SWDoodle Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Well the title says it all. I used to have a really nice 99 Banshee that I sold seven years ago to buy a Grizz, and although I love the Grizzly, I really wished I would have kept the Banshee. My good bud just bought a couple used bikes a YFZ450 and 2005 Banshee. The 05 is blue with T-6's and nerfs, but other than that it's a stocker. It's not perfect, but it's clean. Has full set of ITP sand stars on nice rims to with it that have hardly been used. He want's $2500 for everything. Not a smoking deal by any means, but he's a good friend of mine that helps me out a lot and I kind of prefer a stock bike anyways so I have a better feeling it has been molested. Other deal I found out there is a 1986 Honda TRX250R that is about 80 miles away. It's really super slick considering it's an 86 and is all stock except a pipe. No sand tires just some wore out dirt tires. He's asking $1900 but I'm sure he'd take less if I offered him some cash. He had a bunch of extra crap with it like old plastic, gears, gaskets sets, etc. that I could care less about. I'm "thinking" I can get him to $16-1700 but I'd have to make a big investment in both sand and dirt tires. So I'll end up about the same at the end. I know that I will get biased opinions since this is a banshee site, but I just want some feedback. Things I keep reading about the advantage of the R is that there is one of everything and they handle nice. I've only ever riden on 250R and it's was completely decked out, so no comparison to a stocker. I live in a very rural area and there just isn't the supply of bikes like bigger cities have. I'm 2.5 hours from a town of 100,000. I know there are some great deals on craigslist but I can't be driving all over the place to go look at stuff. I'd rather pay a little extra for this 05 and not have the headaches of negociating with someone. I have talked myself in and out of the 250R five times, but keep coming back to two things. First it's an 86 for gods sake and second there is nothing like the sound of a Banshee at WOT shredding a dune. That's all I'll be using this bike for other than riding around the farm. There are quite a few four strokes around but I prefer the 2-stroke. Just want to see what you think since this comparison has probably been made a million times. Included a pic of the 250R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overdose Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Wow tough call. I grew up with both of those bikes around and I think you would be fine with either of them. I've ridden both on the sand and the dirt and I do agree stock to stock i feel like the 250r handles better on the dirt and track riding, but the banshees are a LEGEND in the sand and will always be the kings there in my opinion. In my opinion both bikes are awsome but if you are going to have to buy alot of parts already for the 250 and the banshee is ready to go id buy the banshee and and at least you would know what its been through and there might not be any of those unpleasent after purchase surprises. I was in the same boat you are looking at 250r's and banshees and I settled on a pair of banshees and I have never regreted the decision. Good luck with the Purchase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beez33 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 They are both great bikes. Buying from your buddy might be better because you know it runs good and there won't be any surprises. The other thing is the aftermarket world is 10x bigger for the banshee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWDoodle Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Wow tough call. I grew up with both of those bikes around and I think you would be fine with either of them. I've ridden both on the sand and the dirt and I do agree stock to stock i feel like the 250r handles better on the dirt and track riding, but the banshees are a LEGEND in the sand and will always be the kings there in my opinion. In my opinion both bikes are awsome but if you are going to have to buy alot of parts already for the 250 and the banshee is ready to go id buy the banshee and and at least you would know what its been through and there might not be any of those unpleasent after purchase surprises. I was in the same boat you are looking at 250r's and banshees and I settled on a pair of banshees and I have never regreted the decision. Good luck with the Purchase Thanks for the reply. Only thing that does scare me a little with the Banshee is that shortly after my bud got the bikes we took them out for a spin. I rode the Banshee first and he rode the 450. Everything seemed to run fine. It fired right up on the first kick with a little choke. The right front tire wobbled some at full speed but after I shut it down I saw the front rim was bent on the bead pretty good. So I'm assuming that was causing the wobble, either that or a bearing. But he rode the Banshee after me and he rides hard I mean pushes everything to the max. He got to doing some crazy doughnuts and powersliding around and when he got back made the comment that it popped out of second gear. I don't know if it was once or several times. Could it just be he was pushing it to the limit and it popped out or do you think there could be some shift fork/tranny issues? No way to tell without looking at the insides of course. I know with my old one every once in a while I'd miss a gear shifting or something, but I don't remember it popping out of gear. Lucky thing is I guess he knows how to tear stuff down and work on it. Probably won't have to worry about it, but it will always be in the back of my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWDoodle Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 They are both great bikes. Buying from your buddy might be better because you know it runs good and there won't be any surprises. The other thing is the aftermarket world is 10x bigger for the banshee. Yeah at this point I know it runs good, but don't know the previous history as he just got it. Guy before could have been worse than him on stuff! Think you are right, although there is a ton of 250R stuff out there, there is many times more Banshee parts. Plus I have worked on my old one some and I'm not very mechanical at all. I rebuilt the top end once and I'll I had was a Clymers and a friend I called every once in a while. Put it back together and it ran fine. It really is a tough call. I've almost made my mind on the Banhsee, but I still think I'll look at the 250R and see how low he might go. I know it would be best to be patient, but I'd really like to get something before March as that's when duning starts up around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burt Reynolds Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 The aftermarket is bigger for banshees,but, Both bikes can still be built totaly from the ground up with aftermarket parts. Esr is about to start selling aftermarket cases for the 250r even. If i was always duning,i would go with a banshee,if i was trail riding ,i would go 250r i just bought a 250r,and the only bad drawback im seeing so far is that certain used parts are hot items,like factory plastic. People are starting to treat 250r's like car collectors treat 57 chevys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWDoodle Posted February 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 The aftermarket is bigger for banshees,but, Both bikes can still be built totaly from the ground up with aftermarket parts. Esr is about to start selling aftermarket cases for the 250r even. If i was always duning,i would go with a banshee,if i was trail riding ,i would go 250r i just bought a 250r,and the only bad drawback im seeing so far is that certain used parts are hot items,like factory plastic. People are starting to treat 250r's like car collectors treat 57 chevys. What's crazy and is that now that I'm looking around for a bike, there are a ton of nice modded bikes out there for cheap. Kind of makes me want to reconsider going with a stocker. I'd really love to get an RZR, but for the price those things are going for I can buy four banshees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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