Bought a new Recon and the gears are hard to change, they are really stiff. Is this common or are they something wrong?

 

Hello,,, I bought a new recon in 98 and I found that for the first couple of weeks that the gears were also stiff on mine as well as the handle bars were too so this is just normal for something that is brand new. Hope this helps
98 Recon - bone stock

 

i have a new recon too, once you take it in for it's first check up it should go away . you should try a rancher if you think a new recon is bad. but after the shift plate got fixed it was all good !

 

Yes, my Recon shifted hard too and compared to the
Suzuki LT160 the Honda replaced I wondered if I had gone backwards, but believe me it should improve and you will be very happy with the Recon.
Just drive it in ALL the gears and soon it will
loosen up.

 

My recon was so stiff I adjusted the foot gear shift downward to make it easier to "click" up into gear...It has since gotten easeir to shift...