How many of you think that these quads are revolutionary?
I owned a Cannondale Speed for quite sometime and it never let me down. I now ride a YFZ 450. Yes, the Yamaha and Honda have updated front shocks and performance carbs, but what else sets them apart from what Cannondale had to offer? Aluminum frame, fuel injection, Ohlins rear shock, hydraulic clutch, etc. I do like my Yamaha quite a bit, but it's not revolutionary like the Dales by any means. I feel the same about the Honda as well. I'm still waiting for the ultimate machine, but no luck yet. You listening ATK! Someday I guess, I'll have to build one myself. Just my 2 pennies.

Well said Budda!

I have over 250hrs on my Cannibal and have owned it since 01. I ride very hard and this thing has taken the abuse very well. I think the crank just went in it as the engine is seized. I have never really taken the motor apart and have only adjusted the valves 1 time. So, it is to be expected of any race maching with that much seat time. If I had a good dealer close enough she would still be kicking.

I have owned/ridden just about everything and nothing really compares in TT, Motocross, & 440 stock drag class.

I have seen the new yfz450 and am impressed with the power and light weight. It is not nearly as innovative as the Cannondale. Hopefully ATK will trim some weight and give us the 450 we have been asking for. After seeing the newly announced Honda I'm thinking that NOBODY will touch the new ATK Cannondale. All we need is some better dealers to keep us racers going. If I have a race coming up I don't want to have to worry about spending hrs in the garage wrenching as I do now.

Ride Hard and keep the rubber side down!

yea, but nothing else really compared to the price tag either....I'm sure if more people were willing to pay more than 10G's for a quad, yamaha and honda would build far superior machines than they have now...

Good point. I actually paid $6400 for my Speed over a year ago. I'd still own it to this day if it wasn't for the bankrupcty. Frank White will turn things around at ATK I'm sure.

I think you need to define "revolutionary" here. In today's quad world, I'd have to say the YFZ is, if for no other reason than: it has changed the way all the manufacturers must look at performance quads. Much the same way the original YZF 426 bike did. You won't see any new air cooled mediocre quads come out touted as the "high performance" model.

Beyond the new 450's, what could there be that would be considered revolutionary? Better shocks, different suspension geometry? We're at diminishing returns in that department. The hyper four stroke engines aren't leaving much on the table for horsepower either.

To go far enough beyond these products to be considered revolutionary will take something huge. A whole different engine type, rotary or maybe some kind of direct injection 2 stroke, whatever. With that would come a huge price tag as well.

Are we approaching the zenith of the four stroke racing quad? Or will there be a new horizon? Or am I just full of B.S.?

You both have very valid points. I agree, the YFZ will be recognized as the machine that will change how high performance quads are produced in the future. That's great for all us sport quad buyers, but I still believe that it was Cannondale that had more of an impact on the performance sport quad market for other manufacturers to step up to. As far as I'm concerned, Cannondale is the company that raised the bar, not the big four. Maybe revolutionary wasn't the correct word to use in this topic, but oh well. Cannondale offered something different, and I do believe the aluminum frame and fuel injection was revolutionary in the atv market in 2001.
I'm glad to see the big four producing higher performance quads, it will only benefit us and the market. I think the future of four stroke motors will be incredible. I'm just waiting for something to blow me away. I believe that company is ATK. My YFZ is great for now, but I'm still searching.

I got so busy focusing on one thing I left out the whole Cannondale thing. You're right Buddah, they broke the ice in many ways. And maybe I generalized the 4 stroke statement, that they aren't leaving much on the table, just thinking in terms of what we would see in a quad. The technology exists for ultralight, twin cylinder torquey rev-to-the-moon units, wouldn't that be cool, a 440 twin that turns 14000 but starts pulling good at the low end?

I guess the day could come where they will regularly separate us from 10 large for the new ultimate quad.

I talk a big game for a dipstick riding a 1987 Suzuki.

4wheelers are exackly like cars. look how cars started. heavy slow big. now look. were seeing factory cars running 12 and lower. quads are going to do the same thing. but i dont think when u say revolutionary you are looking at the BIG picture. if what u say is true and honda comes out with the revolutionary 450(just using honda as an example its really not gonna be revolutionary) there will still be somebody in a year or maybe even 10 years that can come up with something faster/lighter/more durable. the bar will keep rising and rising

but the point with the yfz450 setting the new standard i agree 100% just what honda did in 86 with the trx250r. it may take 17 more years for somebody to take the higher plato
but with the way the world is evolving faster and faster it could be next year. and we all go out and sell out 450s for the new better bike.

by the way buddah whats up weve talked before on aol.

justin

Justin. Good to see you post. I agree, as soon as I hear an announcement for an outrageous quad (hopefully) I will be first in line. I have a problem not getting attached to one machine. It's good for the consumer to see all the atv manufacturers trying to top one another. Sooner or later my dream quad will be produced.
Hey Shady, I see you're heading to St. Anthony this weekend. I'm planning a trip next month. Maybe we can hook up and sling some sand.

Giddyup. Always ready!