162stunna Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 ive always loved banshees and now i got tha money 2 get 1 but i was wondering if they are relaible bikes that i can ride every week like my 400 and not have 2 worry about engine problems thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiftdT4R Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 If you get one that was not abused, and you keep up on regular maintenance then of course!!!! I see too many people buy the first cheap junk bike they see, and then wonder why they have a ton of problems. Banshees arent as forgiving as other bikes when it comes to tuning them. Wrong jetting = blow piston. People beat the crap out of them a lot of times, never jet them right, and then unload them. Just like a lot of other bikes. I have had great luck with both my Banshees, but I keep up on oil/fluid changes. When a bolt falls out, or a chain skid goes I replace it. I just rebuilt my 2001 last year. All it really needed was a top end after 6 years of riding, but I did a total rebuild on it. My 02 is super reliable too. The only thing Ive ever done was misc. bearings here and there, but thats about it. Jetting is going to be your biggest issue. If you can stay on top of that, and have the right jetting then 90% of the mainetnance is done. That said, a 400ex to a Banshee is going to be a big jump. Completely different animal. I rode a 400ex a few summers back and I wasnt a big fan, the engine was pretty sluggish and handled like a tank. But, it is an insaely reliable bike from what I hear from my buddies that have them. It's always going to be a trade off, the faster you go, the more work your going to have to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
162stunna Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 If you get one that was not abused, and you keep up on regular maintenance then of course!!!! I see too many people buy the first cheap junk bike they see, and then wonder why they have a ton of problems. Banshees arent as forgiving as other bikes when it comes to tuning them. Wrong jetting = blow piston. People beat the crap out of them a lot of times, never jet them right, and then unload them. Just like a lot of other bikes. I have had great luck with both my Banshees, but I keep up on oil/fluid changes. When a bolt falls out, or a chain skid goes I replace it. I just rebuilt my 2001 last year. All it really needed was a top end after 6 years of riding, but I did a total rebuild on it. My 02 is super reliable too. The only thing Ive ever done was misc. bearings here and there, but thats about it. Jetting is going to be your biggest issue. If you can stay on top of that, and have the right jetting then 90% of the mainetnance is done. That said, a 400ex to a Banshee is going to be a big jump. Completely different animal. I rode a 400ex a few summers back and I wasnt a big fan, the engine was pretty sluggish and handled like a tank. But, it is an insaely reliable bike from what I hear from my buddies that have them. It's always going to be a trade off, the faster you go, the more work your going to have to do. actually i have a z400 but ive ridden banshees before and i liked the power they had and do u have to be rejetting often or once u get it right its good for a while?? and im looking to buy a 06 so it wont have that much years of abuse to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiftdT4R Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 actually i have a z400 but ive ridden banshees before and i liked the power they had and do u have to be rejetting often or once u get it right its good for a while?? and im looking to buy a 06 so it wont have that much years of abuse to it My bad, I havent ridden a z400. But I ass-u-me they arent far off of a 400ex. Once you have the jetting figured out you should be good for a long time. But as soon as you get the bike Id take apart the carbs and bee 100% certain its correct. I clean my carbs once a year, but that's a little anal, you could probably let them go every other year as long as your run it enough. An 06 should be in good shape and have less abuse then some of the older clunkers out there. Use the search too, somebody posted up a guide on what to look for when buying a used bike. But basically make sure all the seals/gaskets look clean, and theyre not leaking, check the wheel carrier/hub bearings for play. And make sure all the fluids are filled. Usually if you talk to the owner you can kind of tell whether he took care of it, or just beat the hell out of it. If you ask him about the jetting, and he feeds you a line like "ohh these bieks will run on water" or if he tells you "this thing will do 100 mph" Id stay away, it's some dumbass who ruined the bike and is trying to unload it. Good luck, and if you do pick it up post up some pics!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
162stunna Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 My bad, I havent ridden a z400. But I ass-u-me they arent far off of a 400ex. Once you have the jetting figured out you should be good for a long time. But as soon as you get the bike Id take apart the carbs and bee 100% certain its correct. I clean my carbs once a year, but that's a little anal, you could probably let them go every other year as long as your run it enough. An 06 should be in good shape and have less abuse then some of the older clunkers out there. Use the search too, somebody posted up a guide on what to look for when buying a used bike. But basically make sure all the seals/gaskets look clean, and theyre not leaking, check the wheel carrier/hub bearings for play. And make sure all the fluids are filled. Usually if you talk to the owner you can kind of tell whether he took care of it, or just beat the hell out of it. If you ask him about the jetting, and he feeds you a line like "ohh these bieks will run on water" or if he tells you "this thing will do 100 mph" Id stay away, it's some dumbass who ruined the bike and is trying to unload it. Good luck, and if you do pick it up post up some pics!!! Alrite thanks for all the advice and I'll post pics up if I can find a nice 1 thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
162stunna Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 My bad, I havent ridden a z400. But I ass-u-me they arent far off of a 400ex. Once you have the jetting figured out you should be good for a long time. But as soon as you get the bike Id take apart the carbs and bee 100% certain its correct. I clean my carbs once a year, but that's a little anal, you could probably let them go every other year as long as your run it enough. An 06 should be in good shape and have less abuse then some of the older clunkers out there. Use the search too, somebody posted up a guide on what to look for when buying a used bike. But basically make sure all the seals/gaskets look clean, and theyre not leaking, check the wheel carrier/hub bearings for play. And make sure all the fluids are filled. Usually if you talk to the owner you can kind of tell whether he took care of it, or just beat the hell out of it. If you ask him about the jetting, and he feeds you a line like "ohh these bieks will run on water" or if he tells you "this thing will do 100 mph" Id stay away, it's some dumbass who ruined the bike and is trying to unload it. Good luck, and if you do pick it up post up some pics!!! Alrite thanks for all the advice and I'll post pics up if I can find a nice 1 thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
162stunna Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Ohh and another question I heard the banshee waste a lot of gas do u have an idea of how long it will last? Stock or hooked up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjv420 Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 (edited) Mine is stock, and it really depends what type of riding your doing. I ride mine alot on the backroads to friends house and I use quite a bit of gas because im close to full throttle the whole ride. I can make one of those rides last give or take +-10 miles. I find a tank of gas goes pretty far just messing around the house, goofing off and whatnot. Good luck on finding your first banshee. Edited August 13, 2008 by Mjv420 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
162stunna Posted August 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Mine is stock, and it really depends what type of riding your doing. I ride mine alot on the backroads to friends house and I use quite a bit of gas because im close to full throttle the whole ride. I can make one of those rides last give or take +-10 miles.I find a tank of gas goes pretty far just messing around the house, goofing off and whatnot. Good luck on finding your first banshee. Yeh I usually do wheelies on the street to get to the woods and get back home but then ride tight trails the rest of the time and I'm looking 4 a stock 1 because I've heard there a lot easier 2 do tricks on so I don't think it will be that bad thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragbanshee Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Yeh I usually do wheelies on the street to get to the woods and get back home but then ride tight trails the rest of the time and I'm looking 4 a stock 1 because I've heard there a lot easier 2 do tricks on so I don't think it will be that bad thanks for the help Buy a clean stock one and they are reliable as long as they are set up right and taken care of. Find one and if your not sure about it get back with us and maybe we can help you decide on it, or atleast point you in the right direction as to what to look for, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2strokespirit Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 (edited) I've been in enduro/cross country racing for a long time now racing my banshee, These 350 twin yamies are one of the most reliable 2 strokes out there, even with the abuse it just keeps on going, as long as you have a good air filter which keep sand out and your jetting is good with good oil you have a hell of a combination.. Edited August 14, 2008 by 2strokespirit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
162stunna Posted August 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 alrite thanks for all the help everybody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamRealtreeHD Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Yes, they are hands down a tough ass 2 stroke for sure. I know my cousin has a 2000 and he tried to blow it up for a few weeks and just gave up trying. They are definately tough if you take care of them for sure. Good luck on your search getting one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYUK Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 heres more advice. never and i mean never take a sleeping pill and a laxative before you go to bed. you only do it once.let me tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtydownunder Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 i spoze they do use a bit of fuel in 20hrs ive used around 100lt (26.4 gallons) and the first 10 or less hours were with totaly stock shee, so imagine a ported shee with big carbs (i only have t5s 280 mains and toomey airfilter) . i couldnt be stressed buying some one elses fuck up so i bought a new one. i think there reliable just look after them when your not thrashing the shit out of them. i didnt buy a banshee to plod along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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