I want a Speed so bad it keeps me up at night. But the more I read what you guys are saying , the more scared I get. It looks like they are a machinac's nightmare. i just read Smitty's list, locktite, trickle charger, dielectric grease. I saw the other day somebody said the motor mount rubbed through the battery. My dealer told me he had two engine failure's in a speed. They found out later the motor wasn't properly assembled from the factory. I'm not against maintenance, but if this thing breaks down while I'm riding I'll be wild. Tell me these are isolated instances and it is really a good machine.

 

You can always buy a raptor with a weak tranny, a overweight slow Bombardier 650, a briggs and stratton powered honda 400ex or a suzuki z400(kawi klf 400, articcat 400) slightly faster than a 400 ex with reverse, or a maintance plagued cannondale that is made in the USA. Tough decisions.

 

QuadPilot,

You should be doing these things to any quad built today, not just the Cannondales. I did the same thing on my 400EX, and LT230 don't laugh I didn't know any better.

Batteries a new one to me. My 400EX you had to take it easy on the drain plug from the tank or you would break it.

Smitty

 

Quadpilot
I've been racing mine since I bought it in April and have had a couple things go wrong with it. Nothing that is worst than any of the other new quads out there. The only difference is that cannondale has been alot better about fixing the problems than the other companys.

The only time I trickle charge my battery is the night before a race. It seems to hope it to start quicker. I don't have to do this, but in harescrambles it's important to have a good start. As for the motor mounts rubbing the battery I haven't had a problem with it.

The other thing like dielectric grease and locktite are one time maintance things that should be done to all new machines, do to mud and water conditions and other things that might cause bolts to work there way loose.

Yeh you will have to change the fliuds and fuel filter more than a z400, 400ex, raptor, & ds650. But this is what you get when you buy the top of the line high performance machine.

No matter which one I would have bought I would be changing the fluids after every race. I chose the speed do to the fact it was the best quad available for the type of riding I was planning on doing with it, plus the customer service is second to none. I've talked to reps. and the dealer bends over backs to keep me happy.

My advice to you is to test ride all the machine your interested in. Look them over very closing and then decide on the best one for your type of riding. No one in this forum will bash you for buying anyone of the machine.

 

a overweight slow Bombardier 650


Overweight maybe slow no have you ever seen a bomb run

 

Last year I had a few problems all of which were covered by cannondale.This year not a single problem I would have to say I have at least 100 hours maybe more this year and it is still running and rolling it even feels better than new springs are broke in,shifting is smoother than new,starts great everytime.
This winter I will be checking,greasing,cleaning,bearings and bushings a good once over but right now I dont see anything that needs to be replaced.I will be buying another one and selling mine this spring smitty and lt250r got it right once you get into a maintenence routine its easy and gives you a good piece of mind knowing you did things right and your quad will reward you for it.

 

QuadPiolet...... i have had my Speed since November and have had no problems with it it is hte most reliable maching i have ever ownd i have about 180 hrs on it and the valves still havent needed adjusted yet i even MX the crap out of it just keep up on the maintenance and u shouldent have a prob. and the engins r a isolated incedent i have even crashed it real hard and the frame hasnt bent but the steering stem did
all and all it is a verry good quad

Cdale1

 

<< a overweight slow Bombardier 650


Overweight maybe slow no have you ever seen a bomb run >>



LOL, you're askin 14mins if he has ever seen a bomb run?!? I've seen more Bombardiers at his place than I have ever seen.... or even wanted to see.

14mins - I'm not going to that race at Swan, so I'll be able to make it to the big city of Aledo when yall have that next ride. When is it? I forgot.

 

I got scared too when I test rode a cannondale and it felt like it was going to rip my arms off. I bought one and to this point I think it is the best decision I have ever made about a quad. Every time I get on it and punch the throttle the adrenaline rush is on! Get one and you will know what I mean. And yes these are isolated instances and they are good machines. But with any high performance quad you are going to have maintenance. This is where people tell their problems and try to see if other people are having the same problems and get solutions. Me and three of my friends all have dales and I can honestly say that none of us have had any problems. The loc-tite is the one thing I would reccomend.

 

mountainman your group must be a wicked sight on the trails! or track.
4 'dales rippin it up... cool.
Then you always have american aluminum to tow you back to the trailer j/k [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
I've had mine a year and it has never failed to start or left me stranded!
I love it and pretty much plan on getting another.
GO FOR IT QUADPILOT! and you too shall know the RUSH.