is there any design changes coming for the C-Dales? I read awhile back that they were going to be changing the plastic for '03.

What are your thoughts about the overall quality of the machines? Has there been any major issues lately with quality? What has your general maintenance consisted of other than changing fluids?

I hope to have another machine this summer and I'm undecided between a C-Dale and the new Suzuki Z400.

<u>CORNDOG NEED NOT REPLY</u>

 

I just got my C-dale about 4 weeks ago and I love it. I ride a lot tight wooded trails and it has plenty of good power for that kind of riding and all the top end you really need(just hang on). I rode the baja ds-650 and rode pretty good, but I thought it felt a little gerthy(its a big machine). I heard the suzuki is going to be hard to get,every dealer only getting two. That's what my local dealer told me. You just can't buy a better machine than the c-dale. Sure its more expense, but it is worth it. Customer service is very good. The technology and design of the C-dale is unmatched. buy a c-dale.

 

I don't think they're changing the plastic again. They seem pretty happy with the current supplier.

Overall, I do not think anyone builds a finer quad. A couple of gripes I have, the location of the spark plug. It's a pain to get to.

The A-Arm bushings are not the finest. You need to loosen up your bolts and lube regularly. They're Delron bushings, and dirt binds them up pretty easily.

The airfilter setup. I wish it was more protected and a clamp on style. Looking at it, I think I can fabricate a aluminum bracket so I can clamp a airfilter on it. I'm going to play around with that this winter. For the mean time, I just bought 2 extra filters, so I always have clean ones to swap quickly.

General maintence has just been changing the oil, changing the fuel filter, monitoring the chain slide wear and adjusting the chain. It's alittle more time consuming to change the oil, but it's not that bad.

I can't wait to see how it compares to the Z. I know it's going to have more power than the Z, the only plus I see for the Z is reverse.

Hope this helps...

 

Thanks for the replies. Been tossing the idea around about a C-Dale. I find it somewhat disheartening about the Delron bushings. Polaris was stupid and put in a plastic bushing for their steering stems. DUH!! Aluminum is ok, but there is no plastic strong enough to put into a &quot;hi wear&quot; area such as this. I would imagine that C-Dale would change this to a sealed bearing. The air filter and spark plug I could live with.

 

I just got to ask, why would you even consider the Z400? For the life of me I can't understand why Suzuki would bring to market a quad that is no better than it's competition such as the 400EX! Where is any new technology on this quad? That's what I love about the C'dales, they broke the mold. They didn't design a quad just to compete with the existing market, they designed a quad that was leaps and bounds ahead of anything that was currently out there. Buy the best and get a C'dale, sure it might be a little more money but you won't be disappointed and it will blow away all other sport quads out there!!

 

I have to admit that C-Dale did revolutionize the ATV market with the aluminum frame and EFI. Someone had to. The &quot;Big 4&quot; didn't feel that there was a need. Guess they were wrong, HUH? I would love to have a C-Dale, but if this becomes nothing more than a dream, I would take what I feel is the next best thing. The plus I see in the Z400 is it's lightweight (for a steel frame), has reverse (unlike the 400EX), a liquid cooked engine with Raptor-like power(again, unlike the 400EX), a single carb (unlike the Raptor), and the technology that has helped Suzuki pretty much dominate with their race bikes. I don't like the swingarm they used on the Z. So far, this is the only mistake I can see. Time will tell. But as it stands, if I could afford the C-Dale, that would be my first choice with the Z second.

 

Yeh I have a bad habit of always having to have the best: I had the 300ex when it came out in 93' and the 400ex in 99' so the C'dale was the obvious choice for 2002. I have about 15 hours on my speed and couldn't be happier, everytime I have to ride my buddies 400ex, 416ex, 440ex because they always want to ride my bike, :-) I realize I made the right choice. Fit and Finish is awesome, everything is pretty much top notch compared to other bikes, and as far as finding pet peeves or things I don't like...hmmm not much but I have only had it for 3 weeks.

-josh

 

Same here Dex. I had a 95 300ex, then the 99 400ex, and now the C-dale.

I'm trying to make some bronze bushings right now for the A-Arms. I work at a Powder Metal factory and I have found a bushing that is pretty close. I just have to bore the I.D. out and grind the Flange O.D. down alittle. Just waiting for it to go into production at the end of the month...

 

sweet, atvconnection member discount???

-Josh

 

of course![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]