I am looking for some advice. I have a '89 Banshee, and someone has offered to trade me their '90 Suzuki lt500. I love the Banshee, and it is very reliable for me, but I have heard the 500 is quite a ride. I am also aware of the increased maintenance that will need to be done on the 500. Any advice from you experts out there.

 

By no means am I an expert, but used to own a 89' zilla. I never had any real problems with it, other than your typical 2-stroke maintenance. I owned it for about 4 years and changed the piston and rings twice. I didn't change them because the bike was suffering, but because I knew it was time and didn't want the headache of something letting go. The only other item that I replaced was 1st gear. I changed it the second year I had it and was fine after.

All in all the zilla I owned was very relible and extremely fast. I miss her, boo hoo, sniff. I sold her to get the Raptor and regret ever selling it. If I had the chance to do it ll over again, I would have kept the zilla and made payments on the $3500 I sold it for. Actually, if I can find a decent, clean 88'-90 zilla for an avg price, I would buy another one!

One thing you might consider is the handling difference between the two machines (shee - zilla). Though I have never owned a shee, the zilla is not made for mx nor any trail riding, atleast not the way mine was set-up. Now, in the sand, well that's a different story! After riding a zilla in the sand and riding the Raptor in the sand, there is NO COMPARISON!!!! The shee is decent in the sand, but I think my zilla was just more exciting than the see.

Just my $.02 and thoughts, but hoped to have shed some light on your subject.

 

(I would trade).[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

swytak is right. quadzillas were made for the dunes. Wide open top speed is what they're all about. People do race them but they have done alot to the suspension. If you ride in the sand more than the trails or track then go for it(If it is in very good condition)

 

The 'Zilla isn't any good on the trails??? That's quite a broad and misleading statement! The term "trail" covers alot of ground; everything from a tight, slow path through a thick woods to a twenty foot wide fire road with plenty of straight stretches where a fully lifted carb slide is the norm. To tell somebody that a quad is no good for trails is essentially saying it is not an atv at all! Yes, I own one and the only "trail" I've found unsuitable for it is the 5mph (pig monitored) sections through town.

 

Out here "trails" mean ducking in and out of closely-planted trees. Trails usually aren't any wider than 6-7 feet! I just meant that it isn't know for its quick handling but more for its lethal wide open speed. You own one, I don't. I could be wrong. I'm just passing on info that others have told me. Sorry if I misled anyone.

 

my trails aren't any wider than my 300ex! You have 6-7 feet wide TRAILS! Im all in the woods...

anyways, id suggest the LT500 if you're mechanically inclined (and by that i mean, not a boob like me when it comes to your hands on the quad)

 

btodd,

Relax there Big guy! There's always a tough guy in the crowd.

To start, I don't know too many people who consider a "fire road" to be a trail, rather than a "fire road". When I say trails, I mean small paths through woods that are no wider than 6' that weave in and out of trees. These "trails" I speak of are not going to be rode any faster then 20-30mph, if your lucky and a bit nuts.

Yes, I too owned a zilla and it's not made for the trails "I described". It is meant for flying down your "type of trails" or "fire roads" and sand dunes, not winding wooded trails that require alot of slower, on and off the gas type riding, unless you enjoy slipping the clutch the entire ride! The zilla is also a bit wide for tight type trails as well.



If you have ever ridden a 4-stroke in the "trails (I described)" there is no comparison to a 2-stroke. Just as there is no comparison between a 2-stroke in the sand to a 4-stroke. Plain and simple, it's just not as much fun! Not to be confused that it can't be done! You can also build your 2-stroke to be a better woods ride, but it's just more fun to be riding it in more open spaces.

 

swytak its my opinion that its funner riding a 2 stroke through the woods than a 4 stroke. sure the four stroke has more bottom end but i just love the way you can just effortlessly throw around a 2 stroke. i always had more fun on my LT in the trails (and yes i have a few pretty tight trails like the kind you speak of) than it was to be on my friends 400EX. just my opinion though. also i think i'd rather have the zilla in the woods just because of its huge tourqe espesially compared to a banshee. i'd definately trade.

 

My cuz has a LT 500 and he rides tight woods and it all depends on how it is set up.