Trail riding advice/modding

[Duke]

Hey guys, I did a few searches trying to look up an answer but didn't find much, so I'll just ask.

 

I just bought a 2003 stock (has a skid plate) 'shee off a buddy. It only has about 20+ hours on it (we're military, got deployed soon after he bought it and now doesn't want it). Its the first two stroke I've owned. So far I love the dang thing, its like being shot out of a canon. But, I do have some concerns... I live in the mountains. We do almost all of our riding on old strip mines. Theres alot of trail/hill riding involved. I struggled abit with getting use to the low end on trails. It seemed pretty rough on the 'shee. I tried to keep it from bogging to much, becuase I don't want to start fouling out plugs. I'm sure alot of it is my technique, being that this is my first two stroke. So I'm asking, what advice do you guys have for riding in terrian like that?

 

Also, are their any mods I should be looking into to help out? I read that a stock banshee is already pretty good for trail. Thanks guys!

[bansheeryder_69]

Pipes, 2-1 carbeurator, tires, gearing. air filter, possibly suspension.

The only way to ride a banshee is WIDE OPEN. You can't hurt anything unless you go past WIDE OPEN which is holding it completely pinned for an extended period of time, the banshee is made to rev high.

[dawarriorman]

I ride in alot of tight woods, and honestly experience is what makes the difference. Basically its throttle control, the ability to keep it right on the bottom edge of the powerband, without getting into it and making yourself wreck. Being able to work the clutch helps, but over the past few years I use it less and less.

 

As far as setup goes, first off either buy a cool head, or shave the head to bump up the compression. If your in 1st gear most of the time, then drop the front sprocket 1 tooth. Low end pipes might not hurt (IMO pointless though, they don't increase power off the pipe, they just shift the power curve lower). 2-1 carb is popular, and helps. MX or woods port would be your best bet.

 

Most of all, just ride.

[awesomeame]

hey duke! i'm pretty new to the banshee as well and 99% of my riding is in the woods, it's bone stock as well. i switched my sprockets from stock (14/41) to 13/44. lots of bottom end power, although if you get the rpms too low it will still bog...much less bogging with this setup. and it only costs about $40. you lose top end speed though, i top out at 60MPH now. don't be afriad to dump the clutch either if you need some rpms!

 

--matt

[endofitall9]

I do the same type of riding{West Virginia} and I can say you'll see the biggest gain through pipes unless you get it ported. The possibilities for setting up your banshee for personal preference is limitless. Alot of it is trial and error just ask some guys on here I can guarantee 90% of us has switched stuff on our "shee" atleast 3 times to accomodate for our riding styles. if you need any help just ask there is a few gncc guys on here, me being one of them and we need a good grunt.......................Josh

[korndawg]

If you're going to be doing woods and trail riding, I would start out with just a set of pipes, and a pro-flow filter setup. after that, don't bother dumping any more money into the engine until you've beefed up the suspension. Keep in mind that you can have all the power in the world, but it does you absolutely no good if you can't control it, or get it to the ground. Once you've got a good suspension setup, then I would start looking at doing more performance mods to the engine.

[Flip73]

I would start out with just a set of pipes, and a pro-flow filter setup. after that, don't bother dumping any more money into the engine until you've beefed up the suspension.

 

 

I definitely second that. Pipes will give you a great gain and really wake it up, but a decent suspension set up is VERY important to a woods set up...well, any set up really. I have the stuff in my signature, and it works awesome in the woods. It's all easy bolt on stuff too, except porting - which you can just have done next time you have the top end apart if you choose to have it done at all. I love the Toomeys, but I'll probably swap them out for some PT Mids at some point. Never tried them but from what I see they are a better pipe for my kind of riding.

[Animalman294]

Banshee's take a little getting used to for trail ridin', but you'll figure it out with more riding............. :beer:

[airdog]

I'd get some tires to get the power to the ground, some pipes/filter, and after that try to stay at the front of the pack so that you don't have to worry about staying in first gear...

[Brian060]

Suspension first. Then milled head, pipes, reeds and porting. A good air filter setup is very important also.

[Banshee~]

The first thing I did to my trail setup was get a good airfilter (stock one sucks) CLICK. Then I got some HD wheels and 6 ply tires. If first gear is to fast for your trails gear it down to a 13 tooth front sproket. That was my trail setup, now I have an all around setup. I still ride some real slow trails, but it doesnt bother me because I like to be able to beat all my friends when we drag racing. BUT definatly get an aftermarket air filter and atleast some good back tires. I wouldent worry about suspention right now IMO.

[Duke]

Hey guys, I slight update. I got a new air filter and bought some 22x12-9 kenda bear claws for the rear. The gearing seems to be fine, I just had to adjust. I'm thinking about getting some pipes for a little extra kick. I don't really want to get a 2 into 1 cause I don't want to lose my top end, I just don't want to lose any more bottom end. Any suggestions?

[EastCoast Banshee]

In my oppion id get yourself some good shocks first. After that get some PT mids, FMF fatties, or some DMCs they all give good rang of power and alot more low end then drag pipes. I see no need for a 2 into 1 setup as many of you say. Another thing to consider would be getting your swing arm choped and inch or two. There are so many things you can do its allabout the money. Anyways good luck with everything. :thumb:

[letsgetthisdone]

Those 22 inch tires are kill the already non-existant bottom-end so ur gonna have to regear for those things. A single carb isn't gonna kill ur top end power if you get a decent set of pipes like T5's or Paul Turner mids. My parents got me a single carb when I was rebuilding my motor and I was skeptical until I got on it with the T5's I had just got. It pulled wheelies through 5th and still smokes all of the 4-pokes in top speed, accelaration, and up comp at dumont as well as Oldsmobile at glamis. U really only lose a about 500 rpm of over-rev which is solved by shifting a smidge earlier. If ur gonna be ridin slow trails you def. need to get a 35mm single carb and a BIG ASS radiator like a PWR or a Toomey.

[differentstrokes]

If ur gonna be ridin slow trails you def. need to get a 35mm single carb and a BIG ASS radiator like a PWR or a Toomey.

A radiator helps more than anything but it costs a fortune, until I break off the money to buy one I run a coolhead and engine ice. I use an inline cooler too, even if it doesn't do much at least it's billet. :beer: