What's the best year 'Zilla to get? I've heard there were some things (if you bought a stock one) that needed fixing, as far as reliability--is this true? Can they be made as reliable as a 250?
I sold my '87 LT250, wanting a 500..it's either a LT500 or a Banshee- and I am really not wild about owning a banshee (too many of them around!!)
Also- does anyone know a baseline price for these things? From my preliminary searching, it seems around $2500-up, with most nicer ones going for around $4k. Is this accurate? I plan on buying around January, whatever i decide..
Thanks-
Greg Coats

 

Well i have an 87 Quadzilla. check out the link below for pics of my 500. I have an 87 and some people said they have had problems blowing head gaskets. I didnt have any problems with my head gasket. The 88-90 had an extra head stud put on them to fix this problem. Also the 87 had more compression than the 88-90 bikes. The stock swing arms are junk i have had an lt250 and my zilla now both stock swing arms cracked. Get a good after maket one if you do alot of jumping. Also rear bearing wear out fast on these bikes. so u also may want to get an aftermarket carrier like a tapered or dual row. These bikes are great but be ready to fix things as you ride. This bike rattles apart. I have lost some major bolts while riding. Like the front caliper bolt, head of the motor bolts. Just keep up on the maintenance and the bike will last. email me if you have any other questions on 500s i know a lot about them.

 

I have a '90 and I have typically avoided the '87 model for a couple of reasons. The '87 six-bolt head was changed to seven-bolt due to head gasket blowouts. I have heard that early models have a tendancy to wear out crank bearings quickly and the case material (aluminum?) was changed in the later models to eliminate this problem. The manual says the reed valve was changed from the '87 model, but I don't know why. Also the upper front a-arms were changed but also don't know why. Maybe they wouldn't have changed these things unless there were problems? BUT I have heard that '87 model has more compression and horsepower...
Addict

 

we sold my dads 87 zilla.But it was extremely reliable.It blew up once frome running it a little lean.It was extremly fast.We never had a problem with head gaskets.He used to have a 90 with a LRD big bore kit in a LT250r frame and the only prob with it was 3rd gear kept going out. we sold my dads for 2500. IT had new plastic new seat cover fresh topend.New hinson clutch basket. and a FMF pipe/silencer,dg nerfs/bumper and 20/12/10 holeshots on ITP .190's.It needed new front wheels bearings though.