To anyone interested in buying a Cannondale read this story of what happened to me and how the company bailed me out.

Back in November of 01 I was in school surfing cycletrader.com on the net and came across a brand new 01 MX400 leftover for $5,500 at a shop up in Erie, Pa.

When I got home I called this shop and asked them for some info on the bike. He told me that they had purchased the bike off of a dealer that had gone out of business. I didn't really think nothing of it so about a week or two later I loaded up the YZF and off to Erie I went to get the new Cannondale.

My first ride on the 01 MX400 wasn't that promising. The throttle was extremely touchy and the engine braking was horrible. By the second ride I began experiencing problems. The battery would die on me at the track quite often. On the fifth ride I locked up the motor.

I was extremely mad and frustrated because I was stuck with this huge loan over my head for the next five years and working in a grocery store. That really sucks. (I'm only 17) and all I had to show for it was an unrideable machine.

I tried just about everything. I tried trading the bike in all the way down to a 1999 bike but it was no go. The bank wouldn't release the title for a title of a bike of lesser value. I thought alright, so I'll trade the bike in on a brand new bike then. The bank wanted like three grand in cash to do that. I was screwed to the fullest extent of the word.

For a last resort, I contacted a Cannodale dealer up in Corry, PA. They helped me get the bike back together and I asked them if they could do anything at all to help me out. I mean here I am with a bike that is inevitably going to blow up originally purchased from a non Cannondale dealer.

It so turns out that the dealer contacted the main Cannondale headquarters and told them my situation. The Cannondale dude said "Alright, take his MX400 and I'll have Bedford ship him up a brand new 02' X440s, free of charge".

I was completely stunned that a company would go so far out of their way to help out one customer. Anyway I just received my new Cannondale and the bike is awesome! Runs great! And fun to ride! I'll never own anything else besides a Cannondale.If you're thinking of buying one, do it! You won't regret it.

I've ridden yz426's, cr450f's, and I'll take a Cannondale over them anyday.

Dave Lowe