ok here goes...

I had 2 quads:

2001 400ex(undergoing surgery 440, xr cam, etc.....)

2000 banshee(fatties, reeds, k&n etc)

I love my 400 and will probably never sell it(never says never) I love the handling, maintenance is easy, parts are cheap, and power is decent.

well my banshee was stolen about 3 weeks ago and if my ins companie covers it I would like to buy another machine instead.
I loved the power of my banshee but the handling was real bad and the front shocks arent worth 5$ IMO, adjusting the chain was a pain and every part cost 500$

Now if I buy another quad it will either be a ****250r**** or a ****cannondale****

NOW MY Q'S

HOW MUCH ARE REPLACEMENT PARTS ON THE CDALE ?????

HOW GOOD IS THE HANDLING COMPARED TO THE ALIGHTY 400EX ????

HOW GOOD ARE THE SHOCKS ON THESE THINGS ?????

HOW RELIABLE ARE THEY ????

HOW WOULD THE POWER COMAPARE TO A CAMMED 440EX WITH ALL THE BOLT ONS ????

 

Why not just test ride one, then make up your mind. Things are going to be kinda expensive for the first few years but prices should drop. From what I have been reading the only downfall to a C-Dale is the maintenence, but any quad that is bult like the C-Dale is going to be the same. Whatever you do, please don't follow "Raptor Mania." I really wish Yamaha would dump that bike because every Raptor owner I run into is a d!ckhead, but thats another story. Sorry, I unfortunately don't own one of these quads so I can't give good advice.

 

You dont have to worry about seeing me on a raptor. I test rode one and I hated the handling/suspension plus the motor doesnt feel all that strong for a 660...

The thing about a cannondale is that I live near Atlanta GA and dont know any Cdale dealers around......

 

Replacement parts cost - don't know, probably expensive like everyone else's
How are the shocks, they are Ohlins, they are great, the more you ride them, the better they get.
Reliability, so far so good, no problems.
Power compared to a souped up 400EX, have no idea, but my stock C'dale keeps up pretty well with my sons 250R with an ESR310 with a 9 port!!
Handling, they handle incredibly well, very much like the R and the 400EX, great jumpers, feel real light, corner well and they don't feel tippy at all.

 

Just traded my 400EX for a Speed. Only the break in ride so far.

It's completly different from the 400. Power is everywhere. Handles very much like the 400, only alittle more body english due to the better tires. Holeshots vs Othsu (spell?). I'm over 230lbs and the shocks are stiff right now, but still better than my 400. I was looking at a Big Bore, but check around and ask about cracked cases. I spoke to Sparks, Trinity, and some others about this and was confirmed. Parts, what parts I have the speed and it has the upgrades already on the bike. It's a 440 saved me $2,300 better shocks I was looking at Elkas $1,200, Magua Hydrolic Clutch, $350.

I jumped it a little and feels the same as the 400.

Parts like A-Arms are about the same price, exahust slip on are the same and there will be more manufactures out soon.

Reliability, was my big concern the motor has a special noise to it.

If I rode a Cannondale and than a 400EX, I would have never bought the Honda, and I've only ever owned Honda motorcycles.

Maintance is supposed to be more time consumin, but still on line with what I was spendind anyway.

Think Polished frame, not powerder coat.

My opion.

Smitty

 

Actually, there is a lot of parts out there for the c-dales but they just aren't advertised. I was really suprised. The best pipe for the dales is also the cheapest... $189 for HMF slip on. I LOVE everything about the dale except maintenance (mainly changing the spark plug, but I haven't had any problems with that, only when I first got it did I foul a couple plugs) All the other maintenance is easy. Not only is the c-dale an awesome quad, but it gets A LOT of attention. Kinda sucks though, because my riding skill so far doesn't do the c-dales justice... If anyone sees me riding, judge the rider, not the bike. The bike is pro class and I'm not but that will change. I don't like the holeshots on the back, they grap a little to much in the corners makin it a little tippy but I'm about to buy some tamers so that won't be a problem. You should deffinitely get the dale.

 

MY MAIN CONCERN IS REPLACEMENT PARTS.

a frame on my 400 is hella cheap(about 400$), cylinders sell for 220$, fenders are cheaper than aftermarket, REAL CHEAP TO KEEP RUNNING ON LONG TERM BASIS.


I dont want to buy a Cdale,,,, roll it a dozen times down a hill and then find out that the frame cost 3000-4000$ Same with the motor... I dont want to have to pay 600-1000$ for a cylinder or 1500$ in parts for tranny rebuild.

If I buy a cannondale I will keep it for a long time. Just like my 400ex. Just curious about how much parts will cost when machines gets older.

the worst quad I had I guess was my lt250r. The parts were so frigging expensive that at one point I stopped fixing the little things tha were messing up cuz it wasnt worth spending so much money on...

 

i used to own a 400ex and the handling is just as good except that things happen alot quicker
on the"C"because of the incredible difference in power.
the suspension is aftermarket level once you get it broken in
long term reliability remains to be seen but when you call cannondale you are put directly through to a tech and to me that says alot about a company.

 

jfboy, my personal opinion is that since you already own a 400ex why don't you buy a cdale to mix it up. Sorry, I do not know what the replacement parts would cost and nobody on here seems to want to answer that.



<< Why not just test ride one, then make up your mind. Things are going to be kinda expensive for the first few years but prices should drop. From what I have been reading the only downfall to a C-Dale is the maintenence, but any quad that is bult like the C-Dale is going to be the same. Whatever you do, please don't follow &quot;Raptor Mania.&quot; I really wish Yamaha would dump that bike because every Raptor owner I run into is a d!ckhead, but thats another story. Sorry, I unfortunately don't own one of these quads so I can't give good advice. >>

-OregonMXracer

OregonMXracer, I do not know why I am bothering to reply to your immature post but anyway. I don't think that it's the machine that turns people into d!ckheads, there's just alot of d!ckheads out there. I have met PLENTY of d!ickheads on 250r's, does that mean the 250r sucks? didn't think so. Maybe that's the REAL reason Honda dumped the 250r because d!ckheads were buying it, atleast according to your logic. Also, what is &quot;Raptor Mania&quot;? Is it just because the raptor is a sweet machine, like other quads, and people want to buy it? Is there a &quot;250r Mania&quot; or &quot;400ex Mania&quot;, etc...?

 

Raptor mania!! what a idiot oregon what kind of bike do you own? A 300EX or something? You are always appraising how good the Cannondale is (which I can understand) but then you dog the Raptor and other bikes constantly. Just because tons of people have Raptors means their *********? You know what it most likely means? That they like to do all kinds of riding. MX, drag, jump, woods etc. The Raptor is the best all around bike on the market period. The Cannondale is the best at MX and u there in drag racing. Ds best in dunes. You should be a salesman for Cannondale.
JFboy if I were you sell the Banshee and put all the money into the 400EX or save the money and wait a year or two and see what else comes out. Plus the Cannonale prices will drop hopefully. They arent gonna sell many with those price tags.