Does anyone know much about these bikes??

[madjak30]

I'm just looking at the options for if I can't afford the bike I really want...but does anyone know anything about the 1996-1999 Suzuki Bandit 1200 bikes?  I've read some review that say they are great all around packages...others talk about fuelling issues below 4K rpm...some say they are not too bad on fuel, others say they suck it back...I guess the fuel consumption will depend on how the throttle is used, or abused...

I have found one for only a couple hundred bucks more than I should get for my GS...so an upgrade could happen this year whether I have money or not...

They are nice looking bikes, if a little dated...I am more concerned about leg room and reliability...

Here's a few pics...





and the naked version...




Whaddaya think?

Later.

[Twisted]

From what I have heard of bandits whether 1200 or 600's they are great bikes. Like you said regarding fuel consumption its all how hard you ride it.

[Caffeine]

I bought an '05 1200S a few months ago.  Love it!

But...the previous owner put on a Yoshi exhaust and rejetted it, and it does drink gas in large amounts  (say 20-ish MPG).  I don't know how much better it would get if it was stock.

Great bike though, and a great engine!

[tt_four]

That's one of those bike's that's just been around so long, and the engine has been used so much that I have a hard time imagining that there would be any real issues. No matter what bike it is you're always going to find someone who says there's something wrong with it, then they convince 2 people, and before you know it there's a group swearing that a certain bike does something it's not supposed to, but I think it's a pretty safe bet regardless. I don't know much about the history but I would assume that engine is in some day related to the one they used in the katana 1100 in the early 80s, and possibly some before that, aside from changes from air cooled to water cooled any other random changes.

[The Buddha]

The B12 air oil cooled motor is amazing, and its been around for ever ... but, its nearly the same as the GSXR 1100 of 89-92 vintage and those have aluminum frames. The better bandit IMHO is a 89 GSXR1100 turned naked. I know, cos I got one.
Cool.
Buddha.

[tt_four]

The better bandit IMHO is a 89 GSXR1100 turned naked. I know, cos I got one.
Cool.
Buddha.

Yeah do that one, if there's one bike I like more than an MT01, it's an old naked gsxr....

[redhenracing2]

I almost traded my GS for a naked 600 once, but found out it was stolen 

I seriously dislike that ugly fairing from the top pictures, but in naked form they are gorgeous bikes.

[madjak30]

I seriously dislike that ugly fairing from the top pictures, but in naked form they are gorgeous bikes.

Yeah, I'm not really sold on the faring either...I do like the 2000-2006 bike which could also work...sounds like the fueling issue was resolved along with some handling upgrades...as for the naked bike...well, they look like a GS500E to me...very similar, but with nicer looking guages, and I bought that bike because I liked the looks of it...since I do a lot of touring on the bike, I am leaning toward a faring...

Let's just hope I can talk the boss into letting me get the bike I really want...with or without the bonus...just have to figure out what that bike is...

Later.

[tt_four]

Even if those fairings are a little more official, it's not like you can't pick up a clamp on fairing for $200 that would just take 10 minutes to bolt on before you were going to spent any real time on the highway. I was debating looking into a bike with a fairing, but I think I'm just gonna try to find a removable windscreen for when I really need it.

[madjak30]

I like the looks of the naked one, and for the matter of a removable screen...I could just transfer the one I have over to the "new to me bike"...



Although, I still prefer this for a naked bike (if I can afford it)



I go for my performance review on Monday...I'll ask what the probability is...

Keeping my fingers crossed...

Later.

[tt_four]

Just take a couple pictures of the MT01 with you so they know why you want the bonus. They're not gonna say no after they've seen it.

I know I already asked you what that windshield was before, but does it do a good enough job to be something you would consider using on any kind of touring, or is the size better for around town stuff. Didn't you say you have to kinda hunch down behind it for it to really work? I think it looks pretty good, and I'd like to find something about the same size, but after everyone threw in their opinions of windscreens last time I got the impression that I would want something a little bigger for 70-80mph highway cruising. I want to pick something up in spring so I can ride down to DC to visit my sister and I'd like to seriously cut back on the wind.

[madjak30]

I like the feel of the naked bikes, so having a screen that doesn't completely block the wind is better to me...if I want to get out of the rain (or hail as the case may be...don't ask) I just have to lean forward a little, like you would if you were riding more "sporty", to get out of it...otherwise the wind hits around my neck...but I could adjust the mounting to have the screen more upright if I would like...it doesn't protect your hands at all though...hand guards would fix that...the other thing I found it does for you, is stabilizes the bike at hiway speed...probably similar to having a steering stabilizer on the bike...I rode most of the summer with the shield off, and when I put it back on...what a difference, the bike just seemed smoother...that's more why I am looking at a bike with some type of faring...

I may end up just keeping my GS for another summer if I can't make up my mind...I don't want to pay top dollar in the spring, so I may wait for next fall...I can't even decide on a style of bike...sport, standard, dual sport or cruiser...I just have to think of it as my next bike to try, instead of a bike that I have to keep for a few years...I know the boss doesn't want me getting a different bike every year, but it that has to happen to find the bike I really like...I guess that is what will have to happen until I am satisfied with the bike...maybe never 

Just...what do you try first??

Later.

[tt_four]

I've always had an idea of what bike I wanted next, but lately I've been going back and forth. I regret not having ridden more of my friends bikes, and now that I want to there aren't as many people that I ride with. When spring comes I'm going to make a point to get out and be more social so I can meet some more people to ride with, and eventually get to try out some different bikes. You might want to look into finding some people who will let you try out some of the bikes you're interested in.

As far as the bike being stable, definitely makes sense. The one thing I'm not positive about, is if a bike with a half fairing would give you the same feeling or not. Your fairing is mounted to your handlebars, so the wind streamlining around it might help to stablize your handlebars. The bandint fairing would help to streamline the bike, but the bars might still feel just as light. Not saying that's how it'll be, just a thought that the two different style of fairings might affect handling different.

[madjak30]

I tried that last summer through more local bike chat rooms...and did get out on a couple of rides with others...but that group has kinda died, well not dead died but the site was shut down...I found one of the guys through Facebook, so I guess I have him as a riding buddy...sorta...but another site that I joined last summer is starting to get busier with more locals joining up...we are planning a road trip (probably in my truck) to the bike show in Jan...the one in our city sucks, but the capital is only 2hrs away...hopefully we can get to know each other during that trip and plan a few rides...although, I'm not really a "group ride" kinda guy, but if we meet up...set a destination, and ride in a loose group, I would be good with that (I tried riding in formation, and found I was having to watch my speed and path too closely to really enjoy the ride...guy at front didn't keep a steady pace)

Anyway, I was just doing my normal lunch hour surfing when I found out that there is a 2011 MT-01 (European Yamaha site), just not imported to North America...parts will still be available (which was one of my worries)...now I just have to sort out the money thing...the used one is still at the dealer, and I doubt it will go anywhere until I buy it...maybe...



Later.

[redhenracing2]

My next bike will be a new Ninja 250, probably a wrecked one so I can street fight it. As fun as they are to ride I just can't help it.

[tt_four]

I don't like real group rides, but I do like going out with 1 or 2 other people. Any more than that and it starts to get crowded and cluttered, and getting stuck near one guy who doesn't know what he's doing can ruin the whole ride.

Redhen, go for it! Just figure out something to do with those ridiculous headers. No idea why kawasaki decided there needed to be a foot deep gap between the motor and headers. Just send your 750 this way when you get your new one and I'll give it the same treatment!