I'm thinkin of buying a 250 for my wife. when i checked Honda's web site i got a little confused about all their 250 models, and the big price differences between what appear to be the same drive train dressed up a little differently.

There's a used 250EX I'm thinkin about. It seems to be more of a sport type. our riding is all trails, some mud, creeks, logs, rocks, logging road (until we can find the next trail). they had something like a 250 TM model, was quite a bit cheaper, WITH front and rear racks. body style looked more like a rec/utility type. 50-60lbs heavier. I don't think we really need 4x4. i can winch her thru if it's that bad, and i'm hoping lighter machine will be a little easier to get un-stuck.

i like the idea of the shaft drive on the 250 vs. chain drive on 300. also, the 250 has a bigger tank. did anyone else compare these various 250 models and 300s before buying? what was your decision and why? Honda says the 250EX is a good balance for trails too. don't trust a salesman as far as i can punt them.

thanks for any help.

 

I have owned all 3 of these bikes. The utility is the Recon. It is a 2wd, and a VERY capable machine. The 250EX is a Recon in sport plastic. The suspension is a little better, and like you said, 50 lbs. lighter. Basically, the 250 will do anything the Recon will, unless you need the rack space. Both bikes have easy to use autoclutch transmissions.

The 300 is a full step up from the 250s. It has REAL sport bike suspension, and a fully manual hand clutch, but being chain drive, not as much ground clearance as the others and not as well suited to the wet/mud.

All 3 are great bikes with great reputations, and will give you trouble free riding for years. They are all medium size and easy handling.

 

The 250ex was basically made from the Recon. Honda made a few changes to make a beginner sport quad with a semi-auto shift. The 300ex is more of a sport quad with a manual clutch and chain drive.

The 2004 Recon comes in a foot shift and a button shift on the handlebars. The 2005 Recon also has a foot shift and a button shift. But the 2005 has a new body style. More sporty.

I bought a 2001 Recon back in ....... 2001. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I decided to buy the Recon over the 250ex for a couple reasons. One being the cheaper price. Considering it has the same motor as the 250ex. Second, I wanted a quad with racks so I could take my art supplies out in the woods with me. Third, the Recon has a higher rider weight limit than the 250ex.

You could buy a rear rack for the 250ex. It would attach to the grab bar. It would also be an extra cost.

The Recon/250ex is a good reliable quad.

The 300ex has more power and disc brakes. It is one of the few Hondas that still have an older body style.

You might want to also consider the 2x4 Rancher 350 foot shift semi-auto for around $4000. It is priced lower than the 300ex. (300ex around $4550.)

 

If you dont have your heart set on a honda, another couple of modles to look at are the suzuki z250 and ozark 250....They are direct competitors of the hondas.

 

bear in mind I'm in the Great White North (actually, the wet-coast of canada), but the price differences really surprised the heck outta me (these are all MSRP for '04): 250EX= $6122, 250TE 5799, 250TM $5299. with no racks or electric shift, the 250 EX seems to have the LEAST amount of features with the highest price!? go figure. Near as i can tell, the only difference between the TE and TM is the electric shift on the TE. That might be nice... I dunno. Think I'll avoid the 300, weight and space are issues for my truck quad deck (see my pics).

oh yeah, Honda's comparison/spec pages seemed to indicate the gearing on the EX is different, i assume more top-end/speed based.

There is a 2000 model for sale used at $3700, but seems a little too much. I doubt the seller will drop to the $3000 i think it's worth. Did they have electric shift in 2000?

thanks for the feedback guys.

 

The Honda Recon did not get ES until the 2002 models.

 

I would say that if it is going to be for your wife she will love the 250ex. Also it's a great quad that is fun and easy to use and is very easy to mantain. It has enough power to keep you happy and not to much to hurt you. It is the most reliable sport quad out and is wonderful for trail riding. I rode my cousin quad around my track and trails and would have to say it drove great and was very well behaved on the trail. I would say that the 250ex would be better for trails because you don't have to worry about breaking a chain or working the clutch. One last thing is that the 250ex will never die on you when you out in the middle of no where.