Well I was just wondering how there bottom end is, I was racing one with my 400ex, and I could take him off the line, but once we hit third gear that bike flew. I am just curious if this guy didn't know how to start of if they are a little weak on their bottom end, because they sure do fly when they hit there top end.

 

No offense but the guy you were racing apparently had a brain fart because the C'dale's should kill a 400EX out of the hole. The C'dale is incredibly strong out of the hole, that's why they get most all the hole shots in the races.

 

Coming to my new Cannondale Speed from a 2001 400EX with pipe, K&N, rejetted, etc; I can tell you that the whole "no bottom end" rep that Cannondale's got somehow is crap. I just sold my 400EX to buy the Speed and I can tell you that there is no way that the 400EX will have an advantage ANYWHERE in the RPM range at all. The guy you were racing wasn't aware you were racing if you know what I mean..........JIM

 

Maybe the guy you raced wasn't letting it rev like it needs to. That was my mistake, I would always shift WAY before I really even needed to and it hurt my acceleration. When you let it rev out real good, it will FLY!!

 

The bottom end thing is from the old FX400s... They had power like a piped 250R.

The newer Cannondale's have a very nice power curve. C-Dale's typically get unbelieveable holeshots (which really has nothing to do with bottom end power anyhow - if you're launching properly).

 

My FX400 had just as much bottom end as my Cannibal does so I'm not sure about the "no bottom end" originating from it. Both quads seem to be basically the same as far as power.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

The last year FX400 had a 20 degree throttle plate which gave it more of a 2 stroke feel. In 2002 Cannondale went to a 5 degree plate which spread the torque curve out a bit mor so its less peaky.

 

Really?

I rode FX400 #25 back in April of last year and felt it ran much like my old piped R, only with a little more power thru the mid & top.

I rode the same quad at Snake Hunt this year with all the modern updates (new engine, MC1000, Speed mapping, new front end, plastic, etc) and it was like night and day. Bottom end felt similar to a stock 400EX, but the mid & top ripped... Very smooth transition all the way thru the powerband.

The mid & top of the new setup felt similar to the old FX, but only with more useable throttle response - the FX was very touchy.

EDIT -
MNWildFan - thanks for the info, helps explain the differences I felt.

 

the 400exs always get the jump over me because either my tires are spinning or i am going to have a little fun and ride a wheelie and then beat them. oh yeah, Sunday i beat a 250r with some work done by LRD by about 5 bike lenghts in a 120-140 meter drag. he was never ahead of me cause i eased on the throttle and leaned forward. the dirtbikes(250cc) kept getting me because i would wheelie so much but i know i will get them next time.

 

1986,thats the same way my old fx and new speed compare to me.
The speed has more usable bottom end.The fx was like a banshee,kinda dead for the first couple thousand rpm then exploded with power.