I need a simple, easy solution to this problem. I want more horsepower for my Recon, but it has to be something simple, that I can do in less than 3 hours. Please help me.

 

The simple answer is it is a 229cc engine. There just aren't a lot more ponies to wring out of it. The big 3(exhaust, intake, jetting) is where I would look. After that and it starts to become more cost effective to sell it and look for something more powerful.

 

May be worth checking power outputs on your machine and the 250 Sportrax, they have the same head so any power difference will be down to the cam, carb and exhaust. Provided the plastics don't get in the way, fitting a Sportrax exhaust, carb and air filter, shouldn't take long. Fitting a new cam as well could take longer than your 3 hour deadline.

 

There is not much you can do with a OHV motor unlike a OHC. You best bet is to trade up. Even the 300ex atleast has a OHC motor.
Honda was smart enough not to put a OHV in a sport ATV.
Only the sport 250ex has a OHV, I guess Honda did not take that ATV seriously. http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...e2=40278&go=Go

The OHV is the reason for Hondas utility ATVs like the Foreman/Rubicon 500 and 680 Rincon are so low on HP numbers for their displacement.

The single cylinder 450 Outlander has the same hp as the 680 Rincon.

 

I'd just ride it the way it is. Its never going to be noticeably faster no matter what you do. An exhaust will just make it louder anyway. I've owned a couple quads with aftermarket exhaust on them and ended up putting the stock one back on because they were so annoying and loud. You can bore the engine out I suppose but even that might not help much and then you've made it less reliable by doing so. It would have been nice if Honda had used the same engine as in the 250ex but they didn't. Honestly the poor Recon is way overdue for some sort of upgrade as the engine is basically unchanged since it was introduced way back in 1997 I think. I think Honda should just put the now unused Rancher 350 engine in the Recon and call it a Recon 350. Power problem solved with a proven reliable engine.

 

The Recon and 250ex both have the same 229cc OHV. 2007 Honda FourTrax® Recon® ES (TRX250TE) ATVs You have to go to the 300ex to get out of the OHV motors for the Honda sports models.

 

They're not exactly the same, the 250ex has a different cam and head I think and makes a bit more power but yes the same displacement. The 300ex engine would be a good upgrade for the Recon as well.

 

I checked the part numbers for the Sportrax and Recon heads before posting, they are the same, but cam part numbers are different. Anyone know how much more power the Sportrax has?

 

According to the titles, the recon makes 12 and the 250ex makes 16. I can confirm that the 250ex is both faster accelerating and has a higher top speed. It's also geared higher. I've taken both top ends apart and they are identical but the cam is in the block

 

That would be the OHV part of it.

OHV can not rev as high or as quick , its the reason cars and motorcycles switched to OHC along time ago.

Honda only uses OHV in small engines like lawnmowers and generators so its odd their Utility ATVs still use them because their Motorcycles ,cars, PWC, outboards and sport ATV do not.
I guess HP is not important to Honda on 4x4 ATVs.