Calling all modified banshee owners

[ned]

hi all

 

heres the lowdown.

i bought my 2005 banshee about 6months ago for around 2500USD with unknown hours in reasonable condition. ive now found out it has been abused to all hell cause the engine is just about to pop and in need of a rebuild.

my mates all have four strokes, a trx450, heaps of 700 rappys and my mate went down today and picked up a ktm 450xc. i rode the the trx and 700 rappys and was impressed by there suspension but not by the power delivery or engine feel. yet to ride the ktm but im sure it will handle like its on rails.

we ride mostly dunes, with some sandy trails thrown in and also a little tight hardpacked trails.

 

now, i had plans to drop 5-6k on my shee to get the engine running fast and reliable, upgrade the suspension and make it look abit better and am now wondering what i should do.

my options are do what i want to the banshee and keep the adrenalin pumping with the sound and powerband

OR

do a quickie rebuild, sell it off and put some more money in and get a new 450. my reason being is the stock banshee suspension is killing me right now, escpecially since its so windy here (one of the best windsurfing/kitesurfing spots in the world) the dunes get chopped up real bad.

 

so what i need is some feedback from guys who have done there suspension, done a rebuild and piped there shees and see how they compare to the new age quad????

 

thanks for your time and help

[donkeypuncher]

if you were wanting to drop 5-6 k into you shee, IMO it would be way faster and have better suspension than any stock 4stroke you could buy. i say, rebuild you keep the shee and put 5-6 k into it.

[ned]

by the way, thats 5-6k australian so with the shit economic state its around 3k USD.

[donkeypuncher]

well what do you have done to you bike as of right now? and is the 3k counting cost for rebuild (new pistons, bore, hone...)?

[ned]

nothing really worth mentioning, pretty much stock.

 

my plans were:

 

.20 over wiseco rebuild

new hotrods crank

NOSS head

adjustable timing plate

T5 pipe kit

billet impeller

shift star mod

heavy duty clutch

 

gforce +4 axle

Laeger long travel front end with elkas

racetech gold valved rear shock

+2 antivibe stem

Edited February 26, 2009 by ned

[doorslammer]

sounds good, have you priced it all up?

Edited February 26, 2009 by doorslammer

[ned]

i just worked it all out off ebay and everything i need i can get for around 4500 aud, plus around 1000 in shipping.

[donkeypuncher]

looks like you pretty much have it covered. but i would also try and get some sort of aftermarket air filter, prob. k&n if i were you.

 

IMO, if you are mostly gonna ride dunes then the banshee is the best way to go. if you were gonna trail or ride mx then i would lean towards 4stroke.

[ned]

yeh its got a K&N already need to get a alloy adaptor as well though.

 

i know ive got my parts sorted, if i go that route...but im looking for some input from some people who have ridden a aftermarket suspensioned banshee and know how they compare to the newer quads????

[donkeypuncher]

yeh its got a K&N already need to get a alloy adaptor as well though.

 

i know ive got my parts sorted, if i go that route...but im looking for some input from some people who have ridden a aftermarket suspensioned banshee and know how they compare to the newer quads????

 

that long travel elka suspension is gonna be better than anything you could expect out of any stock 4stroke. if you were to go the 4stroke route, you would end up wanting to upgrade to elka suspension anyways.

[RagunCajun]

You have a good list but i would strongly recommend port work and maybe some cpi pipes. The cpi pipes would throw you over budget though. T5's are all around good pipes but for dunes you will be all the time in mid-top rpm ranges. However, do NOT get cpi's unless you are ported to match them. They suck on a non-ported engine.

 

Portwork is night and day buddy. And since you ride dunes, imo, that's a must. And you dont need a heavy duty clutch. Tusk used to have a clutch fiber/disc set for $40 if i remember right. Elka shocks are top of the line. No need to get something that expensive imo. There's cheaper alternatives that will do you fine. You can also get your head milled for about $40. That's cheaper than a cooling head. I do own a NOSS head and love it but i'm just trying to save you some money man. Only problem with a milled head is you can change the domes(compression). But that shouldnt be an issue unless you know in the future you will run race fuel. You pretty much want the most compression w/o detonation.

 

As for suspension set up, i cant answer that. I just like going fast in a strait line

[dragbanshee]

Port work and have them 4 strokes for lunch. :biggrin:

[ned]

Well I was considering port work, but then I thought bout it and I'm happy with the current power the stock worn out motor offers. Plus I'm not into straight line LOL, so would like some good low-mid range punch for carving dunes and when I get onru the trails and track, that's why I'm going with t5s.

 

Same reason I want the elkas and lt, cause I would prefer to have a super plush ride and be able air it out than go fast. I think the cool head would be a good idea as well because I'm not always going flat out and it's reguraly 40 degrees Celsius here.

[Mjv420]

Only problem with a milled head is you can change the domes(compression)

 

Sorry, just wanted to correct your typo.

 

The only problem with a stock milled head is you cannot change the size of the domes on the fly, you can raise compression by getting it milled.

 

Another problem is if you scorch a ring or piston you can cause damage to a dome or domes and they are not replaceable whereas they are replaceable with a coolhead.

[dragbanshee]

If you're wanting more low end punch and don't plan on porting, go with the t6s.