Your paying for a lot more. How were the shocks on the 250R compared to the shocks on the 400EX, just an example. Theres tons of R&D that goes into these quads, the materials cost more, labor costs more, and marketing also cost a lot more than 10 years ago. Do you still make the same wages you did 10 years ago? I make more than triple what I did then (which isn't saying much since I was only making min wage, lol). The cost of living is much higher now than it was 10 years ago.

In 1988 my Mustang GT cost $14,988 brand new, do you know what a '01 GT runs? About $24,000! Granted it didnt triple but it got very close to doubling, $10,000 more than just 13 years ago. Why are you mad at the manufacturers and dealers? Dont they deserve money too? Cannondale isnt making a whole hell of a lot of money off of them. Same goes for most manufacturers. If you cant afford it you cant afford, I cant really but I'm going to try my damnest anyways, a modded Raptor just isnt going to compare to a modded Cannondale.

 

actually suprisingly there is vary little difference in the shocks between the two bikes... 400ex and the older 250r