I was at the cannondale dealership 3 day ago and this how it goes.
The sales man say if you are looking for a good all around trail machine go with the z400 but if you looking for a machine to carve the woods up go with the speed or to get the performance of the speed
I would have to mod the z400 to 450 pipe etc if I went with the z400.
I'm not looking to buy a new machine to sink money in to the motor that I could buy a stock speed that has that level of performance.
The sales man's one conplaint with the speed was that it was not a good start and stop machine He clains when they bring the quad up from the shop to the store frount and stop it then take it back to the shop stop it he will do the 2 or 3 time and foul the plug then have to remove plastice to change the plug. Have you guys experienced this. I also noticed the when he starts his quad he will hit the start button and crank the bike 10 times and then let it stop again 5 more and the bike started.IS this proper with the fuel injection instructions.

The one thing that I have noticed the cannondales do not seam to have problem with the trans,axels,or motors that other quads have via complaints in other forms. you guys just keep riding these grate machines.

The one thing that bothers me though is this starting issue. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

when i got my bull i flooded it about 6 times but i learned to only hit the starter just a little at a time (like 2 sec max) and DON'T TOUCH THE GAS!!!!!!! also keep a tricle charge (about 20 bucks) on the batery {i only ride mine about once a month [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] } it starts fine i also let it warm up like i did for my quadracer about 5 min or really warm. now i don't have a problem with flooding [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] i only trew on the exaust and remapped because a raptor that was really beefed up came close to beating me in some low key drag racing hope this helps BUY THE DALE YOULL BE HAPPY

 

I cant say much for the z400 I only seen 1 at a dealer.
I dont think you should worry about starting a speed though.Its prety easy.I turn the key on,put the run switch on run ,hit the start buttin once with the clutch out to prime the fuel pump,wait 5 seconds then pull the clutch in and hit the start buttin and she fires right up.You only do this on a cold start any other time just pull the clutch in and hit start.
I am still on my original spark plug and I got my speed in Feburary.

 

He's a typical saleman. You must jab the start button and not start the machine. Wait for five seconds and then actually try to start it. This is only when the motor is cold. If you just came back from a ride and had lunch for an hour climb on it and start it and go riding. The engine is still warm. Never give them any gas on the start up. Ooops!!! Special got his reply in as I was making mine.....

 

I got my speed in January. I fouled the plug the day I brought it home, pulled it out and cleaned it and haven't fouled it since. It's all in the proper starting procedure.

 

Thank for the help dealership has 3 in the shop 2002 and he is ready to deal to get then out the door lucky me. looks like a little squeezing and I will be on my new ride.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

good luck and enjoy the speed

 

Cool Fred. When you get it, let me know. We'll have to ride sometime. We're not too far away from each other.

 

FWIW, I fouled the plug last week. We pulled it off and gave the dealer a call. Now, the dealer that I bought my Speed from is 3 hours from my home. Any way, the owner of the shop was at Laguna Seca setting up a booth for last weekend. His wife said she would call him on his cell and then call me back...well 5 minutes later I got a call back. And Steve (the owner) said to use an NGK CR8EK plug.

Apparently the CR9EK is primarily used for the break in period, and after that you can go to a hotter plug. He also said that you need to start your quad every 2-3 days or your battery would run down. Now, if obviously if you have a charger that is not an issue.

He also told me after I changed the plug to bring it back and they would hook it up to their computer and they would lean it out for me so it would run better.

Just my .02 worth.

 

The salesman was partially right on the plug fouling and here's why.

The Cannondale is not a quad that you crank up and just take off on to go to the mailbox and back. It WILL foul the plug most of the time. It all has to do with warmup.

To keep this from happening, crank the engine and let it warm for a minute or two before riding it. We ride them for about 5 minutes in the lot or test track before parking it. If you don't,..you risk fouling a plug. It doesn't happen all the time, but does happen from time to time if not allowed to warm up correctly.

We run CR8EK in all the Cannondale Motorcycles and ATVs.

I agree that the Z400 is a better overall trail machine, but if riding the woods fast is your game, go with the Cannondale. I have plenty of seat time on both in that environment, and the Z is nowhere near as close as the Cannondale in pulling that 3rd gear for the entire time. The Cannondale will lug and pull you out of the tight spots and turns where you will find yourself clutching and shifting on the Z when in "race mode". The reverse is nice to if your style of riding might require it.

Which ever one you decide on, be honest with the salesman in what you are looking for a quad to do. Don't get the cannondale just because it's different and powerful. Get one because it fits your needs.