I agree with everyone in here about cannondale doing something none of the other companys would even think of. And there will be a point when they will say enough is enough and back off the support the way they are currently.

I think companys need to start taking approach similar to what Polaris is doing with the preditor. That is get so racers and test it on the track so they came get the major bugs out before the customer has a chance to buy it. That is why they having racing to let the companys compete to build the best quad. So why are the companys doing this?

I've been told that the Gas Gas quad which is getting close to being released has had 2 plus years of testing (racing). Hopefully they won't have the problems that all the other quad manufactures have. If this is true their quad well spank the comitition. Time will tell.

 

Well, I do agree with everyone here. Cannondale can't possibly keep this up. They have to draw the line somewhere, but I don't see it happening for a year or two. They're still making running changes in production, so they can't possibly cut us off yet.

Every MFG has put their bikes/quads through major a$$ poundings prior to releasing it to the public. 90% of the field falures(for all companies) has been linked to a part not being "up to snuff". Most of the Dale problems have not been due to the fact they didn't test them. Their part supplier's faulty product got past the QC department and on our machines. The same goes for the Raptor Trannies.

 

QC was on vacation when the 01 raptor was built. lol

 

14mins,

I'd fear for my life if I was Harry....

Has your wife gotten sick and tired of giving up some of her side of the bed to make room for the Trinity pipe yet? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]


"He thinks my pipe is sexy....it really turns him on...he's even crazy about my 686 kit....he thinks my pipe is sexxxxyyyyy!!!!"

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

jvc400- That was good. My wife really does not care. I hate for her to see the credit card statements though. That pipe is good looking![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Sorry man, had to pick on ya. It's been along day, and I needed a good laugh.

Tell me about it! My fiancee would go nuts if she knew the truth about everything I've bought for my quad. On my 400ex, she'd walk around it after I washed it and check for new stuff...she never found that new piston and cam though. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] But that's about the only thing I got past ol eagle eye.

I just had the dealer put most of the stuff on the dale before I even brought it home.... hehe I told her it was all stock!

 

Heres my viewpoint.

When Yamaha got into ATVs with their first three wheelers....they were junk. The YT125 and YT175 two strokes were nightmares along with the fourstroke YTM200. Not until the release of the YTM225 models, did a "somewhat" reliable ATV come from the doors of Yamaha. Since then, Yamaha has caught up with Honda in terms of reliability. The '01 Raptor tranny is minor when looking at their other models.

Suzuki was even worse. You couldn't keep a transmission in the LT125 or LT185. They hold the mark in my book as being the worse transmission ever produced by any manufacturer. They, like Yamaha, got better after a few years and no longer hold the "clunker" image they once had. [To most anyway]

Kawasaki had a lineup of KLT three wheelers that were almost as bad as Yamaha's attempt in the ATV market. They had good engines and transmisions, but their problems were electrical. Actually, Kawasaki's are known for poor electricals, and didn't improve on their product until a mid year change was finally made to their entire Bayou lineup in the early '90s!!!

I guess what i'm saying here, is that the "other guys" have been around so long, that we tend to forget that they once had the same [if not worse] problems that Cannondale is having by breaking into a market new to them.

One thing that is interesting though, is that none of the "other guys" listed above did anything with their customers when these problems came up unless they were still covered by their manufacturer warranty.

This is where Cannondale differs from the rest, but how long it will last is anyone's guess.

 

ahhhhh, I love how it puts it all into perspective.

 

I have 2002cannible number 9 with the updated motor.Cannondale has made numerous small changes and hopefully some big ones by this fall why hopefully?Because I plan on buying a new cannondale this fall.I feel that my quad is very reliable and the so called bugs HAVE been worked out by cannondale.I wouldnt hesitate to sell my quad to my best friend.The changes the factory has made are improvements not necessary to having a great quad I feel the way to get allthese improvements is simple "BUY THE NEW MODEL!!"We all have been waiting to be treated to all the new tech.lighter weight,and numerouse changes the dirtbikes the big three produce got every year.We had to settle for BOLD NEW GRAPHICS on our quads.Cannondale has changed all that the improvements are the reason I am buying a new one.I know I wont get anywhere near what I paid for it.But that is the price you pay for having the best.