ALSO, I know shootouts are cool and generate a lot of interest BUT, it's sad that DW needed to have a shootout between model years: 2 2002's vs. a 2003. Come on! nothin' better to talk about?? Hell, I was pissed off back in 1988 when DW jumped the gun on the 88 250s and had a head to head between the R and Quadracer because the 88 Tecate 4 hadn't arrived yet. Then a few months later they did the shootout AGAIN when the tecate 4 arrived. Duh! what was the hurry?? Just friggin wait! they knew it was coming. But this is really sad. It's like they rushed a shootout to crown the Z ASAP. Nothing was stopping that! It was like a fixed "show" trial under a corrupt government. God I miss the old days when 1+1 equaled 2 and better meant better. sure you could always argue fine points but the overall picture was pretty clear. Don't worry. In 2004 when the 400ex is maybe redone it WILL WIN. Just because. Even if the Z/KFX is revamped along with Cdale. It won't matter

 

I am a little late in replying to this post but I just recieved the August issue in the mail. I own a Z and I love it but, if you are going to compare sport quads on a track, their times should really be the deciding factor. The best quad in this shootout should have been awarded to Cannondale, no if's and's or, but's. The magazines have really blown it over the years. Their credibility with me has finally come to an end. I think that these magazines need to find editors who can produce an unbiased, well written and informative publication. Giving a quad the win where it obviously did not deserve it, makes their validity weak. Come on Dirtwheels get some ***** to write the real truth. Be fair to all whom read your publication, and lastly be fair to the manufacturers. Giving them a win because of the vast advertising dollars they give you, will not help build better quads.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

 

I think DW picked the Z because the Average rider was faster on it.

 

On the second page of the article it does say track & TRAIL test. They even mention a little bit of their trail manners in the article.

Here is what it says about the cannibals trail riding,

"For trail riding, the Cannondale isn't as good of a ride as the other two. The engine characteristics are a little harder to handle and the suspension isn't as plush at low speeds as the other two since the compression is stiffer. Add to that the whole turning diameter and lack of a reverse gear, and you may find this machine to be a bit of a pain in the wooods.

Here is what it says about the Z400

"Basically what everyone agreed upon is that you can go faster on the quadsport the least amount of effort. And as far as the fun factor for an all-day ride in a variety of conditions, the Suzuki wins the top slot. Top it off with being the only quad in this shootout with a reverse gear, and it's even that much better.

They did spend alot more time focusing on the track part though.

My opinion says that if the Cannibal had reverse it would have won. I would have like to have seen their data as far as drag times, top speed, and their lap times.

Every machine is a winner to somebody.

 

dw has to be somewhat lax or they wouldnt have a shootout for next month. if they said the dale, or the z was king how could they comeback next month and say that a raptor took the whole thing. besides if they please everbody by giving each quad its own high marks it'll make the owner fell like he didnt make a mistake in his choice, hence more magazine sales.

 

I agree with what has been said here. I don't own a Dale, or a Z400, but I know that they are both really good quads. But I read the article, and the Dale clearly won the shoot out. It appears that the Mags are so excited that Suzuki is finally building sport quads again, that they are willing to praise it to no end. The Z400 no dought deserves praise, as it is a really nice machine at a great price, but give it the praise that it deserves, not wins that it clearly doesn't. Unfortunately, that just takes away from the credibility that the Z400 actually deserves. Unfortunately I'm sure that we are not through seeing this yet. There will be more shoot out's and many more wins for the Z400 in the up coming months. Next victory will undoubtedly be over the Raptor, which depending on riding situations and personal preference might be believable. I'm not upset because I'm afraid that the Z400 is a better quad than the Dale or the Raptor, I'm just disappointed that the actual merits of the quad it self is not what is driving the hype and enthusiasm! It seams that the Z400 is being crammed down our throats merely to support Suzuki's decision to return to the sport market and increase the overall sport market share! I wish they could just praise the Z400 for what it actually does well, and not build it into something that it is not. We do need to praise the manufactures for increasing the market line, to give them the encouragement to continue adding choice to the market, but let's not loose site of the goal, which is to honestly evaluate the machine. God forbid what will happen when Honda does build another sport quad and put it on the market, we will never here of anything else.

 

Hmmm, I agree that the "shootout" left something to be desired by the way they wrote it up BUT I do understand how they came to the conclusion that the Z400 was the winner. Because it was the best all around quad! I never expected it to beat a Cannondale on a track considering that the 'dale costs about $1500 more and comes from the factory with better suspension. Lets not forget that the 'dale is 40cc bigger and is fuel injected. Not really an even compairson. Also, who could really argue that the 'dale is a better trail quad? It has no reverse, comes with a complicated fuel injection system (just want you want when you drown it out in a river crossing) a stiffer ride, a peaky powerband and is far more expensive. For my money I'd buy the Quadsport and use the $1500 I'd saved for mods. That way I could still have a quad I could race but still not have something so specialized that it would limit me from trail riding anywhere in the nation. I think that it was they were trying to get at.

Anyhow, I agree that the Cannondale is a higher performance quad and with the shootout they presented it should have won since they didn't clearly demonstrate the Z400's strong points like they wrote about.

 

I have ridden a Cannibal and a Speed and enjoyed then both. However, here is why I decided to buy the Z400:

- Price, $4954 OTD vs. $7500 OTD
- Reliability #1 (I know, the Z is new, but they have been at this a while. C Dale hasnt)
- Reliability #2 (Conventional carberation vs. EFI and computer)
- Reliability #3 (How will the C Dales handle in the mud?)
- Versatility, Reverse... Easier to get parts... Easier to find someone to work on it... Eventually more aftermarket parts...

Lets face it, the shootout was against the Cannibal not the Speed, so the OTD price is only a difference of $2546. So now lets add ITP rims with rear Holeshots, $160.00. Now lets add a filter, jet kit and full exhaust, $622.00. Now lets add a DRZ cam and carb $378.00. Now lets add a better axle $500.00. Now we are up to $1660.00 + the $4954 OTD for a total of $6614.00 and we not only compete with the Cannibal, but we beat it and give the Speed a run for its money. Add some Elka's or Axis' and we are even better... And we have reverse...

Again, I think the C Dales are wonderful "limited purpose built" machines. But the Z is a better option for:

- Beginners
- Novices
- Weekend warriors
- People who dont live near a C Dale dealer that really knows how to work on them
- People on a limited budget who have to slowly add mods to their quad

Huh, thats about 99.9% of the riders and racer-wanna-be's.

 

Hey Kencoolstone,
Where can you get a Z400 for $ 4954.00 OTD, does this price include any sales tax, title fees ect. Around here the best price I can find is $ 5624.56 OTD includes 5.25% sales tax. Thanks [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]