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Driving report Cannondale E 440 R

Western Spaghetti

A sticker on the swingarm of the Cannondale E 440 R announces American national pride. Nevertheless, the Americans are squinting at Europe and would like to be seen as the "Ducati of Dirt".

Don Gonzales, a technician at Cannondale, is a typical American: easy-going, casual and always ultra-cool. And he speaks this typical, broad American slang. Without a point or comma, at least 100 words per minute gush out of his mouth. So each of the invited journalists is happy when he occasionally catches a chunk from a half-hour long torrent of speech when Don gives an impromptu lecture about model maintenance measures on the new Cannondale E 440 R. This much can definitely be guessed: the man knows what he is talking about. And the catalog of changes must be endless.
The latter was also necessary, because the first series was not exactly characterized by outstanding qualities (see driving report in MOTORRAD 11/2001). After the unanimous criticism of the trade press, the ambitious motorcycle project was even completely on the brink, especially since Cannondale was still struggling with economic problems last year due to the sluggish development of the bicycle market. The fact that a bank recently acquired a large stake in the company provided the necessary financial leeway to make the motorcycle ready for the market, the development of which has already cost tens of millions of dollars. Over the winter, point by point, the technicians buttoned up the lists of defects left by journalists, racing drivers and customers.
With appropriate pride, the Americans now presented the product of endless night shifts and overtime. The effort was worth it, you can see that much at first glance. The basis, namely the frame, chassis and engine, is basically unchanged, but ?? you can see that even without Don’s presentation? the new plastic parts finally give the 440 some Italian chic. Above all, the processing is now right in detail. If the old machine was still a mobile handicraft shop, with the new one you can look into every corner and under every cover without frowning.
But the Americans also made some substantial interventions. The intake path through the frame with the air filter in front of the steering head turned out to be too narrow, and the motorcycle suffered from asthmatic complaints. In the current model, the air filter sits in the triangle frame behind the steering head, the tank encloses the filter and, together with the seat, forms the airbox. The injection system is also new, with simplified adjustment options; a special device is no longer required. In the rear of the frame there is a simple plug to which a laptop can be plugged in. In this way, a new tuning for ignition and / or injection can be imported in one minute. A CD with different maps is included. If you have the time and inclination, you can experiment with your own characteristic curves. Or download updates via the Internet; a connection to the manufacturer’s or importer’s service department is also possible. The electronics are also suitable for error analysis. Certainly trend-setting, as handling nozzles seems almost antediluvian. Further advantages: No choke is required, and the electronics take care of the adjustment to the respective height above sea level.
In terms of chassis, the E 440 R remains with Ohlins components, which, however, have been completely re-tuned. The shock absorber can now be adjusted twice in the compression stage. As an alternative, there will soon be a slightly less expensive version with a Marzocchi fork and Sachs shock absorber. The clutch is now operated hydraulically via a Magura valve.
Even if the Cannondale can hardly be recognized visually, it has remained the same in many ways. It still has the positive properties and is even more effective. This includes the powerfully gripping, extremely easy-revving engine from below. The Cannondale is certainly not one of the strongest in the new 450 class, but it is one of the easiest to drive. The traction out of tight turns or on slippery driveways is phenomenal. Especially since the injection works absolutely inconspicuously, the single cylinder depends on the gas directly and without any hiccups.
The suspension set-up of the revised model is also impressive. If you are looking for the fly in the ointment, you will find the fork, which is not very sensitive, perhaps after the break-in period. At the rear, the suspension is now working excellently, responds gently and, thanks to good progression, is even armed against rough treatment. Tea Cannondale sets standards in terms of handling, here it certainly plays in the first division and probably only has to fear the in-house mountain bikes. At the same time, the straight-line stability is first class, the handlebars do not even begin to twitch even with the worst of grooves.
AT year ago the Americans were light years away from a competitive sports enduro, but now it’s a few steps at most. The wish list for the next generation has been drastically shortened: a shorter gear lever, maybe a few kilos less, the seals of the steering head bearings should run more easily, recessed grips at the rear would be nice, a fuel gauge urgently needed, as you can only enter a black one through the filler opening Looking into the hole.
I.In one respect, however, Cannondale is already unrivaled: membership in the off-road high society costs 10,600 euros. Ducati’s top model, the 998 R, would have to be used for comparison.

Technical Data – Cannondale E 440 R

Engine: water-cooled single-cylinder oven-stroke engine, transverse crankshaft, a balance shaft, two overhead camshafts driven by a gear and chain, four valves, cup tappets, dry sump lubrication for the crank drive and cylinder head, electronic intake manifold injection, engine management, electric starter, three-phase alternator 170 W, battery 12 V / 5 Ah.Bore x stroke 95 x 61 mmHub volume 432 cm3Compression ratio 12.5: 1Nominal output no informationPower transmission: primary drive via gear wheels, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, five- speed cassette gearbox with its own oil circuit, chain. Chassis: Bridge frame made of aluminum profiles, screwed beams, screwed rear frame, upside-down fork, sliding tube diameter 46 mm, adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum profiles, central spring strut, directly hinged, adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, front disc brake, double-piston caliper, Ø 240 mm, rear disc brake n, single-piston caliper, Ø 220 mm. Spoked wheels with aluminum rims 1.60 x 21; 2.15 x 18 tires 80/100 x 21; 120/100 x 18 Chassis data: wheelbase 1486 mm, steering head angle 62.5 degrees, spring travel f / r 300/330 mm. Dimensions and weights Seat height 932 mm Weight (without petrol) 114 kg Tank capacity 9.8 liters Price 10600 Euro Contact address: Cannondale Europe Hotline 0031/541573580

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