STLBILL

Hi everyone: Well, after reading about a dozen posts ragging on the dealership owners and the prices they charge I ALMOST feel bad. I would really like to see an official response. Here is one for you guys that is kind of relevant: I just bought a new Honda Pilot. Hmm, I just realized they make a dune buggy and a car/suv with the same name. Anyway, this is the car/suv I am talking about. The dealership wanted $800 for the trailer hitch kit and $380 to install it. I did some looking on the Internet and found three web sites run by Honda dealerships that sell factory Honda parts for cheap. I found the same exact trailer hitch kit for about $550. This includes the hitch, wiring harness, transmission cooler and power steering cooler. Unfortunately I still have to pay the local dealership labor rate but $300 saved is still $300 in my pocket. Too bad this is limited to just the Honda car dealerships! If anyone has Honda or Acura cars/vans/SUVs the web site is http://www.handaaccessories.com. Regards, Bill

Hi all: I think if you are too cheap for a dyno then you "dunno". Bottom-line it doesn't really matter unless you're in an engine building (only) contest. Otherwise so many other things have to be factored in. Often these are collectively referred to as "driving ability". Just have fun and enjoy your 'Shee until the tree huggers take them from our oily, wrench-callused hands. Regards, Bill

Hi everyone: Seems like a wide variance in gu-estimates. How will we ever know who is right or who is even remotely close to right? Since I cannot be proven wrong I will say removing the key probably added ten horsepower all by itself. Do I hear 150? Going once... going twice... ? -Bill

Hi guys: How does that bumper sticker go? "Lost your cat? Did you check under my tires?" HA HA Regards, Bill

Hi guys: One microsecond less in a day, huh? Well I guess that means Banshee riders will have to make one less trip up the drag strip... Personally, I am more worried about the new asteroid threat (click here). I just wish they would quit making all these disaster movies in Hollywood. Sooner or later they all come true. Regards, Bill

Hi everyone: Anyone care to persuade me in either direction - Serius or XM? I have Serious on my television satellite service and I love it. Here is what I've been able to glean from the sales people at local consumer electronic stores and other sources: 1. Serius is $13/month. XM is $10/month. Equipment is about the same. 2. Serious has almost all major sports except MLB. They are on XM only. 3. Maybe good. Maybe bad. Serius will soon have Howard Stern (bad for me). 4. XM comes in a lot of loaded new vehicles. Serius doesn't seem to be so lucky. If anyone has any thoughts please advise. I think I am going to go with Serius soon because I am getting hooked on Channel 21 - Alternative Nation. It's an alternative rock music station. It seems so nice to not have to listen to commercials! Thanks in advance, Bill

Hi Dale: I usually get enough computers at my day job, but I'm willing to help a Banshee rider in need. My background is working for companies (13 years) not home use but the only real difference is the budget. Here are some suggestions: 1. What viruses? Any chance you confusing spyware with viruses? Try AdAware or SpyBot before formatting your entire box. It's worth the ten minutes it'll take and might save you a lot of trouble. Remember to run them in Safe Mode just in case there is a process reinstalling the spyware when you reboot. There is some Spyware called browser hijacks that it is easier to reload Windows to get rid of. 2. Is your anti-virus up to date? It can only detect what it knows about. 3. Use a Zero Disk utility to completely and securely erase the contents of your hard drive. Formatting leaves the partition table in tact and doesn't do much for something called the master boot record (MBR). In the old days viruses used the master boot record a lot. These days most updated version of Norton will get MBR resident viruses. 4. Once you get your system clean, patch it and patch it often. Unless you have some applications that will be broken by Service Pack 2 and you cannot live without those programs put on Service Pack 2. In the old days the motto was "If it works don't fix it." We have officially crossed a line in the computer industry where there are enough "zero day" attacks that an unpatched computer will break either way. It most cases it's better to break it for a patch then let it get compromised or have a security incident. Keep in mind not all patches are going to break your system. If this doesn't help just yell... Regards, Bill

Hi guys: I do not doubt someone could build the engine to do it, but I think something else in the drivetrain would be a weaker link. What is the axle made of? Peanut butter - the smooth kind without nuts?... -Bill

Hi guys: Let's look at the facts: 1. It is still in production. 2. It has been in production longer than any other ATV. 3. Government regulation will kill it not poor sales (e.g. Corvair, Pinto) 4. For many years it was the only two-cylinder ATV. 5. Old school proven technology (Banshee engine off a 1970s street bike). 6. Huge selection of aftermarket support. 7. Religious-like group of supporters (almost Harley-type loyalists). 8. It is an import. This should give us some points to ponder. Regards, Bill

Hi Master Chief: Sweets exert little control over me so I have no personal experience to speak of. However, it would seem the manufacturer puts forth considerable effort to keep the white colored candy flavor a mystery. They even change the flavor periodically. At any given time the white color seems to be only one of the other flavors, but not always the same one. These resources may be of use: 1. Perfetti Van Melle's official web site has a contact form that may be of assistance. 2 This article in The Cincinnati Equirier may be of value. It seems their is an Airheads production facility there. Regards, Bill

Hi everyone: I believe this is the latest and official EPA site pertaining to this discussion. I cannot find anything that specifies a specific engine size rating for weed trimmers and the like. It seems more about what comes out the exhaust pipe: Snowmobiles, Dirt Bikes and ATVs This one cuts through all the crap and puts it in terms we can all understand (PDF format / You will need Adobe Reader to read this): Frequently Asked Questions from ATV Riders The first link - above - has many other links for more specifics. If anyone else has any resources from the proverbial "horses mouth" please share. It seems California standards are going to be much more stringent so this won't mean jack to you guys. California riders should refer to the stricter state statutes (sorry - I don't ride there). Regards, Bill

Hi guys: It was pretty funny. Besides, the thread needed some humor... Regards, Bill

Hi everyone: I stand behind Lee's decision completely! Regards, Bill

Hi guys: Well all I can say is that my Honda Aquatrax destroys my Banshee in more than two feet of water and I never had a flat tire on it either... Here are some serious thoughts to consider: 1. Marketing works. When was the last time anyone pimped a 'Shee on television or put it front and center at the dealership? All you see these days is the four pokes. I don't see many in GNCC or motorcross races either. One thing Banshees do best is straight-line sand drags. Personally, I don't see that as being very much fun. There isn't much coverage of sand drags on television. 2. There is clearly more maintenance, more frustration and more down town with a two-stroke, especially if you aren't mechanically inclined. I have even witnessed people dogging the new Honda 450R because it has a kicker! Give me a break! Most new people are either aging baby boomers who want less work and more ride time. The rest are the young generation who do not want a low-tech machine. Consider how many young kids drive classic American muscle compared to high-tech small displacement, high RPM, injected and artificially aspirated imports. If you are mechanically inclined - especially if you like building engines and tinkering - the Banshee is for you. I could probably come up with some more... but I'm tired. That should spur on the conversation for now... Regards, Bill

Hi guys: You are definately correct that not all the women look that good... then again all of us... ahh... on second thought who cares what we look like. The women still should always be hot... Maybe that's it. I am not the walking testosterone I used to be. Ever since I broke my back in four places on the 'Shee I have been a chicken $hit. I bet some of you can relate. I traded the 'Shee for the Aquatrax because I kept fouling plugs - just couldn't get on the 'Shee hard like it needed. A lot of the "party cove" social gatherings seem more about flaunting your stuff for the scantly clad ladies then making friends and hanging out. The stock turbo Aquatrax does 58 mph radar/gps or 64 if you trust the speedo. Keep in mind speeds feel different on water. That's enough to hurt something especially in a river. Deeper and more predictable lakes are safer, but it's too far to drive and once you know all corners of the lake the exploration gets boring. I've thought about getting one of those 4x4 quads with the bulldozer tracks on it. That looks like fun as I get older. Oh no... I am getting old aren't I. Regards, Bill

Hii Mike: Is this something inside the engine/transmission housing or the old shift lever loose on the transmission shaft thing? Gotta get that clarified first... Regards, Bill

Hi everyone: Former Q-Racer owner and rider here too. I had a 250 as a teenager and a 500 in my early 20s (1994ish). The 250 was a nimble bastard compared to the four-wheel-drive quads my uncles had. I know, that isn't saying much but it's all I had to compare to. The 250 toasted on me from old age. Not being a gearhead I sold it to someone who was. I sold the 500 to buy my ex-bitch an engagement ring. Amazing the things you'll do when you are PW. The 500 was just plain top end fast. Banshees would eat me alive in trails but I made up for it on dirt roads. The 500 was just too darn big for most trails. It was lowered with 250 front shocks and final drive (chain) geared for all out top end. I bought it used. It had some engine work but I don't know what. I am a rider not a mechanic... Back to the point... Blasters are air cooled. Although I've seen some seriously built Blasters the sterotype is that they are an entry-level teenager sport quad. I think the air cooling would eventually become a problem. The oil injection is also a notorious problem (get a block-off kit). As for the water-cooled LT250R, on-the-other-hand, it seems you are a little more limited in overboring the cylinder. You don't want to make steam... Overall - between the Blaster and the 250 if prices were the same... I would take the 250. Regards, Bill

Hi guys: Well I stop in once in a while...someone told me that would be okay? I traded my 'Shee this Spring for a Honda Aquatrax ("waverunner"). I really like it, but damn are people on the water are rude and unfriendly compared to quads! Same goes for so-called Waverunner discussion sites - the equivalent of BansheeHQ for waverunners. The good is the typical lack of clothing women wear on the water and the pretty places you can see (backwater coves, sandbars and such). I submit Exhibit A for your review. If it's cold where you are it might even warm you up a bit. Just wanted to say that in case this cold winter weather makes any of you wish you were making payments on a waverunner - winterized and covered sitting in the garage instead of a riding your Banshee... Regards, Bill

Hi everyone: I appreciate the responses! I've been enjoying the Honda Aquatrax (waverunner/pwc) a bunch. Got her up to 63 (per speedo / actual about 58). That's too fast on water for me - for some reason it's not like going 58 on land. I have about 40 hours on her since mid-May. That's about what I had on my 'Shee in 18 months. There is just so much more water (rivers) in the Saint Louis area. You have to drive 90 miles for a public riding area. I don't have land to ride on. Around here 1/4 acre goes for $30,000 and 20 acre plots are going for about $1 million - so I just can't afford it. I'm able to go boating in the evenings after work. Could never do that on the 'Shee. Too far of a drive. As for the videos... I don't expect to make a dime on it, but I'll be happy to list names in the credits. I'm doing it mostly for a hobby. I am getting ready to buy an Apple Macintosh designed for video editing with Final Cut Pro HD - about $6,000 not counting the cameras. I'm basically wanting to play around with the editing - synch music to the scene, add credits and slow motion effects. The music might be hard to come on by on this budget. I could see the RIAA sueing me for using their precious songs in a free video on the Internet. I might have to get some local bands or something? Don't know yet. I was mostly interested in getting a feel for how many people would kick my ass for video taping them. I'll let you know more. Obviously it'll be tough to travel all around the country filming everyone for free but maybe I could get some people to submit unedited videos and it could grow from there? Who knows. Talk to you later, Bill

Comments are welcome.

Hi guys: I'll bet their Raptors would be as fast if they had two Banshee pipes on them! Should I post/suggest it or wait for them to think of it by themselves? Regards, Bill

Hi guys: Just for the record. I traded my 'Shee in last week and I am in Saint Louis (not far from Illinois) but the one he described is not mine... :-) Well, not unless the person who bought it did that to it already and sold it again... Regards, Bill

Hi guys: Again, I appreciate the support! I got my numbers and stuff for the Aquatrax today. Boating is so different! I have so much to learn! I've already learned everyone on the water hates personal watercraft... The F-12X has an liquid intercooled turbo charger that ads 40 horsepower to the basic 125. The Internet boards say it'll do low 60s on "glass" but I don't expect to test it. Remember I sold the Banshee because I was chicken $hit... I got this model because of the deal. Thanks again guys! I'll see if I can't get some bikini (is less better? <GRIN>) pics to share. You want really F-A-T women right? Regards, Bill

Hi guys: Well, I am officially Sheeless... and sad just like everyone said. I traded her for a Honda Aquatrax F-12X. It was a really good deal and I had not road her since November. Some of you may recall I had a bad accident, ironically, exactly one year ago today. I almost paralyzed myself in the accident breaking four bones in my spine (the v-thingys / can't spell at this hour). I didn't deserve it because my accident was due to P-U-R-E stupidity but I managed to make a 99.9% physical recovery. Emotionally I just couldn't muster the courage again to ride her like she needed. When I last rode in November I put her on two-wheels unexpectedly and the flashbacks hit me like a ton of bricks! She's been holding down the garage since then and my girlfriend and I can both enjoy the PWC sooo... The really $hitty part... There was a guy test riding my old Shee today when I picked up the PWC. They couldn't even wait till I left! I don't know if it was the distinctive Banshee sound that drew my attention to it or her telling me "goodbye". The guy bought it, loaded it up and took her home while I was there. Well I guess I'm just looking for a shoulder to cry on. The Honda PWCs are supposed to be great boats (please don't go there). Hopefully I can drown my sorrows (pun intended) this weekend if it isn't too cold. I hope you all won't mind if I still visit BansheeHQ once in a while? Either way I have really met a lot of nice people on here. I want to thank each of you for your support from pre-purchase, through my accident - logging on from the hospital bed, to now and everyplace in between. You all are great! Thanks in advance, Bill Saint Louis, Missouri