Hello.
Finally fed up with lost riding time(repairs), I sold my 01 blk/white raptor six months ago after spending about 3K on motor mods and accessories. I have regreted the decision since it left my driveway in the back of some guys ford. I have looked at the new Z, the ds650, and a sweet, black and red raptor. I have not seen a cannondale, no local dealers, nor have I seen anyone on the trails with one. Most folks here in west TN have 400ex's and banshees, lots of bada$$ shees. I would like to hear the pros and cons on these quads, or any other ones, from people who <u>ACTUALLY</u> ride them and not some magazine that contradicts itself in every issue. Maybe I will wait on the predator, but I dunno about polaris. I mostly ride trails and sand pits, with the occassional drag race.
Thanks.

 

Greetings from Ocala, Florida.... We have 2 Raptors and 2 Warriors, and ride in the sand (obviously). There is NO comparison between the Raptor and the Warrior...though the Warriors we have owned since our first in 1987 have served us well...the Raptor is simply a superior machine. Tons of power, and will do about anything asked of it. I must admit it is a little &quot;tippy&quot; feeling, meaning it leans quite a bit when heavy on the throttle thru a turn...but can be mostly solved by a little wider tires on the back, and stiffening the suspension some....or if your like me, i like a softer ride, so i have to use a little more body english. As far as im concerned, there simply is nothing better when you want the horsepower.
Dave

 

i have a 01 raptoid and a new blaster and enjoy them both.
we ride trails, wooods, some desert and occasional dunes... running holeshot XCT all around on the raptor to avoid flats, and put the stock radials back on for dunes. XCR tires on the back of the blaster.
there's just no substitute for the growl that raptor has when ya roll on the throttle. everyone know what it is. whata a rush!
lots of improvements since the 01... so get what will make ya happy! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

get a banshee if you ride in the sand they still are the best new dune quad u can buy. However a raptor is a better overall quad.

Hey Raptor 8 how is the new blaster do the new brakes make a big difference

 

nuke: i just spent 20 minutes in haze grey and danfs finding 733, Nevada. go navy!
just go but the raptor and be happy. you gotta buy two of everything if ya buy a shee, and where we ride, a shee is a handful in the woods.
If ya can find him, talk to BlueRulez - he was gonna dump his rap and changed his mind, and he'll tell you why.


toomey! my blaster is an 03 as registered, and i even saw the MSO. BUT it is the old style quad, with the HL on the bars. so when i need parts they gotta be for an 02. A friend went to a dealer in Cali and tried to but a blaster 03 and was told they had &quot;sealed discs&quot; no sh!e! hehe. for some reason (chevy does it) a serial number cutoff or prod date or sumthin, i am told there are several 02's around with 03 MSO's. {manufacturers statement of origin, read birth certificate}

whats the sweat with the brakes anyway? a 2 stroke isnt gonna have any rear brakes cuz of the design of the engine.....and the fronts work fine, so, i put holeshot xcrs on the back and man! whata diff!
what little brakes there are on the back have grip now. Hey ya know what ChengShin means in chinese? CLOWN SHOES! put real tires on it and you'll be astonished! i certainly am....
well, see ya!

 

nukerainbow,

I am not located that far from you. there are more Cannondales out in this area than you think. it's just that most are owned by motocross and cross country racers. There are also a couple dealers close by as well. You can check them out on Cannondale's website.

I race motocross and I also race the memphis motorcycle Club hare Scramble series with mine and have no complaints at all. I also do alot of leisure trail rides and have no problem riding the Cannondale in this manner. once you get used to it, you learn that it's high strung nature is very controllable. it just takes getting used to...that's all. stosk for stock [when mine was stock], a Cannondale is actually faster than any Raptor that I've came across.

Reverse is just a luxury that no one really uses. If you need it, you just take too many wrong turns....LOL

 

Since you obviously like speed since you modded a raptor out 3 grande id say you should get another raptor or a c'dale. Both are great quads, and what knowsalot said about reverse, once you dont have it for awhile you dont really mind not having it at all. Since you ride the sand neways you really shouldnt need it to much anyway.

 

Thanks guys. I actually tested a blaze and a speed over the weekend. VERY NICE!! I am leaning toward the blaze, but I need to get on it one more time to be sure. It did feel faster than my raptor when it was stock. I know that it is pretty dumb, but I really do not like the nose on the dales. I do like the fact that I can leave the showroom and stop in the woods with no problems. The raptor must have an axle and needs A-arms before any hard riding - hell, I think I just decided what to buy.

KNOWSALOT- I rode the Linton(? cadiz, ky) harescramble last spring. Damn trees would not stay out of my way. Hit 3 in the first mile(broken wrist finished me off for the spring/summer), but no more the last 9 miles. Raptor actually did not break during the race - pretty amazing!

Thanks again!

 

i have nothing to say directly about the dales cuz i dont have one, havent ridden one, and i have barely seen a handful in person.

that said, i have a 03 raptor. black and red. and yes, it looks bad as all hell. the gearing change, btw, does seem to make a difference, as owners of 01 quads that have ridden mine have told me so. other than that, i dont have to tell you how much fun and how much power a raptor is.

good luck with the purchase, i dont think you can go wrong with a 660.

btw, did i mention that the colors look SWEET.