Suzuki Bandit 600S

The Bandit has been about for some years, and there's a good reason for this. The bike does what it says on the tin, it rides and rides and rides. I've owned one for around a year now. I bought a 1998 Bandit 600SW, this was my first bike, passed my test a week and went out hunting. The bandit first started in the early nineties, which has led some people to say they are a bit long in the tooth. If this were true why would they after 15 years keep ...
...with bikes like the Yamaha 600 Fazer and the Honda 600 Hornet. The three bikes all sit closely in their range of stats, but they all are very different. Now what things would you be looking for when choosing a bike if your new to it all, hopefully the following will help. ****Performance**** The 600 Bandit boasts around 75bhp, now for a first bike this is plenty enough. It will get you to between 115mph and 125mph depending if you've opted for ...

MysteryMan1982 17.05.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

...of an R reg, blue Suzuki Bandit GSF600N. (Strangely enough, Suzuki class this blue colour as green?! They must have colour-blind employees!!!) A brand new Bandit will cost around £3500. So how does this bike perform? It has a decent sized engine although not as fast as the 1200 version but that is pretty obvious and to be expected. It is very handy for town work and is light and nippy enough to weave through traffic comfortably. Saying that however, ...
...being given the opportunity to do just that, especially if it’s normally used for only town work. I don’t think huge amounts of town work is good for any vehicles, so a ‘good run’ every now and then will do it a world of good. Compared to the Thundercat, a long run is much more pleasurable on the Bandit mainly due to the aching arms syndrome. After an hour riding the Thundercat, or any racing bike I would assume, unless you ...

joannavos 20.06.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

...I would say that the Suzuki Bandit 600S is an excellent machine if you want to do a bit of everything. Mine has proved reliable, economical, comfortable with some nice practical touches (digital clock, twin trip meters, room under the seat for a chain and a disk lock) and it's a good looking machine that has put up with everything I've thrown at it and even after a year of ownership and over 12,000 miles in all weathers it still cleans up almost ...

curley 29.10.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

I bought my Suzuki Bandit 600S (i.e. with a fairing) when it was just over a year old. I was very impressed: for the price of a year old Honda CB500 (boring but reliable commuter) I picked up a 600 Bandit (drummingbunny's dream bike!). I can heartily recommend this bike to anyone except the hardcore power junkies. It pulls smoothly from just above tickover in any gear: it will comfortably cruise at 30 mph in top gear. The engine goes slightly off ...
...to owning a Bandit is Suzuki dealers: there are good ones and there are bad ones. B&B motorcycles in Lincoln were excellent, but others have left me feeling that I'd rather not give them money for their lack of service. One couldn't tell me what shade of green my bike was, because they couldn't find the colour code: Dealer: Its under the seat, mate Me: S'not Dealer: It is, I promise you Me: Fine, you have a look Dealer: Blimey, its not there! ...

drummingbunny 12.06.2001 (25.07.2001) · Read full review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

...2 years - my local Suzuki dealer says the B6 is notorious for this, though mine is a touch excessive, and I can go through a back tyre in 2000 miles - but then I do go for sticky rubber and ride pretty hard. As a return to biking it would be a good move, though maybe too heavy and tall for the shorter rider. As a next step from a 125 after passing your test it's perfect - a great 'real' bike at a great price. As a b-road blaster - you might do better ...

slaveunit 15.09.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

I've had my Bandit 600N for 5 years now, bought it new for £3995. The Bandit is a great bike, I can't rate it highly enough. Physically it looks great and it's a good size for me as a 6 footer and that equates to easy riding and comfort about town and on back roads. Keep off the motorways though because without a fairing it is a tiring ride. Economy is about 50mpg and but tyre wear is high with rear BT45s only lasting 3500 miles and fronts about ...
...being flat, there is enough torque for pottering around below 5000 rpm and a great rush over 9000 which can get quite adictive. Ok it's got nothing on a GSX600 or R6 but it's as fast as my old Z650, and certainly fast enough to get you into trouble. The Bandit has always been popular and that's because it's a good all rounder - it might be the underdog compared to the 1200 but the only real difference is the 1200's propensity to wheelie under acceleration. ...

llumb 25.01.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

The bandit 600 unfaired was my first bike although my time with it was an extremely short. As I was 18 when I took my test I was restricted 33bhp so I had a restrictor fitted to the machine while I also invested in some crash mushrooms which against the black paintwork didn't appear too obvious. Such a lovely looking bike. I grew up on the back of my dads Kawasaki Zephyr 1100 so I always prefered unfaired bikes over faired. What a great moment pulling ...
...and for a newbie U-turns etc were not to difficult although the bandit does weigh a fair amount which I was soon to discover. Having set out on my first cruise I discovered above 50 mph the accelaration suddenly died down until eventually after some significant staggering the bike would cut out. Up until 50 the bike was pretty nippy but having ridden ER-5's around the local cardrome I wouldn't say there was any significant difference in umph (remember ...

MR2MK1CCW 30.03.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

I reciently bought a 2003 Bandit 600s. It is my second bike, but have been around bikes my entire life. My first being a cruiser lacked that sporty punch but was a good way to get used to riding on the road. Ok, Now for the reason you are reading this. The perks of the Bandit. It has a great response and powerful inline 4 motor. Since the exhaust, tranny, and motor(except for the carb) came from the GSX600F Katana, the 12k redline allows for three ...
...warm) running in the Power Band 4 to 8k is a nice sporty ride or if you want to add wings and fly 8 to 11k will get you moving. Now all that power would be worthless if you couldnt sit the bike and be comfortable. For some of the shorter riders this bike is a big let down with a 31.x seat heigth but my guess is 5ft8in and over will have no sweat. The bike allows for a nice upright cruising set or if you are really out to have fun you can lean over ...

rjman 13.06.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

O.K so it's an N I own and not an S, but it's the sme bike, but without the sporty bit on the front. mine has actually been modified, as in it has dual headlights (HIGHLY recommended), stainless steeel exhaust & pinnings and a scottoiler (again VERY recommended). I have found it extremely easy to ride, very energetic little bike. Comfortable if going the distance and yet still exciting enough for those little country road jaunts. You do have to work ...
...anything resembling a quick getaway. I believe the 1200 engine is better than the 600 for that sort of thing. But for those who either cant afford the insurance on a 1200, or want to start on a smaller bike (perhaps just passed your test?) Then nothing can beat the 600. Of course this bike is also good for town traffic, and it's easy riding style makes it a loy less hassle when you are threading your way through the rush hour. All in all a good allrounder, ...

HawkesFord 13.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

I really wanted one of these but I could only afford a Honda. This bike handles so well and looks great.. They are so versatile, the bike is a legend. Once I have built up my confidence ( recently passed my test ) I will probably get one. Just hope I can handle the power ! All the best Greeno ...

BeBIkeInTheWorld 01.06.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

Well, never wrote a review before so here goes: been riding for over 40 years, 1% outlaw, dirt, street, trials, motocross so been there and want to buy the T-shirt. the Bandit I now live with was bought to fix and flog. then I fell in love with a great do-it-all bike. 96 600S. Change the spings, add good Metzler rubber, re-jet the carbs and add a Holeshot can = Rock n' Roll for not much cash. Gotta love this concept: one bike to live with for a ...
...plenty of character to tour, to cruise or get groceries or surprize crotch rockets in the corners. I fix and sell bikes and this one is super easy to fix or tune and gives a great bang for your buck, now I understand why the long run of popularity. Will be keeping this one. ...

Bentouttashape 11.09.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S