I am going to buy either a Speed or a Raptor. If I buy the speed it is basically ready to go I wont need to upgrade it. If I buy the raptor I will need to upgrade the suspension.I had a 400ex and I liked the suspension but the motor was way underpowered for me. Is the Speed a bike that needs to be ridden hard all of the time or can it be putted around on occasionally. I will be going to Little Sahara and the river and riding the trails at the lake mostly and I will take it to mx very seldom but I will be jumping some pretty large jumps. I do like the fact that the raptor has reverse because my fiance will ride it occasionally (she has ridden a raptor and did very well on it.)I have been looking at the cannondale forum for the last month and im pretty impressed with cannondale so far. They even replaced some guys frame. By the way where are the pics haha had to say it! Im just wanting to know which bike is right for what im going to do. Its a lot of money and dont want to make the wrong choice. Thanks in advance.

 

I think you've already decided actually. By the time you upgrade the suspension on the Raptor and do all the mods to the exhaust, rejet, air filter, etc., to get the Raptor to only get beat by 4 bike lengths by a stock C'dale, you've already spent more money than what a Speed will cost you. And you will still have a 400 + lead sled with no EFI, no aluminum frame, not the excellent customer service that C'dale has, but, I guess you will have reverse!! I had the Raptor the same time I had my Cannibal, the Raptor got sold![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Believe me, you won't miss the reverse unless you ride in the woods all the time and get stuck behind the trees.

Why buy yesterday's technology, join all of us who are already riding cutting edge technology!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img] The power of the C'dales will be constantly putting a smile on your face!

 

Get the Speed! Don't let reverse steer you away from the clear choice.....or maybe thats back you away...lol

 

This seems like a simple question to answer, since one of the main reasons I am hearing from you is reverse. Exactly what percentage of the time you are riding are you going to be going backwards? I have to say that in the 2 years I owned my 400EX I only had to jump off my quad and turn it around in the woods twice. Did I miss reverse, no; the "tight woods" you mentioned usually don't allow for using reverse anyway. If you think about it, you will see this is true. I have ridden my friend's Raptor and believe me, that 660cc heavyweight has nothing on my Speed........hope this helps, JIM

 

get the C-dale and never look back!!

 

as i stated in the yamaha forum earlier
i love my raptor and i have no plans to get rid of it
hindsight is 20/20 vision but if i'd known then what i know today............
the speed is easily the better choice if you can only have one
one ride and you wont have any regrets.........

 

hey man! get the dale! you shouldn't worry about reverse! the way the raptor's gearing is for reverse its hard to back out of spots anyway. it just digs holes unless you are on a good solid flat ground or you have to ride the clutch. the dale only weighs 370 anyway and if your wife is gonna be riding it she will most likey like the lighter more nimble feel of the dale. but if you really want a raptor, then i have one already modded thats for sale.

 

charlito,
have you ever heard of"the Bowl"?
supposed to be a great legal ride area near birmingham

 

yeah i talked to ryanstones about that place. never been there but supposed to be awesome! i have been to a place in miss. if you like trail riding. its called rattlesnake bay atv trail. its like 31 miles i think. its pretty awesome! i am gonna go pretty soon hopefully with some guys that i met from montgomery.

 

I found a raptor for 5970.00 out the door local(no tax,farm card) from a dealer that i've bought a couple of bikes from and that is a pretty good deal. I havent found anything but retail here local on a speed but I might try okc or out of state. Does the cannondale need to be ridden hard or will it load up like a two stroke if not ridden hard. I did see a speed today and it looks awsome. That is one bad a$$ looking quad!!! I love the silver and yellow. Is the dale going to be as loud as my crf stock. Sorry for so many questions but I appreciate the help!