Check it out. This friend of mine had a 400ex, sold it and bought one of the first C-Dale FX400's. It was #23. (the first 20 off the line were all hands-on tested, ridden and well checked before let go)His had A LOT more problems than the majority of the FX400's. Aside from all the regular C-Dale recalls, his was just littered with malfunctions. After about a year of his bike being in the shop every other week (literally), he took off from work, loaded the bike and headed for Bedford, PA. When he got to the factory he insisted they take the junk back and return his money because he was going to get another Honda.
Uhh, they traded him out EVEN for a brand new 02 Speed. Gave him a tour of the factory and a bunch of decals. That's customer care.
Hard to believe I suppose, but I swear on MY beloved C-Dale it's true. It seems as though us C-Dale owners are in pretty good hands.

 

Boy that story sounds familar.But mine was only in the shop about 4 times and the dealer gave me a 02 speed for my fx400.I couldnt beleve it.They told me my bike was ready to come get it.When I got there they rooled my 02 speed out the shop and sayed here ya go.

 

How long will cannon keep this up??? I am sure that there are some heated discussions going on in the board room. This stuff cost money on the bottom line. Should be right from the factory the first time. Sooner or later cannon will be like the rest. Enjoy while you can. At this point they have NO CHoice but to bend over backwards. If they did not, the bad mouthing would run them out of town.

 

"Should be right from the factory the first time" Now that's funny coming from a Yamaha owner!! How's those '01 trannies and axles holding up!!??[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

If anyone should have gotten it "right from the factory the first time" it should have been Yamaha! How long they been manufacturing bikes, quads, etc.??

 

Brian, I've got to say I agree with 14 on that particular sentence. It should've been right from the factory in the first place. But that's the ideal world. As you mentioned, even the more experienced companies can't make that happen.

"Sooner or later cannon will be like the rest." I hope not, but we'll have to see. Your right, though, to make it in the market they've got to come in fighting and they are. It's a tough market to break into and I commend them on the job they are doing. Their level of customer focus is a benchmark for all other manufacturers to step up to.
In support of Brian- there's no question that with Yamaha's experience, the first swing with a Raptor was a weak one. And they definitely haven't backed up their product Cannondale style.
I'm not trying to pick a fight, just stating my opinions.

 

I know first hand how great C'dales customer service is. I too bought one of the first quads, last years FX400, had some issues that my dealer could not resolve and C'dale stepped to the plate and gave me a new quad. It would have been the Speed but the Speed was not out yet so I had to "settle" on a new Cannibal. Couldn't be happier!! I just have to chuckle when guys owning other Jap brand quads come in here and make statements about the poor quality of our C'dales. Yamaha's customer service is one of the worst in the industry as far as I'm concerned.

 

Briansgi- I never said yamaha would do a dam thing for you or me. But cannondale has little choice but to suck it up and fix it. I am sure they they (CANnondale) is getting tired of fixing stupid stuff that should be right. leaking gas caps, blowing antifrezze, flywheels falling apart the list goes on and on. The bottom line is the big boys should know better(raptor trannies) and do the right thing. I would rather fix a tranny once than have 20 irratating problems[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

EASY BOYS

 

They are still in R&D. No lab or test rider can truly put a bike through what we do. They have to get it out there and see how its really gonna be treated. They are doing that and fixing the problems as they arise.

 

Cannondale has to take care of its customers. If they don't they will be out of this atv thing as fast as they were in. Yamaha took care of part of my tranny taking a dump. Paid for parts but not labor or my sweat pulling the motor. Now Yamaha doesn't have to worry since I got rid of the headache. Cannondale is committed to their product and customer service. Are you listening yet???? YAMAHA [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]