Check out the new YFZ 450 by the specs it looks like it will be the bike to replace the dale. Not to say that the dales weren't great but here we go with a bike from the big 4 that will be around for a while.

 

What ever value Cannondales had left is gone now with the new yamaha.

 

Cannondale proved one important thing, If you build a factory race quad people will buy it.

 

Yeah, like Cannondale really broke new ground selling a "race" quad. Do you remember the 80's? Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki all sold "race" quads. The stopped because of the conscent decree. Cannondale didn't do anything new by selling a high performance quad, they simply supported it in racing which is more than you can say for the big four except for Kawi who at least supports GNCC.

Nobody in the right mind would buy a Cannondale now. When you race you break parts. You kind of need a factory that is still around producing new parts. The YZF 450 should be awesome. Proven engine and technology. Ah em, not like Cannondale.

 

Wrong - no one built race quads in the 80's. Those of us that were around in those days remember that they were sport/trail quads with almost identical performance to the current 400EX. Heck, even the "Quadzilla" 500 was pretty mild in stock form & didn't do any good what-so-ever in anything but drag-racing.

The 250Rs we have all been accustomed to in recent years don't really even resemble the stock quads available in the late 80s- in fact, very few of us remember what a stock 250R was. The 250R was simply a platform to build a great race quad - much like the LTZ and 400EX are today.

The new YFZ450 appears to be ready to race at practically all but the top levels right out of the box. The only other manufacturer that has even attempted it was Cannondale. Unfortunately, they couldn't overcome their losses from their early focus in the extremely competitive dirtbike market - had they focused on quads initially and forgot about bikes, they'd likely still be here today.

 

So you are trying to tell me that the 250R was not as much of a race quad as a Cannondale or YZF450? Bwahahahaha! You must have a really short memory. What the hell do you think people raced back then? There were 250cc two stroke classes. What part of Quadracer don't you understand?

Those quads are still competitive with the new 4 stroke quads of today.

BTW, a true race quad wouldn't come with electric start. Sorry to burst your bubble.

 

I have owned both and the Cannondale is a far better machine in stock form.

When my 250R was stock it was only slightly faster in the woods than my 250EX!!!

 

What the hell do you think people raced back then?
Do people not race 400EXs and LTZs? I guess they must be race quads by your definition. Heck, I've seen people even race Mojave's - I guess they're "race" quads too.

What part of Quadracer don't you understand?
Tell me you weren't kidding on the "quadracer". Just because they call it a "quadracer" doesn't mean that it's race worthy right out of the box - in fact, in stock form they were a very poor handling, uncompetitive machine. Given equal riders, I'd put my money on a stock 400EX vs an LT250R on any track - MX, XC, or desert.

Those quads are still competitive with the new 4 stroke quads of today.
People don't race stock 250Rs today unless they race them against stock 400EX's or stock LTZs. Yes, the stock 250R is competitive with a stock 400EX SPORT quad. Both can be made into great race quads after spending a ton of cash.

So you are trying to tell me that the 250R was not as much of a race quad as a Cannondale or YZF450?
No I con't consider a stock 250R to be in the same class as a C-Dale or YFZ450 - the 250R had approx 30hp, it had cheezy shocks, it had basically the same frame as the 400ex. I guess mixing the oil and gas makes it a "full race quad"?

The difference between the YFZ/Cannondale and the other current offerings is in their engines and suspension - both are equipped with decent, rebuildable shocks and high revving, powerful "race" engines. Even the 250R had a very detuned "Sport" engine.

BTW, a true race quad wouldn't come with electric start.
BTW, I guess "true" race cars or even dirtbikes don't come with electric start either? Give me a break. Tell that to all the DRZ, KTM, and WR racers out there - method of starting does not define the machine.

Sorry to burst your bubble.
Yeah.... Ok..

 

I'm not sure what you have against the 250R but you may want to look around and check to see what quad has dominated racing since the 80's. Hint- it's the 250R. As far as mods, 250R's were raced stock back in the day, then were piped, ported, got different shocks it is a natural progression. The tricked out 250Rs you see now are just an example of 14 years of progress. Why would somebody buy new stock parts when they can buy aftermarket replacement parts that cost less and perform better? That is why 250Rs are so modded. Oh nad the rear shocks on both the 250R and Quadracer were rebuildable.

The Z400 and 400EX are not race quads. There has never been a true "race" quad ever built. That is why I put race in quotes at the beginning. Compare a "race" quad to an MX bike and you will see they have all kinds of crap you don't need, i.e. lights, electic starters, keyed ignitions, etc.

The 250R and Quadracer were a better set up to turn into a race quad than a C-dale or the new YFZ-450. Let's not forget they lighter and easier to mod. You also need to get a handle on your bikes. The DRZ is a trail bike. The WR is an offroad bike same as the KTM. These are not race bikes like a CR, KX, RM, YZ or SX. Like I said, there has never been a true race quad. Your C-dale doesn't even come close.

 

I have nothing against an R, in fact I own one.

However, the "R" as configured by the factory has *not* dominated racing. In fact, very little of the quad that dominated racing for the past 15 years is factory honda issue. Plus the other reason it dominated racing is because there was nothing else out there, neither the LT250R or the Tecate offered a real challenge.

Tell me, what makes a stock R more of a "Race" quad than a stock 400EX? NOTHING. Stock for stock, they are both great platforms for "race" bikes - neither is a "race" bike from the factory - in fact, they are pretty much equivelant.

As far as DRZ's WR's etc - yes, they are used as race bikes and can be raced competitively straight out of the box. No they are not typically used for MX or SX, but there is a whole world of racing outside of the MX track. MX racing is only one way that motorcycles and/or quads are raced.

Also, just because an engine may be easy to modify, that doesn't define a particular machine as "race ready" - a more accurate definition would be an engine that doesn't need to be modified (aka CDale, YFZ450).

Sure you can slap a pipe on a 250R and shift the power around, but to get "real" power out of the R, you have to open up the engine - same as a 4 stroke.

Also, if you believe that an LT250R is a better basis for a race machine than practically any of the new quads (LTZ400, 400EX) I've got some swampland in Florida I'd like to sell you.