Would I be making a mistake to trade my '89 GS 500 for an 1993 Bandit 400 with 10,600 miles?

In general, I mean.  What are those bikes like.

I'll put up pictures of both, soon.  I'll be getting pictures of the B4 pretty soon.

Let me know what you guys think!  I've always love the littlest Bandit's looks, but I don't know about it's reliability or performance.

Are you sure you're ready to move down to a smaller bike?  A lot of poeple move down to smaller bikes before there ready, and end up getting hurt.  You see all these squids splattered out on the pavement with their brand new, $2000 bikes simply because peer pressure made then get a 350 or even 250 when they obviously weren't ready for such slow bikes.  The GS500 is still a lot of fun, even if the engine is so big and powerfull.  Make sure you're really ready before you step down to a smaller displacement bike.

<grinning>

I think the B4 has the same HP rating as the GS 500, or close, or more!  

So, like they always say, in this case, size doesn't matter.

It is just a matter of getting a newer bike with maybe better suspension, etc.

They are fast and fun. The only problems I am aware they have is leaking fork seals.

Oh and yes, I would trade.

I don't think you will shoot your eye out, but I do think you might poke it pretty badly.  

I'm not aware that my GS actually has fork seals, so some things I may be willing to live with.  

I wonder how big the B4 is re: seat height, wheel base, etc., vis a vis the GS.

Look below.

Specs for the 1991 Bandit GSF400


56.0 x 40.4mm
Engine    398cc inline four, 16-valve, liquid-cooled DOHC
Bore & Stroke    
Compression Ratio    11.8:1
Carburetors    Mikuni BST32 (flat side, constant-vacuum)
Exhaust    4 into 1
Lubrication    Wet sump, 3.0qt
Starter    Electric
Transmission    Six speed, constant mesh, wet clutch
Final drive    O-ring sealed #525 chain, 14/47 sprockets
Chassis    Steel tube perimeter frame, oval section steel swing arm
Rake/trail    25.5 degrees/3.9"
Overall length    82.3" (2090mm)
Overall width    29.9" (760mm)
Overall height    42.1" (1070mm)
Seat Height    31.1 inches (790mm)
Ground Clearance    6.1" (155mm)
Wheelbase    56.3 inches (1430mm)
Dry weight    363.8 lbs (165kg)
Wet weight    418 lbs (190kg)
Suspension    Front: 41mm Kayaba, telescopic, coil spring, oil-damped, 4.7" (120mm) travel
Rear: Link-type Kayaba, single-shock, 7-way preload adjustable, 4.7" (120mm) travel
Brakes    Front: 310mm single hydraulic disk, twin-piston caliper
Rear: 250mm single hydraulic disk, twin-piston caliper
Wheels    Front: Cast, 3.00 x 17
Rear: Cast, 4.00 x 17
Tires    Front: 110/70-17-54H tubeless
Rear: 150/70-17-69H tubeless
Fuel Capacity    4.2 gallons (3.8 California)
1/4 mile time    12.94 seconds @ 101.8mph
Time to speed:    0 - 30 mph: 1.3 sec.
0 - 60 mph: 3.95 sec.
0 - 90 mph: 9.4 sec.
0 - 100 mph: 12.9 sec.
Top gear time to speed:    40 - 60 mph: 5.5 sec.
90 - 90 mph: 6.5 sec.
Measured top speed    116mph magazine
Engine speed @ 60mph    6116rpm
Maximum horsepower    54bhp @ 11,000 rpm
Braking distance    30 - 0 mph 27'
60 - 0 mph114'
Instruments    Speedometer, odometer, tripmeter
Tachometer w/ 14,000rpm redline
Warning lights for low oil pressure and high coolant temperature
Indicator lights for netural, turn signals (one light for both), high beam.

That kicks ass, man.  Thanks!

Sounds perfectly fun!  

Make sure you check the inside of the tank too... Hopefully the one you are looking at is a daily driven model. The tanks are prone to rust if improperly stored.

The engine is rock solid on these bikes. They handle great, and you can't contest the looks either. Good luck.

Parts are IMPOSSIBLE to find for them. I really want one, though.

Yea hard to get parts and the valves 16 of them, tiny dime sized little suckers are all crammed in that head. BTW they are threaded adjustment so no shims to fiddle ...    ... Better tires etc on the B4 but in all honesty a GS will out live it. Its high strung, has the same carbs and related issues and is water cooled to boot. More performance but weighs more ... essentially a wash on that aspect. So you get fatter wheels for a harder to find parts for trade, and 16 tiny valves and 4 with top loading shims are a wash. Oh yea we'll kick you out so there ... OTOH ... you can sorta pretty much find a GS a bit easier than one of those ... though 2 of those came up for sale in the last 3 months that I remember of and looked in the ad paper/net in the NC/SC area and no GS'es. BTW honda CB-1 is almost the same bike. Left to me, after GS I'd take a MZ scorpion 96-99 anyday over those 2. 1 cyl and 5 valves ... yea baby ... yea ...
Cool.
Srinath.

I have a friend that just had one.  She rode it for about 3 years and then sold it.  She was thinking of getting a 620 monster.  Passed on that after getting insurance quotes $1700 to $2400 CDN/year.  

IMO it is a nice looking bike.  Round tubular frame ala Ducati.  hers seemed to be a bit anemic though.  Don't know if was the carb setup or what.  Supposedly 50 Hp but I don't think hers was making that much.  The only issue I think she had was the signal generator.  It took like 3 weeks to get one and it was about $200CDN I think.  Couldn't find a used one either.

good luck finding parts for it, they are still making the B600 and 1200, but havent made the 400 in some time.

Parts are still available on Ebay. I had a VX800 that was only made for 3 years here and 7 years overseas, so I can relate. Aside from the stator (which I wasn't aware of) these are good solid bikes.

No more different than buying a NT650 Hawk. Still a very good deal.

Quote from: seshadri_srinathMore performance but weighs more ... essentially a wash on that aspect.

I looked on eBay for parts for one of these because I was interested in them recently and wanted to see what their availibility was. Parts ARE hard to find. The ones on eBay are few and far between, and something you need might never show up. There's a site for Bandits that seems to have a pretty good following, even the Bandit 400.

The Bandit 400's dry weight is 363. The GS's dry weight is 380 something. 20 pounds lighter. Hell, the Bandit 400's wet weight is the same as the GSF's dry weight. It's got about the same performance as the GS, just in a 4-cyl package. They look sexy as hell, too.

My friend used to have a pretty well sorted Bandit 400.  I felt it had more power than any of the four GS500s I've had and was overall a more refined feeling bike.

Quote from: gsbethesdaParts are still available on Ebay. I had a VX800 that was only made for 3 years here and 7 years overseas, so I can relate. Aside from the stator (which I wasn't aware of) these are good solid bikes.

No more different than buying a NT650 Hawk. Still a very good deal.

VX 800 shared all its stuff with 800 intruder where motor and mechanicals are concerned. Heck its dash was same as GS except they were white, wheels shared with the GS1100 G and so on. B4 was all its own and maybe shared with the euro/asia  GSXR 400.

Weight probably is close for them, but B4 is going to feel top heavy and actually being water it may weigh more after putting in all fluids. The GS is so much more bottom heavy compared to all other I4 types.
Cool.
Srinath.

All very valid points.  I'll get some pictures of it today.

They are sexy.  Not Hawk GT sexy, but sexy!