Last Updated 4/10/2004
"Why buy a stock quad when you can have the added dyno-proven performance of a Team Alba Racing quad, with all the extras - for the same price?" screams Alba's website.
One of the few west coast shops that sell more quads than motorcycles, this multi-line, dealership in the northern San Diego County town of Poway rolls more than 100 Banshees per year. After blazing through its allotment from the factory, Alba sources additional Banshees from around the country.
Situated less than three hours from the fabled big-dune paradise of Glamis, in southeastern California, Alba has been building and selling hot-rodded Banshee duners since the wailing two-stroke twin hit these shores in 1987. This fact has not been lost on the denizens of Banshee owners who've modified their rides specifically for the rigors of hill shooting and dune shredding.
Most quads that leave Alba's showroom are dressed up in some way. For the Banshee's suggested retail price of $5999, customers can get a package deal of performance pipes (FMF, Toomey or Pro Circuit); intake mods that include a K&N filter, an adapter ring and an Outerwears prefilter; and a choice of trick-looking graphics kits with a matching seat cover. Better yet, go-fast guys can roll off the lot with a true-blue, turn-key hot rod built to their specifications-anything from the simple bore, port and pipe job seen here to an outrageous nitrous-oxide sucking monster.
Alba owner Cory Hove is a certified Banshee addict. What's the attraction for this fortysomething muscle-car builder and former quad racer? "When set up right, Banshees are fast, reliable, cool-looking and there's tons of parts out there for them. For a long time, this was the only truly high-performance quad around, so people had no choice. And it's the best sand-duner out there."
This particular version of the Alba Banshee is a bit more dressed up than your average off-the-shelf unit, but shows what a few more bones spent on billet can do for the old boy.
Alba Action Sports has a ton...
Alba Action Sports has a ton of proprietary parts, performance-enhancing mods and graphics kits for Banshees of all years.
Not quite a sleeper, this...
Not quite a sleeper, this Banshee is high-buck ride with enough shiny bling-bling to put some gettofabulous duner ahead of the Joneses.
Relying on tried-and-true...
Relying on tried-and-true porting and set of FMF pipes, this 64-horsepower motor exhibited little low-end power, a deep surge of midrange thrust and a wailing top end.
SPECIFICATIONSyear/make/model 2003 Yamaha Banshee
owner Alba Action Sports
builder/tuner Rob Vetger
peak horsepower 64.5
motororigin 2003 Yamaha Banshee
displacement 347cc
bore/stroke stock
cylinder stock
cylinder head milled .030
pipes/silencers FMF Fatty $479
carbs stock
reed blocks/reeds stock/stock
pistons stock
crank/rods stroker crank
porting specifics ported for midrange and top-end power price TK
ignition/black box stock
stator stock
airbox lid removed
air filtration K&N filter with Outerwears wraps price included with FMF pipes
fuel 91-octane pump gas
oil/ratio Yamalube R/32:1
stator/sprocket cover Alba Flame $299.99
clutch inspection cover Alba Flame $44.99
drive system
clutch Team Alba H.D. Clutch Kit $149.99
Clutch Basket stock
transmission/oil stock/Golden Spectro 10/40
chain stock
sprockets/gearing stock
chain guides stock
front end
shocks Works Performance dual-rate, remote reservoir $489.99
a-arms/width Alba Pro-Comp/+2 $699
tie rods/ends Alba Pro-Comp price included with A-arms/stock
spindles stock
hubs stock
steering stem stock
steering stabilizer NA
rear end
shock/travel stock
shock reservoir cover Alba carbon fiber $28.99
swingarm/length stock/ stock
hubs stock
axle/width Durablue/+2 $369.99
axle carrier stock
brakes
front calipers/rotors stock
front master cylinder stock with Alba Flame cover $32.99
front lines/pads stock
rear caliper/rotor stock
rear master cylinder stock
rear line/pads stock/stock
brake-line holders stock
brake fluid stock
front wheels
brand/material ITP C-Series $145.98 each
size 10x5
beadlock NA
rear wheels
brand/material ITP C-Series $155.98 each
size 10x8
beadlock NA
front tires
brand Razor $159.98/set
pressure 4 lbs.
rear tires
brand Sand Skate II $199.99/set
pressure 4 lbs.
controls, etc.
handlebar TAG $79.95
grips TAG $12.95
throttle stock
throttle housing cover Alba Flame $36.99
cables stock
clutch lever/perch stock
footpegs stock
front brake lever stock
rear brake pedal stock
shift lever Pro Design Power Shifter $79.99
protection
bumper TAG $139.95
swingarm skid plate stock
miscellaneous
fuel tank make/capacity stock
fuel tank cover Alba carbon fiber $56.99
bodywork stock
graphics/seat cover Alba 2004 Skull Kit $159.99
fender stays stock
seat foam/cover stock
lighting stock
gas cap Alba Flame Billet Cap $59.99
grill Alba Girl Grill $64.95
six-pack rack Alba $59.99
whip mount Alba Billet Aluminum Flag Mount $24.99
Letting up on the throttle...
Letting up on the throttle just long enough to snick the tranny into the next cog produces a momentary lag before the revs pick up again.
Alba will take a stock Banshee,...
Alba will take a stock Banshee, build a complete motor, install all the bolt-ons and ship it anywhere.
One shop that has been involved...
One shop that has been involved in the high-performance Banshee movement since day one is Alba Action Sports.