Cannondale puts its frames through all kinds of test. From what I hear they put sensors on the frames and then the breaking and bending begins. They get read-outs for how much force was applied when a certian section broke ect. They know what their frames and suspension components can and can't handle. They have been working with aluminum for a long time. I think they know how to make it very strong. Ever hear about heat-treating? I imagine they have found the best ways ( not most cost efective ways, thats not their style ) to make the strongest aluminum components for Bikes, Motorcycles, and Quads. As far as landings from big jumps,well the suspension plays a big role in how much force is transferred through the frame. If you put 1987 worn out 250x (LOL) shocks on it and jump a 65ft triple a few times something is bound to give other than the shocks. But thats why Cannondale puts high quality shocks on the quads. Now in a crash I dont know,but I would have to think Cannondale somehow simulates this as well. Minehunter thanks for the info on aircraft, thats truly amazing. I enjoy hearing things like that. 95% aluminum + lots of power = High Flying & Very Fast. Its a bird, no its a plane, no its a C-Dale! HA!. Ive always wondered what would happen if a tire blew when landing, or do they even hold air ( like a run flat or something ) just wondering.

 

cctman, you did not let me down with your response to my post. It figures you would resort to name calling and bashing someones character instead of using facts to argue your point. Instead you throw out some more ludricous comments that prove you know very little about metals, gases, and quads. I won't return your personal attacks and you have no basis for an intelligent debate.

If you can't recognize the innovation, design, engineering, and customer service that Cannondale has put into their quads then so be it.

 

Blodg500RX COOL RIDE! cctman have you got a chance to ride a Cannondale yet? If so tell us what you think about the handling,suspension,ergos,and POWER!

 

CCTMAN,

First of all i want to say that when you said "gusted" that proved you didn't know your A$$ from a hole in the ground when it came to metal working. Dont say its a typo you said it more than once [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]. Its "gusseted". Anyway, i want to ride a cdale so bad so i can talk about it. Everyone just needs to calm the hell down, cant we all just get along?? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Just a couple things 400EX uses mild steel for their frames. The Yeild strength for these steels is around 44,000psi The tensile strength is around 53,000psi. Here is the same information for some heat treated aluminum:

6061-T6
Yeild 39,000psi Ultimate 50,000 psi

7075-T6
Yeild 73,000psi Ultimate 82,000 psi

As you can see depending on application there are types of aluminum that are actually stronger then certain types of steel. Steel bends a lot more before it breaks than aluminum (steel has more elongation) so there are pluses and miuses to the use of each material.
As far as welding goes, It depends on the type of aluminum. TIG welding aluminum takes some practice but is fairly easy. TIG stands for Tungsten Inert Gas and uses Argon as the inert gas.
Automotive companies are using more and more aluminum, Audi actually uses it for the frame in their A-8.

Lets not bash each other.

 

Well I guess only time will tell how these frames hold up. If Can proves that its aluminum frames can hold up, then other manufactures may decide to follow, but my personal opinion is that ATV's have not been around long enough to test them. I think thats funny that you pointed out about aircraft. I spent 5 1/2 years in USAF. At a logistics base, and your right about the aluminum on the aircraft. But it is layed in sheets and help together by steel rivots, and titanium parts. The aluminum is just the outside covering. There is no way the entire aircraft(espially fighters) could be made up of all aluminum. It would fall apart. There is alot more than meets the eye when dealing with aircraft. Some of the other aircrafts such as the older B24 liberators and such were made up of a greater % of aluminum than todays, but they were bombers and didn't take on the tight turns and G's of fighters. You will find that many fighters today are moving more to Titanium parts than anything else for support. But that is besides the point.

crhye250r...you can take the word guseted and stick it up your a$$ for all I care. I helped gusset my own frame on my R before we powdercoated years ago. I can even show you a nice image of my handywork if you want, but you probably wouldn't believe its actuall me in the picture. Oh and don't ask ... cause I ain't going to amuse you..


Blodg500RX ...sorry I got to you man, maybe next time you will learn to keep your mouth shut!! HeHe!As far as "ludricous comments " go they have nothing to do with intelligence or knowledge of gasses, metals, or quads. IT has to do with psychology. By the way, I was probably riding quads before you learned to stop peeing yourself, and could care less about your sexual preferances.

CdaleRacer... A few of the guys I ride with in Indianna run the local circuit. There opinions differ from mine. One rides a Can. another rides an EX, and the rest including myself prefer hopped up 250R's. The guy that owns the Can hasn't ridden with us vary much, so we haven't spent a great deal of time on his quad. The one time he did ride it with us we were hitting tight woods. He hung near the back most of the time mainly because he didn't want his new quad sprayed with rock and dirt, but he kept stalling it on the steap slower hills. When we finally switched off in Attica and rode a little bit on each others quads, I liked the feel of it and the mid range, but I didn't like the fact that it still felt alot like a 4 stroke still. I had heard you guys talk about the 2 stroke like feel to it, but it just wasn't a two stroke. After we finished the day out, most of us liked certain features of it, but agreed it was deffinately no pro 250R and I among them was a little more skeptical of things on it like the frame strength and such. Some of the guys I ride with I admit are die hard Honda fans, and they are waiting for this supposed new Honda ATV coming out soon for racing. But the general consensus from most of us was wait and see how the Can holds up, and none of us were that motivated to dump our R's right away and go get a Can though.

 

cctman, where did you read in my post that you got to me? I only said that I will not return your childish insults. I proved that you have no basis for an argument, and several others have posted the same comments. All I am saying is that you are not going to recognize that you are wrong so why waste my time arguing? Your comments surely didn't bother me and I find it amusing that you don't realize that it only makes you look even more immature.

I doubt if you have been riding quads longer than I have since I started riding ATV's before quads even existed. I had a 1983 ATC250R 3-wheeler and my first brand new ATV was a 1986 200X 3-wheeler. I have owned a TRX250X, several TRX250R's, and you can see my current TRX250R with 500cc motor in the link in my signature. I almost bought a Cannon this spring but am waiting for the release of the moto version.

Regardless of your age or riding experience, your posts make you seem like an immature teenager. Also, I was married in 1993 and have an awesome 7 year old son so it looks like you were wrong again. I will not respond to this post any further unless you have something of substance to discuss.

 

CCTman,

You are a piece of work. You lose your arguments (to people who actually KNOW something) so you resort to name calling and bashing. Most of those guys you are being disrespectful to have been around awhile and actually make useful posts on this board. By contrast, I have yet to see anything in one of your posts that is either useful to others or intelligent.

Your ideas about aluminum are amazingly off base. Just because your stepdad can't weld it means no one can??? I read in one of your ealier posts that the C'dale frame was cast!?!? LOL! That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard and it is an accurate indication of what you actually know about metallurgy - NOTHING.

Guess how C'dale made that frame (since it isn't cast) - they welded it!!!

Maybe your stepdad is an idiot. Ever think of that? Sounds like it might run in the family.

 

cctman, you must of been a security policeman or a clerk of some sort while you were in the Air Force. Anyone, and I mean anyone who has ever worked on any type of aircraft knows that you absolutly Do Not use steel rivets with aluminum. If you do that you are setting yourself up for massive corrosion problems. I too did a stint or two at Air Force Logistics Centers. As a matter of fact between the times I was in Naval Aviation I was in the 2951st and the 2952nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron as an aircraft mechanic. The only only aircraft that is heavy into titanium is the SR71. The others have some titanium in them, but the structural portion of the aircraft is definatly Aluminum. I'm talking about the wing spars, longerons and ribs. So get a grip and learn before you write.

 

Cannondale is now the king of Hi-Performance. No if ands or buts about it. This argument could go on forever.