Cannondale Revealed!

CANNONDALE REVEALED!

If a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, then this photograph of Cannondale's much-anticipated motocrosser is a veritable encyclopedia. The prototype appears to use a Honda CR250style aluminum frame with KTM/ATk-esque linkageless suspension. Power is supplied by a four-stroke Husaberg lookalike.

In fact, the liquid-cooled, singlecylinder engine was built to Cannondale's specs by Folan in Sweden. Hence, the Husaberg similarities. Production engines will be built in the U.S. The photo also reveals an electric starter, hut a company spokesman says only, "We are addressing (what we see as) the weak points of Yamaha's YZ400Fdifficulty starting, tall seat height and excessive weight." -

Other significant features include a large, one-piece radiator and remov able frame downtubes (a Ia trials bikes) that ease extraction of the wet-sump en gine. The suspension is still in the testing phase, but this bike is equipped with a KYB fork and a Fox shock. The partial bike in the background wears a WP fork. Still no word on availabil!ty or a suggested re tail price. Stay tuned.

Jimmy Lewis