1992 GS400 Bandit

[Cam22]

Hi Folks-
Anyone know anything about the GS400 Bandit. There's a dealer (somewhat) local to me that has a '92 for sale, w/ 14k miles. He's willing to let it go for around $2300. Does anyone know anything about this bike. It's listed as a "rare" bike. That could be good, or bad, imho. What do you all think? Thanks for the help!

[pantablo]

rare in that it was only imported in US for 91-93 so parts are likely hard to come by. reasonably good bandit-400 forum at banditalley.com. not nearly as much traffic as this forum though...

[The Buddha]

I have seen them as low as 1500 or so on both coasts in great condition, and even at that price I dont believe they are worth it but it comes down to how good each particular one is. So at 2300, It better have a few parts made of gold. Its easy to spend $600+ for a service (whatever that is) at a dealer and that is not recoverable which most sellers dont understand. Service is for use that already has happened, not something you save up for the future and dealers make 90% of their income selling parts and service and so they are very very over priced. BTW parts are hard to find unless they are shared with the GS, GSXR or Katana, which the B4 does in spades. Finding out what is common may be a whole new game though. rare but nothing special, decent bike at the right price but this is far from it.
Cool.
Srinath.

[tintin]

They preceded the 600 Bandits by a couple of years.

4 cylinders with a 16 valve head, make about 55 bhp, the later ones had v-tec variable valve timing. You can still buy them new in Japan. I think you will have to rev the n*ts off it compared to the gs500 to get anywhere....

Mind you, you can also get a 400 version of the gs500 too in Japan, probably make about 40 bhp.

Over here in the UK I had a good look at the latest 2003 model gs500e at the NEC bike show, they seem to have detuned them a bit to meet emission regs, quoted about 45 bhp, my old 1999 W model is listed at 51 bhp. Well I suppose that is progress, nothing that a good aftermarket exhaust can fix......

[Cam22]

Thanks to all! You guys are great! I've already changed my mind. Not going to do it. Esp since I can prob. get a later model GS500 for around the same price! Seems silly at this point.  

[Adam R]

My friend paid $2000 for a 92 Bandit 400 (GSF400) in excellent condition, with a full Yoshi exhaust system.  I rode it from Washington, DC to Boston and was pretty impressed with it.  It's definately not slow, especially compared to a GS.  Personally, I like the little Bandit a lot.  I would get a test ride on if I were you just to check it out.

[Cam22]

HI Adam-
Thanks for the info. It's making me re-think everything! Thanks again to everyone!
Cam

[tkm433]

Sorry to say this but it is a better bike than the GS500 if you want a fast and sporty bike.  

The 400 Bandit has 16valve water cooled engine uses 41mm forks, better tires and across the board is a better bike than the GS500.  

The 400 Bandit was built as a non-faired sport bike like the Honda CB-1 and only sold in the US market for a few years so there might be a problem with some parts in the US market.

The 400 class of bikes from Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki of the early 90's all kick butt.  The 400 Bandit uses a detuned GSXR400 motor as does the Honda CB-1 use of a CBR400 detuned motor.  Yes, The GSXR400 and CBR400 were not imported to the States due to the US Market not requiring new riders to start out on less powerful bikes such as in England and other parts of the world.

[The Buddha]

Good yes...but $2300 good??? That's all I would say...
Cool.
Srinath.

[pantablo]

yeah, gsxr forks bolt right in too-saw that on the bandit forum.

[Cam22]

Yeah, I think for the money, I'd rather have something "newer", like a 98 or 99 model if I can get it, for around the same money. Who knows though, maybe this dealer will go even lower. Will let you know ... Thanks again  :mrgreen:

[octane]

[The Buddha]

Yeah, I think for the money, I'd rather have something "newer", like a 98 or 99 model if I can get it, for around the same money. Who knows though, maybe this dealer will go even lower. Will let you know ... Thanks again  :mrgreen:

Its with a stealer...Forget it...not worth it...The stealer offered me $1000 for my 86 vulcan if I bought an SV for $4K, Then I called them and talked to another salesman who said for 3500 cash I could ride it home. Then I saw in an ad they had a virago 700 (older and more miles) than my vulcan advertised for $2600. I go and see it and the bike is worse than mine in every respect not to mention Viragos dont sell for as much as Vulcans for comparable examples. Then I found another SV for 3500 and that dealer said they dont like to take in older bikes on trade and in general was a bit more honest, and said they are not likely to sell the SV at all cos the new one is so much better...well its fuel injected....not better for me... I guess I'll wait around and they are bound to drop the price, as soon as it hits $1 per cc I'm there...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Arpee]

If you're hot on the GSF400, just watch e-bay.  I see them occasionally go for under a bill-and-a-half.  One sold last month for $900--a little ratty, but a decent price.  Save up a couple hundred more for an SV650...dang, that's a neat bike!

[christiaan]

i've taken a motorcycle safety course, i have a brand new license
i have about 4 hours riding experience.  Is the bandit 400 too much for me?
should i stick with a GS500E?

[The Buddha]

The B4 is rare, 91-92 only, making it hard to get parts for. But then any damn suzuki part may fit in some cases... but who's going to tell you the cross reference... no one here probably. We can give you Gs cross refernce though... so makes a big difference
Cool.
Srinath.

[Bob Broussard]

I owned a Bandit 400.
Redline is 14000
In stock trim power flattened out at 12000. With a Yosh system it improved throughout the range all the way up to redline. They didn't have any jet kit available then. I loved the bike, but it was the most cold blooded Buddha Loves You I ever rode. Once it was REALLY warmed up it was great. But if you stopped somewhere for more than 10 minutes it would be cold blooded again.
Just doing 55 you rev the motor more than most ever see on the GS.
If I had the money I'd be tempted to buy another one. It could be pretty awsome with some upgrades. I traded it in on a Ducati Monster,
For a first time rider you're probably better off with the GS. It's not that the bandit is too powerful. It just takes more work to get the most performance out of it (rev the piss out of it and shift alot).

[werase643]

you're probably better off with the GS. It's not that the bandit is too powerful. It just takes more work to get the most performance out of it (rev the piss out of it and shift alot).

that is all I ever do to a GS....if it don't work....drop 2 gears and pin it WFO!!!!

[yamahonkawazuki]

usually a gs can take a beating like that wot/wfo an 2 gears down. ive never really got close to a b4 though. at least take it for a ride and ahem.... give it hell. and see how it performs :dunno:

[madhatter]

 if its a good one get it !! they are mad little bikes 125 + MPH if de-resticted and in many respects is a better bike than the 600 ( have thrashed both ) although the 6 is faster at top end the 400 gets there a lot better and is more fun to ride  but as you say parts are harder to get, but worth the hastle !!!! in all a fab bike