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Buying a Banshee...


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I just noticed that this site seems to have tons of info, so I thought I'd join in!

 

I've got a couple questions on buying my first Banshee (currently riding a Warrior). First of all, there isn't much to choose from around here right now...I managed to find a '99 that is totally stock other than a set of tires and rims (stockers are included). Looks to be in good shape, just typical scratches on plastic, never rolled though. My concern is that it has some serious hesitation. I had to hit the throttle a couple times to get it up and going...after in gear and running, it went like crazy though. Thinking back, we didn't really let it warm up...do these things need a few minutes before they run well?

 

Other than that, the 'shee looks like a decent ride. His bottom dollar is $2500. After looking around...and not finding much of anything to compare with, it seems like a reasonable price. What do you think?

 

I checked out the link to tips on buying a Banshee, so if I go back, I'll hit all those areas as well.

 

Any help here would be great!!

Thanks.

-Mike

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I just noticed that this site seems to have tons of info, so I thought I'd join in!

 

I've got a couple questions on buying my first Banshee (currently riding a Warrior). First of all, there isn't much to choose from around here right now...I managed to find a '99 that is totally stock other than a set of tires and rims (stockers are included). Looks to be in good shape, just typical scratches on plastic, never rolled though. My concern is that it has some serious hesitation. I had to hit the throttle a couple times to get it up and going...after in gear and running, it went like crazy though. Thinking back, we didn't really let it warm up...do these things need a few minutes before they run well?

 

Other than that, the 'shee looks like a decent ride. His bottom dollar is $2500. After looking around...and not finding much of anything to compare with, it seems like a reasonable price. What do you think?

 

I checked out the link to tips on buying a Banshee, so if I go back, I'll hit all those areas as well.

 

Any help here would be great!!

Thanks.

-Mike

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Yeah, you should let it warm up for about 5 minutes...let it sit there and idle. 2 strokes run like crap when they're cold, at least mine does. :D

 

If it still hesitates after it's warm, you more than likely need to rejet your carbs or maybe just a good cleaning. Hesitation usually signifies a lean condition, so depending on what range of throttle it hesitates depends on which jet needs to be changed, or for that matter which setting the needle needs to be on.

 

Welcome to the HQ and good luck with getting your banshee! :cheers:

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First of all, welcome! This site is a great place for banshee info. Just watch out for some of the jerks. :ph34r: But there's only a few of 'em, most of the peeps here are great. :cheers:

 

Going from a warrior to a shee, you're going to notice a lack of torque...like it just doesn't want to go right at first, but when it does--hold on! Is this the first shee you've ridden? They do need a good warm-up b4 ya go riding. Did it spit and sputter at all, or just bog? If it rev'd up and then started to go, clutch might be suspect.

 

$2500 for a stock 99 might be a bit steep. Where in colorado are you? I'm in the Loveland/Berthoud area. Seems like there are usually quite a few of 'em in the papers around here. :shrugani: Good luck.

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Mine does the same exact thing when it's cold, starts up great but not happy running over 4 or 5k. You really need to let them warm up good. I've heard you can cold seize them by reving them too much when they're cold. I'd give it a good 2 or 3 minutes, then just take it kinda easy for a couple minutes before you get into it. If it's stock, the jetting should be good unless somebody screwed around with it, maybe just needs a good cleaning though...

 

and welcome to the HQ! I'm new too and these guys have already helped me out a lot, you're in a good spot here. :cheers:

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Other than that, the 'shee looks like a decent ride. His bottom dollar is $2500. After looking around...and not finding much of anything to compare with, it seems like a reasonable price. What do you think?

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I would snatch that shee up for that price. Get a compression tester, then check the compression in each cylinder and we can tell you if its going to need a rebuild. Sell your warrior to buy some pipes, filter, and reed cages and you will shit yourself :cheers:
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I would snatch that shee up for that price. Get a compression tester, then check the compression in each cylinder and we can tell you if its going to need a rebuild. Sell your warrior to buy some pipes, filter, and reed cages and you will shit yourself :cheers:

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Compression is one of the first things you should check. It might be a tool you don't need all the time but it will tell you ALOT about an engine before buying. the thing about a 2 stroke especially a banshee is when they blow, they blow up. The last banshee engine I had from a blown one had one crank rod sticking in the bottom of the right hand carb and the other rod was sticking out the bottom of the case. Needless to say, if I wasn't already parting it out, I would have ended up parting it out.

Remember that you subtract a minimum of $100 for each defect when negotiating the price. Banshees are expensive to repair so make sure you maintain it and use your money for upgrades.

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I read your post a few times to be sure. It sounds the hesitation was before you tried to turn the wheels. That means you were either in neutral or had the clutch disengaged. I don't see how that can be a clutch issue.

 

Hesitation is pretty normal until they warm up. Two-strokes are also very moody. I noticed you are in Colorado. Altitude affects jetting big time. A bike adjusted for the mountains probably won't run right in the plains. Sometimes a simple fouled plug manifests itself as something a lot worse to a two-stroke newbie. I am not sure if they had it in 1999, but beware of the parking break rev-limiter on the 2003 and later models. That is just annoying to almost anyone. When the parking break rev-limiter is on it will idle like a dream but the moment you give it any gas it dies, bogs or acts funny.

 

You are in the right place for Banshee information, help and assistance...

 

 

-Bill

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Sorry I didn't get back to this post...

I went ahead with the '99 Banshee. I think the hesitation is from two things, one...I didn't let it warm up enough, and two...the guy had a fuel stabilizer in it from the previous winter. I drained out the fuel and put in some fresh premium with Yamalube (thats what he had for me). It ran great after that!

 

Thanks for the help...and I'm already putting this great site to use. There's a ton of knowledge here!

-Mike

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Congratulations on the purchase! Now cancel your cable, telephone and all other non-essentials to save your money. The Banshee has more add-ons than any other ATV ever made (not sure if I can still say "in production" since this is the last year of the Banshee).

 

If the Banshee ever dies the tombstone should read, "Poor sales didn't kill it. Tree huggers did."

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