Does a Banshee have a thermostat to control the engine heat like a car does?
If not, does adding a larger/ more efficient radiator affect the performance notably?

 

To know what temp your coolant reaches, do like honda (the SX/Outdoor MX racing team...not the 400EX), just put a temp sticker on your radiator. They're yellow with a line of withe spots (with corresponding temps) that change color once you reach a certain temperature. You'll know what has been the maximum. That's quite a smart (and inexpensive) idea they had.

 

No the Banshee does not have a thermostat, cooant is always flowing. Yes a larger radiator will give you better cooling. Try www.toomey.com One other option would be to get a cool head. Not only will this help with your cooling(my buddies has not overheated since he got his), but you can also get a significant perofrmeance gain through the use of smaller domes for compression.

RoostKing...

 

I haven't overheated at all, and it's 100% stock...it depends on your ride.

 

So what your saying is that the temp is regulated by how hard you ride, how fast you are going, and the amount of cooling area. Correct?
Then is there a chance of it running too cool if you add a bigger radiator and not run it that hard?

 

"regulated" is maybe a big word, but for sure if you ride in 1st gear wood trails, clutching frequently (revving the engine), you will more probably overheat than someone who rides open trails at a certain speed. Here in quebec, it's not very hot (around 0 Celsius now), and I do little ultra technical trails. Maybe this explains why I haven't overheated. Other people have, so it does happen. See it for yourself. Ride, and if you see coolant coming out by the radiator (I guess that's what happens), change it for a bigger one. I won't spend in a radiator change since I had no problems. On the other hand it's true that if it's too cold, it won't work very well...and the stock is already long anough to get hot.
Use the little sticker technique, see how hot it went, and then see if it's better changing it or not.
You don't need to change your radiator if it's a matter of 5 degrees. You can put on those hose/radiators. They work fine and lower the temp 5-10 degrees.

 

Wouldn't the thermostats be better, because when the temp. increases it will open and let the coolant flow to the rad to get cooled off...why do they have a full-time flowing system??. Do you need to change the coolant often?? I'm just wondering.

 

I think that with that with the Banshee being a 2 cylinder 2 stroke, it is better to let the coolant flow all the time. As far as overheating, You dont need to get a new radiator just cause you overheat once in awhile. You may not ever overheat in fact. The only reason I have ever over heated was because we are trying to come out of some pretty steep holes at the Dunes in Walden, Co;. Usually 1st gear pinned, so it builds plenty of heat fast. The Cure. Sit for a few minutes and let it cool. Youll be good to go again. I usually have to refill my overflow on my banshee 2 times in a week when camping at the dunes, and only when riding REALLY HARD and outting the venerable Banshee through its paces(as if there was any other way)

RoostKing

 

I find it funny how people say Banshees always overheat. I ride at Glamis all the time and never fill the over flow bottle or radiator. I have ridden there when it's been 105+ and didn't have any coolent on my pipes. If you race up Oldsmobile for a couple of passes your motor is going to be hot. I would flush your coolent and add fresh stuff if you ever over heat. I did add one cap full of Redline water wetter a while back.

 

I totally agree Dune Pilot. I hear of this all the time regarding overheating on the Banshee. Like I said, I have only over heated a few times, and thats in the dead of summer, climbing some(or should I say trying at times) very steep hills. For normal riding and racing up and down, overheating is generally not a problem at all. In fact, I am getting a cool head not for the ability to dissipate heat(although that is a plus), I am mainly going for the performance gain.

RoostKing...

ps. My other buddy also runs Watter Wetter in his and has no problems