best carburetor for yamaha banshee

I ran a Keihin CV 24‑44 on my ’97 Banshee for a few years and liked the smooth power delivery. The trick is getting the idle mixture right; a slight richer setting cleared the stumble I was getting after a cold start. It does take a bit of patience to sync the two carbs, but once dialed in the bike feels more predictable, especially on tight sections.

I stuck with the stock Mikuni VM 34‑70 and just upgraded the float bowls and jets. For me the stock size is plenty if you keep the jetting matched to your altitude. The advantage is you don’t have to relearn the carb behavior, and parts are cheap. If you’re seeing a lean condition, try a 5‑step richer main jet first before swapping carbs.

I installed a Tial 24‑44 on my ’95 Banshee after the previous owner left the bike with a busted needle. The Tial carbs gave me a noticeable bump in the mid‑range, but the idle was finicky. I had to replace the idle screws and re‑check the float height. Also watch out for fuel leaks around the vent hoses; they can cause a lean spike under hard acceleration.

From a mechanic’s standpoint, the biggest issue is matching the carb size to the exhaust you have. If you’ve upgraded to a freer flowing exhaust, a larger bore like a 24‑44 can help, but you’ll need to rejet the main and pilot jets accordingly. Otherwise you’ll just end up with a flat spot and higher fuel consumption.

I tried a Keihin CV on my Banshee last season and found the slide action too sensitive for my riding style. It made the bike twitch when I rolled off the throttle on steep climbs. Switching back to a Mikuni with a slightly smaller main jet gave me a smoother feel, though I missed a bit of top‑end punch.

A friend of mine runs a Walbro 24‑44 on his Banshee and swears by it for track days. He says the throttle response is razor sharp and the bike feels more planted in corner exit. The downside is the carb is more prone to flooding if you ride in rain, so you need to keep the choke closed and check the float level regularly.

I’m a beginner and just got my first Banshee. I stuck with the stock carbs and only changed the air filter to a high‑flow one. I haven’t felt any lack of power yet, and the bike runs fine on my local trail. My advice is to master the stock setup before spending money on a new carb.

When I upgraded to a 24‑44 Keihin, I also had to replace the fuel lines with silicone ones because the old rubber cracked under heat. The new lines helped prevent fuel vapor lock, which was a problem with my previous setup on hot summer days. It’s an easy fix that many overlook when swapping carbs.

I’d caution against going too big on the carb if you still ride mostly on forest trails. A larger carb can make the low‑end torque feel thin, which is not ideal when you need bite out of tight, technical sections. Stick with a 22‑44 if you want a balance between trail and occasional open‑air rides.

My experience with a Tial 24‑44 was mixed; the power increase was there, but the carbs were a pain to sync after a long ride because the heat expansion threw off the idle mixture. I ended up adding a small brass spacer to the throttle cable housing to reduce the play and got more consistent idle.

I disagree with the claim that a larger carb always improves mid‑range. In my case, moving from a 22‑44 to a 24‑44 actually made the bike feel sluggish at low RPMs and required a bigger pilot jet, which increased fuel consumption. Sometimes a better exhaust and a tuned jetting combo does more for performance than a bigger carb alone.

If you’re riding in higher altitudes, consider a carb with an adjustable altitude screw. The Keihin CV models have one, and it helped me keep the mixture rich enough on a mountain trail without having to constantly change jets. Just remember to re‑check the idle after each adjustment.

I once had a Banshee with a Keihin CV that started to sputter after a few weeks of use. The cause was a clogged idle passage due to fuel residue. A thorough cleaning with carburetor cleaner solved it, but it reminded me that regular maintenance is key, especially when you’ve upgraded parts that can attract more debris.

For a rider who does a lot of off‑road riding, the Mikuni VM series tends to be more tolerant of dust and dirt getting into the carb. The Keihin slides can seize if grit gets into the slide shaft, so you might need to seal the intake better if you go that route.

I swapped to a 24‑44 Keihin and installed a larger throttle body on the intake. The result was a smoother transition through the power band, but I had to replace the fuel pump with a higher flow unit to keep the carbs fed under full throttle. Otherwise I got a lean condition at the top end.

My mechanic suggested trying a 22‑44 Mikuni first before jumping to a 24‑44. He said the smaller carb gives you a tighter throttle feel and is easier to tune for mixed terrain. He also mentioned that the larger carbs can be overkill unless you’ve done a full engine rebuild and have a high‑flow exhaust.

I ran a Keihin CV on my Banshee for a season and liked the response, but the slide mechanism made a whining noise at idle when the engine was cold. It turned out the slide pin needed lubrication with a light oil. After that the noise disappeared, but it’s a reminder to check the slide bearings regularly.

I’ve been on a Banshee for over a decade and never changed the carbs. I think the stock setup is fine for most riders. If you’re chasing a few extra horsepower, you might be better off focusing on the exhaust and ignition timing rather than swapping the carb, which can introduce new tuning headaches.

One thing to watch out for with any carb swap is the fuel tank venting. I had a leak in the vent line after installing a new carb, which caused a vacuum in the tank and made the bike run lean under hard acceleration. Re‑sealing the vent with a new hose solved the issue.

From a maintenance point of view, I would check the simple things first and avoid turning it into a bigger project than needed. Fluids, battery health, tire pressure, belt condition, air filter, and loose wiring can change how an ATV feels. A careful inspection often tells you more than a spec sheet or seller description. For "best carburetor for yamaha banshee", I would double-check the owner's manual, current condition, and local trail rules before treating any advice as final.