Ultimate CRF 450!

[Wired]

i was looking at some pics today and it got me really thinking... why hasnt anyone put a crf 450 or yzf 426 into a cdale frame?? you dont hear much bad things about a cdale frame and if you were to spend the money on building a new quad why not just buy a speed dump and sell alot of the parts and throw in a crf450 engine and mount up 250r full bore plastic to it. totally deck out the suspension and upgrade every other thing and for about the same money as building a top notch racer you would have your aluminum framed honda! :eek: to me that would be the ultimate quad :macho

[forum]

My guess is because many of the people that have the money and expertise to do a high dollar conversion feel most comfortable on 250r frame styling. I have personally never rode a cdale, but them pros can notice the smallest of detail.

Sounds like a great idea but I've been told a fine tuned C-dale can run with a CRF450 so why would ya yank a strong runnin motor out to put another strong runnin motor in??

But it would look badarse and I'd do it if I had the cash..:devil

[airheadedduner]

Aluminum is really hard to weld so fabbing all the new mounts would be a pain in the arse.

Hmmmm interesting thought but as rico said the c-dale motor is a pretty strong runner.

Is there any opinions on what makes more power- the honda 450 or cannondale 440?

[Dale512]

I beleive the CRF450 motor has a little more omph on the bottomend and the actual motor is about 10lbs lighter than the C-dale.

[Foxrage]

It would take alot of time and effort and the chains ore on oppisite sides.

[Wired]

working with aluminum wouldnt be a problem with me. one of my best friends weld aluminum frames for them fast golf cart/road car deals for work. he said it would be no problem. one of my other friends dad actually does aluminum fabcricating as well so im not worried about that. i think the crf engine would be the better choice, im not all for the EFI quite yet even though it has its advantages in certian places. the chain being on the other side is no problem at all. probably the hardest thing about this project would be mounting up the fullbore 250r plastic :blah i'd really love to have something like this, its all a matter of time now if i can afford the project or not. could be a one of a kind quad ;)

[Sparks425Ex]

Well who ever has the most money on this site there is a new prject for yas. I would love to feel the power.

Very Light and very Powerful. A deadly combination.

[trx400ex]

Actually alot of pros feel the cannondale frame is alittle top heavey because of the oil being in the frame, also if im not mistaken the handling of an aftermarket 250r style is a little better, or atleast just as good and cheaper.

[Ryan]

That would be a good idea. Its funny because I was also thinking the same thing a while ago with the C-dales. I don't think they sell just the frames though so I wouldn't do it. Doesn't Ballance use some new Aluminum frame?

The C-dale frames look kinda similar from the bike frames.

[trx400ex]

Also walsh ameks a kit to mount 250r fullbore, it is alot of $ and comes with a new gas tanks (1 gal aluminum) and maybe a new subframe

[Wired]

well its just an idea im fooling with right now. so far i can get a 2002 canable for $4200 and a crf 450 engine (from a friend ;)) for $2200 with electric and carb. only other thing i'd have to buy would be the oil resevior. i'd use the canable cooling system and a few other stock parts. i'd try to sell the engine from it along with most of the stock parts including the plastic. i did a few figures and with the help from sponsers and assuming the selling of the stock parts would go smoothly i could probably get this project completed for little under $4500. now that to me is one **** of a deal. thats why im very tempted to give it a try. these are my options so far...

2002 cdale moto
2003 decked out Z450
2002 cdale framed crf 450 LSR complete
2000 416EX with the very best frame and components
2003 predator decked out (possibly)

so far these are my options that im looking at, im not for sure i will be able to afford this project right now but more signs point to yes. what do you guys think??

[roostin_dale]

i say go for it if you have the money! sounds like it would be awsome....i think about it all the time. And if you do build one i want your 416...lol:D

[Dale512]

I say go for it. One question though. Why not just use the Oil Reservoir from the Cannibal??? Is there some reason you wouldnt be able to, if I remember correctly the CRF dirtbike also uses a Upper-Spar In-Frame Oil Reservoir.

[James70214]

Why not deck out a cannible with all walsh stuff or whatever a arms and stuf you want and send your motor to South bay Moto. Their c-dale motors ar eputting out around 57hp and are more reliable than stock. That is where my motor is as we speak.

[HONDA55]

Yes, C-dale will sell just the frame.Your looking at around $1800 to $2400 depending on dealer mark up. Maybe you can get a better deal on one, if you can let me know I'm looking for one too.

[dawzie]

Well , we have a Walsh Dale and a Houser YZF. When you set the two side by side and look at them there are some major differances if you wanted to do an engine trans plant. Dales are air in front, exhust out the back. No carb, and no room for one. Chain and brake are reveresed. Big differance on engine angle also. We decided it would not be worth the trouble to convert a great running Dale to 450 after market stuff.

I hope that Cannondale can make it through the rough times they are having with money. They make the BEST race ready quad going.

As far as power - when my son and I dragged raced, I almost always beat him with me riding the dale. On the mx track he feels the YZF has much faster power. His wins also prove that he rides the YZF better than the Dale.

We are going to get the Dale motor worked on this spring. We are leaving the YZF stock and are hoping that the new WR450's are a bolt in replacement.

[Fred55]

Hey Wired, are you in California yet?

[Ryan]

Well for some of you cannondale boys. You can get a Brand New 2002's for $5,700 over at K and K ATV (http://www.kandkatv.com) .

Wired. If you can get deals like that then its definitly won't hurt to try it.:D

[2 QuicK]

Wired, I'd go with decking out your 416 :D But if u don't do that do the Z450.

[kicker696]

personaly i say go all american, get the dale!! Now that is only if you are excluding the 250r, because in my eyes, and many others also, the R will out power, and out handle all of the modern quads. So out of your choices, i say go with the dale, but if you would consider a 250r go with it!! I had an R, then sold it to get a 400ex, then sold the 400ex to get another 250r, and now the R isn't going anywhere!!

[Chef]

Originally posted by 2 QuicK
Wired, I'd go with decking out your 416 :D But if u don't do that do the Z450.

Eh...dont do the Zuki Jon. Take that dale frame, drop a worked YZF450 in there, and bust some huge airs. :D

im going with a duncan 440 motor ,carbon beads, some better shocks than works , new plastic,graphics, and seat cover

[Wired]

nope im still in minnesota yet, leaving in a week or two though. im still deciding on what i should decide on making. i'll probably make up my mind while im down in cali and find out exactly what sort of sponsers im working with and cash flow i can come up with. thanks for all the info guys, its really been of great help towards my decision making right now :macho

[MojaveKing]

does the CRF 450 motor fit in to a 250r frame??any 1?