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....
(http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcsuz/mcphotos/01b12dyno.jpg)
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.... :flipoff: )
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... :o )
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!)
every bandit 1200 needs some gsxr 1127 cams... really warms things up... google holeshot racing, they're big into old school oil boilers..
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...
here's a pic of my buddy greg on his first gen bandit 1200 at a recent trackday...
(http://www.gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10006/greg-b12.JPG)
Meh. Not that much more power than a Super Hawk. 5 hp and 5 lbs of torque.
Get a Super Hawk instead.
x
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!
Superhawks have held their value better, meaning that my poor ass can't hold as much value as they hold....
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.
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.
nah, they'll always have aftermarket for the sooperdooperhawk. the black jardines are what I woud get for that bike too-beautiful sound.
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.
get 'em!
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.
Yeah I'm basically looking for a GS that is REALLY REALLY pissed off. :icon_twisted:
I just want it to be uber beastly.
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...
and maximum-suzuki.com for bandit folks.