Question:
Dear Motorhead,
What do you know about Cannondale? I was looking at buying one but have never heard anything about them – good or bad.
What do you guys think?
Jason
Reply:
I’m actually able to give you some solid information on this topic as I spent quality time with a Cannondale 440 when it were first introduced.
The chassis is really good, so is handling. Keep in mind this isn’t a full 50′ wide ATV. Back then they came standard width so if your planning on motocrossing it you might want to consider that.
The engine wasn’t a mind blower but it had good bottom end, good mid range and reved out just a little sooner than I would have liked.
What impressed me most back then was the suspension. The shock package was way ahead of anything else available at the time.
I can speak to reliability as we didn’t ever get one for a long term test. Though I do know when I was testing at Cannondale I cased a 100 foot double, flattened 3 of the 4 tires and didn’t bend an axle or break anything. I’ve never done that on a landing without braking something else as well.
I think the biggest thing you should keep in consideration is the availability of parts. This ATV has been out of production for quite some time and even when it was in production, the dealer network was small as were production numbers.
If you’re comfortable with that, you’d be one of very few people in the world who actually has one. Which is cool.
Good luck with your purchase.
Luke Lester (Filling in for Motorhead)
Luke can bee seen weekly on Dirt Trax Television on OLN, Wild TV and Outdoor Channel
