Tribute to the Yamaha Banshee.

We all knew the time would come, when we would have to put our denial away and face the music, the Yamaha Bansee is no more. Officially killed from Yamaha's line-up this year, it will take hardcore fans a long time to recuperate their loss and finally switch over to the four-stroke world. The Banshee has been the flagship of Yamaha's atv lineup for many years; fearlessly staving off the bold Honda 250R, until it merged victorious and the 250R died off. Years later the Banshee would see a monopoly on the entire sport market, as all the quads that rivaled it would see then end of their life shortly after their birth. The Banshee was invincible with its 350 twin two-stroke motor, large chassis, and ample suspension. Yamaha has made magic happen. Somehow they've managed to keep the Banshee in production almost 20 years, with very little changes to it. Even the EPA (which tried numerous times) couldn't shut down the Banshee, with its outrageously foul twin pipes spewing two stroke pollution everywhere. You could practically hear environmentalists cringing every time someone fired up a Banshee. Eventually in 1998 the Banshee would see its first real competition in almost 10 years, in the form of the Honda 400EX. After that it was a slow, downhill, losing battle for the veteran two-stroker. The success of the 400EX was quite large, sparking a huge interest in performance four-stokers. Yamaha went to make the 660R Raptor, Suzuki and Kawasaki with the Z-400 and KFX-400, then Yamaha again with the 700R Raptor and YFZ-450, Honda with the 450R, and Suzuki now with their 450R. It wasn't a quick death though, as the Banshee fought gamely on, fending off the four-stokers, and the now increasingly stringent EPA. By the time 2005 rolled around, the Banshee was looking quite antiquated, and very, very tired. I personally still love the way the Banshee looks, at it was basically the only Yamaha that hadn't been "Raptorized". Now, 2006 would see the final nail in the coffin of the Banshee. It had a long, excellent run, but now it's time for her to be laid to rest. Of course, that won't stop you from seeing Banshees on every trail, track, or dune known to man, as Yamaha has sold millions of them to this day. People everywhere appreciate the uniqueness of the Banshee, and loyal fans everywhere will appreciate what the Banshee has done to the world of atvs. Long live the Yamaha Banshee.

Wanted!

A late 80's Yamaha Blaster and late 80's Yamaha Warrior. Simon and I are going to try project Blaster-Warrior transfusion. Basically, we're going to take a Blaster engine and stick it in a Warrior frame. We think it would be a pretty cool project, plus no one ever really has done that (everyone's too busy putting engines in Banshee and Quadzilla frames). If anyone has any information on some used Yammies, let us know.

Galvanic Corrosion

Here is a LINK to an informative article that has to do with galvanic corrosion. This subject was brought to our attention in a comment under the Quad Tips #1 post. It seems that putting stainless steel screws into aluminum will cause the aluminum to corrode. But there are ways to get around the corrosion if you use plating or tapes.

The Gladwin experience.

The Gladwin trail system, located in Gladwin, MI is a great place to ride atvs. The first impression is great when you pull up into the spacious parking lot, because right off the bat you'll notice there are no guard booths, hence no parking fees. It's completely free. The trails are split into two areas, what are known as the North and South systems. Each system has a main seasonal road, with many trails branching off each one. My recommendation is to stay away from the South system. The trails are solid whoops, from entry to exit, and there's not much variation in the riding experience. The North, however, is where the excitement is at. From the sandy, seasonal roads, to wooded trails, it's far superior than the South. The whoops on the trails aren't nearly as bad, and the trails range from open ground, to deep woods, to logging country. There are little "scramble areas" off some trails that remind me of the dunes: large, open areas of nothing but sand, bowls, and jumps. I suggest everyone make a trip here. For more info click on the MI DNR link.

Quad tips # 1

The Catastrophe Lads find it necessary to replace the stock phillips head screws with socket head cap screws on the throttle and brake fluid covers. After a few years the phillips head screws will rust, fill with dirt, and strip out after too much useage. Replacing them with stainless socket screws will give you an infinitely longer life span, ensuring years of hassle free maintenance.

Silver Lake Sand Dunes.

Here are a few pics of what you'll se at Silver Lake. That place is wild, I suggest that anyone with an ORV should make a trip there someday. Requirements: Dune flag that spans at least 12 feet above the ground, ORV sticker, and a state park sticker for your vehicle AS WELL AS your ORV. It will cost a few bucks, but it's definitely worth it.

Gladwin trip.

Here are a couple pics of us last year at the Gladwin trail system. We'll be there again this Saturday 7/15/06 around 11 a.m. For those not familiar with its locale, take I-75 to exit 190, turn left (West) on U.S. 61 and travel approximately 10 miles. The main parking lot is left (South) off 61.

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This blog is all about fourwheeling and anything related to it; from quads to places to ride, we've got it covered.