Rad racked
Custom gauges
muffler tweaked
Dynojet, slide mod, spring clipped
Dyna Tech CDI
Custom clutch kit
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29.5 Laws, custom LE wheels
30" MLs, Black Castle Roks
05 500m
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26" 589MTs, ITP type 6s
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(in reply to TenesseeTider)

Post #: 4

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/27/2008 8:19:38 PM

G H O S T

Posts: 2040
Joined: 6/15/2006
From: Bradford, PA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: GWC

quote:

i am still trying to think of a reason not to get me one in the spring....it is about the perfect quad for the type of riding i do and for where i ride....

Buy what will do what you want not what brand it is if you think this quad is what you need then dont let the brand blind you , somtimes being brand loyal you miss out on the good stuff..

too true.....i still plan to keep my 300 ....she is one of a kind.....but the H.O would be 100x better all around for riding.....not to mention it would be nice to go on a ride and not have to stand up all the time due to the crappy suspention.......my back and ars would thank me for getting a 400.....

_____________________________

'90 Honda trx300 4x2 (soon to be turbocharged)
376, cam, ported, 400ex carb, supertrap, extreme winch, Maxxis Lynx tires, Rokstars, nerf bars, 4 wheel disc, 1.5" lift, trail tech, dial-a-jet & much more

'02 Yamaha Big Bear 400 4x4
26" Foxes, Grizzly wheels, 2" lift, Warn winch

'84 Suzuki LT185
supertrap, jetkit, Uni, NOS

selling my dual wheel set up, pm me if interested......

(in reply to GWC)

Post #: 5

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/27/2008 8:28:11 PM

msrubicon89

Posts: 232
Joined: 8/28/2007
From: brandon,ms
Status: offline

my best friend (girl) has a hawkeye 300 and i'm not knocking them but the ride even though it's irs you might want to consider a sportsman 500 lot smoother ride

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2006 GREEN RINCON RUBBER DOWN LIFT HL SPRINGS C SERIES BLACK TYPE 7'S 28INCH OUTLAWS AND 27INCH 589'S

1985 big red 250es title in hand + both original keys
1982 185s < starts on first pull

2004 rubicon seat cover high lifter floor board kit 27inch outlaws hmf utility with swamp series tip with snorkel, 1.5in rear spacers strobes in the 2 bottom lights 48 quart marine cooler snorkel done by mud predators flowood,ms bash plate <<<< SOLD IT

(in reply to G H O S T)

Post #: 6

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/27/2008 8:37:58 PM

cletus600twin

Posts: 294
Joined: 7/11/2006
From: Thurston, Nebraska
Status: offline

I got a 400ho for my wife and I like to ride it around my acerage more than my 600 sportsman. I just ran it in a mu run this past weekend and came in third against all 500cc bikes. The thing is I weigh 280lbs. I am very impressed with is so far. It has great torque and the ride is superb. The first thing I did was put a set of 25" mud lites on it and now it will go almost anywhere my 600 will go. You won't be disapointed it is a great bike. The only downfall i have seen is that the battery loks loke a real bear to get to. I can overlook that though. Now all we need is someone to come up with aftermarket parts like exhaust, lift kit, and a arm guards.

_____________________________

04 600twin blue, ITP Mud Lite XL's on Polaris Vision Bruiser wheels, Highlifter front and rear springs, Heelclicker clutch kit, 800 primary, K/N air filter, Dynojet kit, fan override toggle, reverse override toggle, Automoter electonic temp gauge,custom rear rack(diamondtread), 800 header pipe, Pure Polaris (White Bros) exhaust, Polaris front cargo box, front brush guard, rear bumper, 8" stainless steel atv nuts, SNORKLED finally!

(in reply to msrubicon89)

Post #: 7

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/27/2008 9:27:08 PM

Supersized07

Posts: 35
Joined: 8/6/2008
Status: offline

BEST DECISION YOU WILLL EVER MAKE!!!!!!!

_____________________________

IF YA CAN'T TAKE THE DEEPTOUR TAKE THE DETOUR!!!

2007 POLARIS 800 EFI
29.5X12 LAWS
CUSTOM TUNES
3" LIFT
FULLY SNORKELED
BLINKY BLINKY IN FRONT AND REAR.

(in reply to cletus600twin)

Post #: 8

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/28/2008 12:07:17 AM

bf500efi

Posts: 140
Joined: 11/8/2006
Status: offline

I bought one for my wife back in April and she has put 600 miles on it. No problems at all. The only thing I don't like is how the radiator is so exposed. It clogs up alot easier than the full size Sportsmans and their not the best located things in the world either. If you ride in muddy conditions alot, you will have to fabricate some sort of shield to put a few inches in front of the radiator. I made a 12" X 8" piece of 16 gauge sheet metal with 1/4" holes for venting and mounted it a few inches in front of the existing radiator shield. We haven't drove in any mud around here lately because of the dry weather so I couldn't tell you if it helped or not, but I'm pretty sure it will. If there are any Polaris workers out there reading this, they should tell their engineers about this problem because I know another person who has a 400HO and has the exact same problem. What is so bad is that all it takes is just a drive through a few inches of mud or souppy water. Obviously it would be alot different if we were driving through 2 to 3 feet of mud all day long. Its a not a design flaw, its just that the 400HO has such limited space up front for the radiator not to be exposed. Polaris needs to come up with some sort of shield to put in front of it. Quite frankly, If they went to an air-cooled engine would be fine with me.
I would not compare a 400Ho to an old Honda 300... Man those things were tough as nails and was probably Honda's best atv of all time! The 400HO will have more grunt and ride alot smoother. It steers real easy too. There are alot of grease fittings on the 400 - believe it or not, it has more than the 500s and 800s. Like any other Polaris, if you keep the preventive maintenance up on it, then it will treat you like a good ole naked woman.

No problems with ours, just have to take it easy around the mud sometimes. It's a great value and a good concept(big motor in a little frame). you should get one.

_____________________________

Current Rides:
06 Polaris Sportsman 500EFI LE
06 Polaris Scrambler 500HO
08 Polaris Sportsman 400HO "the wifes"

Past Rides:
04 Polaris Sportsman 400
97 Kawasaki Bayou 220

I'm going to get something new in 09'

(in reply to Supersized07)

Post #: 9

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/28/2008 7:09:00 AM

Big_T

Posts: 3096
Joined: 6/7/2007
From: Milwakuee, WI
Status: offline

The bigger the person, the better it rides. The rear suspension is made stiff so it won't bottom out easily, but light riders sometimes find it too stiff. at my 300 lbs I can bottom it out, but very few people can.

The hawkeye platform is a very durable design. It's built with pretty much the same strength and frame type as the sportsman, but in a smaller package.

_____________________________

2007 Polaris X2 on 27" Mudzillas or BigHorns
Split audiopipe (self built)
Heelclicker

2008 Dodge Ram BigHorn 4x4 to haul it with

"Don't make me use my caps lock!!"

http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u39/nennti/

(in reply to bf500efi)

Post #: 10

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/28/2008 7:26:20 AM

Ay4alex_420

Posts: 618
Joined: 1/11/2008
From: England
Status: offline

theres a 2" lift out for hawkeyes now, and you can also disable the sway bar for a smoother ride. i was looking at a hawkeye before i found the 420.

_____________________________

Honda Rancher 420 4x4 ES

My Lights Go Blinky Blinky

quote:

ORIGINAL: Parts Pimp

Uh Oh.....here it comes.......Get you a helmet!

(in reply to Big_T)

Post #: 11

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/28/2008 8:29:21 AM

bryanmach1

Posts: 567
Joined: 9/23/2005
From: Florida
Status: offline

I had a 350 rancher, my thoughts exactly with crummy honda sra ride. Always standing, hurting back and ars, kept my chiorpractor buisy. IRS is the only way to go. I don't know how big of a guy you are but I would consider the 500. I don't know what the $ or feature and option difference is on Po 400 & 500, but whatever you buy your probably gonna wish you bought bigger, I did. 500 also gives you more options for bigger tires ect with that extra power. Either way, you deff will get a great ride with Polaris. Good luck and congrats on whatever new bike you get.

quote:

ORIGINAL: G H O S T

quote:

ORIGINAL: GWC

quote:

i am still trying to think of a reason not to get me one in the spring....it is about the perfect quad for the type of riding i do and for where i ride....

Buy what will do what you want not what brand it is if you think this quad is what you need then dont let the brand blind you , somtimes being brand loyal you miss out on the good stuff..

too true.....i still plan to keep my 300 ....she is one of a kind.....but the H.O would be 100x better all around for riding.....not to mention it would be nice to go on a ride and not have to stand up all the time due to the crappy suspention.......my back and ars would thank me for getting a 400.....

_____________________________

05 H1
28" MUDBUGS ON MAXXIS WHEELS
29.5" LAWS ON SERIES 7 ITP
2500 WARN

(in reply to G H O S T)

Post #: 12

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/28/2008 4:46:09 PM

AaronLikesMud

Posts: 34
Joined: 8/26/2008
Status: offline

I HAVE A 2002 SPORTSMAN 400 ITS NOT A H.O. BUT ITS A BLAST IN THE MUD BECAUSE IT HAS ENOUGH BALLS TO GET THROUGH THE THICK STUFF BUT ITS LIGHT ENOUGH TO THROW AROUND WHEN YOU NEED TO. THE ONLY COMPAINT IS THAT ALMOST NO ONE MAKES AFTERMARKET UPGRADES FOR IT. YOU GOTTA GET INVENTIVE. OTHER THAN THAT IT A GREAT BIKE

_____________________________

2002 Polaris Sportsman 400 4x4

25" Maxxis

Snorkel

(in reply to G H O S T)

Post #: 13

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/30/2008 9:08:54 AM

parttime

Posts: 564
Joined: 6/4/2007
From: Fuquay Varina N.C.
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: cletus600twin

I got a 400ho for my wife and I like to ride it around my acerage more than my 600 sportsman. I just ran it in a mu run this past weekend and came in third against all 500cc bikes. The thing is I weigh 280lbs. I am very impressed with is so far. It has great torque and the ride is superb. The first thing I did was put a set of 25" mud lites on it and now it will go almost anywhere my 600 will go. You won't be disapointed it is a great bike. The only downfall i have seen is that the battery loks loke a real bear to get to. I can overlook that though. Now all we need is someone to come up with aftermarket parts like exhaust, lift kit, and a arm guards.

if you have the 400 hotseat has a slipon for it.there is also a few other aftermarket parts avail. but most are listed under Hawkeye's

_____________________________

07 Polaris Sportsman 700 EFI MSA chrome Torks and 29.5 Laws,800 header,K&N,800 intake,Dynatek EFI programer,LRD TORQ slip on,theres only 1 kind of 2" LIFT kit a "RD" ,heelclicker clutch kit,front stainless steel brushguard,rear stainless steel deluxe bumper, 500 h.o. stickers.lol
07 Polaris Hawkeye 300 AWD K&N,RD 2" lift,wheel spacers,snorkles and 25x9.5 laws on all 4's and some itp ss212's
05 Sportsman 500HO LE
89 Honda TRX 250R w/ Sabertooth 500 kit
86 Honda TRX250R all sto

(in reply to cletus600twin)

Post #: 14

RE: Honda guy thinking of buying a 400 H.O. - 8/30/2008 10:35:25 PM

G H O S T

Posts: 2040
Joined: 6/15/2006
From: Bradford, PA
Status: offline

well my 300 is far from stock and with a 376 & 450 foreman gears in a 4x2 it will walk past a rancher or another 300.......it is not more performance power wize i am looking for....allthough watching a hawkeye pull a ranger with the wheels locked makes me wonder just how much grunt that special clutch in the 400 has.......i know my best freind has has his up to 57mph....but it is day to day....some days he can only muster 52....

_____________________________

'90 Honda trx300 4x2 (soon to be turbocharged)
376, cam, ported, 400ex carb, supertrap, extreme winch, Maxxis Lynx tires, Rokstars, nerf bars, 4 wheel disc, 1.5" lift, trail tech, dial-a-jet & much more

'02 Yamaha Big Bear 400 4x4
26" Foxes, Grizzly wheels, 2" lift, Warn winch

'84 Suzuki LT185
supertrap, jetkit, Uni, NOS

selling my dual wheel set up, pm me if interested......

(in reply to parttime)

Post #: 15