Carrera Banshee

mattlyle · May 2007

Hi Just Bought a 2006 banshee on sale for œ360 from halfords fairly new to biking and wondered if this is a decent bike to start with for the money . Wanted a full suspension bike and didnt have a big budget so thought it was pretty good .

m.ryder

Andy · May 2007

I don't mean to be rude but there is little point asking once you've bought the bike surely?

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ddoogie

an uber pimp XTC and a marginally less pimp Anthem sitting side by side.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Trail Rider · May 2007

It'll do OK but you will soon need to upgrade the frame and all the parts as Carrera's are usually stock with crap, but you should be fine on it

Get Riding!

johno-xtc · May 2007

I remember looking at the banshee and wasn't impressed, it is very heavy and i doubt you need a full suspension bike, so have you bought this bike because it looks flash?

Trail Rider · May 2007

Good point johno-i just didn't want to put off a noob so try not to scare him too much!

mattlyle · May 2007

Fair enough, well probs be spending more than i bargained for after all thanx for the honesty. bit gutted now but should have come on here before i let go of my money.Never mind will give it a thrashing till it breaks

m.ryder

Trail Rider · May 2007

good idea! Thrash it hard, like a pig!

latinthrasher · May 2007

i have a banshee and i don't mind it, in time i hope to upgrade it to a short travel rig. The frame isn't bad

na te medo
I BLAME RAISUL...
anger managment?

Myspace

cyclone · May 2007

I had a 2003 banshee, in fact I still have the frame.
I had no probs with the bike at all appart from the forks and shock.

The shock on the 2006 is X-Fusion Glide which is better that the no-name POS that came on mine.

Just change the forks and it will be fine.

<hr noshade size="1">
I used to be undecided but now I'm not so sure!?
<hr noshade size="1">
My Spesh
MB-HP

johno-xtc · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mattlyle

Fair enough, well probs be spending more than i bargained for after all thanx for the honesty. bit gutted now but should have come on here before i let go of my money.Never mind will give it a thrashing till it breaks

m.ryder
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Don't feel gutted man! It is still a capable bike and unless you are an advanced rider that needs a top of the range full suspenion, then you will still have fun with it.

Just remember that all Carrera bikes are over priced, and you can always find a better alternative.

They are the type of bikes which look great on display, specs look decent but you soon realise you should have looked around.

I bought my first bike from halfords and never going back there, bunch of cowboys!

Even now when i am buying a bike, i always ask for opinions on forums and act like i am clueless, because it is always good to get a few opinions on board before you make a purchase.

diver-boy · May 2007

i got a frame cheap and have built it up, its a decent bike, longer forks are good, hydraulic discs would be good, depends on budget, ride it hard then replace broken parts with good parts and you will have a decent rig

Steve_F · May 2007

I had an 03 or 04 model which got me back into riding. I kept up with people on much more expensive bikes and only upgraded to hydraulic disc brakes.

I've now bought the 07 Banshee X through the cycle to work scheme (after a lot of shopping around) and I'm perfectly happy with that too. They are heavy bikes but they do seem to do the job on a budget.

ride_whenever · May 2007

Plus heavier bikes only make you stronger.

My Scott

My Single Speed

Always remember to pick your Uni according to the local trails or you'll be stuck with nowhere to ride for three years!

elmotheewokking · May 2007

mattlyle

runcorn
United Kingdom
4 Posts

ZOMG! Two Pints Of Lager and a Packet Of Crisps.

Ahem, the Banshee isn't the greatest of bikes, but it'll do you.

<center>
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by i_used_2b_fukpigonabike

at least it hasn't rashed like my groin.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></center>

bigrud · May 2007

Nothing wrong with the Banshee. I have the matt red one (2004 I think). It has served me well. I've upgraded the shock and forks on mine. It's a little jacked up but I like it. The frames are pretty strong. They have a fair amount of gusseting around the head tube etc... I'm 15.5 stone and haven't broken it yet. I know a couple of people with Kona's that have cracked their frames. Everyone said the frame would break, so I bought the upgrades waiting for this to happen. It never so I put them on the Banshee. As with any bike though, regular maintenance is the key.

At the end of the day I ride because I enjoy it. This bike puts a smile on my face and the more people slate it the more I want to keep it. Hard to explain really.

HERE she is.

BiGRUD

diver-boy · May 2007

bigrud ur banshee looks sweet, nice work, the triples are a good touch!

Silver Bullet · May 2007

bigrud, you're bike looks a lot of fun, but i hate to say it, but it just doesn't look quite right?

but yeah, it looks like it is fun, which is good

***
'06 Scott Voltage YZ2

<center>Myspazz</center>

bigrud · May 2007

Cheers guys.

I know it looks a little odd. I think it's because it's so jacked up, but it has superb ground clearance. It is fun though, and I've done some big stuff on it. I keep checking for cracks etc... but it just keeps going. Which is nice. :0)

BiGRUD

Andy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by johno-xtc

Just remember that all Carrera bikes are over priced, and you can always find a better alternative.

They are the type of bikes which look great on display, specs look decent but you soon realise you should have looked around.

I bought my first bike from halfords and never going back there, bunch of cowboys!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Absolute rubbish. The Carrera's are excellent value for money and the Fury in particular is the the best œ500 bike you can buy.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ddoogie

an uber pimp XTC and a marginally less pimp Anthem sitting side by side.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

scotland 4 ever 1993 · June 2007

i was looking at it but decided to get a second hand instead but i still like it

mbukjames · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bigrud

Nothing wrong with the Banshee. I have the matt red one (2004 I think). It has served me well. I've upgraded the shock and forks on mine. It's a little jacked up but I like it. The frames are pretty strong. They have a fair amount of gusseting around the head tube etc... I'm 15.5 stone and haven't broken it yet. I know a couple of people with Kona's that have cracked their frames. Everyone said the frame would break, so I bought the upgrades waiting for this to happen. It never so I put them on the Banshee. As with any bike though, regular maintenance is the key.

At the end of the day I ride because I enjoy it. This bike puts a smile on my face and the more people slate it the more I want to keep it. Hard to explain really.

HERE she is.

BiGRUD
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I'm loving your rims! There sweet and the forks look lush 2!

I don't deserve to have a sig..

Dunk1994 · June 2007

As a beginner, you should have bought a Carrera Kracken (œ359)or Carrera Fury (œ449) or if your budget is too small, a Carrera Vulcan (œ159) - The Vulcan is a good choice as it is just a downgraded version of the Kracken at a great price.

I have the Kracken '06 and I love it for XC riding, Although I did upgrade the crappy forks and bottom bracket and rear wheel...

Something to think about when buying a Carrera is if you are intending strongly to use it for hardcore stuff (lol) you will definately have to upgrade the components so you maybe better off with a more upmarket bike for better value. Also, cheaper Carrera bikes (every one of them except the Fury and Banshee X) have very heavy parts e.g. Stem, bar, seatpost etc.

But for a beginner it's alright...

Whoooo and yay... I got me a Carrera Kraken!

denzal3 · June 2007

Im liking the new banshee 07 (the one with sigletrack rims and marzochhis) looks very good value for money.

Stinkyboy · June 2007

[/quote]

Don't feel gutted man! It is still a capable bike and unless you are an advanced rider that needs a top of the range full suspenion, then you will still have fun with it. true

Just remember that all Carrera bikes are over priced, and you can always find a better alternative. utter balls, give me one bike that has a better spec than that for œ360. they are not over priced, carrera are good bikes for people who want to get into cycling but dont have a wopping buget,like this guyThey are the type of bikes which look great on display, specs look decent but you soon realise you should have looked around.like i said, find me a cheaper one! 

I bought my first bike from halfords and never going back there, bunch of cowboys! I work there, and i'll tell you, the mechanics at our store are top notch, the bad reputation comes from the fact that we are given bikes that are in near state of collapse and told to make it new again! setting up a expensive bike takes seconds, setting up a œ55 BMX to a ridable state takes a bit of skill
Even now when i am buying a bike, i always ask for opinions on forums and act like i am clueless, because it is always good to get a few opinions on board before you make a purchase. act clueless?
[/quote]

HUDDERSFIELD DH SCENE

supersonic · June 2007

Banshee has morphed over the years from a URT bike, a single pivot XC bike into now what I would call a budget All Mountain/Freeride bike. The spec is outstanding for the money, but not a bike I would ride on general trails, unless you are very fit. Light it is not, not an XC bike by any stretch.

IMHO Carrera make some of the best specced bikes available, esp the Fury. As for the store, hit and miss. Some are great, some are dire (worked there for two years, very much depends on the managers view of cycling. Crippled by Head Office too).

<center>GT Zaskar LE
GT Ruckus
Me!
Supersonic<hr noshade size="1">Park Tools - help and instructions for all general bike fixes
Sheldon Brown - info about anything and everything</center>

Rc_mad · June 2007

so what is the banshee?? xc/freeride/jump/downhill/other??

i just got the 06 version to after two faulty gt chuckers im put off them for life

what are the main things that need upgrade?
and whats maximum travel avalible front and rear?

cheers[:D]

GT Chucker

http://www.tiny.cc/mybikes

Steve_F · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by denzal3

Im liking the new banshee 07 (the one with sigletrack rims and marzochhis) looks very good value for money.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I got one of these earlier this year, bit of a heavy beast but copes with (almost) everything I throw at it. I said almost as I cooked the brakes coming down Fort Bill last week - hire bike next time[:D]

cliveprennison · October 2012

hey guy's i know it's old but this is pretty much all i can afford right now, upgrading from the vulcan to a full susser. just wanted a bit of advice, firstly i have a fsa no 11 headset on the way from crc, does anyone know if this will fit it properly? i tried to put a fsa pig ball on the vulcan and it was too small so i'm assuming the banshee has the same size headtube as the vulcan? also in the near future i'd be looking to upgrade the shock, anyone know a good one for it? i'm pretty new to all this so any advice would be greatly appreciated

i was looking at shocks but have no idea about what size and travel etc as i can't find too much on this frame since it's old. i also don't know how i measure it properly etc, if someone could give me a rough guide to rear shocks too please. i must sound like a real noob here (i am) lol
cheers guy's

cliveprennison · October 2012

sorry i should have said it's the frame of the matt red one in the pic above, what yr is that anyway?

cooldad · October 2012

Aaaaarrrrrrrrggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Zombie thread.

You might want to start a new post, with a bit more info.
It might fit and you need to measure the i2i and travel of the shock.

The Rookie · October 2012

Banshee headset is semi integrated the same as a Vulcan/Kraken/Fury.

I did measure a Banshee shock a while ago, from memory is a 180mm, but measure it.

Carrera Banshee

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