The Yamaha Banshee 350, model code YFZ350, is an all-terrain vehicle with a two-stroke twin-cylinder engine. Yamaha built it in Japan from 1987 to 2012, and its long career made it one of the best-known sport quads of its era.
Yamaha Banshee 350 at a glance
| Maker | Yamaha Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Model code | YFZ350 |
| Class | Sport all-terrain vehicle |
| Production | 1987–2012 in Japan |
| United States | 1987–2006 |
| Canada | until 2008 |
| Australia | 1998–2012 |
| Engine | 347 cc two-stroke twin, 64 × 54 mm |
| Compression | 6.5:1 |
| Fuel system | two Mikuni 26 mm carburettors |
| Transmission | six-speed manual, chain drive |
| Dry weight | 386 lb (175 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.2 US gallons (12.1 litres) |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Yamaha Banshee 350
The Banshee used a two-stroke twin-cylinder engine derived from Yamaha’s RZ350, but without the powervalve. With a bore and stroke of 64 by 54 mm it displaced 347 cc and ran a compression ratio of 6.5:1. Fuel was supplied by two Mikuni 26 mm carburettors and ignition was by CDI, with starting by kick only.
The quad was built around a steel frame with independent double-wishbone front suspension giving 9.1 inches of travel and a swingarm with linkage at the rear giving 8.7 inches. Brakes were hydraulic discs front and rear. The Banshee weighed 386 lb dry and 405 lb wet, carried 3.2 US gallons of fuel and sat on a 50.4-inch wheelbase with a 31.5-inch seat height.
Yamaha sold the Banshee in the United States from 1987 to 2006, in Canada until 2008 and in Australia from 1998 to 2012. Even after it disappeared from American showrooms, production continued for other markets, which is why the Banshee outlived most two-stroke quads of its generation.
Design and features
- Two-stroke twin: a 347 cc engine related to the RZ350, with two carburettors and no powervalve.
- Sport chassis: double-wishbone front suspension and a linked rear swingarm with long travel.
- Disc brakes all round: hydraulic discs front and rear.
- Long production: built in Japan for 25 years and sold on several continents.
Yamaha Banshee 350 versions
- Banshee 350 (1987–2006): the main American model.
- Canadian models (2007–2008): continued after the US withdrawal.
- Australian models (1998–2012): the last Banshees built.
Other Yamaha off-road machines include the Raptor 700R and the Grizzly. More models are in the Yamaha collection.
Sources
- Yamaha Banshee 350, English Wikipedia: production years, markets, engine and chassis data
