[WalkinTarget]

Well...there's a lot of machines out there faster then the ZForce...but.. there's a bunch that aren't! Besides..it's not the race...it's the ride..right? I'm just happy when I come back from a all day ride under my own power!...lol

This is what its all about. I'm not brand loyal at all - on our last ride, we had a Suzuki, Arctic Cat, Honda, Polaris and a Yamaha in our group. I don't care what you ride, just so long as you ride. We are all brothers when we're out in the woods, and I'll stop to help any rider in need. I've been drawn to the CF Moto since I first saw one in 2013, and I am kinda sad it didn't work out to buy one. But working with the very limited budget I had, it was either keep saving and spend it all or buy something used fir dirt cheap and go from there.

I am lucky in one regard, in that my BiL's cousin used to work as the mechanic at the very AC dealer that I visited last week, and I can toss him $200 and have him go over the machine and give it a thorough servicing. Its' like having my own local NMK !!! I'm calling the seller today to see if I can make a partial non-refundable deposit on it before I bring it home next week. 

[NMKawierider]

I'm calling the seller today to see if I can make a partial non-refundable deposit on it before I bring it home next week. 

I thought they needed payment in full in a short period after the close. I must be thinking of something else.

[Jogon30]

Well...there's a lot of machines out there faster then the ZForce...but.. there's a bunch that aren't! Besides..it's not the race...it's the ride..right? I'm just happy when I come back from a all day ride under my own power!...lol

This is what its all about. I'm not brand loyal at all - on our last ride, we had a Suzuki, Arctic Cat, Honda, Polaris and a Yamaha in our group. I don't care what you ride, just so long as you ride. We are all brothers when we're out in the woods, and I'll stop to help any rider in need. I've been drawn to the CF Moto since I first saw one in 2013, and I am kinda sad it didn't work out to buy one. But working with the very limited budget I had, it was either keep saving and spend it all or buy something used fir dirt cheap and go from there.

I am lucky in one regard, in that my BiL's cousin used to work as the mechanic at the very AC dealer that I visited last week, and I can toss him $200 and have him go over the machine and give it a thorough servicing. Its' like having my own local NMK !!! I'm calling the seller today to see if I can make a partial non-refundable deposit on it before I bring it home next week.

I'm lucky lol

[WalkinTarget]

I thought they needed payment in full in a short period after the close. I must be thinking of something else.

You are in fact correct !! 3 days was what the auction expressly stated. I just got off the phone with them, and the salesman was very accommodating. He asked for a partial, $1000, and I can then back out of the deal if something is in fact wrong with the unit that I may find upon inspection. It was a trade in from a local rider who upgraded to a Wildcat. He is checking to see whether the all important 'Wildcat Update Kit' was done on it based on its VIN for me too.
I asked how to pay that deposit and he said I could wire it to their account, but my credit union said to put it on a card, as if I did have to back out of the deal, the money was effectively gone if I wired it to their account, whereas if I used my CC, I could dispute the charge and get my deposit back. 

[NMKawierider]

I would use PayPal with the CC. You may loose the deposit if you decline the transaction without cause but at least you have one extra line of protection.

[gfmoto]

Ever consider taking your ATV with you? They may give you a decent chunk of change for it towards the purchase.
As far as the cage is concerned. If you know a good welder, have them add a couple tubes to the outside of the cage, shouldn't be much to weld two bars on.

[WalkinTarget]

They don't take trade-ins on Ebay purchases, or so their ad says at the bottom of the page. I've talked with two dealers already, and both said I'd be better off selling it privately, as it should net me $500 more. I'd like to get $4000 for my King Quad 700, and the Polaris dealer offered me $3500 sight unseen.

So far I am less than impressed with the salesman, as I've called him three times today and I always get the "I am just swamped here, dude" excuse. I realize I am small potatoes here, but I am also buying from the guy instead of kicking tires. He was supposed to email me the recall bulletins that were performed on it and I was to reply with a copy of my drivers license and insurance card. Nothing yet, and that was two hours ago.

I did put $1k down via CC, and plan on picking it up next Saturday. I also have a guy at work putting brake pads on my King, and changing the front diff fluid. That's to hurry the process up and get it listed locally on Craigs, then put the entire sale amount down as a first payment on the Wildcat Trail, to make sure I'm paying on the interest  on the loan.

[chuddly]

Congrats on the new ride!  The wildcat was on my short list before i got the CF Moto but I was going for the 60" wide version with the stage 5 Elka's and at that point the price jumps A BUNCH.  Plus with the knows issues with the cages I didnt pursue it real hard.  I dont think they are bad machines they just have a weakness in the cage that should be addressed.  The CF Moto has weaknesses also that need addressed (lets be honest EVERY SxS has weaknesses) also so its not just one brand.  Keep us updated on  how you like it and dont be a stranger here.

[WalkinTarget]

So just when you think my situation couldn't be any more stressful, I wake up this morning, confident in the fact that I am FINALLY going to break the new to my wife on my ... ehh, purchase. So she's in a good mood, I'm thinking 'Yea, I can do this !!!" and she says ....

"So do you remember what date it is ?"

Now, I know you married men will instantly identify with this particular question, and I'm sure many of you have had that sinking feeling in your chest when you now realize it is THAT day, the day every woman dreams of. And I completely forgot today was that day ... 

OUR ANNIVERSARY !!!

So I paid a very quick visit to the store to get a card and some flowers ... and the announcement of my ... PURCHASE .. shall wait yet another day. Oh God, this could not have worked out any worse. 

Any chance I can convince her I bought it for her for our 15th anniversary ?? Oh honey, I looked at this chart I found online and its says for our 15th anniversary I should buy you a side by side !! SURPRISE !! 

Chud, I've been reading up in the AC forums for the past 2 weeks, and I honestly cant remember coming across any threads detailing the weaknesses in the cage. They are known for having lousy bushing and bearings, and the stock mufflers run very hot and melt the firewall. But if I do dig up enough to warrant strengthening the cage, I can ask my my FiL (who owns a machine shop and is always making one off custom parts for his Pioneer) to put in a Y bracket to tie the roof cage together tighter.

[Cosmosdan]

I think that picture should be enough to make me add in some tube on the sides. It just folded over just like that center section was a hinge.

[Jogon30]

I think that picture should be enough to make me add in some tube on the sides. It just folded over just like that center section was a hinge.

Not just the picture I promise you I SEEN 2 wildcats flip one trail and one full size and the full size one the passenger has a broken arm and wrist! And head busted up I offered 1st aid and helped them load there busted rig up on there trailer at Montesa park! And second my brother has a trail first day out did a donut with my mother in law in the passenger lol and they walked away with not a scratch not so lucky for me lol !!!!! Hahahahahha jk but the trail was bent to hell it took us two days to bend it Back and I told his cheap as that the roll bar was no good now at all due to the fact it caved in but he is dumb so maybe next time I'll get lucky lol ahahha naw I'm jokeing I'm I lol

[gfmoto]

Sooooooo..... I'd definitely stay away from the "I bought it for you" but take her out night on the town dress up do something out of the box to impress her.
WHEN you do tell her.  Tell her , I know you don't like my hobby, but I wanted to do something that could bring you into doing something I really like and enjoying it WITH me.
Yeah I know it sounds a little manipulating but I think it would sound a little less "ME" and a little more "WE" as it seems our wives/gf's appreciate when we invite them to our interests rather than push them into our likes.
Just a thought.
Ok my Dr. Phil portion is over,
Definitely have that cage looked at and strengthened. Don't find out the hard way that you should have.

[NMKawierider]

This is one reason my wife and I don't share money. I have mine and she has hers. We both pay into a joint accounts for household stuff and savings...ect.. but I spend mine as I see fit..and so does she. I don't need permission to buy and new toy...or a truck.. which I am about to do. I do let her know what's coming though..just common courtesy.

[WalkinTarget]

Our situation is - I love to ride, she hates my hobby ever since my accident in summer of '11. When I told her 9 months after my accident that I was getting back into it, she was none too pleased, but she knew that I loved doing it and needed a break from the 20+ years I have been doing computers. So I get my one day a month break to go have fun in the woods.

As far as our money, its a joint account for everything EXCEPT for my hobby. I have to pay for everything involving an ATV trip (gas, food, parts, etc) out of my own account set up for that reason. Doing PC work on the side for years has allowed me to fund that with very little to spare, but with the PC market drying up and everyone going mobile with phones, I have less and less secondary income making its way into my account. She and I don't agree on this separating of the hobby bills, but it is what it is.

So it's been easy on me at least with my King Quad being a bulletproof ride that doesn't take much to get on the trail. Now my problem will be affording the NUMEROUS mods and upgrades that this SxS will eventually incur. I wold LOVE to take the 'Its fine as it is, as long as its running' approach and ignore the customization that goes with it, but you guys know how it is - I bought something as basic as 4 center caps for the rims for $6/pc yesterday, simply because Arctic Cat skimped on putting them on my base model Trail. I also have a nice Speedwerx secondary spring on order to fix the engine braking issue, and for $40 it was about the best bang for the buck performance mod I could have added.   

[chuddly]

Good advice from "Dr. Phil" LOL

You may not have seen enough evidence of the weak cages to do anything about it....but i have.  I am a firm believer of "build it bullet proof and it will get your home".  If i know there is a problem i address it before it becomes a problem for me.