steering feels stiff

[rigger]

My 00' Banshee feels stiff in the steering. Everything is free and lubed and working fine. Toe is good. When the front end is off the ground steering is free and easy. But when riding, it is like steering a utility atv. Now this is my first Banshee and this is comparing to a 400ex that I also own. The 400's front end is very light feeling and light to steer. It is the only thing I have to compare to.

 

 

Is this just the way that a Banshee steers or is there something that I can do to help? If this is not common to a Banshee, would a slightly bent frame cause this.

 

I have stood her up on the rear grab bar before and looked at the frame. It appears to be straight but it is hard to tell by looking becasue of the way it is made. There are no obvious sighns of frame damage as far as bends or cracks. The lower left a-arm has a small ding in it, but nothing major.

 

Just wondering what you guys think.

 

Thanks.

[wesw]

maybe is just that your peter is stiff from riding??

 

are they arms adjustable or stock

 

you sure you have the bars straight and got a 1/4 of toe in front compared to back.

[lowbuckracing]

Take the two bolts up near the top on the actual steering stem and crack them loose.Shoot some W_D in there and snug back up..The little rubber grommets may need a little love juice...Lowbuckracing

[rigger]

Done all that. Toe is just under a 1/4''. Bars are fine. It has all new tie rod ends on it. Lubed everything. It just feels a lot stiffer when riding than campared to my 400EX. Maybe it is normal steering geometry, I don't know. But if I could find a problem to be fixed, that would be great.

[Bill]

The bearing on the bottom of the stem is good?

what about the balljoints on the a-arms are they tight?

[rigger]

All of the moving parts and free, work and move just fine.

 

From the sounds of the way you guys are talking, a stiff steering Banshee is not normal. So I am guessing that I have a problem.

 

I will have to keep checking it over untill I find something. With the front end off of the ground, steering is light and free. It is only when you are moving that it feels stiff. Kind of like when you get on the pavement with your atv, you know how it gets harder to steer. That is kind of what it feels like in the dirt. Not that bad but not to far from it.

 

I had a friend that had a Banshee years ago said his was the same way.

[Bill]

If everything is good then I would'nt worry about it.You don't want it real loose anyways.

[rigger]

well then I guess tha is just the way she is suppose to be.

[2001Stroker]

Mine was stiff as hell, too. The guy that had the bike before me powdercoated everything, including the steering stem. It was never taped off where it goes into the bottom bushing, or where the collar up top bolts around it. I took it completely off, sanded the PC off in those spots, and put anti-seize all over those spots. Steers like a dream now. Just another thought.