Blackkaz04 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) Thought I'd start a thread here first and introduce myself before I dive into other sections of the forum and begin my banshee project that's been on my bucket list for quite some time. So I've been riding for about 25 years but I've never owned a two-stroke. Growing up on the east coast I started with a Yamaha moto 100 then a timberwolf in the trails and hills of Virginia. I eventually wanted more sport so I saved and bought a warrior. I wanted a blaster but I was too tall to really not feel totally cramped. I had a buddy growing up whose parents bought him a brand new banshee in the 90s and I still remember how sweet I thought it was. My warrior had some mods but I swear all I remember to this day was how awesome that banshee sounded and how bad the dirt tasted when I would chase him around the track. All I could think was "one day, bucket list, I will own a banshee!" In high school, I moved to a honda 400ex when they debuted in 1999 and then in college I moved up to a trx450r. The 450r was left in the barn when I graduated college and Went into the military. Two years later, I finally settled for my first real assignment in Valdosta Georgia, I met my father in North Carolina and brought my 450r back to Valdosta where I began riding motocross again. We began making trips to Durham plantation outside Atlanta (awesome riding park) and I got the itch for more power and a overhaul on the whole bike. I stripped it to the frame and brought it back to life complete with new plastics, fox LT suspension, powdercoat and about every other part you can think of--the hp was up from the upper 30s to low 50s. It was a blast. One of my friends I met in Georgia had a 01 banshee--again(not bragging) but, I was faster around the track and on the trails we rode--but I would look at his banshee and still think "one day, bucket list". At one point I also owned a modified piped/tuned trx700xx in addition to the 450r while in Georgia--ground clearance was king in some of the trails we were riding and the IRS in the 700 was a beast. I sold it when we moved from Georgia. Fast forward 5 years Now I live in Tucson, my wife and I made several trips to Glamis with friends and we are pretty hooked. We both love the dunes. My friend from Valdosta with the banshee (now also stationed in Tucson)went with us on our last trip. His banshee and my 450r were about equal dragging in the dunes but his bike is only mildly tuned. Sitting around the fire on our last trip I started thinking banshee again. Now it seems like I have a great place to build a fast banshee and give it plenty of open dunes to let it romp. My 450r is a blast in the dunes and it's not going anywhere but I think I am getting the urge to finally buy a banshee and build it to make some serious power. Not a drag bike but a healthy, stout 70-90hp bike that is also duneable. Hopefully this forum is the answer to all of my questions and you guys can steer me in the right direction. So that's my story, if you made it this far, thank you for reading. I'm currently deployed so I have already spent several days pouring over the forum reading about cub builds, reeds, domes, bigger carbs, and overdrive transmissions. I look forward to meeting and learning from you guys. Now to figure out what kinda used banshee to buy....must make plans;) Edited July 4, 2015 by Blackkaz04 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strm Trpr Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Welcome to the HQ. And thank you for making that very easy to read!! 70-90 whp on 91 octane is attainable from a 421cc Serval Cub. You do not need an overdrive trans. Get your stock transmission "Pro Mod'd". 35mm Keihin PWK Carbs w/K&N and Outerwears V-Force 4 Reeds Shearer in frame drag pipes But, before you go big on Powa, I recommend you build the suspension first. You never mentioned if you've actually ridden a Banshee. They definitely do not handle like a Long Travel Honduh 450R. Again, welcome and great read BTW!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camp0429 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Welcome. Lots of usefull info in these pages and lots of helpfull folks. Thanks for your service Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strm Trpr Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Here's a pump gas 421 Serval done by Redline Racing. Keep in mind this was done 3.5yrs ago. http://bansheehq.com/forums/index.php?/topic/150211-redline-ported-serval/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackkaz04 Posted July 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 I have ridden my buddies banshee in glamis a time or two already as well as back east once or twice. Felt very unrefined compared to my modded LT 450r. But the surprise of the power band was there, and it made me grin. I agree, I think suspension if about the first place to start on any quad. Just riding the chop in the dunes on my wife's stock 450r made me greatly appreciate my suspension mods on the 450. That's one area I need to read up on for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebanshee98 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Welcome. Your 450 will always have better handling but you can't beat the power on the banshee. The motors being built now a days are making more power then every before even with smaller carbs on some builds. A few things to look for in a used one would be.. A good straight frame ( check rear part by grab bar to make sure it's not all pointed up, check for cracks bends Ect) Good electrical. Good engine cases that don't have chain wack by the front sprocket. One that runs good is always a plus. Your going to be replacing the cylinders, crank, pipes Ect anyway so if you have good parts to sell that will help fund your new parts bill. More then likely your gonna want a promod trans done then a override since you said you still wanna dune it. You'll prob end up doing a 4-10 mil serval or cub depending on what power characteristics you want out of the motor. It's always better to jump bigger with the motor then what you would normally want. Once you get the hp itch it's hard to stop! You said a good 70-90hp bike... Def go for mid 85-100hp. You'll be happy you did instead of building something and then wanting more power a few months later. Happened to me! Keep researching on here there's plenty of good info to be found. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackkaz04 Posted July 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Welcome. Your 450 will always have better handling but you can't beat the power on the banshee. The motors being built now a days are making more power then every before even with smaller carbs on some builds. A few things to look for in a used one would be.. A good straight frame ( check rear part by grab bar to make sure it's not all pointed up, check for cracks bends Ect) Good electrical. Good engine cases that don't have chain wack by the front sprocket. One that runs good is always a plus. Your going to be replacing the cylinders, crank, pipes Ect anyway so if you have good parts to sell that will help fund your new parts bill. More then likely your gonna want a promod trans done then a override since you said you still wanna dune it. You'll prob end up doing a 4-10 mil serval or cub depending on what power characteristics you want out of the motor. It's always better to jump bigger with the motor then what you would normally want. Once you get the hp itch it's hard to stop! You said a good 70-90hp bike... Def go for mid 85-100hp. You'll be happy you did instead of building something and then wanting more power a few months later. Happened to me! Keep researching on here there's plenty of good info to be found. Thanks for the advice. I am somewhat torn as to what to buy--in the past I have always looked for stock, un-modded bikes before buying. With a banshee though, Seems like I can save a bit of money if I find one that already has an extended swinger, wider a-arms...ect. I'll just sand and powdercoat if need be. Are there any pipes out there that would work on a 421 build that would be a solid setup for mid to high range power that wouldn't need to be replaced if they came with a used bike? What should I look for- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strm Trpr Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Hey man, here's a good example of what to look for in a modded bike. http://bansheehq.com/forums/index.php?/topic/181738-fs-1996-banshee-485cc-cheeto-pv-3600offer-buffalo-ny/ Just look around and be patient. Save some scratch in the meantime. Lots of nicely modded banshees pop up for sale from time to time. I very rarely see them for more than $4k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackkaz04 Posted July 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Cool. Thanks, I'll be searching and reading, already found hilarious threads on which exhaust it best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprinklerman Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Welcome! It's nice to have a new member who can form a complete, readable sentence. This will be a fun hobby for you,,, if you like wasting cash. Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackkaz04 Posted July 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Welcome! It's nice to have a new member who can form a complete, readable sentence. This will be a fun hobby for you,,, if you like wasting cash. Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk Hah, I find using time to form actual sentences usually draws a better response from the more knowledgable and mature audiences on a forum. Hopefully I can keep this build to a reasonable budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprinklerman Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Hah, I find using time to form actual sentences usually draws a better response from the more knowledgable and mature audiences on a forum. Hopefully I can keep this build to a reasonable budget. Awesome. There's a lot of knowledgeable guys on here, some been at it since the beginning, so feel free to ask away. Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne_smith97 Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Hah, I find using time to form actual sentences usually draws a better response from the more knowledgable and mature audiences on a forum. Hopefully I can keep this build to a reasonable budget. Your budget will be blown. Once you get started, there is always more you will want. Whatever you are planning on spending, add a third to a half more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickedcarbine Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 Hah, I find using time to form actual sentences usually draws a better response from the more knowledgable and mature audiences on a forum. Hopefully I can keep this build to a reasonable budget. Ya don't say...... And the other 2/3 of folks who sign up and leave after a few weeks can't seem to grasp this concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprinklerman Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 Ya don't say...... And the other 2/3 of folks who sign up and leave after a few weeks can't seem to grasp this concept.2/3?? Somebody is feeling optimistic today. .. Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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