Chips2000

Ok, thanks for the advice. At least I got though the duning season and had a blast with it, and now I have all summer to work with it. It is kind of sad as I was thinking a month or so ago to get rid of the K&Ns and install the foam filters with carbon fiber tubes and mounting bracket. Chips2000

A few months ago, both my 'Shees cyls checked out at 150 lbs. Since then there have been a number of trips to the dunes and trail riding. This last weekend my son borrowed it for a desert run of over 150mi in 2 days when the right K&N fell off after about 50 mi. He said he was following a desert rail, and does not know how long it had been off before he discovered it laying in the frame. The quad had not been running right even before it lost the filter (although, early in the trip, it had good top end), and it would not do over 60mph on pavement (for about 20 mi) on the way home. I did a compression check tonght, and the right one was reading 120lbs, and the left 145+. This was with the engine cold. I am planning on a ring job, and the question I have is could the injested dust effect the bottom end bearings? Is there a way to test for that? The engine now has about 400mi on it since it was rebuilt in Jan. 05. Would you guys rebuild the whole engine again or just the top? Thanks! Chips2000

When I bought my Banshee last year, it was the 1st sport quad I had ever ridden. Since then, I have ridden a new DS-650, a new Honda trx450, a yfz450 and a Predator 500. I thought the DS was going to rattle my teeth out it rode so rough although the seat and sitting position were ok (except the quad felt huge and heavy to me), and the vibration from that single cyl 650 was pretty bad. The others the seats were pretty hard with the yfz450 being the hardest. The TRX450 felt like I was riding on a hard banana. After riding each, I could not wait to get back to that soft seat and smooooth running engine of my Banshee. The only advantage for my kind of riding which is mostly in the dunes was the 4 stroke engines just effortlessly motored their way up any slope I pointed them to. The Banshee really works me......But that's the real fun of it. Plus, I can kick their asses up any slope when I want to. Chips 2000

I am getting a new chain anyway, since I do not know how old and how much use (or abuse) the old one has. I really lucked out not ruining the threads. As I said previously, I was running down the sand highway pretty fast for a number of miles, stopping occasionally to wait for the slower riders. It must have fallen off just when I came to a stop. It was lost in the sand, and if we had gone back to that exact spot, I might have found it. Even though I had a gps with me, I did not mark the waypoint. The parts salesman, who has owned his Banshee since '89 where I got the new sprocket, said I should see a real difference in how much easier it will be to manage the power. Thanks, Chips2000

The threads are in perfect shape. There is no indication of any thrasing. It looks like the nut just fell off. I don't think the retainer tabs were bent, otherwise, the nut could not have fallen off. Ther rear sprocket is a 41. What puzzles me is with the new 13t front sprocket, why is the chain so tight (unlesss it was a 12t)? I would not even be able to install the chain around a 14t. With the original sprocket, the chain was quite loose. When I had the quad in the shop to install the Shift-Pro, I asked the mech to check the chain for proper tension. Maybe I will just leave the 13t and get a longer chain. Also, having a 12t may have been the reason I could not start drag race in 1st. With knobbies on a dirt trail, I would just sit there and spin the rear wheels if I did not slip the clutch a whole bunch. Thanks, Chips2000

It's a 2000. It must have had a 12t since chain now is very tight with the 13t. I plan on getting a new chain, but want to make sure I have the right front sprocket. The dealer also had a 14t. I do a combination of trail and dune riding, but would rather have the quad set up more for dunning. Thanks, Chips2000

Last week I lost the front sprocket after some high speed runs. We had stopped to wait the arrival of the slower riders and then I restarted the bike, shifted into first and.....no go. I tried several times and still nothing happened. I figured the Shift-Pro I had just installed came apart. I had to be towed back to camp where I found the front sprockett was gone. I still cannot figure out how a retainer could let the nut spin off. The tabs must not have been bent to keep the nut from moving. There is no sign of contact inside the plastice housing, so it must have just fallen off, and luckily not ripped out of there by the chain. OK, so I go down to get a new sprocket and end up with what the parts guy said was the stock 13t, since I do not know what was on there. I put it on and now the chain is very tight with about 1/2" of play. Is there a 12t sprocket, and what really is "stock"? Thanks, Chips2000

You are absolutely right, banshee tuner. A good rider would easily beat me. It's been over 20 years since I have ridden a dirt bike and am a member in good standing of the "Over-the-Bars-Club", and when you get to my age those memories influence you a lot and besides, your mind say's "GO!" and your body say's "NO!". This is the 1st quad I have ever ridden, and have a lot to learn. A lot of my buddies say I should go to a 4-stroker, it is a lot safer and that the Banshee can bite, and they are probably right, but I love the scream of the 2-stroke and the challenge of learning to handle it. Besides, I am having a BLAST with this thing! To get back on topic, I rode the bike a little this morning, and the shifting is much better and finding 1st is much easier. I would recommend this product. Chips2000

Thanks BG for answering the question. The cost was 69 bucks plus shipping. A little pricey, and I do not know if it is as good or better than the shift star mod. Once I get on it and upshift while climbing, than I will know if it is a good investment. The only races I lost climbing Olds (I only raced family members with factory moded TR-450R's and a DS-650X) was when I missed upshifting from 2nd to 3rd or 3rd to 4th (*see note below). I never start a race in 1st gear, unless I want to sit there with the rear wheels spinning. I love to start out slow and let everyone get a head start and then blow past them near the top! Also, I am not a good enough rider yet to go real fast through the whoops at the bottom of Olds, but I am learning!. *This is what I really love about the Banshee. I once owned a new '81 Yamaha IT-250, and when I used to climb steep hills, I would start at a distance and upshift on the approach and then downshift as I ran out of speed on the way up. With this Banshee, I UPSHIFT on the way up accelerating! It just blows my mind! You young guys and gals really have it made with all this awesome horsepower, since you still have the balls to use it all! You can get a Shift-Pro at: www.shiftpro.com. Chips2000

Damn...where is the edit button? I hate tiypos!

for our trip to Glamis. Was going do it myself, but no time, so a friend who has his own motorcycle/quad repair shop did it. He was very impressed with the quality of the kit and what it did to improve the Banshee's shifting. He said I now have the smoothest shifting Banshee he has ever ridden. No more hunting for neutral, either. Can't wait, this old fart is going to kick some more ass on Olds! I will let you all know how it worked when I get back. Chips2000

I will look for the DG and also check out the polymer's. Where would I find these products? Thanks, Chips2000

I want to add a rear skid plate and am wondering what would be recommended. I ride trails and sand. Thanks, Chips2000

I did a lot of research before deciding on buying the cheapest unit on the market, a Lowrance iFinder GO for about 65 bucks. I put it in a trail pack that is belted to my waist. Used it on my 1st trip to Glamis over Christmas and it got us back to camp after me and another rider got separated from our group of riders. I vaguely new where we were and could have gotton back with out it, but it was a good test of the unit and my ability to use it. I bought this one just to learn GPS and not worry about getting it thrashed or lost due to it's price. My next one will be either the Garmin Etrex Summit for about $170 or Etrex Vista C color unit for about $250+ and get the bike mount. Chips2000

Thanks guys for the welcome. Everyone in my family/friends who ride quads all showed up at Glamis with shiny new 4 stroker quads, and they all thought the $2500 I spent on this poor old used Banshee was a waste right up to the time I blew past them up Olds, screaming (both me and the 'Shee!) all the way up. I get chills thinking how much fun that was! Again, thanks for the welcome to this forum. Chips2000