Affordable way to widen and stretch 03' blaster

[Wheels434]

Hello Blaster Forum! I just purchased a near mint 2003 Blaster for $1000. Since I got the quad so cheap I figured I would drop a couple hundred on some mods right off the bat. First off I would like to widen and stretch the bike a bit. I have heard horror stories about extended swings arms and I'm a bit shook up on purchasing one. Also I have heard that wheel spacers can decrease your handling. Just so you know I will not be racing the bike but will be doing wide open dirt road riding and some trail riding. If you guys have any suggestions on a cheap but proper way to make these mods, throw them at me!

 

[Trinityblaster]

If you are willing to do a little modding the banshee arms and swingers are cheap but are no where close to being a bolt on. I have also heard good things about the diamond j arms.

 

[Wheels434]

Thanks dude.. I would prefer just using bolt on stuff if at all possible. I have just read so may threads saying different things about putting wheel spacers on the front of your quad. Some say its fine some say its bad for your handling? I'm thinking of getting a oem banshee rear axle instead of spacer in the back. They seem to be around the same price anyway. As for the front I'm still clueless haha.

 

[Trinityblaster]

Yeah I bought my blaster with the banshee arms and swinger on it so I have no clue what you have to do to fit theam but they make a huge difference from the stock ones.

 

[Wheels434]

Cool I think for now I will got with these for the front 3" Wheel Spacers Yamaha Blaster Warrior Wolverine 200 350 WSB 1 5 | eBay

And this for the rear Yamaha Banshee 350 Rear Axle Factory Stock Yamaha Banshee Axle | eBay

Supposedly the banshee axle fits right on?!

 

[Trinityblaster]

I have been told that you have to change the brake or something. They should bolt up but you need a new chain and some other things not sure what. Maybe awk can help.

 

[Trinityblaster]

You can also extend the front out just a little bit more by turning the tires around.

 

[Trinityblaster]

Also is the tors removed? You can get a little more power that way.

 

[Wheels434]

Not sure what tors are? I've heard that turning the tires around on the 03 and up models is not an option because of the brakes being different.

 

[Trinityblaster]

I am not sure what the function of it is but there is a cable on the carb you either cut it or unplug it and on the 02 or newer blasters you have to unplug the parking brake.

 

[Larry's Shee]

Also is the tors removed? You can get a little more power that way.

WRONG !!

Why would someone do all the work to cobble Banshee arms on a Blaster?? Banshees are very near the bottom of the list when it comes to handleing, at least stock. Plus it takes more work than worth to get the swinger to work.

Extended stock swingers is not an ideal option in my mind.
Get a 400ex rear shock, wheelspacers for front (for now) and good shocks. Then when money allows get extended a arms, extended swinger.

 

[89blaster89]

easy bolt on mod get a rear banshee axle and then i would get some stud spacers to make it even a tad wider, i would also get some +3 or +4 stud spacers for the front depending on how wide your trails are. the stud spacers can cause bump steer but i run them and i jump and i dont have a problem at all.

 

[Trinityblaster]

The only reason i even said anything about it is because it is cheap and effective. They work great on a blaster. I have been duning with mine for 7 years just like it is and have never had a problem with handling.

 

[Wifesblaster]

I run 5" wheel spacers all the way around on all the bikes. Cheap and works great. I will be bolting on my +4 swingarm soon. All together it was 375 dollars. That's for spacers, swinger, and chain.

 

[ken cunningham]

I dont get it. maybe you just want to spend money on your toy. Its all good. But i have to say, if you are just runnning on flat open dirt roads, you dont need that. In my experience of riding mine, just get your rear end off the seat and hang it down by the foot peg, you should be good to go. Thats riding rutted up trails with tight turns. Im closer to 50 than 40, so i bet your can handle doing this too.

Actually i did had a problem with my blaster when i first bought it and it had the stock rounded profile tire on it. I switched to a flat profile tire and it did make alot of difference, but i must add this was my first atv and i didnt know how to ride it properly. Going 40-50 miles an hour riding on the two outside wheels while pine trees zip by does tend to make the rear end pucker.

Dont take my post as something negative, because the way the blaster is set up (in my opinion) is what makes it so fun to ride. If i want to go fast and feel safe and go fast i ride my outlaw, if i just want to feel safe, i ride my recon. Anyways, they do look good with extend rear swingarms.

 

[jus_me]

Only problem i had with an 03 or newer with turning wheels inside out is the valve stem nothing the brakes.you can either re drill a hole for a new valve stem and plu the other, i think i seen a post on here some time ago about this and some one mentioned about a small tiney valve stem... this also raise a question with me, my trails aren't to wide but wide enough to widen front end..say i go with the front wheel spacers say 2 inch and flip my rims around, would than i have to change the valve stem? I'm just asking because if flipping the room around gives me an extra inch and my trails are wide enough i would do that, if its two wide i will just leave the spacers and not flip rims around..i don't want to get the 3 inch wheel spacers and be to wide. Now that I'm thinking about it i think that would work..maybe i answered my own question lol ... n.m

 

[DirtDiggler]

I want to see pics of the Banshee Swingarm on the Blaster , cause I have my doubts about that. a +4 swinger from The Swingarm Shop is a great investment , they build a solid unit. a set of round stud type wheel spacers out back is 30 bucks , far cheaper than having to fit a shee axle on the blaster. and if you are just doing general trail riding , out for fun etc. get a Diamond J kit , BUT buy 1 piece extended tie rods , using a tie rod extension is a weak link. Why not save your dough for a set of ASR A-Arms though? That along with a +4 swinger will make you a very happy rider.

 

[Wheels434]

Thanks for all the negative/positive responses. I ended up getting a set of these for now just to see how they run. 5" ATV Wheel Spacers Tracker Breeze Warrior Blaster | eBay If I end up not liking the outcome then hell, I'll just pull them off. I got 2 sets for $40 so not that big of a lose if they turn out not being what I want. Also I'm replacing my stock balloons with some 20x11-8 Nanco all terrains I got a great deal on. So that should stabilize the whole riding experience a little more. Just so you guys know.. I'm setting this quad up so its safer for my wife to ride as well. I'm planning on getting a Banshee next summer and this will eventually be her blaster.

 

[Wheels434]

Also, whats an effective way to protect the disc breaks from being bent/smashed, since I know they will protrude outside of the wheel once the spacers are on the front?

 

[Larry's Shee]

Also, whats an effective way to protect the disc breaks from being bent/smashed, since I know they will protrude outside of the wheel once the spacers are on the front?

None, that's a drawback