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CANNONDALE
Cannondale shipped the 100th unit of its FX400 ATV earlier this week, and the Connecticut-based company says it's continuing to ramp up production to satisfy strong retail and consumer demand for the new quad.
As the 100th FX400 rolled off the production line at the company's Cessna, Pennsylvania motorsports factory, company Founder and President Joe Montgomery was quick to express his gratitude to Cannondale's dealers. "The response of the dealers has been incredibly gratifying," said Montgomery. "Their excitement -- their eagerness to get their hands on this product -- has been wonderful."
Montgomery cited the reactions of area dealers as indicative of the level of enthusiasm surrounding the FX400. "I received a phone call from one dealer here in Pennsylvania that had received two of the quads and sold them to customers within a couple of days," said Montgomery. "He was calling to tell me he was driving over with a truck to pick up four more units, and he had cash in his pocket to pay for them." Dealers from Ohio, New Jersey, Long Island and Kentucky have also expressed their willingness to drive to the factory to pick up FX400s, said Montgomery.
The new Cannondale quad appears to have been equally well-received by the ATV press. Editors from the top ATV magazines visited the Cannondale factory several weeks ago to test-ride the FX400, and their reactions were unanimously favorable.
One of the editors, Glenn Hansen of ATV Sport, had several very positive things to say about the FX400 on the ATV Sport web site. Even though he was "skeptical right up until I was buckling my boots," Hansen eventually concluded that, "this ATV is ergonomically perfect. The bars, footpegs, and controls are all well-placed." Hansen added that "fuel injection, first of all, feels a whole lot better than carburetion," and he concluded that "the FX400 really rips. Our first test indicates that the FX400 is as good a first effort as any manufacturer could offer." Montgomery said that reviews of the FX400 should be appearing in ATV Sport and other magazines in the coming weeks.
The American-made FX400 features a host of innovations, including a sophisticated, fuel-injected four-stroke engine, and the industry's first twin-spar perimeter aluminum ATV frame. The FX400's electric-start, dual overhead-cam engine also features a one-piece crankcase, cassette transmission, reversed cylinder head, and separate engine and clutch oils. The FX400's race-ready, TIG-welded 6061-T6 aluminum frame is every bit as radical, with a linkless rear suspension, in-frame oil reservoir, and replaceable engine rails, brush guard, grab rail, sub-frame and steering stop.
Besides the FX400, Cannondale also produces the MX400 motocross motorcycle. A second motorcycle model, the cross-country XC400, is slated to go into production in April. Other motorcycle and ATV products are planned for the future.
In addition to its motorsports products, Cannondale (Nasdaq: BIKE) is the world's leading manufacturer of high-performance bicycles. The company's bicycles and bicycle accessories, which include clothing, packs and bags, and HeadShok suspension forks, are marketed under the Cannondale brand name and "Handmade in USA" logo, and are sold in the U.S. and in more than 60 foreign countries.
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FX400 Specifications
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| Engine |
Liquid-cooled, 4-Stroke Single |
| Displacement |
432 cc |
| Bore x Stroke |
95 x 61 mm |
| Compression Ratio |
12.5:1 |
| Valve Train |
DOHC 4-Valves |
| Fuel System |
Electronic fuel injection (EFI) |
| Ignition System |
Constant-energy inductive coil |
| Starting System |
Electric |
| Compression Release |
Automatic |
| Clutch Type |
Manual |
| Transmission |
Five-speed, cassette, no reverse |
| Drive System |
2WD/Chain |
| Length |
73.5" |
| Width |
46.4" |
| Wheelbase |
49.5" |
| Frame |
Aluminum, twin-spar, perimeter |
| Turning Radius |
8.0' |
| Seat Height |
32.5" |
| Ground Clearance |
4.5" |
| Dry Weight |
365 pounds |
| Front Suspension |
9" Travel |
| Rear Suspension |
10" Travel |
| Front Tire |
21 X 7-10 |
| Rear Tire |
20 X 11-9 |
| Front Brake |
Hydraulic, Dual disc w/ parking |
| Rear Brake |
Hydraulic, Single Disc |
| Fuel Capacity |
3.2 Gallons |
| Colors |
Aluminum Smoke or Viper Red Metallic |
CANNONDALE QUAD WEBSITE
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