Noob Seeking Advice on Banshee Purchase

[Hernz]

Hey guys this is my first post here and I'm new to riding. This past Halloween weekend i went to Glamis dunes with my neighbor for the first time and had a blast!!!!!! I'm now hell bent on buying a banshee for myself so i can make it to the next trip in 2 weeks. :evil:

 

Can you guys take a look at this for me and tell me if it's a good deal?

 

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/908236594.html

 

I'm looking to spend under $2K for my first season. For gear i have helmet, goggles, gloves and boots.

 

What do you think? is $1800 a fair price?

 

Also... How do i tell if those are J arms or A arms? my neighbor says to stay away from J arms.

 

Thanks i hope to hear from you guys

[vulvafan537240]

looks like a good deal to me by the looks of the pic. id check the compression first though. looks like a arms from the pic (im using my laptop and theres a real bad glare on the screen). j arms look like this

 

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/Al...p;A=27&B=24

 

a arms look like this

 

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/Al...;A=152&B=23

[vulvafan537240]

looks like a good deal to me by the looks of the pic. id check the compression first though. looks like a arms from the pic (im using my laptop and theres a real bad glare on the screen). j arms look like this

 

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/Al...p;A=27&B=24

 

a arms look like this

 

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/Al...;A=152&B=23

 

 

oh yeah and welcome to the hq :thumbsup:

[98_shee]

It is a j arm frame but for all the extra's on it I don't think its a bad price.

 

Welcome!!! :thumbsup:

 

You need to look the bike over and look for wear and tear.

Edited November 7, 2008 by 98_shee

[Hernz]

thanks for the warm welcomes and advice

 

okay i'll read up on checking thhe compression hopefully my neighbor has the equipment for this...

 

 

so its a J-arm frame with A-arm upgrade? sounds good to me i just wanna be riding in 2 weeks..... :biggrin:

 

 

 

side question: do all banshees have to be started in neutral? i had a heck of a time starting the one i rode this past weekend. can you be in gear and clutch in while kicking? i'm asking because the one i rode is FAR from stock

[DallasGDub]

Welcome to HQ. Not a bad price for a J-Arm.... Seems to have some nice stuff done to it.

 

If your homie does not have a compression tester, you can pick one up at any auto parts store for around $20. They are handy to have saves a lot of trouble shooting for any banshee you get in the future.

 

Take off both plug wires, test one cylinder at a time by. Just take out the plug and screw the end of the tester in. Kick it over while holding the throttle wide open until the needle stops moving. Will take several kicks. If it is good, each cylinder should be around be 120-125 PSI on a stock head. Bad will be anything 105 or lower.

 

Note: This bike add says it is a milled head, so the PSI will be higher. My guess it the PSI should be around 135-155 b/c it says he runs pump gas. But that is just a guess.

 

 

 

The tester looks like this.

 

Edited November 7, 2008 by DallasGDub

[2001Stroker]

Looks like a good buy to me. 87-89 are J-Arm frames, but this one has an A-Arm conversion. Like everyone else said, chech compression, and look for any cracks in the frame. Check the transmission fluid with a white rag. Other than that, I would get it. As far as the starting in gear question, the clutch just wasn't adjusted right in the bike that you rode. Easy fix.