Ok, here is the deal.

I owned a 2000 banshee with some minor mods: pro-circuit pipes, two in to one intake, nice wheels and tires setup for all around riding. The bike was pretty fast GPS'd at about 85mph give or take a few. Anyway, I sold this quad about a year ago to a friend and I'm looking a buying a new quad. I test rode the raptor when I owned my banshee and I didn't like it that much. So here are my questions:

1) Does the feel of these newer 450 class bikes feel the same as the raptor?
2) Is there a wider powerband on these newer bikes? I really liked the tire shreding highend howl of the shee.
3) How does the bigger bikes such as the DS BAJA or Preditor compare to the shee. (all around)

I know I'll be able to adapt to any one of these type bikes but would like some opinions compared to the shee. So, Im in a battle on which quad to purchase. I'm not sure if I want to get another shee or get a 4 stroker. So I need some fellow riders (who may have switched) help me out deciding. Thanks.


On a side note as I read about trail riding banshees: If you guys think you can't trail ride a banshee you are mistaken. It's all rider.... I've ripped on all kinds of quads doing hill climbs, wooded trails and smoked them in the dunes. The only thing I noticed the banshee having slight problems with would be real wet trail riding where you really need low end traction and power. Here is where I rode my shee all the time. www.badlandsoffroad.com

 

Mike, welcome to the forums.

I am 43 and have ridden Banshees plenty of times. I have a Raptor and a YFZ along with an LT250 I've ridden forever. The Raptor is nice and comfy and great to cruise on, but when you start riding more aggressively it begins to show it's faults. Not to say they can't be corrected with better suspension.

The YFZ has huge power bottom to top. I thought it would feel too small (I'm 6') but it really doesn't. I am however going to put a handlebar riser on it.

After having the YFZ for a while, now when I get on a Banshee it feels like an old tractor (chassis wise). Sorry Banshee guys that's just me. If you like to ride aggressively whether dunes or trails I just think the YFZ is very hard to beat. Some people complain about the hard seat, but I can put 3 hours straight on mine and it doesn't really bug me.

 

test ride a pread, trx450r and the yfz450. I think you would be happy with any of thes quads. keep in mind that the 450's are tuned more for raceing then trail rideing.

 

1. No they feel different than a Raptor to me By far. A Raptor is a great bike and a somewhat comfortable ride where the 450 class bike are not quiet as comfortable and are turned more to race than just casual crusing.
2. They Do have a much broader powerband than most than a shee but they still dont have that 2-stroke "hit" as some people like to call it.
3. The DS is a great cruiser and great bike to ride, I myself love them but in the woods they size will hinder them when comared to a predator or shee. As for the pred I have never ridden one so I cant speak on its behalf

 

i am 17 but ive had and rode all youve named...
450's well if you want a comfortable and soft ride dont get one
ds650 most comfortable and best suspension on a stock quad you will ever find
raptor tons of low end but too tippy
banshee suspension sucks but motor and power wise best one around
predator breaks all the time
even though the ds is heavy and big i weigh 185 and i can handle it like i do my banshee i miss my ds alot..i traded it for a banshee..
for trails i would defenitly reccomend the raptor or banshee...raptor b/c it has the power to get through the trails..and banshee just because they are fun as hell to ride in the woods period you should try it..but anyother questions just PM me like i said i have owned all of them..besides predator but rode it enough not to want one...

 

Nice thread header! I am 31 and the best hillclimber I have personally seen is a Banshee. I've seen them rip up hills in the woods that made me shake to even look at them! The cons to them are they have little ground clearance, gotta keep em screamin in the RPM's for that power (you probably like that don't ya!), and I personally don't think they are as reliable as the 4 strokes. Have you considered a Z400? They are great trail bikes, have good power, and many mods are available. Unfortunately the Banshee is so unique, you are probably not going to find anything that compares as much as you like.

 

No the 450 doesn't feel like a raptor- more like a 250R It has a lower center of gravity very stable. If you do so trail riding it is very rough but if you fly down trails it soaks up all the ruts you think are going to hurt. With a pipe and K&N filter it pulls hard from bottom to the rev limiter.

 

Thanks guys,

I'm 33 and am looking for a change I guess. There is a place local to me selling a 04 predator "troy lee edition" for $4,999 and I'm going to look at it but I never rode one. I haven't totally decided on any model but my riding style is kind of an all around style. Not really into the big air stuff but mostly extreme hills, water crossings, mud, sand and actual dune riding. Some of the hill climbs are tall about 40 to 70ft at least. The banshee would scream up those hills but you are right about the low ground clearance during trail and log crossings. I guess my main worry is spending money wisely on something that will last. Also something that will be easy to find parts down the road. The banshee has such a long run there are tons of parts to be found. How does that zuk400 hang with the big bores?

 

If you are truly considering the Predator I would get an 05 because they will add reverse. A buddy of mine has a Predator and races XC, but he doesn't like it because of the width. It is a powerful quad though. As far as the Z is concerned out of the box it is not the racer that the 450R and YFZ are, but are one heck of a trail machine. Suzuki is rumored to be coming out with a pure racing bike that has the RMZ-450 engine in it. When is not known for certain, but credible sources that I know mentioned next summer and hopefully at the ATV Expo in Louisville the 16th Suzuki will make it official. From what I have heard if you want a quick revver like the Banshee then the closet 4 cycle would probably be the YFZ. If you want a torque monster got with the Z400. With a one down front sprocket it is hard to keep the nose down it has so much torque.