I just bought an 86 250R and I'm having the top end from an 89 put on. It's going to be bored 40 over. I'm also adding Curtis Sparks pipe and Carb for that extra kick.

I can't wait to get it back to see how it compares with the Cannibal. So now I have a cannibal with $8K invested and a 250R with $4K invested. Both have stock A-Arms, shocks, and axle.

I have another $3K that I want to invest in one of these for MX this season. Guess I will just have to see which one will pull faster lap times, then go from there. My initial impression is the 250R will do better on hardpack and the Cannibal will be better on a slicker track. Any thoughts on which one will handle better in the air? Anyone want to take a guess on which one wins? Anything else I should be thinking about?

Thanks

 

The only R that I have ridden was one with a +4 axle, +2 lonestar a-arms, 18"tamers, ESR pipe and silenser, and more. It was bad *** and I know that it would be faster than my cannondale with two equally skilled riders. A stock R vs. my stock Dale, I don't really know. I LOVE the way that Dale handles in the air, but I also LOVE the way that a R handles on the ground. I have barely gotten any air on that R so I don't know how it handles in the air but I think if you were to put wider a-arms and a wider axle on the Cannondale, that you would end up with a VERY nice handling, good jumping quad. A HMF exhaust would probably do a lot too. Stock vs. stock, I think you would have a good race going on.

 

Stock vs. Stock I would say that the Cannibal may have a slight edge. I just got the latest ATV Action in the mail yesterday (May 2002, I think) and they compared the 400EX, Cannibal, Raptor, DS 650 and Banshee. In this article, their "opinion" is that the Cannibal may be the most MX race ready quad ever manufactured - even better than the stock 250R. Of course, opinions will vary.

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to get my Speed on a MX track yet to compare it with my old 250R. My feeling is that with a wider rear axle and +1 or +2 A-arms, the Cannondales will be very competitive (possibly superior??) to some 250R's on an amateur level. If you're concerned about the Cannibal being too "grippy" in hardpack you may want to go with 18" Turf Tamers in dry, hardpack conditions and the Holeshots in all others.

Think about these things: Do you want to put $3k into a 16 year old machine? Have you looked at the bottom end? Is it in good shape? What about all the bearings and bushings (swingarm, axle, wheel, shock, etc.)? At least you know that everything on the C'dale is new and in good shape.

 

Good question Sparky. I have ridden YoDaddy's Dale a few times, probably just as much as my 250R. I feel certain that MY R is a better MXer. To me, the Cannibal is just too tippy. Maybe with a set of 18" tames, and MX radials it would handle better, but I think my R would kill it in the corners. The only mods my R has is an LSR +4 axle, and the front wheels switched, Ohlins shocks, alot of motorwork, and everything else is pretty much stock. To me, the only thing the Cannibal needs to be MX ready is width. It's got the power, and really good handling, but it definately needs to be widened.

Sparky, have you ever checked your axle out? That sucker can't be 3 1/2' long!