Bandit 1200

[CirclesCenter]

I got to spend some seat time with a bandit 600 last week (no moving, just prodding.) and you know what, it felt SPECTACULAR!

But the 600 holds no interest (of course, because I want some real STONK) so while poking around about the 1200 i found this....



Muwhahahahahhahahaha........... (Yes that was a VERY evil laugh)

Look at that, it's DOUBLING the GS's peak torque by 2k rpms!!!!!!!! (At 2k the gs just pukes and flips me off....  )

So first thing, that looks like a motor begging for more cam, maybe a rejet and an intake/exhaust combo so that it can pull hard out to 9.5k or so. (If it pulled 75ftlbs there it would make 135hp...  )

So the thing that worries me is cornering clearance. Does it run out quicker than the GS? What can I do to make it lean further?

1200cc's... I'm drooling..... (OMNIPOTENT POWA!)

[fettcols]

every bandit 1200 needs some gsxr 1127 cams... really warms things up... google holeshot racing, they're big into old school oil boilers..

[pantablo]

first you need a higher exhaust and rearsets. I run with a bunch of bandit owners (who have multiple bikes) and they run their bandits on the track. slip on and rejet nets you 10-15hp right off the bat.

www.maximum-suzuki.com and holeshot.com are going to be your new money pit, er...friends...

[pantablo]

here's a pic of my buddy greg on his first gen bandit 1200 at a recent trackday...

[Jake D]

Meh.  Not that much more power than a Super Hawk.  5 hp and 5 lbs of torque. 
Get a Super Hawk instead.

[TadMC]

x

[fettcols]

Forget the superhawk... the bandit 1200 motor is just a de-tuned version of the gsxr1100... And has much more potential!

I have a gsxr1100 and I'll tell you this... That's one hardcore motor when it's built. Mine has a 1260 marasco motor and it's a real screamer!

[CirclesCenter]

Superhawks have held their value better, meaning that my poor ass can't hold as much value as they hold....

[pantablo]

yeah, but like the b12's there's no reason to buy one new since they're unchanged from 1998. And you can get a 1998 with low miles for under $5k. You can get a NEW or nearly new B12 with low to no miles for that. some dealers practically give them away because everyone has moved on. Still a great bike. Both are actually.

[Jake D]

I don't know if the B12 is still in the Suzuki line-up.  I assume it isn't, for some reason.
They quit making new Super Hawks in 2005, which sux because most of the companies are running out of aftermarket goodies for them.
I am considering buying some new black Jardine high mount slip ons for my bike just because I may never have the chance down the road.
And I would like to try and squeeze some more power out of it.  Just like other bikes, you get used to the power and always want more.
I will acknowledge without hesitation that you can get a shaZam! ton more power out of a B12 than my bike.  My bike is a liter v-twin and is pretty much at the upper range of its potential.  With slip ons and a re-jet, I could hope for maybe 110-115 hp.  The B12 is just leaving the station at 110 hp. 

[pantablo]

nah, they'll always have aftermarket for the sooperdooperhawk. the black jardines are what I woud get for that bike too-beautiful sound.

[Jake D]

I found new, in the box, black high mounts for $425.  I should probably get them, huh?  I would like to try and save money one of these days.  But I can save money when I am dead.

[pantablo]

get 'em!

[Jake D]

Got 'em.  Should arrive in 7 to 10 days. 

A-Z Powersellers is the bomb.  Dual slip ons for $465, shipped.

Black Jardine high mounts with chrome mid-pipes.  Retains the passenger pegs, if I want them. 

Should be pretty sweet.  I'll have to take it to the mechanic so they can shim up the needles a bit.  But I trust those guys. 

[CirclesCenter]

Yeah I'm basically looking for a GS that is REALLY REALLY pissed off. 

I just want it to be uber beastly.

[fettcols]

I was working up a deal on a new leftover bandit earlier in the spring but ended up finding a good deal on a harley I couldn't pass up. I thought it would be pretty sweet to have the gsxr1100 and the bandit in the garage. Pretty much the same motor but the gixxer is a little more performance tuned.

The bandit motor is just a refined version of the old school 1100 that came in the gixxer back in the mid 80's and a larger version of  today's katana motor... Many of the parts interchange with the current version. There will always be parts around for them and there's a big crowd of people that hold onto those bikes.

Check out gixxer.com and look in the oil cooled forum...

[pantablo]

and maximum-suzuki.com for bandit folks.