Looking at a bandit 1200S

[DwightAustin]

I just moved from Austin to Houston and sold the GS.  It's been a great bike, but with the way people drive on Houston highways, I wanted a little more power to get out of trouble quicker.  I'm 250 lbs and the GS takes a little time to go from 65 to 75.  Plus, in Austin my commute put me on the highway for about 3 minutes.  Here, I'm closer to 20.

I was wondering what y'all knew about the big bandits.  This is a little bigger than I was looking for, but seems like a decent deal.  If you have any tips on what to look for - what are typical problems for that model? The ad is below.

http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/176673308.html


Other bike recommendations are welcome as well.  I'd like to find something for $4,000 or so.  But I can afford to spend a little more if necessary.  I've been in the cage for nearly three weeks now, so I'm getting itchy.
-Dwight

[Altephor]

What about an SV?  Either the 650 or 1000, depends how comfortable you are with riding I guess.

[B18C5-EH2]

I'd ride a Bandit and then ride an SV650 and see which you like better.

Even though the SV650 has about 1/2 the displacement of the Bandit you're looking at it's a V-Twin and it'll surprise you with how much torque it has down low.

You can find SV650s with 7-10K miles for anywhere from $2,500-$3,800 or so.  I got my 00 for $2,700.00 and I absoluitely love it.  I rode a Bandit 600 and it didn't handle as well as the SV, and that's the smaller cc version.  I'd imagine the Bandit 1200 must be a bit more tank-like.

[Lukewarm Wilson]

The bandit is a great bike my mate has one stacks of power and very comfy would hand an SV its ass in performance and once you replace the muffler on them they have a huge jump in power they are said to be one of the best jump in performance for a mufffler replacement go with it also handles well for a 220kg bike

[hmmmnz]

yeah ive ridden a couple. i really liked the feel of it, nice smooth power, a bit heavier than the sv1000s but alot more reliable, its the sort of bike you could have for the next 20 years and it will still look good and preform well i'd go for it if you feel comfortable with the big jump in power from the gs

[makenzie71]

I don't think the SV650 will suprise anyone with it's torque...especially if they just jumped off a B12.  You do know the 1200 has nearly 2 times the torque of the SV650, right?  And weight isn't that different.

On top of that, the Bandit is simpler...it's a big, liquid cooled behemoth that works off old school tech.

Further...the B1200 + GSXR1100 cams + mild port/polish + pods + full (big) exhaust = 120+ lbs of torque.

[DwightAustin]

I don't think the SV650 will suprise anyone with it's torque...especially if they just jumped off a B12.  You do know the 1200 has nearly 2 times the torque of the SV650, right?  And weight isn't that different.

On top of that, the Bandit is simpler...it's a big, liquid cooled behemoth that works off old school tech.

Further...the B1200 + GSXR1100 cams + mild port/polish + pods + full (big) exhaust = 120+ lbs of torque.

Are you saying that the bandit is fairly easy to wrench on?  I'm fairly mechanically inclined, but the GS was my first bike.  So, I still consider myself a novice motorcycle mechanic.

[makenzie71]

Easy to wrench on?  It's a simpler bike...carbureted and oil cooled.  It's easier to tinker with than, say, a TL1000S.

The Bandit is VERY responsive to modifications, though.  Stock, it's not too impressive...something like 83rwhp and 54lbs of torque at the wheel.  Pods, jets and an exhaust and your over 100rwhp and 75+ lbs.

[corndog67]

I don't think the SV650 will suprise anyone with it's torque...especially if they just jumped off a B12.  You do know the 1200 has nearly 2 times the torque of the SV650, right?  And weight isn't that different.

On top of that, the Bandit is simpler...it's a big, liquid cooled behemoth that works off old school tech.

Further...the B1200 + GSXR1100 cams + mild port/polish + pods + full (big) exhaust = 120+ lbs of torque.

You would have a hard time getting 120 lbs of torque out of a Bandit.

I had an 01 1200 Bandit.  It had a Yosh pipe and a jet kit, it ran pretty good.  My brother had a ZRX 1200 that was box stock, and the ZRX would stomp it.  The Kawasaki has 80 ft. lbs of torque stock, the bandit about 70. 

Dale Walkers Holeshot Engineering told me his pipe and jetting would give me about 10 more horses than I had with the Yosh and Dynojet.  He is a Bandit specialist and I believe him.  He said 121 HP at the wheel.

The Bandit is a large bike.  They top out at about 150.  They are reliable as a stone.  You can get one for about  $4000 for a real nice one, and they haven't changed much since 97 or 98.  I also highly recommend the ZRX.  Big, heavy, fast as a_s, reliable, just like the Bandit, but with 12% more power.   I would buy either one, and you probably wouldn't have to wrench on them at all for a long time. 

[makenzie71]

You would have a hard time getting 120 lbs of torque out of a Bandit.

You're right...

I had an 01 1200 Bandit.  It had a Yosh pipe and a jet kit, it ran pretty good.  My brother had a ZRX 1200 that was box stock, and the ZRX would stomp it.  The Kawasaki has 80 ft. lbs of torque stock, the bandit about 70. 

Dale Walkers Holeshot Engineering told me his pipe and jetting would give me about 10 more horses than I had with the Yosh and Dynojet.  He is a Bandit specialist and I believe him.  He said 121 HP at the wheel. 

A yosh bolt on and jet kit wouldn't come anywhere near 120lbs.  Neither would the holeshot slip-on and jetting.

[corndog67]

Wrong.  Go to Holeshot Engineering's website.  And I didn't say that my Yosh pipe and jetting made 120.  It was 108.  Dale Walker gets about 120 honest horsepower at the wheel. Absolutely true.  And that is HP, not torque. 

I just checked Holeshot performance's website.  They got 122 HP with a pipe and jetting.  Their hot rod Bandit has 150 HP, and runs 9.70's at 140 mph.  These are real numbers, check out the site.  It's b_tchin.

[makenzie71]

what the hell man...?!  You sit there and tell me that Holeshot has a 150hp Bandit...but but 10 minutes ago you said it can't be built?  You're losing me here...

And there's NOT way a rejet and a pipe is going to free up that much power with a stock airbox (it's horrible...ask your buddy at Holeshot  ).  Holeshot's bike runs pods (or nothing at all)...and makes roughly 115hp.  In other words...

makenzie71

...Pods, jets and an exhaust and your over 100rwhp and 75+ lbs.

So you either agree with me...or you don't.  Figure it out, please...this makes my head hurt.

[corndog67]

 The 150 HP Bandit is the shop hot rod.  Go to the website.  I have been to the shop.  He is a no bullsh_t guy.  Ok, it's pods.  But that is still a very stout bike   Without removing the valve cover.  You said 120 lbs of torque.  I was talking horsepower.  122 rear wheel hp.  The hot rod one has 96 lbs of torque and 150 horsepower, but it has all the general hot rod stuff.  Clear?

[makenzie71]

So, again, Holeshot can have a 150hp bike but no one else can?

And 20lbs of torque is the difference in timing, gearing, fuel, etc...

[corndog67]

Never mind, your missing the point.

[fettcols]

Holeshot has some nice stuff... But don't forget to pick up some gsxr1100 cams.... The bandit motor is a slightly larger but detuned old school gsxr1100 engine.... And there's plenty of those with 150+ hp

[lumpoffire]

Be careful with the 2001 1200 models;  They have issues with poorly machined bleed holes in their pistons.  Problem resolved in 2002.

http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=55151526&security=HparIl

Aside from that, nice bikes.  Lots of power, comfy.

[pantablo]

I know that bike. the owner (previous owner?) in the photo is on www.maximum-suzuki.com. a regular there. That bike has all the right stuff on it. Holeshot is the shaZam! for the bandits. Dale's a nice guy and hosts the "banditfest" they have here every year. All the guys I ride with regularly I met from M-S and they all have 2 bikes, one of which is a Bandit 1200. its the big-big-big brother of the gs. Very good street bike and they can haul ass on the street or track. Only the best riders can find the limits of that bike on the track-that being ground clearance. Easily rectified by grinding off the bits that touch down, using the ground to grind...as my friends do.

this is me on my 600rr and a buddy on his 1st gen bandit 1200 mixing it up.
http://media.putfile.com/streets-32406-pablo-and-greg

$4500 seemed high at first since you can sometimes find NEW old stock in dealers for that much, but he's got all the go-fast bits already on it so I think its a good deal and a good bike. Seriously, a slip on and rejet gets you 10-12HP straight away so that bike has it all going on.

[B18C5-EH2]

I don't think the SV650 will suprise anyone with it's torque...especially if they just jumped off a B12.  You do know the 1200 has nearly 2 times the torque of the SV650, right?  And weight isn't that different.

I think you misunderstood my post.  I said because the SV has 1/2 the displacement than the 1200 you'd be surprised by it's torque - I didn't say the SV650 would have more torque period.  I personally like the way the power and torque are delivered on the V-Twin bikes. 

On top of that, the Bandit is simpler...it's a big, liquid cooled behemoth that works off old school tech.

\

...and the 99-02 SV is carb'd too, and liquid cooled.

ANYWAYS I'm not saying at all that the Bandit is a bad bike, or even that an SV is a better bike - I'm simply saying he should try to ride one of each and see what he likes, that's all.

[makenzie71]

I think you misunderstood my post.  I said because the SV has 1/2 the displacement than the 1200 you'd be surprised by it's torque - I didn't say the SV650 would have more torque period.  I personally like the way the power and torque are delivered on the V-Twin bikes.

I read what you said and responded appropriately...the SV650 doesn't produce anything resembling an impressive amount of torque.  It puts down about 5 more pounds than the Katana 6.  No...V-Twins, despite being renowned for their torque delivery, simply don't deliver it until you start scraping the 900cc+ area.

...and the 99-02 SV is carb'd too, and liquid cooled.

The SV has always been water-cooled.  Don't confuse the terms.