ITP's new Dune Stars are a...
ITP's new Dune Stars are a perfect match for the well-rounded Duncan Banshee. They provide all kinds of forward traction for drag racing, but they're not impossible to break loose in a turn, either, making for a great all-around dune tire.
The Ride
OK, enough with the specifics, let's ride this beast! Starting up the DRI Banshee, you'll feel that extra displacement behind the kick, and once fired up, you're greeted with a slightly deeper and throatier growl than your run-of-the-mill twin 350. From the first crack of the throttle, you know this beast means business. The Duncan Eliminator kit makes the Banshee pull hard off the bottom, almost four-stroke hard. As you open up the throttle you'll find out where the majority of that money and motor work went. This Banshee has all kinds of midrange power on tap. That nice type of arm-tugging midrange where every stab of the gas launches the quad forward and simultaneously puts a smile on your face. Despite all its low and midrange ridability, the Banshee still has a ton of power on top and will pull a 17- or 18-tooth countershaft sprocket if top speed is your thing.
We railed some bowls, bounced off some whoops, launched off a few razorbacks (accidentally, I swear) and were constantly impressed with how well the DRI quad handled for a stretched-out Banshee. While it wouldn't cut a turn quite as sharp as, say, an LT-R, we definitely didn't feel limited by the extra length for a spirited romp through the dunes. The all-around performance and ridability of the Duncan Banshee's motor is mirrored in the suspension and handling. It has the width and travel to ride aggressively, the plushness to cruise and the length to be competitive at the sand drags or on the hill.
Final Thoughts
Believe us or not, we weren't missing our four-stroke duners much while tapping out miles aboard the Duncan Banshee. The explosive power from that wailing two-stroke provides for a unique and exhilarating ride; actually an experience that most will never get. While it doesn't quite have the super-wide powerband or precise handling of the newest thumpers, it comes as close as any 20-year-old two-stroke can. After our ride, we likened the Duncan Banshee to a perfectly restored and updated muscle car. It has a clean classic look, it's polished where it should be, and it has enough horsepower under the hood to back it all up.