I'm interested in buying a brand new Honda recon. I like it because it should be cheap, and it's nice and small to go out in the bush with. I'm wondering though if they are reliable and if they are actually good to go in the woods where their are no trails. I would also use it for trail riding though, and I'm not big on going in the deep mud, so I don't need 4x4. I thought of getting an arctic Cat 250 2x4, but they aren't as reliable, and are 130lb heavier then the honda! They are also too big! So all in all, is the honda Recon a good machine to buy. Just wondering, how much money are they, in canadian dollars please. I drive in southern Manitoba, Canada, the prairies. (I'm about 5'5'', 150 pounds, and 16 years old.

JasonJ

 

My neighbor has one and it's excellent he has kids and it has tame power, but when you open it up it has great acceleration and pulling power. It's so reliable you will never have to touch it other than changing the oil. Great buy it will last you forever

 

i agree,

the recon is a great quad........
and it will last forever.......

 

The recon would be a great machine for you. It is very reliable and fun to drive. In my opinion the weekest part of them is the clutch, but that is only if you drive it HARD. They are a great little wheeler for the woods with no trails because they are so little and manuverable, even if you do get hung up its no problem to lift them off. They should be around $5,000 and it should fit you fine. I'm 5'4" and 115lbs and it works great.

 

I will have had my 99 Recon now coming up almost 4 years pretty soon and have about 400 hours on the machine. Other than changing the oil and cleaning the air filter I have done nothing to it.

Its the machine I jump on if I need a quick ride to check something out. I give it a thumbs up.

Chet[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

The recon is good for very tight riding areas. It goes in fluffy snow but has a hard time when the snow gets slimy. The stock tires go amazingly well in most conditions. The only problem is that the choke doesn't make the engine rev high enough in cold conditions. I have to hold the gas on for a little while until it gets warm enough to drive. I paid (in 2001) $3300. (in US) OTD including transfer, tax, state licensing, and hitch. The recon is a very good atv but I would also look at the Ozark to compare. You could also look into the Beartracker if you don't mind having a little less fun. The handling and acceleration of the Tracker are lacking compared to Recon. I've never driven the Ozark so I don't know how it handles but it does have a few more cc's than the other two. Shop around to get the best deal.
Retail on the Recon is $3499. (US) and a little more for the ES model. Also, don't let the dealer charge for filing paper work.

 

I have spent countless hours on a Recon. Truth is, I can't think of one bad thing to say about them. They are Fun, Nimble, suprisingly Sporty little Quads. They will quite honestly run until the tires wear off of them and then run some more. The one my inlaws have has been abused (Mostly br the Grankids) beyond belief and just keeps going without so much as a single problem.

I bought an Ozark 250 for my Wife, and I don't know if you are even concidering one, but other than the Long term reliability (The Ozark has only been out for a little over a year now.), we have had zero troubles with it. It is just a little bit better at everything than the Recon.

If you have already decided that you want to get the Recon, you have made an excelent choice. I just saw one being PDI'd at the local dealership and it looked to me like it was the same Yellow color that the EX's come in. Looked good.

 

Ditto what RPM just said. The Recon is an excellent choice for all that you are looking for. The Ozark will be just a little bit better and just as reliable. I would take a serious look at both and let a 'dealing' dealer help make your decision. Both the Recon and Ozark have the same MSRP.

Jaybee

 

Go with a recon and you wont regret your decision in 5 years. I found mine , an 01 non-current , in 02 for 4500 can. I f you live on a farm you dont have to pay GST. Mine is a manual shift, a little less money and less to break.As Dirt Wheels said in their shootout The 229 moter is bullet-proof. And be honest at 16 you will beat the #$@% out fo it. Good luck!!!