Banshee, YFZ450, or 450r

[KRMit]

All my friends are telling me to sell my Banshee and get a 450. We ride mostly in sand pits (mainly jumping), trails, and gravel roads. At the start of the next year I want to start racing MX. I love my Banshee very much and I hate to get rid of it, but I don't want it to hold me back either. My experience with a 4 stroke is that the power delivery is smoother and much more predictable in a jump. Jumping is my passion. I recently upgraded my fronts to the Elka Recreational shocks so I dunno if the 450 will still handle better or not, I would imagine so. I've never ridden a YFZ450, but I'm leaning towards it over the Honda. I don't really know the differences in the two though. Listed below are some advantages and disadvantages I can think of.

 

Banshee advantages:

1. Higher top speed.

2. More exhilirating when the powerband snaps on.

3. Banshee name is legendary.

4. I'm doing something unique in my area.

5. I know my Shee very well and it's easy to work on.

6. BansheeHQ

 

450 (r or YFZ) advantages:

1. Handling (better ergonomics, suspension)

2. More controllable power range.

3. Higher reliablity.

4. Half the fuel consumption, no premixing.

 

There are no-doubt more advantages to both, but it's late and my brain isn't completely functioning. I'll also more than likely buy new, so that's also a factor. I expect to get about $3k for my Shee, so that will leave about $3500 to finance. Speaking of which, how much do ya'll think my Shee is worth with the mods listed in my sig?

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I know this is a Banshee message board (which I love being a member of), but please be objective in your replies and votes.

[stclark816]

I voted for keepin the banshee, and gettin a yfz450...... But I dont see that option up there.

[Banshee17Racing]

I've been in your shoes before...but I was just never as serious as it sounds you are. Everyone here locally is on a four stroke, mostly 400EXs. I feel that you should keep the shee unless you're planning on being a serious racer. If you decide to go with a new four stroke, I would stick with the YFZ. It is obviously going to be a better bike for MX compared to the Banshee. But I just hear people saying on here that they would sell the YFZ in a a heartbeat before the shee. Like you said...it would be a lot easier to maintain a four stroke, but I personally feel thats part of riding.

[KRMit]

I voted for keepin the banshee, and gettin a yfz450...... But I dont see that option up there. 

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My wife has a hard time seeing that option as well.

[MudSlinger09]

theyre just pissed because they cant keep up

[Ducman]

The YFZ does jump way better IMO since you said your serious about MX. Although I've never ridden a banshee with extended a-arms/axels and custom suspension in front and back. Your $6500 YFZ is going to cost you $8000 OTD in my neck of the woods.

[blk02banshee]

Keep your banshee and put $3,500 worth of mods on it. Out of all the people I've ridden with that have YFZs, only 1 did'nt break down halfway through a day of riding. I've seen 3 broken cases, 2 fires, a cracked swingarm, and a few mystery problems, so that tells me a lot. They do handle good, though. Maybe they fixed all the problems for 05

[locogato11283]

if you are wantin to jump and shit id go for a yfz450. stay away from the honda whatever you do.

[mat]

The YFZ450 has had some problems. But it is a much more powerful quad than the 450R. The Honda does not respond to upgrades as well as the YFZ. If you want to race competitively and jump, I suggest the YFZ450. I still have trouble getting over how quick my wife's YFZ is. It isn't as thrilling to ride as my Banshee, but if I was going to compete I would want to be on the YFZ, you are handicapping yourself if you race with anything else.

[tithead]

if you are wantin to jump and shit id go for a yfz450. stay away from the honda whatever you do.

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indeed, well said.

[ledofthezep]

Chicks dig banshees.

 

I too would love to have a yfz450, but I dunno I could part with my pride & joy for one.

 

 

Just don't come back to us whining because you miss your banshee.

Edited December 23, 2004 by ledofthezep

[Wassup350]

I'd just get some real good suspension for the SHEE if i were you. I started racing motocross this year and have done real well so far. Dont look at it as the banshee is holding you back. If you start out on a banshee and do good then that means you will be that much better on a yfz if you decide to get one. Just my 2 cents.

 

Merry Chrismas!

[PUSH THE THROTTLE]

450 (r or YFZ) advantages:

1. Handling (better ergonomics, suspension)

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I admit I haven't ridden 450 let alone jumped one but from riding my Banshee and sitting on a yfz on the showroom floor I disagree with the ergonomics I really disliked the 450. If I had the opportunity to ride the 450 I might think otherwise. My banshee with the arms, shortened swinger and Elkas fits me and my riding perfectly, so I say keep the shee.

[Ducman]

The banshee is way more comfortable.

 

Just something I thought I'd throw in for everybody's general info. I talked with a local builder last weekend to schedule a dyno appontment and he was telling me about the YFZ 450's and TRX 450R's he has built. He claims that once you fully build both bikes motors, full system, hi comp pistons, ported heads, cams, ect, even bore the YFZ to a 465 and the 450R on the stock 450 bore size, both bikes run about the same. He said the only difference was that the YFZ would get out of the hole slightly better but the 450r is geared a bit taller in 4th and 5th so it would start pulling on the YFZ in higher gears and had a faster top speed, mainly just gearing differences. He said in stock form the 450 has better suspension though and makes a better track bike, but their both pretty good. Stock for stock though and also piped and jetted the YFZ will hand the 450r is ass every time. I've seen the piped 450r's suck turds going up the drag hill at sand mountain, they are pathetic. Never seen a fully modded 450r in the sand though.

[tithead]

The banshee is way more comfortable.

 

Just something I thought I'd throw in for everybody's general info.  I talked with a local builder last weekend to schedule a dyno appontment and he was telling me about the YFZ 450's and TRX 450R's he has built.  He claims that once you fully build both bikes motors, full system, hi comp pistons, ported heads, cams, ect, even bore the YFZ to a 465 and the 450R on the stock 450 bore size, both bikes run about the same.  He said the only difference was that the YFZ would get out of the hole slightly better but the 450r is geared a bit taller in 4th and 5th so it would start pulling on the YFZ in higher gears and had a faster top speed, mainly just gearing differences.  He said in stock form the 450 has better suspension though and makes a better track bike, but their both pretty good.  Stock for stock though and also piped and jetted the YFZ will hand the 450r is ass every time.  I've seen the piped 450r's suck turds going up the drag hill at sand mountain, they are pathetic.  Never seen a fully modded 450r in the sand though.

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that line at the top is true. any1 with a yfz450 will know where im coming from when i say wait until you have done a day of motox racing on the 450, you will see the banshee is more comfortable. the seat on the banshee is like a feather pillow compared to the seat on the 450. i come off the 450 after a race day with a numb butt!