Beast450,

There is one thing you must remember, The Banshee will ALWAYS be the benchmark of duning as the 250R will be for MX and XC.

I agree that Polaris SHOULD come out with a radical new machine, but it ain't gonna happen. Not in this life time. They are quite happy making big, heavy, slow utility machines.

It's a sad fact of life that the company WAS once an innovator. Now they are just bringing out the same crap year after year. Granted there have been a few improvements, but not the ones the PUBLIC wants. Gee just what we all wanted, a Polaris you have to shift (if I wanted to shift, I'd have bought a Honda), or a diesel quad or an underpowered 325 motor in an overweight 500 frame. Wow, that's really doing your research (NOT)!

As far as their "sport quads", it sure would be nice to have a lighter frame to go with the longer travel suspension. The concentric drive wouldn't have been a bad idea, if they would have put it in a twin a-arm frame. Oh well, enough of this. Don't get me wrong, I like MY Polaris machines! it's just that it costs me too much to get them where I want them to be. If Polaris isn't going to come out with anything that remotely interests me, then to hell with them! My next ride just might be something from Japan. Sorry Polaris, you lose!

 

I would drive 4HRs to St. Joe if you were going to stay the night. The camping fees are very reasonable, and the grounds are well maintained.

Both St. Joe and Finger Lkaes are equal driving distance for me. I only go to Finger Lakes like 1X a year (even thats only if someone else drives), and St. Joe about 2X a month. Knowing that you have been to Little Sahara you would probably be dissapointed at what Finger Lakes has to offer. St. Joe is not full of dunes either, but it would suit your type of riding from what I've seen on your page.

 

But Mike, Isn't the Cannondale made in your home state of PA ?

 

I agree Mike. I love my Scrambler, but if Bombardier would put the Traxter AWD on a DS650 I'd be selling the Polaris real quick. Those 650's are huge, but they still weigh 80lbs less than the Scramblers and make 10+ more hp. I know the AWD components on a Scrambler don't weigh 80 lbs.

 

Andrew,

Yeah, it's about an hour drive from my house. I guess I might be in the market for one of those too, if the ever start producing them.

 

Wow Mike, this is quite a turnaround for you....

You are beginning to see the light! Just kidding...

Anyway, I have heard that Cannondale has shipped 4 MX400 bikes to the magazines for review, and is starting shipment to dealers (one dealer has announce that they will be racing one on May 27th). Then we can see how the MX400 does and gauge how reliable/good the FX400 will be. Hopefully this fall!

 

86atc250r,

The sad fact is that even with the present machines that Japan offers, I'd still have to do some work on them. This might change in the near future with the new models from Cannondale and Yamaha. The thing I want first and foremost is a full length skid plate on the machine. Polaris does have the advantage here.

Secondly I want some decent sized tires on it. 18" - 20" tires may be all the rage on MX/TT tracks and smooth dirt ovals, but they have little use in the real world of trails.

Two stroke or four? Well, it's a fact that I hate adjusting valves (been doing it since I was 12), but it is also a fact that they just aren't coming out with any more two strokes. So the motor question is still up in the air. The Cannondale motor has promise, no cam chain to adjust or go out of adjustment. Still if you get bored with the power of a four stroke, expect to spend some big bucks to make it more exciting.

I'm not above shifting, I learned riding on manual clutch motorcycles, but still prefer the CVT transmission, even with all of it's faults.

A large gas tank is mandatory, I hate running out of gas. I like the four gallon gas tank on the new Cannondale.

In short the perfect ATV has yet to be made for me. The Cannondale comes the closest, but still has it's shortcomings.

 

I don't know how a 400 scrambler would do against a 400ex. What I do know is I have a new 500 scrambler 4x4 with a clutch kit and I drag raced my buddy the other day on his 400ex and he beat me by a couple quad lengths. The 400ex is pretty quick off the line. When we rode trails he bottomed out alot. Also he says my suspension is better and I do agree. I do like the advantage of having four wheel drive. I bought the scrambler because I wanted a sport quad without giving up four wheel drive. That 400ex is a fun quad to ride too.

 

How far is Alton,Il. from the Chicago area? I would like to come down a check out those trails down there. Jeff.

2000 Scrambler 400

 

You thought the 400EX was quick off the line? I think it's fast on the top end. It seems to pull hard in 4th & 5th. When my brother & I would race his 400EX against my Scrambler 400 I think the only reason I beat him was my holeshot was so much better he couldn't overcome it in a drag race. Now if we went from a roll in say his 3rd gear it was dead even.