HOwdie,

Let me first state this. I do not own a banshee and have always shyed away b/c of their cooling capacities and such a small/sharp power curve.

Here lately, I've been pondering adding a second quad to the stable and the FMF 400 kit got me tinking.

I am wanting opinions from you fellow banshee owners.

If you use the kit, are the advantages worth the $2000?

In your opinion, is the kit a "DUD"? Is it going to perform for the $$ spent?

Would a person be better off having some "other" shop perform port work....etc..etc......Or would the FMF 400 kit suffice?

Whats a Banshees limit on 93 oct. gas? How far can you take a banshee b/f you have to start dilling out the $$$$ for 100, 104 or 110 oct?

I did'nt want to drown you w/ too many ???'s

Thanks for your time, it's appreciated.

EC

 

I don't have the FMF400 kit, but according to the dyno chart in dirtWheels it makes 55 hp and does so over a pretty wide range.If I had the money I would do it.

 

After really looking at the whole picture, I am not to sure I would run right out an get this kit. It only makes 55 or so ponies and the 2 grand you spend is just the start. You need new carbs and air filters, FMF pipes, and you lose your airbox. I am pretty sure that there are better engine packages for a lot less. The power curve doesn't look all that impressive to me.

 

Here is something that yall have not mentioned. The 2$K is for the cylinder, head, and reeds/cages. So the horsepower is raised, but the crank is still stock. I bet we here about a lot of twisted and broke cranks from this kit. And the kit will cost more close to 3$K. You will still have to go out and buy carbs. and a intake. I dont think this kit is going to sell like hotcakes. I think my 370 longrod setup will be competive with the 400. Plus it did not cost a fortune and I got shift mods, crank trued and welded, gears and shifters inspected, the whole nine yards. I would go with a kit that is less expensive and spend the rest of the money on handling! Just my thoughts though!

 

I dont know if they are worth the price, But I will hopefully be able to test ride one this spring. When I do I will post a message about how it does..

 

Look at the dyno chart.
It's the ONLY aftermarket kit that has more lowend power than stock. Has more lowend, more peak...if I had 3000$(cdn) laying beside me, I would get it without a doubt. But it is very expensive...I thikn I'll rather go with a normal 400/420. If I could afford to spend this amount of money for cylinders, I would do it...but it's almost the price I bought the complete bike...

 

Howdie Yall,

My basic concern, is will the FMF 400 Mod take 93 oct pump gas????????????

I would really like to know how far you can take a banshee b/f Race gas is a "need"?????????

Really, the cash is and is not an issue? I would'nt mind finding a nice used banshee for $2K and dumping 4K in it. I would have a very nice quad. Remember; I cant do all the cool polish/paintjob/chrome accessories Banshee's b/c I trail ride. From what I have gathered so far, I could build a fairly nice quad for $4K

I want to be able to get the most possible power out of her w/ 93 oct........I dont particularly want to dish out the $$$ for race gas every time I ride.

I appreciate all previous posts,

Thanks,

EC

 

What in the world could you get for $2k? I think you're in for a rude awakening if you think a $2k used Banshee is going to be in decent shape. Out here in AZ, you can't even touch one used for less than $3500, which is usually an pre-'90 J-arm unit with a lot of time on it.

Most people don't realize how easy it is to get about 50 hp from a motor with stock porting. Good pipes, shave the head 0.040" and put a 4 degree timing key in it. Pro flow filter, boyesen reeds (not a rad valve or a complete cage - their a waste of money). Get rid of the airbox lid, slap some 300 - 320 mains in it and raise the needles a notch. It'll run on 93 octane, but a little octane boost for safety is wise. And no, it won't overheat. Anyone with that problem must be running too lean. Go to mobiledyno.com for lots of dyno info on common mods. You'll be surprised how easy it really is.

Lastly, the FMF kit was tested as a bolt on. The cylinders were not ported. Wait untill you see those cylinders after some port work... If a good 250 mx motor can pump out over 40 hp stock, why wouldn't the FMF kit be capable of at least 70 hp?? It's really just two 200cc cylinders. I think we've only seen the tip of the iceberg so far.

 

SandManBlue,

I was just throwing together some quick #'s. I've already been looking on the cycle trader website for about 2 weeks now and you are very much so correct on the $$$ of a used machine. I was expecting to spend $3k-$4K.

It looks as though this FMF kit will be pretty hot, even though the price is a litte steep. This kit is actually what drew my attention to the banshee. Do you think that this kit will handle 93 octane?..........If things work out well, I may bite the bullet and run Race gas if it takes that to fun the FMF kit.

By the time I drop the $$$ for the FMF kit, Pipes, carbs and whatever else it takes to run the kit, I'm only gonna be about $1k from bustin my budget.

I've got some thinking to do.............

Thanks for the time,

EC

 

I might be wrong, but, I believe I read in the dirtwheels article they did on the FMF kit, it said that it came with 10cc domes, and that if you want to run race gas you can change the domes. With that in mind I believe you would be fine running pump (93) gas. The only thing that bothers me about the kit, is it says that you need to use air filters that clamp on directly to the carb. For those of us that ride woods alot, this will not work. You hit one puddle and your filters are soaking wet. I wonder if you could keep the stock airbox with the FMF kit. Anyone know?