Just got back from the dealer show at Indy and talked for about 20 minutes with the dinli rep. I saw the new 500 Speed(they are increasing the bore and stroke). The plastic is a huge improvement IMO. Even though the bike had fiberglass panels , they said it will look a lot like this. They are saying it will be released by Summer 04 and will retail for around 6000.00 They are unsure about which shocks will be used but say they will be high quality like the Ohlins... The frame will be the same except it will have more cast areas instead of welded joints that show in the middle. The main holdup now is the finalizing of the crank bearings. The engineer who designed the original Cdale engine (Heike) works for Dinli as of 3 weeks ago and it making wholesale improvements (not changes) in the engine. Their will even be a sport utility(like a Prairie) later in the year that will require reverse so they tell me ithe Speed may have reverse on it by then. The engine cases and brake reservoirs say Denli on them. I have 2 pictures that I took today that I will try and put up here in the next little while. Wanted to get the news out first!

 

Good report... Wade Wilcox has addressed all the problem area's except for the valve cover corrosion.. You can by the updated kit from ATK for 1100 bones. 6k is a good price for the quad. Looks like prototype plastic. I'm sure they will fasten it better in final form. Dinli and Made in Tawain don't do anything for me. I bought my Dale because of where it was made and nothing else was even close in performance back then. What did ATK have or say??

 

Just added a couple of pics on the end of my gallery. Sorry other pics are being used. Nice machine. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] 440/450 will follow the 500. Wet sump oiling.

 

Please tell me they are going to change the UltraMan Plastic. Will all of the new parts change with the old? Includeing the Motor?

Smitty

 

It looks mean. Are they upping the RPM range or hp?

 

It needs to be higher? LOL ....

In stock form it's pretty impressive but I'll take any advancements they get...

The 500cc with the same power/weight ratio, would be a monster. Thats another 70cc, which would be like another 5 HP or so, pushing it up to say 45 at the wheels. Yikes!

 

Just asking, that extra five horsepower would help out. Glad to see Denli getting the Cannondale back in the line up.

 

If they can make 5 more I'll surely take it too! But I'd be interested in the 450 version myself, to stay in class limits.

 

Wondering about that, are they going to keep making the 450 version with the same specs, or are they going to try and pull more hp out of the 450 aswell? Also are the plastics going to change on the 450 versions aswell?

 

1) I don't know

2) I have heard it will be different, yes.