Working at a dealership and racing I have seen the problems other brands have with their quads just take a look in the other forums everyone has problems if people saw the amount of service bulletins put out by the various companies EVERYONE would be afraid to even start their machines these bulletins are not public info and are not covered under warranty.Cannondale has taken a different approach everything is publicly posted and EVERY part is covered well after the warranty is over if the dealer just asks.I like most demand quality especially within the warranty.The question is :Are we expecting too much?An off road vehicle is subjected to conditions that could never be entirely accounted for.Is the openness of cannondale going to ruin their reputation undeservidly?People just dont realize the amount of problems all the other companies have.How many of you think that cannondale deserves a big thank you for all the help whether it is warranty,racing or just for having the ***** to do what they have?

THANK YOU CANNONDALE

 

Those are some really big ***** too. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]
The farther this company gets in motorsports the more amazed i am [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
The open warranty can't go on forever, but I think their machines would be worth the money without a warranty. Groundbreaking high performance ATV's and factory race support!?

My cannibal has been so reliable! I hate hearing about others problems with them. Asking for perfection from a 5 year old program from a bike company might be a bit much though.

 

Hey C-Dale 27,
I couldn't agree with you more!!!!

I was afraid that my post (under clutch problems) might or would be taken negatively. I was also a little concerned at my timing as I noticed a few other posts that refer to problems that other C-Dale owners may be or are experiencing. This did /does bother me as I know that many possible C-dale buyers are either lurking or participating in this forum and these postings may influence them to reconsider, to shy away from, become intimated by the complexity of or not to buy this quad.

First I want to state that I absolutely find no fault with the Cannondale Corp or my quad (03-Cannibal LE) that I have purchased. I feel I have gotten my $$$$ worth both from my quad and Cannondale. I do not expect anything more or anything less from them in what I have already received. All of my problems have been both recognized publicly and resolved through various avenues by Cannondale well before I purchased my Cannibal from my dealer, whether it was through tech bulletins, upgrade kits, recalls or part replacements at no charge to their customers and dealers. I for one am very grateful to them for their 100% support of their product. I feel that their only "weak link" may be between themselves and their Dealership/ Rep programs in making sure and enforcing their dealers to follow through with any and all service bulletins. I think many dales are being sold without these upgrades/minor fixes and Cannondale gets the blackened eye as the result.

My aggravation lies in that my quad was purchased well after many of these upgrades/ bulletins were published and dealers notified (supposed). Had these upgrades and service bulletins been installed to my quad, almost every problem I have had so far would have been more than likely been avoided saving both myself and my local rep/dealer much aggravation.

I have had 2-dnf's in the past two weeks at our local H-scrambles while running in the top 3 overall out of 50 quads and either had to walk about 3 miles back or was towed back to the pits. Well the EX riders loved this and you can imagine the ribbing (ball busting) I got from them, along with this not doing our local dealer any good either. Especially since they were partial promoters/sponsors of the this fall series. Now I also feel they may be starting to question if it is something I am doing, as according to them (they also race) they have never experienced any of these problems or bulletins or upgrades from Cannondale with any of their own or the C-dale quads they have sold.

Now here is where I have to tread lightly and approach with caution as I am very lucky to have my dealer within 15 minutes of me. Also that this dealership is a family operated business and they are a great bunch of people. I have purchased 3-New quads, a trailer and my Cannibal from them since this past summer. They really treated me very well as a potential customer when I was quad shopping this summer. They let me do several test rides and answered about any question that I would throw at them. I was very impressed and have since made my purchases from them along with paying them to service all of our quads and have purchased many $$$ accessories from them for all of our bikes. Now I am starting to think (afraid) that the honeymoon period is coming to an end. Especially since experiencing some of the minor problems with my Dale (no problems with my other quads I bought from them) and after mentioning to them that others have reported similar problems on the internet in forums such as this one. The response from them was well you know how those internet junkies are...you can't believe most of what they are reporting, and if it were important that C-dale would have called and notified them by phone. They also seemed to take offense when I printed and gave to them all of the service bulletins that pertain to my quad from C-Dales website. Well I feel differently in that forums like this are a great source of info comming straight from the field. I mean we have everything from the die hard dunner's to drag racers, MX-ers, cross country riders and those that just play and joy ride. This is a great source of info for those of us owning these quads and should be valued. I know that you have to weed out some of the flaming or just plain misinformation every now and then, but for the most part it is/has been very helpful...."to me anyway"

Now, I am not going to stop patronizing my local rep or even bash them....like I said before they are a good bunch of people and this would not benefit myself or them. I need them and they need to keep selling bikes/quads so that they will be around in the future. I have also "hopefully" reassured them that I am happy with my quad. Besides... I am planning on buying another one of these Hot Rods (from them) later this spring.

My postings in this forum is not meant to in anyway show or reflect any disappointments, short comings, or dissatisfaction towards my quad or the Cannondale company. I was/am only trying to acquire specific and consistent info regarding some of these problems that have been reported in this forum and others, to only help solve or prevent any potential problems that I may or am currently having. So that I can show them that my quad "isn't" the only one having some of these gremlins.

I had also stated in a previous post that I have only owned my quad for about 10 weeks and to be fair I should have also stated that out of those ten weeks I have raced it 5 out of those ten weeks. I have ran to GNCC races, 1- motto X and 3- local H-scrambles. As most of you know there is probably nothing more torturous, grueling or demanding on any quad that has competed for 2-hours each event in National level cross country racing. If you have never seen GNCC just watch it on TV on the OLN channel on Sundays and see for yourself the punishment these quad must endure.

Now for those of you that have, or are considering or about to purchase a Cannondale, GO FOR IT...just make sure that your bike has all current updates and have your dealer verify this to you. You both will be much happier. I spent all summer researching and deciding on the best quad for me. I have ridden all of the important ones quite a bit in real riding situations and DO FEEL that I have made the right choice....with my purchase of the Dale. I stopped riding/racing quads in the early 90's and decided a few years after that I would not buy another quad until a real performance quad could be purchased off the showroom floor, just like a competitive dirt bike can be.....well thank goodness C-dale stepped up to the plate. Along with this there now are several other very good performance sport quads available to us all also ....times are good with all of the choices we now once again have, but the Dales stock for stock and dollar for dollar (at this point) cant' be touched by any of them.....my opinion

I have also installed a HMF full system with the Blaze map holly zzzzhhhiiiitttt!!! I think I could really hurt myself now....

For those that choose another brand over the Cannondale....will never know!

For those who do choose the Cannondale......will never go back!

 

Tarrat103

Good post. I agree with you 100%. I also bought my quad off the same dealer (as you already know). I haven't experienced anything to bad from them or the quad. Dealer is at times didn't feel it was all the updates were needed on my machine so I don't have all of them. His words were the updates are only for quad that are having problems in that area. So I gave up asking for them. I am planning on have the clutch update done. The dealer has helped me out a go bit fixing the few problems I have had in quick time frame.

As for what cannondale has done for the support, I too have to say thanks. They have done something that the other companys won't do. Instead of sitting on the sidelines and watching the 400ex and 250r's create a sea of red the decide to say hey look at this fuel injected frog that is just waiting to jump over the red machines and leave them in the stone age where they belong.

Not only have they built a machine that is high tech they are backing it 200% in all types of riding condition with a no questions ask policy. Lets see any of the others do that. I don't think so. I'm a proud cannondale owner and am happy to say that what I ride is made in America.

Here's a little background on my 4 years of racing:
3 1/2 years are different lt250r quadracers. I average 1 DNF for every 7 entered.
1 GNCC season and a couple local races (total of 14 races and numerous hours of trail riding) and not a signal DNF. Actually I finished all but one GNCC on the lead lap. The only one I didn't was do to 2 front flat tires. Not once have I needed a tow. So to say my cannondale is un-reliable would be like saying the lt250r quadracers were the greatest race quad every built.

My only challage is to other companys to look at what cannondale is doing, because in a couple of years they will be trying to catch and match their performance.

For people looking to buy a sport quad, buy the one that best fits your type of riding. All quads break and have problems. If there was a quad that was perfect we would all own it and there would be only one model. This will never happen, so get the machine you really want and enjoy it.

 

I agree also. I have had some issues arise with my quad, but Cannondale has ALWAYS backed their product 100%. The problem isn't Cannondale. The problem I seem to have (especially being in the Northwest) is that a good dealer is hard to find. My closest dealer is 2 1/2 hrs away. They do have a VERY competent mechanic and they sponsor me. They have helped me out a lot. The only problem is, I can't afford to drive my quad up there (taking a day off of work plus the $50.00 in gas) everytime something comes up. Obviously, Cannondale wants you to work through their dealers because 1) it's a way for their dealers to make money, and 2) so they can get good feedback and the dealers can get feedback on problems. But when the dealers are few and far between, and competent dealers are even fewer and farther between, it can be very frustrating.

I too take a lot of heat from my buddies when I am waiting for parts or when something happens. They seem to forget about all the times their rides break down. Those don't seem to count. However, I still, after owning my Cannondale for a year know, will NEVER go back to anything else. I love this machine and I love the fact that Cannondale stepped out of the box and is doing something no one else had the ***** to do and that they are standing by their product and constantly trying to improve it. I am so sick of "bold new graphics" that I could hurl!!

Most of the people that bash Cannondales either have never ridden one, or are just upset because they can't figure out how to get one.

 

Hey, what shop did you get yours at? I believe there are 5 in Washington. Ill be picking my Cannibal up in a few weeks.

Looking at South Sound right now

 

I actually bought mine at Columbia River Honda in St. Helens, OR. But, my "dealer", the one I will be buying my next one from is Beaudry's in Post Falls, ID. They have an awesome mechanic and all the guys there are pretty cool.

I have been to South Sound Honda a couple of times (when I've been that way on business) and spoke with them a bit. They seem to be a good shop. They had a new Blaze in there the last time I was there. That sure is a nice looking machine!

 

Can you save money buying out of state? Or do you still get nailed with sales tax and lisencing when you register it?

Im looking for anyway to save a few bucks with this purchase. Please let me know what you think.

South Sound is the only dealer in Washington I talked to that said they would do free MAP changes if I bought from them.
Pretty suprised that was not standard, most were @ 40 bucks to reMAP. I get pretty aggravated spending 7500 bucks on a bike and then getting nickle and dimed for basic in shop service.

 

Well, if you don't license it in WA you don't have to pay the sales tax. That saves you some money, but the governor doesn't like you to do that.

I hear ya on the nickel and dime thing when it comes to the remap. It only takes less than five minutes for them to remap it.

Do you ever get over this direction? Juniper Dunes or Horn Rapids ORV park?