New banshee needs better suspension!

[Jayy]

Hi, everyone. I am a new member here making my first post. I have been checking out the HQ for a while, and it seems like a great site. I just bought my first banshee (06 model still all stock) a month ago and I love it. I am not new to riding, but new to the banshee and have been abosrbing as much info as possible here. I had all these grand plans about what my first mods would be. I was looking at pipes, reeds, airbox and filter mods, rejetting (of course), Noss heads, and everything else. So far all I have done is add a PRM frame skid plate, my old set of favorite Renthal handlebars, a case saver/chain guard, and disconnected all of the TORS crap. The bike has ran great so far and is jetted a little rich as you would expect stock. Well, I took my shee out to the local motocross track for some play riding twice and took the beating of my life on the stock shocks!! I am now saying all other mods can wait!! Nothing else needs changed as bad as that suspension!! I do some trail riding and play/motocross riding, but the trails I ride are not very tight for the most part. I am considering the Janssen LT setup on the front. I feel ok with having +3+1 on the front and plan to buy a +4 G Force axle from RMATV as well. I have read every thread and discussion I can find on LT vs standard travel and would like to go for the LT anyway for every little bit of help I can get in extended travel and valving set up. Has anybody used or ridden on this set up from Janssen? Is there excessive bump steer? Please do not suggest I get a 450 for motocross riding. I love this shee and want her to be the best for my purposes. Will the Janssen LT set up allow me to take jumps without cringing about the landing? If I catch even 4 or 5 feet of air right now I drag the frame. Glad I installed that skid plate! I have adjusted the fronts to the stiffest preload setting, done the same with the rear, and raised compression setting to max! The shocks still cant handle it and I only weigh 170 pounds! All help and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[letsgetthisdone]

I've never ridden the Janssen setup so i can't give you input on that. But, my standard travel +2+1 arms with TCS shocks work awesome. I'm sure you would have no problem with parts quality with janssen. But as far as bumpsteer goes, i have no idea. Don't forget to do something about the rearend too, I would suggest an elka rear shock ($900), or an elka LT shock and linkage it ($1500 on ebay).

 

 

Don't waste the money on a reworked stocker, they get hot and then fade very quickly if you ride them hard.

[Jayy]

I've never ridden the Janssen setup so i can't give you input on that. But, my standard travel +2+1 arms with TCS shocks work awesome. I'm sure you would have no problem with parts quality with janssen. But as far as bumpsteer goes, i have no idea. Don't forget to do something about the rearend too, I would suggest an elka rear shock ($900), or an elka LT shock and linkage it ($1500 on ebay).

Don't waste the money on a reworked stocker, they get hot and then fade very quickly if you ride them hard.

 

Thanks, letsgetthisdone. I have heard and read about the reworked stock rear fading too. I will eventually go with the standard travel Elka rear, or the LT travel Elka rear. Wow, are they expensive!!! Do you do any motocross riding with your set up? Which +2+1 a arms do you have? Are you able to jump and land with confidence or do you dread being beaten to death on landing like me? Thanks!

[EastCoast Banshee]

The Janssen LT setup is probably the best handling setup your gonna be able to get on a banshee other that a lobo setup which is ungodly expensive. Honestly i would have got it myself but it showed up on ebay after i had already spent my 1500 on the front end made me sad. Not to mention its LT and the shocks have a good deal more adjustments than mine.

[letsgetthisdone]

I don't ride motocross, but point at a drop-off in the dunes and i'll huck my bike over 3/4's of the way down it...if that tells you anything about bein confident with my setup.

 

I have ASR arms, which are better than a what lot of people are going to say they are. And as for the expense of the elka rear shock, you are already half way there (as far as money goes) by not revalving your stocker.

[Jayy]

Yeah, you guys are right. The Janssen LT set up just BETTER be worth it because it IS a good chunk of change!! I dont even have anyone around here who has a Banshee with aftermarket shocks and arms to try out. There are a couple of guys with banshees at the track, but they have stock shocks and arms and I notice they seem to stick to the trails and do not ride the track very much!!

[Hollister_Hitman]

Yeah, you guys are right. The Janssen LT set up just BETTER be worth it because it IS a good chunk of change!! I dont even have anyone around here who has a Banshee with aftermarket shocks and arms to try out. There are a couple of guys with banshees at the track, but they have stock shocks and arms and I notice they seem to stick to the trails and do not ride the track very much!!

 

I have janssen's mx tech a-arms with elkas shocks. They make a good product (when they make it correct). They have shitty customer service. They sent me some f'd up a-arms and I had to wait 4 weeks to get some replacement ones. The second set was built correct and I love them. Now I don't know about their outlaw setup but their mx tech arms are really good and my bike handles reall really really good compared to stock. I think you are very wise to get some suspension before more power. I also suggest the +4" g-force axle and a -2 swingarm. A -2 swingarm will be the second best mod you will ever do to your shee just behind a new front end. Good luck

[Jayy]

I have janssen's mx tech a-arms with elkas shocks. They make a good product (when they make it correct). They have shitty customer service. They sent me some f'd up a-arms and I had to wait 4 weeks to get some replacement ones. The second set was built correct and I love them. Now I don't know about their outlaw setup but their mx tech arms are really good and my bike handles reall really really good compared to stock. I think you are very wise to get some suspension before more power. I also suggest the +4" g-force axle and a -2 swingarm. A -2 swingarm will be the second best mod you will ever do to your shee just behind a new front end. Good luck

 

Thanks, Hollister. I have looked at several threads and pics of your shee. I am looking at some of the same mods, eventually. A -1 or -2 swinger is definitely in my future. I am thinking of maybe a round housing LSR swinger. I am also considering a DMC 916 or PT mids for a good all around exhaust someday. I like the toomeys and all, but the ones i have heard are LOUD, and I want more low end/mid than the T5 offers, but still keep as much or more top end than stock. How do you like your DMC 916? How loud is it compatred to FMF, Toomey, etc? I guess I should be asking those questions in another topic forum. Did you MX tech a arms and elkas help you out in jumps, landings, confidence in your bike? What shock are you running on the rear? Thanks for your suggestions.

[burleybanshee]

I have the +2+1 arms with elka piggyback comp adjust dune editions on my shee and love them. I got the arms from the manufact. who makes janseens arms. They recommended the +2+1 arms over the lt for the basic reasoning is cost. The lt's give you the ability to have longer shocks so the can install 3 or 4 rated spring set ups. Nicer/cushier ride, but you don't gain more travel. unless you are doing h-bomb type jumps and or are made of money i would stay with +2+1 mx'ers and a nice set of elkas, or other nice shocks. Elkas are nice but they are very proud of them and charge you for it, I got a good deal so I have them.

 

I noticed a huge difference when i put on the a-arms and shocks, night and day. The g outs at the bottom wer not harsh and my old shoulders can handle jumps and drop offs again.

 

I wouldn't suggest huge jumps with the shee. Unless you do a lot of gusting to the frame. A lot of my friends have bent and cracked frames from mx track racing on a stock frame. The banshee wasn't designed for hard core mx'ing. I love my bashee, and use it for its designed purpose, thats why the trx250 ruled for years until the new 4 poke frames using trx geometry came out. Now the 250r are for sale a dime a dozen.

 

The janseen arms and swinger are well made parts and the frame will bend or break normally before they do. If you do mx it I would suggest the anti-vibe steering stem, It took a lot of the jolt out of the handle bars.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[burleybanshee]

I also run the g-force axle. For the price you can't beat it. It's heavier than the stock axle but it will take a lot more abuse. I put billet hubs on the axle to try and reduce some weight.

 

I had fmf's and went to t-5's. Didn't notice a big loss in low end power, did notice middle and top gains comparetively to fmf's. I would recommend the t5 over fmf's. withthe shee natural power band and wanting to rev, if you are not trail riding i would go with a little more of a mid range pipe. I don't know about the dmc's.

[Jayy]

I also run the g-force axle. For the price you can't beat it. It's heavier than the stock axle but it will take a lot more abuse. I put billet hubs on the axle to try and reduce some weight.

 

I had fmf's and went to t-5's. Didn't notice a big loss in low end power, did notice middle and top gains comparetively to fmf's. I would recommend the t5 over fmf's. withthe shee natural power band and wanting to rev, if you are not trail riding i would go with a little more of a mid range pipe. I don't know about the dmc's.

 

Thanks, burleybanshee. Yeah, the G force axle seems like the best bang for the buck and warranty for me. Man, I hope I do not ever crack the frame!! It sounds like you guys are satisfied the quality of the Janssen arms and swinger are good.

[Hollister_Hitman]

Thanks, Hollister. I have looked at several threads and pics of your shee. I am looking at some of the same mods, eventually. A -1 or -2 swinger is definitely in my future. I am thinking of maybe a round housing LSR swinger. I am also considering a DMC 916 or PT mids for a good all around exhaust someday. I like the toomeys and all, but the ones i have heard are LOUD, and I want more low end/mid than the T5 offers, but still keep as much or more top end than stock. How do you like your DMC 916? How loud is it compatred to FMF, Toomey, etc? I guess I should be asking those questions in another topic forum. Did you MX tech a arms and elkas help you out in jumps, landings, confidence in your bike? What shock are you running on the rear? Thanks for your suggestions.

 

I like the amount of power my 916's added but they added all top and mid. I amm hoping to get the paul turner mids this year. I can't compare them to any exhaust other than stock. The a-arms and shocks definitly help with jumps and bumps and are 1000x's better than stock. The stock shocks were a joke

. I am just running a 100% stock shock in the rear. The stock shock seems to work better with the -2 swingarm.

[Washburn]

The LT setup can be good in cirten situations motocros very very long whoops sections, but Ive seen people go back to standered travle for MX and GNCC/ Trail riding after having the LT setup. Sometimes its to much. I would look at a stndered travle setup dont rule that out. Janssen definatly makes quality products though I wouldnt hae a problem running any of their stuff. Also I would never have my rear stocker reworked. Its not worth it when you can save up 00 more and get an Elka Works TCS Axis ect rear. You can look us up and I could work with you on seup options. I can definatly work out a nice deal with you too. Just PM or email me.

 

We sell alot more than shocks too. At great prices.

 

 

As for the DMC 916s I think they are the same type of pipe as the toomey T5s. Ive rode them and couldnt tell much diffrence beteen the two. And they are super loud.

[jlsparky7]

I had the same attitude as you Jayy. The first thing major I bought for my shee was a new front end (see sig). I couldnt be happier. I couldnt pass up the price either. I got a full new front end (shocks, +2+1 arms, s.s. brakelines) for 750 shipped to my door. I think the company posted the wrong price on ebay because they changed it a week later.

 

Now im going after some PT mids, port and polish, and a milled head. Ive done all kinds of research and im headed in the same direction you are. I dont think you could go wrong with the PT mids.

[Jayy]

Thanks, guys. I hope someone will post with riding experience and hopefully owner experience with the Janssen LT package. With what it will cost to buy some new quality made +2+1 arms and tie rods, then comp adjustable dual rate elka shocks, and finally +2 brake lines I could almost have the LT package anyway from what I have seen of prices.