I am playing with the idea of getting a raptor, but a big concern would be lowering the center of gravity. How much is the lowering kit and who makes it? is it still safe to jump with the lowering kit(i know it is not by flipping the rear linkage) I mainly ride woods and do a little jumping 3-7ft of air, but this summer i am going to built some 9-12 ft jumps at my uncle's ranch. do you think i should stick with the cdale or i should get a raptor, pipe it and lower it, and then later get some aftermarket suspension? i can't stand the maintenance on the cdale, i need something more reliable that i can follow my friends' 400exs on through the mud. i would also like more midrange, and i heard that a piped raptor has much more midrange than the cdale.

 

Lowering kits for the Raptor start at $70.00 and go up from there. As far as catching big air with the lowering kit your semi restricted. I personally would'nt put a lowering kit on a Raptor, I would do all the lowering through the suspension. The Raptor has twice the midrange of the c-dale. I've had personal experience on each machine, so I'm not just talking out of my a$$.
And as far as keeping up with your buddy's ex in in the muds concerned, you'll blow him away. Pounding through mud requires alot of torque, and the Raptor has plenty of it.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Hope this helps.

 

Instead of lowering it, widen it. This will give you same effect for the center of gravity as lowering, and not affecting your suspension travel.

 

Guys dont even bother. Corndog is silly. Everyone in the cannondale forum has had enough of him Just a couple of weeks ago he was telling everyone how he raped a raptor and he was talking about getting a 400ex then a z400 now a raptor.

 

What do you mean keep up with 400EXs in the mud? I naver had any problem on my Blaze. Twice the midrange? Stock for Stock thats when the C-dale will take over in a drag once you hit the Mid-Range. Corndog needs banned he is annoying. You should'nt of bought a C-dale if you cant take 10min to change a spark plug, and why should they give you a discount on a new ECU, it'll probably be a MC1500 next year, and will everyone with a MC1000 be crying for a new one.....no. If they put EFI on a Raptor next year would Yammy upgrade all the 01 & 02 Raptors? No. How old are you cornball 12 maybe 13? Just buy a 400EX like all of the other KIDS.

 

Kodiak01 don't speak if you don't know the story. with the mc500 i am stuck with a rev limiter of 10600 that i am constantly banging against. i have never taken the cdale in the mud, one time in went in some water(shallow) and the frame started making noises because of the hot oil inside...

 

Its YOUR fault you have the MC500. You should have bought new or made sure your bike had the MC1000 before you bought, a Raptor redlines around 9200-9500rpm anyhow. How deep was this water that you went in? The oil is kept in the UPPER frame rails not the lower, so if you had the Cannibal in maybe 3-4ft of water then I could understand. Why did you mention mud if you never went in it? So what your telling me is there is either no mud where you live or you are afraid to ride in the mud cause' you might get dirty.

 

Get the Raptor, buy a used '01 and when the tranny goes south, the starter clutch goes our, the tie rods break or anything else than you can come here and complain instead of the Cannondale forum.

Smitty

 

How can the frame make noises? When the engine is started the oil goes into the engine. It doesnt stay in the frame rails. Man cornkitty your such a story teller.

 

Lay off corndog. I agree that he was a little mouthy awhile back. Now that he has more time on the 'dale he has figured out it is not the quad for him. He knows what he wants now. He just has not found the machine.

Corndog- the raptor has the midrange and low end. The top end is weak in my opinion. (Stock). If you desire more power give trinity or sparks a call.