hey guys this is my first post on this forum, and i am in the process of buying another quad. at the moment i have a modified 440EX that only gets used for play racing and trail riding. i've built it for all top end and im not completely satisfied with it.

i want more power and im considering a Cdale. possibly a Speed. the only problem is i dont have one avaible to test ride. i've rode piped raptors and thats not what im looking for. a new banshee really is the only other option for me other than cdale.

how does the speed honestly compare to a piped banshee? do they pull as hard? is the power smooth or does it hit like a 2stroke? i would be willing to pay the price of a Speed if they are really worth the money, but for that much money i could build one EXTREMELY FAST banshee. any advice would be helpful. i've already invested so much money in the EX i could have had a new speed and change to spare. i dont want to spend another 9k and be bored so quickly.

 

Get a Shee! You can find a used one for about 4k with pipes and stuff and send it to Trintity and let them do there magic and you will a Banshee that will produce twice the omount of power than the Cannon for ALOT cheaper.

 

You never said what type of riding you are wanting to do, that will definitely make a difference in your choice. Are you wanting more power for more top end or more for MX type power? Do you prefer 4 stroke or 2 stroke. If you like 2 strokes, whether it's top end power or MX, I'd look at a 250R with something like a 310 or 330 kit. You're already miles ahead with the R because they only weigh 328 pounds. If all you want to do is drag race, go with a modified Banshee.

 

250R

 

Racing- 250R or Dale (depends on if you like 2 strokes or 4 strokes)
Drag-Banshee
Top end-Banshee
I hope you know if your really all about speed you could buy a zilla.

 

I was considering a 250r after I sold my 400. The only thing I don't like about 2 strokes is the maintence. And your going to be around the $8-9k to build a racer with the price of the quad....

Depending on the fuel mapping you load, depends on the "hit" of the power. I have the Blaze mapping and I'm real happy with it. It pulls pretty hard, but there isn't a flat spot in the power all the way up to the 11,600 rev limit.

With the Speed. I'd add nerfs, aftermarket exhaust with different mapping and have Ohlins re-do the shocks with the dual rate springs and add the piggy-back res. You should be able to get all of that for around $500-600, depending on the shop you work with.

Don't get me wrong, the Dale needs extra maintence for a 4 stroke, but it's just changing oil/fuel filters and making sure your bolts are tight. And you won't have the vibration of the 440. That's one of the reasons I sold my 400. After I put the 88mm piston in it, I was not happy with the extra vibration.

 

I have a friend with a 450cc Banshee built by CT Racing, the thing flat hauls! He is spinning the tires at least half the time, still very impressive quad. Anyways, I let him ride my Speed around the track yesterday and he came back with a big smile. He said the power was very controllable and just pulled smooth from idle to top. He didn't rev it out, wasn't used to it he said; but he was surprised at what the Cannondale 4 stroke had. Does it hit like a 2 stroke built Banshee? No. He just put 4000.00 into that Banshee motor last winter, has about 19000.00 into the whole quad once you price in Axis, Timmy Boy, LSR, etc, etc. Now another friend has your basic FMF piped, jetted, K&N equipped Banshee, a little more realistic money-wise. My stock Speed takes him in a drag race. This was up through the top of 4th gear for me, ran out of room; but he was surprised. To each his own, but I wouldn't go back to my 400ex or buy a Banshee for the riding I do..........JIM

 

thanks for the advice guys. i really wasnt expecting a comparison to a big bore banshee. i think it is pretty obvious theres not many machines around going to have the same power as a "built" banshee. i was compareing the speed to a piped banshee because in my mind that sounded like a logical compareison. it should be anyway. im not looking for a drag racing quad and im not a duner. im looking for something thats rideable and thrilling at the same time. to me a piped banshee (with a K&N, aftermarket reeds and wisco pistons) is a very thrilling ride in the woods, not that it is over powerful because my EX is close (within 3 or 4 bike lenghts at top end) but the off/on powerband just keeps you on your toes all the time. i never really considered a 250R because of their age. i guess i need to try to find someone with a speed and test ride one. the extra maintence isnt really a factor. the way it is right now im changeing the oil every 2 weeks in my EX and driving a considerable distance for raceing fuel once a week just to ride it. it would be nice to just be able to drive to the nearest gas station for fuel like the old days hehehe.

well guys explain this to me. i've heard everyone brag about the dales top end pull. which is a good thing. but then you hear people say (without stateing any perticular model) it lacks bottom end and some say mid range is sluggish. some say its comparable to a stock 400EX? one guy over at another forum claimed his new speed had more bottom end than his raptor with a high compression piston which to me is the exact opposite of what everyone else is saying. with all of these conflicting stories whos to be belived.

 

Ahhhh yes, now the aftermath cleanup of the CornDog comes into play. All this talk of no bottom end or no mid-range power is horse hockey!!
This crap started from our now banished friend CornDog who was spreading all the rumors he could think of because he was pissed off about Cannondale not giving him a new computer module for his used C'dale. The best thing for you to do is go test ride a C'dale and see for your self if it lacks bottom or mid-range power. You'll come back grinning ear to ear!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I 've owned them all!! Get the C-Dale or a 250r w/ a big bore kit. I suggest a 350 powervalve kit. Instant response and major power. It will wax a C-Dale. The Z-400 has a bunch of stuff out from Yoshimura to bump the power up. Consider this as well since it has reverse if you need it..