I have a Cannibal that is nearly 2 years old with no problems! It's funny you should cite an example of poor customer service because that is just the opposite of most people's personal experience with C'dale. I for one had an FX400, had some issues the dealer could not resolve and Cannondale shipped me a brand new unit to replace it. Do you think Honda or Yamaha would do that??!! On the contrary, I had a brand new Craptor when they first came out, within 2 months a kid bumped my back tire when the snow was on the ground and bent my axle. Yamaha would not warranty the axle, even though it was still under warranty! Now that is **** poor customer service! Hell even Cannondale was warranting quads outside the warranty period, again, do you think the other manufacturers would do that, hell no!!

Eventually all the bugs with the bikes and quads were going to be worked out, it wasn't Cannondale that failed, it was the American consumer for not stepping up to the plate and supporting the product!

 

I don't think any other manufacturer would have taken care of their customers like Cannondale did...no doubt. Especially YAMAHA....01 Raptor owners were guinea pigs that were not compensated. Some 01's had especially weak axles, carbs blowing off, weak a-arms, trannies....you get my point.
But, after months waiting on parts / engines...one would get tired of having a new atv and not getting too ride when the situation is no fault of their own.....that clearly falls into poor customer service. This is all that was stated.

 

Cannondale Motorsports' downfall was due to the fantastic customer service that many times crossed the line into sheer excess, just to keep their customers happy. Combine that with a few engineering/manufacturing problems(not nearly as many as some people would like to believe), and some supplier/vendor problems and there is sure to be trouble for a new motorsports company.
My experiance with their customer service is as follows: The only warranty work that I had performed on my Quad was the replacement of the front shocks (made by Arvin). They were recalled due to a manufacturing defect (out of Cannondales control), and at that time Arvin had a major shortage of shocks on hand, So cannondale could not get me any. At this point I had only had my Quad for about a week, so needless to say, I was pissed. I called the cannondale rep for my area, and asked him if something could be worked out, even if it cost me some money out of pocket, for an upgrade to the Ohlins shocks from the Speed. He said he would have the dealer get back to me. The next day the Dealer called me and said that the cost diff was $220 and the shocks could be there by the end of the week if that was O.K. with me. I said fine. When I brought my bike in that Saturday. The Manager pulled out a set of Dual rate piggyback Ohlins with adj comp and rebound, from the Blaze ATV. There was a note in the Box from the Rep that said "Sorry for the inconvienance"
Yes, I guess this is what people mean by terrible customer service. Looking back I have to wonder how many times things like this happened at Cannondale, and If things could have turned out differently, based on a little luck and a slightly more reserved warranty policy. Those shocks cost WAY more than $220 more than the ones I turned in, and although this is my only experiance with Cannondale's cust svc. I have heared countless similar stories about entire engines being replaced after warrantees had expired, etc.

 

Proxpredator,
There was motor replacements why because they would blow oil into the airfilter.None of the motors were blown.This problem happens to all kinds of 4st motors.I aggree there was a rather long wait but it was more like 1or2 months and they all got updated ecm and a brand new motor.I would have prefered to fix the motors also.Things are pretty grim right now but you have to admit Cannondale was on the right track.I didnt buy mine because it was USA I bought it because it was fast,light and built with quality components USA was a bonus.

 

..Its funny,still to this day I meet a lot of ppl who dont even know what a Cannon is..And ppl that do know what it is,cant belive how fast they are for a stock Quad,iv blow raps,ex's,Z's and shees its not even funny,almost got into a fight one time cuzz some guy said no Quad can be that fast stock..I told him i just proved it to him,and also im still running the Toaster it cant be remaped,and for him to do more research he might learn something...I have an 03 Speed...one clutch..and thats it...not a single problem..I do belive also 1 more year or so and they would have had it licked...Look at how well Nacs was doing,look at all the modded quads they were up agest,and someones going to tell me there not an impressive Quad??? Plz... sorry for the long post just venting a little..

 

Cannondale27 - Ok, I guess I was mis-informed. A friend of mine was interested in getting one but when he talked to the dealer, he had said that one he got in was blown, as in didn't run. I wanna say something with the crank, but not sure. He decided on not getting one because he was also told that another one was on the way in. Wasn't the reason that they had to be sent in was because they wanted to see what actually went wrong first hand or something? Yes, I totally agree they were on the right track, just ran out of money toooo soon. I really hope that someone does take it over and continues with the quad. One hell of a concept!

Where do you ride? We are always looking for different areas and people to ride with.

 

Me too Gravity park,Denmark and trails.Yea this weekend is Denmark let me know.

 

Is there a riding area in Denmark? Let me know when/where you are going, we'll try to hook up!

 

It is a MX race.Saturday and Sunday twenty minute motos come on out and watch.There is three Predators running 4st class usually.

 

Sounds like a great time, I might have to do that if I don't go to Dunbar this Saturday!