I'm looking to add another Sport Quad to the garage. It's between these three, but....
I'm kinda worried about buying a ten year old quad for obvious reasons, but want one of the kings, you know what I mean. Banshee, I love 'em, but the horror of rebuilding a twin cylinder every once in a while could mean big $$$$. EX, can't think of anything negative, more than a couple friends have 'em and love 'em. I've ridden many, does that "cramped" feeling go away, do you get used to it I mean. I would appreciate any and all input. Thanks

SportKod
99 Polaris Sport
00 Yamaha Kodiak

 

I've had 85-86 250r three wheelers for 7 years now and have had my current one for five without ANY problems other than routine maintenance such as axle bearings. I am not a fan of the Banshee, I think it is way overrated. The Honda TRX250r handles better, is lighter, and the Honda 250cc engine is a bulletproof piece that when stock will beat a stock Banshee in a drag race and when worked will still beat a comparably worked Banshee. Don't get a fourstroke if you are looking for real excitement when riding the twostroke is far superior and they are just as reliable.

 

Stock for stock 250R beating a Banshee? LOL

Even when both have the same amount of mods put into the motor the 250R won't keep up with the Banshee in a drag.

But the 250R will beat the 400 EX in a drag. But I'm sure everyone knows that by now.

87 Banshee
99 Banshee

------------------

 

A stock ATC 250R will match a banshee, but the 4wheeler falls a little short

 

If you can hold off until next year, I'm sure there will be plenty of other options available

600EX?

New Banshee Design?

DS650

more ????

See other threads...

 

If you really love a banshee and your only problem with them is having to rebuild 2 clyinders dont worry, there is a company called Millenium that will NiCaSil coat your cylinder walls. With a slight overbore you will have a cooler running, stronger engine that will never need a new topend. I read about it in an ATV sport issue a couple months back, if you can get your hands on the issue you should read it, it sounds awsome.

------------------

 

Anybody who doesn't believe a stock 85-86 ATC250r in good running condition won't hang with a Bashee in a drag race is dead wrong. I put a Paul Turner Mid/High pipe, a 39mmPWK, a set of reeds on my 85 when I first bought it and without a rebuild I beat two new (at the time) Banshees one had reeds,toomey's, and pistons. The other a cool head, Paul Turner mid/top pipe, reeds. Neither of them could believe it but a Banshee weighs over 400lbs, my ATC only weighs 290lbs, do the math. If I had a buck for every Banshee rider that was amazed when my ATC beat him I could take a year off of work. Believe me or not, thats the facts.

 

John R I agree. When I race Banshee's I lose by about 3 lengths. [not bad for a 4x4 ] Anyway I raced a stock '85 ATC 250R once I got him until about 40 ft or so then he was gone. Real gone!
The Banshee and I were left fighting for 2nd.
c-ya,
ps> My friend has 2 Banshees. They are great quads, but overrated. These goofballs go out and buy them just so they can be the fastest around then act shocked when they find they are not as fast as they thought. Kinda like all the ugly guys that buy a crotch rocket just so they can get a girlfriend.

------------------
Andrew Thomas

'99 Scrambler 400 & '99 Trailblazer, both with RCR mods.



[This message has been edited by Andrew Thomas (edited 12-10-1999).]

 

Agreed Andrew

I am going to have to suggest the 400EX. How big of a guy are you? I am 6'0" and 170~175lbs and the 400 feels sized perfectly for me.

The 400 has almost as much power as a 250R, the power is more controllable (not that I don't like the 2 stroke hit), and personally I think the stock handling and suspension is better than the stock 250R. I feel more comfortable on the 400, feels like I can trust it a bit further than the TRX250R.

Last year when I was trying to decide if I wanted a new bike, I spent a lot of time on my friends bikes at our track, so had a lot of direct 400EX/TRX250R/ATC250R/Sport400L/Banshee side by side comparisons.

The thing I noticed the most about the 400 was the fact that I could nail lap after lap effortlessly, where as on the other bikes I was fatigued much earlier. I didn't want to get off the thing.

I also was able to laydown laptimes approx 3 sec faster (on my friends 400EX) than any other bike, even my own 250R which I have much more experience on and is MUCH faster & lighter than the 400EX.

I now own a 400EX...

Gabe
'86ATC250R
'86ATC350X
'00TRX400EX

 

John r the banshee doesn't weigh over 400 pounds. It only weighs 385. I own a 99' 400ex. I drag raced a modified lt250r in the sand. Both of us had paddles on and at the end of a quarter mile or so we were wheel for wheel. But then again a honda 250r might be faster than a lt250r.
Just my two cents. thanks
Mike