Hello atv fellows.
I'm a new atv rider (former mx) and I got a 98 banshee. I imagined a monster undrivable because of its power. I got everything wrong. I'm sorry for all you banshee lovers, but the engine sucks (sorry for this last word, but that's the only way I can explain what I'm feeling). Having a nice torquey engine is nice, but when it gets to high end power...nothing. It really feels strange and doesn't give any power feeling. Maybe a 500 quad racer would have been a good machine.
I'm really disappointed by this engine (though the chassis is great).
So all you little guys that say "i got a 00 stock banshee and it blasts off...just ride a 125 mx bike...you'll understand what sport is all about

 

Sounds to me like its not running right. Maybe try putting the other spark plug in j/k hehe

When I got my Banshee, I thought the powerband was way to narrow, which caused you to shift constantly. If you weren't in the powerband it was totally gutless.

But once I bought pipes and silencers for it, it really woke up the motor. Now the powerband is much wider, and has a LOT more power on tap. I couldn't believe how much power the stock exhaust cost me.

Before I bought the Banshees (87 & 99) I was riding a XCR 600 (triple cylinder) snowmobile, which by the way would make that 125 mx bike your talking about, seem extremly slow in comparison.

Now that I have a Banshee, I have been very satisfied with the power once the pipes where put on. Well for now anyways.

87 Banshee
99 Banshee

 

Let me get this straight, you think the engine sucks and the chassis is great? I am sorry but you have no credibility with me whatsoever. Besides, comparing dirt bikes to atvz is apples to oranges. Quite possibly your Banshee is running on one cylinder and you don't know it. A 125 would definately be faster that that.

 

Get pipes and jetting and you'll be out running 250 mx bikes. The stock pipes suck!

 

Yeah, pipes make a whole lotta difference. Your Banshee will really wake up.

 

I have raced a rm125 vs banshee, both piped, and the banshee walks all over the rm. and its 6 years older than the rm. are you just not brave enough to hold it pinned?

 

Then don't buy any of the other atv's currently out there you will really be dissappointed. Everytime i get the chance to drive the awesomely powerful Banshee I jump at it. I have not driven a faster stock quad in my life. I can't imagine not being happy with the power. Maybe adding some thing to make it a broader power range on it but other than that , to me there is nothing that compares to flying through the gears and hearing that awesome wail that accompanies a ride on the Banshee. If i lived in an area that one would be able to use the full potential of a Banhee one would be parked right next to mt Sportsman.

 

Try a XR 400 and see what feeling you get.
That is speed.

 

I dont see how u say the chasis is great i had 2 banshees and the frames are junk. They bend to easy. Also the blue plastics look good but one slight tap and a nice white mark appears.
Check the plugs also check the cylinder pressure on each side made you blew a ring on one side. The pressure test will tell if if the pistions are bad.

 

OK.

From what everyone has answered, I guess I will jump in the engine to check everything over.
I suppose i'm running on 1 cylinder.
Just to answer to I don't remember who that said Iwasn't opening the throttle enough. Wide open. for 30 seconds. without changing gear. Is that enough ? Ishould have got to the over revv range. I didn't. The engine stopped revving (at what I would call a mid range sound), just did't want to go higher.

Sorry if some of you were shocked by what I said, but I needed to know if my banshee was messed up or not. It is. See you later (after some fixing)

thanks for all the answers (even the mean ones)