The Recon is not a bad machine and would probably fit her well. The Trail Boss is WAY more comfortable with a far better ride. We have had no trouble with smaller people handling the Boss. It is also a lot more enjoyable for you, you don't have to be worried that she is in the wrong gear, or that she might flip it (it is a lot easier to endo on a Recon than a T. Boss). The wife wants some input.

Hi! I am the wife 5'3" and about the same size. My hubby just bought a trail boss, we had a recon recently and we have a Honda 250EX. I like the T.Boss best. I like to trail ride. I don't worry about flipping over on it when I'm alone.. I can get up tough terrain because it's an automatic and I'm not stalling out. (I've ridden some over the past 5 - 6 years, nothing terribly challenging--Indiana terrain). On the Recon you can do jumps and wheelies easier, and it's a little bit more sporty, so I guess it depends on what you want.

The T.Boss is more comfy, and we have young kids that pile on it better.

 

Well everyone I think I know what I must do. I will take her to ride both of them and some others FIRST. Thanks so much for all you advise.

 

Rickster, the Recon is a very light, sporty handling quad, my son rode one for 2 years and loved it, very peppy, great fender splash protection, and rode great. Mega, you must have had a lemon, my Recon had loads of power, was quick off the line, yes, they do rev out quick if you run them like a sport quad, but not noticable for spirited trail rides. Rickster, like the others said, let her ride and see what fits and feels right, but don't leave out some other very nice quads like the Ozark, and the Recons sporty brother, the 250ex (not an es type, but still nice)

 

I was just looking at the same thing for my wife but I also had the ozark in the mix. I bought the Trail Boss My wife is 5'3 115 she is also small. When I took the trail boss home I put it in the garage next to my 400ex and said what the hell did I buy? It makes my 400 look small. I was second guessing what I bought I even called Honda to trade it in. But today while my wife was at work I took it out with my 2 doughters on it with me, I took it in trails that are very tight in the woods, sometimes I clip trees with my 400 well this trail boss steers so easy I was driving with one hand it was so easy to drive and the confort was great It just felt stable and smooth. Don't let the size scare you it is so easy to ride. My wife didn't even ride it yet I just picked it up last week so this was the first time we had it out. I am glad I didn't make a big mistake by bringing it back. The honda ,ozark and bear tracker are a totally different ride. I am not sure if you have kids but the seat is huge if you want to give them a ride the other quads the seat is much harder and smaller. Put it this way I let my 8 year old niece drive it she handled it better the she did my daughters viper 90. Get the trail boss. Good Luck I paid 3,400 out the door

2002 400ex
with all the extras
e-ton viper 90 2002
polaris trail boss 330 2003

 

how about trying to look at a lokata there kinda fast and sporty and without a clutch

 

I was in your shoes about 2 years ago. My fiance wanted a Lakota, but I wanted something easy for her to ride(i didn't want to wory about her being in the wrong gear etc),cheap and that both of us could ride together. The Trailboss filled all these needs, but left her a little short in the fun catagorey. The Trailboss is a heavy machine, and if I had it to over again (for her, because I love it)[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] I would seriously consider the Lakota, Ozark, 250EX,Z250(when it hits the dealers floor)and the recon. Let her atleast sit on them and see if one fits her better ergonomically. Of coarse if aplicable, let her test drive them all.

 

One added bit of information on the Honda ES, i.e. electric shift. The electric shift is a problem waiting to happen. Lots of potential problems, just so you can use your thumb to shift instead of your toe. For a company with a reputation for reliability, Honda really blew it on this one.

 

Trail boss....honda makes a great machine....however the boss will ride great and she can just ride it with-out trying to shift and it rides like a dream

 

Here is why I didn't want the shifter for my wife. In tight trails it would be a pain and also anybody can ride the trail boss it is that easy. I always had handa I am not saying polaris is the best but it all depends on what kind of riding she does. Is she going to be jumping and doing donuts then don't get the trail boss if she wants to just follow me and my girls out for a little fun and not have to be on the machine just be in a good confident confort get the trail boss( i know you shouldn't ride double but on the trail boss it is so easy) It Is also great with a 4' plow. My 400 just don't look right with a plow. If she does want to start riding hard then sell it and get another. Just some thoughts.

 

The Trail Boss is a heavy, wide machine, this makes for good stability on the trail. My wife hung up hers on a rock while climbing a trail. She was jolted off the quad and rolled down the side of the hill, the quad did not roll and follow her down the hill. I was behind her and thought I was going to watch the quad roll down the hill on top of her. Luckily, she only bruised her knee and had some scratches.
The Trail Boss can be rolled, just as any other quad (I know from personal experience as I was learning to ride and made a mistake climbing a rutted trail). Compared to other quads however, I feel the Trail Boss is more stable due to it's weight combined with it's length and width.
Just my opinion. We are all looking for different features in our quads and that is why it is nice to have so many choices among the different manufacturers.