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the banshee
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Posted by: 03400exrider

whats up guys im new with the banshee i just sold my 400ex and im lookin to get one but i was just wantin to get some general info on them and if they have alot of problems or if theyre pretty well easy to maintain as far as two strokes go i had an rm 125 so im used to the two stroke engines and how to take care of them but i was just wantin a little helpful info on them

Posted by: DMC-4OOEX

Banshee's are reliable and easy to maintain, that's if, it's tuned right. If the tuning is off they either run rich and bog all over, or run lean and starve for fuel. Tuning is key on these things. But when they're tuned right, all you need to really do is change the gear case oil every once and a while, and maybe new spark plugs here and there. Not much to them. Don't forget to clean the air filter either.
Power-wise the banshee's pull really hard. If you've never ridden one and you're used to your 400ex, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Once they hit power band there's nothing like it. Not much for low-end though. So if you plan on doing a decent amount of trails, get ready to put some money in it. Smaller sprocket, low-end pipes, etc.

Honestly, the banshee's stock don't handle all that bad. You can tease the clutch and RAIL around corners. Only two things really. In really rough stuff, the square geometry of the front frame makes for a decent amount of bump steer. It's not horrendous, but it's there. Also, on jumps and such, the whole front end is just outdated. If you like jumping, you might want to look into a set of aftermarket shocks or maybe a set of raptor 350 shocks.

They're hillclimbing beast's and hills don't phase em. They hit power band and just stay there.

So in a nutshell, they're really good quads. they just need a little updating and personalization depending on what type of riding you do.

Posted by: 03400exrider

yeah when i was 8 i used to ride my dads but not out of second gear he said i would kill myself but yeah i have rode them before and im not really gettin into serious ridin maybe a trail here and there or a track here and there im really wantin to flat track and i heard they were pretty good for that you know if that is true or not?

Posted by: DMC-4OOEX

quote:
Originally posted by 03400exrider
yeah when i was 8 i used to ride my dads but not out of second gear he said i would kill myself but yeah i have rode them before and im not really gettin into serious ridin maybe a trail here and there or a track here and there im really wantin to flat track and i heard they were pretty good for that you know if that is true or not?

Oh yeah... Throw a -2 swinger on that puppy and they LOVE to be held wide open. Hell most people will say that's the only thing they're good at lol

Posted by: 03400exrider

haha thats how my rm was i feel bad for sellin that thing it was bad ***** but is there any year model i should look like example: dont go below a 99 or somethin like that

Posted by: 03400exrider

now i also want to add that im about 5'9 and almost 150 lbs is it okay size wise?

Posted by: DMC-4OOEX

quote:
Originally posted by 03400exrider
haha thats how my rm was i feel bad for sellin that thing it was bad ***** but is there any year model i should look like example: dont go below a 99 or somethin like that

Nahh, they're all pretty much the same lol.

From 87-90 they had J-arms instead of A-arms. Same thing basically with a different upper arm. Probably better for TT because its lighter.

In 95 they changed the electrical plugs.

I believe in 01 they added an actual brake light instead of just having a tail light.

Thats it haha.

Posted by: DMC-4OOEX

quote:
Originally posted by 03400exrider
now i also want to add that im about 5'9 and almost 150 lbs is it okay size wise?

The shee is a pretty big big bike. Really long and narrow, but it actually doesn't feel that narrow. You'll be fine. I'm 200+ and 6 foot tall and I feel right at home on it.

It'll rip with you on it lmao.

Posted by: 03400exrider

makes me feel good,thanks lol.so i shouldnt have any problems besides a skinned up back haha,thanks man you really heped me out alot i cant wait to get mine now im stoked

Posted by: DMC-4OOEX

quote:
Originally posted by 03400exrider
makes me feel good,thanks lol.so i shouldnt have any problems besides a skinned up back haha,thanks man you really heped me out alot i cant wait to get mine now im stoked

haha.

I haven't wrecked mine yet *knock on wood* lol.
Yeah, so many people hate on these things, but I HAVE ridden many 450's and my 400ex, and I still feel the banshee is competitive and faster. Not as up to par in handling, but I dont race mx lol.

I luv my shee

It's an addiction.

Posted by: 03400exrider

yeah my 400 didnt have crap for power and thats after a 440 bore kit and stage 2 valves wiesco piston bigger rear sprocket standin straight up in 1st gear it wasnt that much power im wantin somethin bigger and i love two strokes and this will be somethin i can hold onto for a while

Posted by: DMC-4OOEX

quote:
Originally posted by 03400exrider
yeah my 400 didnt have crap for power and thats after a 440 bore kit and stage 2 valves wiesco piston bigger rear sprocket standin straight up in 1st gear it wasnt that much power im wantin somethin bigger and i love two strokes and this will be somethin i can hold onto for a while

Oh yeah the shee's fast lol. My friend built his raptor 350. CT gave it high compression, a super aggressive cam, porting, etc. It was about as fast as the 400ex in my sig. We were equal.

I pulled the shee out and raced on the same dirt road, and it was pathetic lol. I looked back and there was a cloud of dust with a little blue raptor in the distance. haha.

All my shee has is pipes too.

Posted by: 03400exrider

haha well my 400 would skank a raptor but i wouldnt put my 400 up against a shee just because i know it would be embarrasing itd be like man my 400 could skank that old thing well you know on second thought.......

Posted by: storms400ex

stick with a 4-stroke for trails, banshees are good for hill climbing and dunes, trail wise you want a 4-stroke

Posted by: DMC-4OOEX

quote:
Originally posted by storms400ex
stick with a 4-stroke for trails, banshees are good for hill climbing and dunes, trail wise you want a 4-stroke

he said he never really rides trails that often lol.
and the seat is like a couch

Posted by: 03400exrider

yeah i really dot ride trails and when i do its to get to a bowl that has jumps and hills to climb

Posted by: honda400-4-ever

have you put any thoughts towards a ol' 250r, their is a guy in the 400ex section that wants to trade for a 400ex, but he lives in Illinois.

Posted by: 03400exrider

yeah im in alabama and i sold my 400 but yeah i saw that guy thats a good lookin 250r

Posted by: 03400exrider

i just found an 01 shee im bout to go look at for 1200

Posted by: DMC-4OOEX

quote:
Originally posted by 03400exrider
i just found an 01 shee im bout to go look at for 1200

Yeah, don't listen to all these haters. They'll do anything to keep you from getting a banshee.

And 250r parts are getting harder to find because they were only made for a brief period.

Anyway, when you go to look at it, look over everything real good. Bring a compression tester, make sure compression is above 110 in each cylinder. Go over all the bearings/bushings, get all the mods, and RIDE IT. Make sure it doesn't struggle in mid range and has a healthy sound to it.

Posted by: 03400exrider

never mind now because my timing tesioner went out so i cant get because the dude changed his mind bout it and decided not to buy it so i cant get a banshee till later this year and IT SUCKS because i want one real bad

Posted by: 03400exrider

are blasters any good

Posted by: honda400-4-ever

they are slower than your 400

Posted by: DMC-4OOEX

quote:
Originally posted by honda400-4-ever
they are slower than your 400

x2

unless you plan on a 240 kit and crap. I had a blaster, loved it, but definitely outgrew it.

Posted by: honda400-4-ever

they would do better in the trails than a banshee only if stock.