I'm looking at used Recons. Should I get one with the floorboards or an older one without them? What's the advantages and disadvantages of floorboards?

 

I would go with the ones without. I think they are the ones with the semi-automatic transmission where you use your foot to shift but don't have to pull in a clutch lever. I've been on a Recon with that setup and it's a lot of fun to drive. Any Honda guys got a better answer?

 

I have an older Rancher 350 without floorboards, and a newer 420 which has them. They do not interfere with foot shifting in any way!

The upside is that they act like nerfbars on a sport quad, and protect your feet from debris, or slipping off the pegs and getting sucked under the tires. The downside is that if you do a lot of highly technical terrain like rock crawling or lots of mud, they can occasionally get hung up on stuff, and being plastic they can get scuffed up pretty quick.

I would say that if you have good footwear like proper MX boots, then you can get along safely without them. If you aren't into proper riding gear, and wear "work" boots, rubber boots, or tennis sh oes, then it is a huge advantage to have floorboards!

For me personally, I am always in favor of anything that increases safety....so I think they are a great thing!!! First thing I do on any sport quad, is put on nerfs.....

 

It would be for my wife to just use around the yard.

 

Well...when she forgets she isn't on a bicycle and puts here foot down and gets it sucked under the footpeg...you will wish you had them rather than not!

 

If it's for your wife, I'd say get the floorboards.

It's a whole lot easier to explain why you got them than it is explaining to her how you could have, if she ever gets her foot caught under the rear wheel.

 

Ok. I'll go for a floorboard model. I think they were 2004 & newer??? Also, I know the ES is probably not the way I'd go because of possible problems, but I think I will get it for her. Since this Recon won't ever be out of the yard, I don't forsee it ever getting in deep water or ever being run hard. Probably never get out of 2nd gear. I'm thinking she might appreciate the ES because at times she has clumsy boots on for her gardening work and a foot shifter might be harder to use than the ES. What do you think?