Hey everyone. I am looking into buying a bike for my wife and I am stuck as to what to get. They are both the same price and both great machines. I like the traailboss for the automatic tranny but I like the recon for the shaft drive. The recon has been out for years and seems bullet proof. I am just not as familar with the trail boss. any help would be great.

 

Does she ride? The trailboss is very forgiving if she is new to the sport.
Also depends on height and weight. Trailboss is a much larger and wider quad (more stable). The recon may not do as well with a larger rider, but would be a great fit for a smaller person.

 

Also, welcome to the forums!

 

Sorry I forgot to say She is 5'1 and 115 pounds so if that helps

 

I would have her test drive both.

It sounds like the recon may be a better fit.

 

absolutely, have her test drive both, the machine will sell itself to her. I loved my Trail Boss, but the chain drive did give us a few problems. Just had to adjust it fairly regularly.

 

IF you use chain wax you will not have to adjust your chain very often. The o-rings take care of internal lubrication, and are great, but do nothing for chain to sprocket wear. With Chain Wax (spray-on) I only need to adjust our chains about once a year, and that is on Bombardier DS-650's and Raptor 660's. Our Trail Boss was the same way, very little stretch with chain wax. You will have to adjust it about 2 weeks after you buy it, then check it occasionally.
.....I think the Trail Boss is just so much better than the recon, even for a small person. Anyone over 100 lbs can handle one just fine.

 

My Trailboss is my first ATV. Have had no complaints, have ridden it everywhere I am brave enough to go and I don't see myself replacing it anytime soon. The Bombardier Outlander 330 is impressive, just don't want to spend that kind of money right now.

 

When the Recon first came out my brother believed all the hype about it in the mags and bought one. He hated it and desperately wanted out of the loan on it. My dad felt sorry for him and bought it for my mom. She hated it and basically refused to ride it.
Recons ride as if they have no suspension, no power, and your in 4th gear before you can cross the road.
Unless she has never ridden a quad in her life, she will probably not be thrilled with a Recon.
My mom now rides a trailblazer (another reject from my brother actually) but enjoys the cushy ride, the auto tranny, and the power to keep up with the other quads.
I spent way more time on the recon then I wanted and hated it, easilly the least fun I ever had on a quad.
If you can, have her ride one for herself, you'll probably hear more bitchin and complaining then you ever thought was possible, save yourself a lot of heartache and find another quad for her.

 

I would take her and make her ride quite a few different quads. Then let her decide what she wants. Let her ride a Ozark, 250EX and a few others that fall into this group. My first quad was a 00 Trailboss and I did not have any problems with it and my wife did not want me to get rid of it. It was a very comfortable ride.