Does anyone know who won the Baja last year. O yeah the 400ex. Was the 4 stroke? Yes it was. Will the DS compare maybe. The 400ex will always be better then the banshee. I rode the banshee last weekend and i thought it was weak!

 

You know there is a fourwheeler better than and banshee its called the DS 650 and the 400ex.

 

What are you on. A 400EX better than a Banshee. I think not, there is over a 10 horsepower difference and the 400 has no powerband or power for that matter. Be pissed or whatever but the 400 is nothing compared to a Banshee. I think someone is living in lalaland.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee

 

The truth is in the eyes of the beholder..........

 

Someone above mentioned a Dirt Wheels article about a "farmer's dream Banshee" and a radical "sand drag Banshee." -- both capable of over 100 mph. You may want to hold back words before they are spoken--that was the annual April Fool's issue. And you guessed it, you're the fool. The DS is a very powerful quad and will be able to transfer its power to the ground much better than the beloved Banshee. The Banshee has a powerband that is excellent for an adrenaline rush, but poor for transferring power. No shootout was conducted, just a drag race. Folks, its time to face the facts--a 48 horse 4 stroke is going to out accelerate a 38 horse 2 stroke. Does that mean that the DS is a better quad? Only time will tell.

 

Smaller 2 strokes have been proven to be faster than larger 4 strokes. Why do you think that 400EX's can't beat 250R's or LT250's let alone a Banshee. Oh yeah I mean stock versus stock.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee

 

Jeremiah,

You make a good point; however, we are not discussing the size of the motors--we are discussing horsepower. The reason the 400EX does not accelerate as quickly as its high performance counterparts is simple--it is underpowered. Four strokes have power characteristics that transfer the power to the ground much better than a two stroke.
A perfect example of this is Yamaha's YZ426 dirt bike. The hosepower numbers are only slightly higher than its two stroke brothers, but it is quicker by quite a bit. The DS has around 10 more ponies than the Banshee; therefore, the Banshee cannot and will not out accelerate the DS, regardless of the terrain.

 

Jeremiah, I still stand by the above post I made... The banshee is horribly outdated and it isn't the fastest machine out there, never was (LT500R)

Tom Rawlins

 

I totally agree with alaska TRX the Banshee was never king of anything.It never has and never will handle without changing the frame and suspension the power is totally useless unless you just want to go in a straight line.And all these banshee owners know it thats why they just talk about top speed in a drag race because thats all they can do with a quad that is over weight and no suspension. But all you banshee owners keep buying 12 year old technology so yamaha will never have to change anything more than stickers and you guys will be happy while the rest of us will be smokin you on our new high tech quads that actually have some suspension and handle. And guess what we don't just have to ride them in a straight line.

 

Doesn't the Ex only weigh about 10 lbs. less than a Banshee and the DS about 100 more. I have no problem with handling on my Banshee and it's all basically stock. When you actually have enough power to kick the *** end out going around turns handling isn't really a problem. The only problem I have with my Banshee is getting traction on the hardpack I mostly ride on with Spider Trac mud tires. Will the DS have hop up parts or is it as hopped up as it gets. This post was meant to see if anyone actually liked the looks of the Sand-Doo and the height of it. It was only made for the dunes and hasn't been tested anywhere else and it hasn't even proven itself in the dunes. Dirt Wheels is always prejudice against machines that have been out for a while and favor the new comer. I can't believe all of you actually think the EX is faster than a Banshee. Just because an EX was set up for Woods mainly and a Banshee for flat out speed and dune riding doesn't mean squat. Yeah it has been said that the EX is faster than Banshees in the woods but that's it! Face it, if everyone just wanted to poke along on rough trails all the time then they wouldn't buy a Banshee since they are deffinetly not made for creeping or rocky narrow trails. If you want to flat out fly and be quick at getting there then you wouldn't buy a 400EX. This is why there are numerous different types of ATV's. Example sport versus utility, dune runner versus woods rider. Get the picture. Why don't we just wait until someone does a real test of the three or some riding buddies get together and one has a DS and the others a Banshee and 400 and let them post their findings here or write in to a magazine(preferrably not Dirt Wheels). Until I see different I'm sticking with my belief that 2 strokes are quicker and produce more power than a thumper. It is a known fact that it is easier and cheaper to find or produce more power in a 2 stroke. If everyone would read now and again instead of haggling then you would know a little something about your quads and others.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee