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Posted by: JayBR
My son just turned 13 and has been riding a trailblazer for 2 years and rides well. I've been letting him ride my Speed around the yard getting use to the clutch for the past couple weeks and today I let him ride it around the trails some. He seems to handle it pretty well, but I wouldn't turn him loose on it. The power comes on very strong and stays that way all the way to redline. My biggest concern is that it may get away from him if he's not very careful, front end is light and comes up very easy. I'm 100 lbs heavier than him and the front end comes up on me very easy so it worries me some with him on it. I'm looking to get him a new quad probably sometime soon but it won't be a Dale, it will be something that doesn't hit so hard.
Sounds like your son has considerably more experience than mine so he may be fine. You should testdrive one and see what you think.
Posted by: JayBR
since we're on the subject of kids I've got a funny story.
As I stated previously, my 13 year old son rides a modded trailblazer (and wants something faster). Since getting the Speed I decided to let my daughter (16 next month) ride my Scrambler 500, also modded. My daughter is very a very conservative rider and usualy just puts around taking it slow, won't hit jumps or climb hills or tricky obstacles. For the past couple weeks my son has been talking alot of trash to his sister that because she rides do slow he would dog her in a race. Well yesterday they got their chance, lined them up and she surprised the he11 out of us all. She mashed the gas, wheelied the Scrambler and never looked back. He hasn't quit bugging me about a new quad since.
Posted by: JayBR
<< Maybe i better make dam sure to leave the checkbook at home. the trinity 686 kit cost me a 5 day cruise. I wonder what a 8000 dollar speed would cost in "wife dollars" >>
lol, if your wife is anything like mine it will cost ya.
Posted by: 14mins
Looking to buy another quad for the stable. I want a back up for myself, and for the boy. How is the powerband on the cannon? Smooth and progressive, or more 'shee like? He has ridden around on a 400ex no problems. But i perfer a machine with more balls. I am not going to turn him loose on his own, so chill on the age thing. He has been riding for 6 years and is rather good. Rides better/ more responsible than some of the adults i ride with.
Posted by: 14mins
Briansgi- Thanks for the offer. I look forward to riding with you at L.S. We are headed up friday night to play. I am bringing 3 raptors and a shee. We are going to meet up with biggerisbetter and his brother. Sounds like fun. I will pm you later in the week so we can hook up. I will let you test the raptor yamaha should have built. Anybody else want to play?
Posted by: 14mins
Maybe i better make dam sure to leave the checkbook at home. the trinity 686 kit cost me a 5 day cruise. I wonder what a 8000 dollar speed would cost in "wife dollars"
Posted by: Ryanstones
14mins, A 12 year old with 6 years exp. and talent, and a father who is there to help can certainly handle a cannondale. My boy is 12.5 yrs with only 1 year exp. and rides the 'dale, full out, all the time. The CPSC, the dealer and even cannondale would probably sh@t if they knew it was for him, but this is a call only you can make.
In 'wife dollars' hehe, my last 5 day ATV trip cost 2 tons of decorative rock and the muscle to place them!
Posted by: mintychip
Get him the bike, Corndog's only 12 and he has a great time in his backyard, under mom and dad's watchful eye, of course. But seriously, age should take second place to rider ability. It's because of the bloodsucking lawyers that we don't have 3 wheelers and that 15 year olds have to legally ride fourtrax 90's or something lame for anyone over 6 years old. Whenever personal responsibility and more importantly, accountability for one's actions becomes the rule, then we will have normal age guidelines for ATV's. Just a thought.
Posted by: special
My wife rides my speed with no problem.It is rider friendly for a slower rider and it will scream if you want it to.My fx400 had a power band more like the banshee.She could noy handle that sudden hit it had,she rod it about three feet and got off.LOL.This years
modles have a new computer,and much better throtal responce.The power comes on like my 400ex much more torkey feeling.I love it.
Posted by: CornDog
i would not get him one because this machine is for the rider who does not mind maintaining his machine! a kid wants to ride, not sit inside the shed and change his oil, air filter(clean it), fuel filter, and tranny oil every five hours. my nine year old brother(60-65 lbs.) rides my cannibal fine and is getting a rm125 for his birthday, so power will not be a problem. i kinda think the cannondale needs more midrange myself. this is an adult machine for the hobbiest, and your kid will get frustrated when his friends on their 400exs are out riding while he is working on his quad. also, i weigh 125-130 and those tough ohlins only give in when i charge the whoops in 4th or 5th, so i your kid is in for a rough ride. the cdale is the fastest quad, but it doesn't compare to dirtbikes and i have seen kids younger than 12 driving some fast dirtbikes. you also have to watch the bike and make sure it doesn't start doing things like spitting up antifreeze. if i were you i would go with the 400ex and mod it from there. you can get a 416 kit pretty cheap and you can get some peps or axis if you want. i think the reason i don't like my front shocks(even though they are as loose as they will get) is because you should be at least 160 to ride this bike.
Posted by: biggerisbetter
Hey 14, don't forget about the new ZUKI, It will have more power than the honda, but not a "race bike" like to C'dale. But if I know you, After you ride Brians C'dale, and notice that there is a C'dale dealership "in camp" at Little Sahara. You better make sure theirs enough room on that trailer for one more bike, on the way home.BR>
Biggerisbetter.
Posted by: briansgi
14mins, if the weather cooperates, I'll be at Little Sahara this coming weekend, you're more than welcome to ride my Cannibal around to get a feel for it. For a stock quad, there is nothing like it's power. It's not like that "light switch" power you get with a two stroke, it comes on early and never quits!!
Posted by: lancer202
I HAVE A 400EX WITH A PIPE AND HEADER AND A K&N AIR FILTER. MY COUSINS RIDE IT AND THEY HAVE A TUFF TIME STYING ON I THINK FOR HIM A 400EX WOULD BE PERFECT I THINK A CANNON IS TO BIG FOR HIM. UNLESS HE HAS A DEATH WISH. IM LOOKING AT BUYING ONE ARE THEY HARD TO RIDE?? MOST SAID THAT THERE FOR MORE EXPERICEND RIDERS. I HAVE NO LACK OF EXPERICEN. BUT PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY ARE JUST HARD TO DRIVE.
