AZRENEGADE you have to admit that when you tried to compare Cannondale with Harley that was meant as a bash, and I took it that way. I'm not a flag waiver, I do love my country don't get me wrong, but Harley is a corporation and they don't represent me as a motorcyclist. They tried to set back motorcycling with those tarriffs in the 80's and I can never fully get over that kind of cheapshot, they hurt the sportbike market something they weren't even in.

And I agree lets not start bashing each other, it doesn't do anything positive for the sport.

I just feel you havn't given the C-dale a chance and your making opinions based on limited information, you should have ridden one first and found out what other peoples experience was. You said you talked to a guy at a shop, and made up your mind. You didn't come to these boards to find out what owners experiences with the quad and the company were, you didn't ask questions like an intrested buyer. You came and made a statement about their poor R&D, I guess some would take that as a bash too. You say your only stating you experience, what experience? You didn't talk to any company reps, ride the quad, and you don't own one. You based it on talking to one guy at a shop, who said another guy couldn't keep his out of the shop, doesn't seem to be much to base a decision on. And if thats what you based it on how could you buy a Banshee based on the faults it has had?

And I'd like to point out something else based on your love of 2-strokes, to each his own and I think 2-strokes are fine but not for me. If you look at where 4 stroke technology is and is going
it is leapfrogging 2-strokes this is not meant to be a bash. Why do you think the 500GP bikes are going to 4-strokes? And I remind you this is the top of the food chain when it comes to motorycling of any kind. 500GP bikes have been stagnent for years and can't get anymore out of them, 2-strokes finally hit the wall, and now they've decided to go the route of Formula One and can produce high reving 4-stroke engines that can make huge hp in a small package. This can only help the sport with more efficent burning engines, more power and less emissions without cat converters and keeping EPA off the backs of manufactures.

Moto24
'01 FX400
'98 Kawi ZX-9R
'90 Kawi ZX-7 (superbike)
'84 VF750R
'80 Kawi KZ650

 

This post is late in the game - I am not over on the C'dale side very often but I just want to add my personal experience with C'dale.

I have never ridden or seen the C'dale quad in person, but I have owned a $3,000+ C'dale mountain bike for almost ten years. I got the very first HeadShock mountain (Delta-V 1500) bike from C'dale that had the revolutionary front suspension that was in the head tube (still the best in mountain biking in my opinion). Well, within six months it quit working. I took it to my C'dale dealer and he replaced it immediately for free with no hassles and told me that he had been seeing many problems with this new setup. Six months later, it quit again. This time when I took it back he told me C'dale had totally redesigned the entire front headshock. The new version had more travel and was stronger. The dealer then installed the new and MUCH improved front suspension again for free. That was years ago and it is still going strong. What that tells me is that C'dale is a TOP NOTCH company who cares about the guy who already bought their product. In mountain biking their reputation is legendary. If you break your C'dale in any way you simply bring it in to the dealer and BANG it is fixed - more likely than not with a revised and improved version. If C'dale engineering finds a problem (EVERY NEW PRODUCT HAS PROBLEMS) they fix the problem and redesign to make sure it won't happen again. Then they replace the ones already in the field with the new version.

I see the same thing happening with the quads. The cool thing is they fix the ones that are already out the door. Seems like Yamaha fixed the problems on the Raptor as well - the difference is the guys who already own the defective ones are screwed.

In another year or two I am buying a C'dale. It is American made and is everything you could want in a quad. I love 2 strokes too - I have a totally modded 250R. But I also realize C'dale would have been crazy to make theirs a 2 stroke which is a dieing technology.

I think it took some major ***** to come out and compete with the Japs in the ATV market. For a first try I think they kicked some serious ***! I can't wait to ride one!

 

CDaleRacer, You think that puny thing can keep up with ME? HAHAHAHAHA. Yeah right, just because you can go out and buy a quad that costs more than my TRUCK don't mean nothin. My $8,000 shee will stomp you. LOL. Maybe we can meet up sometime at the field of dreams in okmulgee or somewhere and ride!!

GREAT POST GUYS, KEEP IT COMING!

 

lonestarbanshee, You know what man? Its kind of funny, Im paying more for my FX than what I did for my TRUCK also, hehe! 3 1/2 years ago I bought a 1994 S10 for $7500.00. It looked and ran good then but now, Its a nice looking weather beaten almost see through purple (no this isnt a custom color what it is,is a very cheap paint job) The engine makes more noise than my C-Dale, but it isnt smoking YET. Any way I decided not to get another vehicle and just keep my old truck,so I could get a quad and have some fun. I missed not having a quad to ride and If I would have bought an other vehicle I wouldnt be able to afford a quad. I can get an engine for my S10 for $675.00 (used but with a warranty) and have another cheap paint job put on it for ? $1000.00 ? and have a decent truck and an awsome quad. Women wouldnt even look in my direction before ( because of my truck ) but now with the C-Dale in the back,oh man, I cant beleive the attention Im getting. Im starting to think its going to be like the good ol days when I use to have to fight em off of me! Well any way an $8000.00 BANSHEE! I shure hope that you could stomp me! But if it were stock or with just a few mods like what I was talking about before WELL YOU KNOW! Where is okmulgee? I looked but couldnt find it. And also lonstarbanshee have you ever heard a banshee with a two into one pipe,man I can still hear that sound and that was like three years ago.I want one so I can put one of those pipes on and enjoy the sound.

 

I'm not so sure a C-dale can beat a Piped, filter, jetted Banshee. And if the Shee rider actually knows what he is doing. That can make a lot of difference too. I have seen dynos of Shee pipes that can make 17 hp increases. It's some type of Drag Racing pipe that doesn't stick out the side.