So it's a "no-no" to try and finance the parts with the quad? I'm just guessing here, but I'm going to have about $2500 for a down payment if I get it in Sep. and the mods I want are probably going to be close to $1000, so thats only $1500 for a down payment. I still have 5 months to think about what I'm going to do. If I could someohw manage to get $4000 by January, I could get a Moto and not have to worry about any of this junk, but I don't want to go that route, plus I doubt I could get the 4 grand. Thanks everyoen though, your suggestions have been helpful! Keep them coming.

 

DOn't finance your parts w/ the quad. W/ interest, it would be like paying $200 for nerfs, $75 for kill switch, and $500 for the wheel tire combo (in the long run). Having to pay off parts just takes away money that you could use to pay off the quad. If you want mods, save up and buy them seperately. And always be sure to set some money aside, because if you're gonna be racing, you WILL crash and you'll probably end up needing to buy some new parts (I wish I would have set some $$ aside [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]). Also, when you buy new parts, don't go w/ the stock parts... if it breaks once, it'll probably break again... unless it happened in some freak accident, but for the most part stock parts will break again. Just my 2 cents

 

You guys are making me want to drop the idea of getting a Cannondale and just buy an R for my first quad to start racing. I could buy one right now(if I had the cash) for $4500 that is race ready and with the money I would be saving over the Cannondale, I could be putting aside for repairs. The only problem with that is every time I buy something used, it turns out to be a POS and I have to sink more money into something that wasn't my first choice for a quad anyway.

 

I'm not trying to make you change your mind. I was in the same boat as you... I wanted to buy a R but I didn't feel I needed a 13 year old (or older) quad, especially w/ my lack of mechanical skill. I can do all the maintenance and all the minor stuff but when it comes to opening up the motor... well, thats better left to the experts. I bought a C-dale because (IMO) it was the obvious choice... The R's are old, the 400ex's don't have enough power, the Shee's are a little front end heavy, the DS 650 is just over all to heavy, and the Raptor is to tall, narrow, and not very good for mx. You should definitely go w/ the Cannondale... the racing scene is goin 4-stroke and they are getting faster and faster and more and more powerfull. TRUST ME, you will be VERY happy w/ the C-dale!!!!!!

 

I want to get the Cannondale, but money is an issue. The agreement with my Uncle was I needed to raise 1/4 of the total cost of the quad to show him I am going to pay for it. I could have $2500 at the end of the summer, borrow the rest from him, and still be competitive at the track on an R, but I have to worry about buying a bomb waiting to explode whihc could cause me to spend more $$$, and lose out on some races. I don't know, September is still pretty far away, so I'll wait until then to make up my mind. Chances are if I don't have enough money saved in Sep, I'll wait until the beginning of '03 since the track out here doesn't open until March/April.

 

Get a 250r already built up. It will save you alot of money. My past quads have been a 400ex, 2 250r's, and the 2 250r's I have now. I had over 11g (including price of 400ex) in my 400ex and it still was not where I wanted it to be. The other quads I have had have already been set up. A 250r is not a bomb wating to go off either. They are very relaible quads and when you compare a 4 stroke rebuild to a 2 stroke rebuild it is also alot cheaper. The C-dale's are awesome quads, but if I didnt have that much money I would not try to build a race machine, I would buy one already built up. But if you do build a C-dale, I would get a dampner before I got a pipe. The C-dale will be plenty fast and the dampners are the best mod you can have. Dude I may not know everything about quads in general but I know MX. It is my LIFE! So if you ever have any questions about anything to do with MX just pm me. Well good luck. MrP.

 

Buy whatever you feel will do you best, but my experience with used equipment is that you will have to replace a head, or take apart the bottom end and rebuild, and overhaul the shocks, and worry about fluid leaks, etc,etc,etc, Get a new one with a warranty and fugetaboutit as the Italians say! my .02

 

OK guys, truthfully tell me, would you rather have this 250R or spend the $8000+mods on a C-Dale Speed. You also have to consider that I'll only be 16 with a minimum wage job. If I weren't planning on racing, it would be easy choice, but you guys have reminded me that racing costs alot of money. I've been taking in all of your suggestions and buying an used 250R is looking better and better.
250R-$4500, race ready
Speed-$8000 plus ~$500 for mods to race.

Either way both quads will be comptetive and nicer than any quad I've owned. I'll also need a trailer of some sort, I don't know what they're going for, probably $500-$1000. I think I need to find someone with an R and a Cannondale, ride both and see which one I like better.

Moderators, I am not adverstising that 250R for sale, so do not delete the link please!

 

I would rather have the speed!
But, if I was you I would buy that R right now! Either way you go you will be spending lots more thatn the cost of the quad. This sport is expensive for the casual rided, much less a racer. Get somethin you can afford. You might be in debt the rest of your life. Start small for now.

 

Why does it have to be a speed? why dont you get a cannibal and modd it. Remember the engine does not need modding except for a pipe and remap and can run with $14,000- up race ready quads.