If you're getting started riding, the items on this checklist will help you make sure you're ready for a fun riding trip and less likely to run into problems. You may also want to read our other article for a list of Tools and Extra Banshee Parts to Take Riding.
On your drive to go riding:
- Fill one or more gas cans with an amount of fuel or gas that is easy to mix with 2-stroke oil.
- 5 gallon cans work well.
- Make sure to fill the can with EXACTLY 5 gallons of fuel, or exactly the amount you need to mix oil into. Don't under or over fill the can, or your fuel to oil ratio will not be correct.
- Wait to mix the oil in the fuel until needed.
- This keeps it fresh and doesn't waste expensive 2-stroke oil.
- Later - If you don't use all your gas, pour the unmixed gas into your truck.
- Switch the 2-Stroke Mix Tag on your gas can to the ratio you've mixed your fuel to.
Check these items right before you go out riding and when you start your Banshee:
- Use a Ratio Rite to accurately measure your 2-stroke oil. We use Klotz 2-stroke oils. Their recommended fuel to oil ratio for water cooled engines is between 32:1 and 50:1.
- Pour the 2-stroke oil into the gas in the gas can.
- Slosh the gas around in the can to help mix the oil in.
- Fill your Banshee's gas tank with the mixed oil.
- Walk around and kick all 4 tires, or try to press your foot into the tires.
- If any seem flat, check the tire air pressure. Add air as needed.
- Make the air pressure for the rear tires equal or your Banshee may turn to one side while powering up sand or loose terrain.
- Lube your chain once every riding day in the morning.
- Visually inspect the chain tension & sprockets.
- Look out for a loose chain or rounded over sprocket teeth.
- Check that the coolant overflow bottle has some coolant in it.
- Turn the gas on.
- Make sure you turn the gas to "ON" and not to "RESERVE."
- Save reserve for if or when you run out of gas on your ride. Then you can switch to reserve and hopefully have enough to make it back to camp.
- Turn the key on.
- Turn on the run switch.
- Pull the choke button out (on).
- Give it plenty of throttle when you are starting your Banshee so the engine doesn't flood with gas.
- Let it warm up. You can start on an easy ride while it warms up, but avoid revving it up excessively until the choke is off.
- Once it is smoking less and runs smooth, check to make sure the choke is turned off.
- The choke often turns off by itself, but if it is still smoking a little or running rich, push the choke button in.
- Have fun riding. 💨👍
Some of these items may seem too simple to provide a list for. But we also know when we go riding, someone usually has their gas off, floods it, doesn't choke it, doesn't turn the key on, etc. Having a checklist is a good reminder!