New Bandit

[Cal Price]

Tomorrow, at lunchtime I pick up my new GSF650 Bandit from the same dealer I got the GS from four years, almost to the day from. I have been Ummmmmmming and arrrring for about a year now but have finally taken the plunge.

At 62 next birthday the next bike i buy will probably be one of those big scooters that you can get a geisha-girl under the seat and with an electric centre-stand so I thought "What the heck - go for it"

I will miss old Suzy-Blue the GS, and I'll take her for one last spin but tomorrow after I finish work at 1100, it's on to Suzy-Blue-Two, I'll post a pic when I have one.

One last thing, I was hoping that it did not come with thoise "ify" Excedera" tires/tyres and it has BT020, anyone know anything about them as i have been very happy with BT45s on the GS ?

[blue05twin]

Grats on the new bike.  Post pic's when you can. 

[natedawg120]

Congrats on the new bike.  We want pics, glorious pics

[Jake D]

Are they selling those in the State?

[natedawg120]

I don't think so, they are just selling the 1250 here.

[pandy]

Congrats on the new bike!! Patiently waiting for your pics! 

[Cal Price]

Thats the new bike, the 650 bandit was introduced here in 05, upgraded from a 600, oil cooled with a lot of style mods and stuff I'm not used to like fuel gauge and hazard flashers etc then in late 06 they switched from carbs to injectors and went to water cooling which is why I was able to do a good deal in this carbed bike. She is a little lower than the GS and a tad longer and more surprisingly a shade narrower, she is going like a dream, cant wait to finish the run-in period and realy open her up.

Finally here is a last look at the two bikes that left me this week, the GS, traded-in and my old 80 Yammaha that i have given to a mate who might have the time to finish restoring it and ride it to the degree it deserves, knowing him, he will probably crash it, he did once already after five yards he hit a lampost! He-Ho!

[ajaxgs]

congrats cal

[natedawg120]

looks awesome, I really like the blue and the way that they did the frame

[Cal Price]

Yeah, the frame is a fairly small steel tube not unlike the old 600 bandit. Oh well all I need now is a screen and maybe some engine bars and a big trip.

[groff22]

 The bandit looks like a classic bike in that color. Very nice bike m8... 

[foobar]

Nice Bandit! I wish we got the 650 here 

[Mk1inCali]

Why did you go Bandit over the SV650?  Just curious.  'Tis a good-looking bike, neat mix of old-school and new-school styling cues.  Should be a blast.



About the BT-020s, I have not at all been impressed by the set I have on my Ducati.  I've got about 3.5K miles and I'm nearly at the wear bars on the rear down the center, which isn't bad for a commuting litre twin (I engine brake a lot), but the front has a nasty habit of cupping the tread, even at correct pressure.

I will NOT be putting another set on.

[cosmiccharlie]

Cal,
Is that your impreza wagon?  Looks nice!! I have a 99 Impreza RS coupe.

[Cal Price]

Naaaar not my Subaru, it belongs to the next door neighbor.

The main reason I went Bandit over SV650 was the money, a new SV here is about £4400 for the naked bike, £4600 for the sports version. I like the SV particularly being a fair bit lighter but the oil cooled bandit was available new at £3400 before the haggling, this is mainly because of the switch to a water cooled engine just recently (Euro emmision laws) so the Bandit represents a saving of about a grand in pounds, about 1900 bucks which is not to be sniffed at. Also being 1.75m tall (about five-eight) the SV is a tad tall at 800mm where the bandit is adjustable 770mm - 790mm which is much more comfortable for me, the test ride was a clincher, so much so that I was very close to going for the 1200 Bandit which is currently a bargain for the same reasons and the upgrade to 1250cc.

I was reading the current "Ride" mag today and they mention the bike and my local dealership as a national "best buy" so I recon it must have been a good deal.

[simon79]

Congrats mate.
Outstandingly looking new bike, and your former GS looks very pretty, too.

Lamps,
simon

[pandy]

Your new bike is GORGEOUS, Cal! 

[Mk1inCali]

Very cool, Cal.  Enjoy the new bike as much as the old.  Should be quite easy on the maintenance, too.