Bandit GSF1200 Naked

Advantages: Trick parts and spares easy to find & cheaply.
Disadvantages: Need a neck brace for high speed on naked version

...more is it can be relatively easily tuned to turn out more. As far as spares and aftermarket parts are concerned these are readily available at good prices. It is arguably one of the best bikes to hone your bike mechanic skills on too. There are a multitude of websites available offering expert advice specifically for the Bandit 12 because of their popularity and if you're not completely in love with it, it's resale value is second to none. I'm a good example of this because I had to travel 60 odd miles for the nearest dealer who had one for sale. In conclusion the Suzuki Bandit GSF1200 is what I call a 'keeper', i.e once you get yourself one you'll hang on to it. If you're fortunate enough to have a few grand spare, take this strong advice, go out and get one you WON'T be disappointed....

DODGYbutwhy 13.09.2004 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 1200S

Bandit 1200S rocks

Advantages: Power, Cost
Disadvantages: Split interests

...I bought this bike from a dealer in the fall of 03. The "S" bikes come with a 1/2 fairing on the front, rather than the naked look of the 1200. I got the bike for about 6K US dollars. I don't know how many pounds or pence that is for your Brits. If you're looking for an old man cruiser, then get a cruiser, man. If you're looking for an all out crotch rocket, then get a full fairing sport bike, but be ready to pay 10 grand or so for those suckers. If you're looking for a bike with huge balls that is VERY inexpensive for what you get, but that can be ridden comfortably as well, then get out your purse M8 and buy the Bandit 1200S. This bike rocks. If you haven't been on a big bike, be EXTREMELY cautious with the throttle. I drove an old Honda and a 750 Honda Nighthawk, but neither was even close to the torque on this puppy...

BanditMan 23.03.2004 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 1200S

BMX with a 1.2 litre engine! LOVE IT!

Advantages: Powerful, wasy to ride, cheap and FUN FUN FUN
Disadvantages: Lots of second hands have been stunted and dropped!

...Back in 2001 I bought a second hand (or more likely third/fourth hand) Suzuki GSF1200 Bandit (Nekkid however, not the S version), I had previously owned a Suzuki GS500E commuter bike (500cc flat twin). I was 20 years old and had 'tricked up' the GS500E to look like the streetfightered (term for personalised/modified bikes) Bandits I had seen all over the place. I unfortunately crashed that but just found it as a good excuse to have it re-sprayed, twin spotlights added and renthal handlebars to give it the 'tricked up' Bandit look. Therefore when I came to move up to a new bike I decided, on seeing an already tricked up 1200 Bandit in a local dealer, to go for it! I was pleased to see the bike was up fro Approx £4,000 which was just in my price range. I did worry about insurance as I was only 20 but was again pleased to find out that...

jpasurvey44 12.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 1200S

2 Wheel Bandit

Advantages: Fun, Economic, Reasonably priced
Disadvantages: Wobbles over 100mph, Forks bottom out, Too high for people with short legs!!

...enough we signed on the dotted line, parted with £2,500 and we were the proud new owners 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, it is also good on the open road and loves 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...

joannavos 20.06.2001 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

Bandit stole my heart

Advantages: Handling, engine, novice- and expert- friendly
Disadvantages: Some dealers less than helpful

...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 tune when it is nearing the end of a service interval but otherwise it has surprisingly clearly defined powerbands (it's like having two turbos, brilliant!). Tickover to 4000 rpm has a nice soft response suitable for town riding, 4000 to 8000 rpm is sharper (just what you need for out of town riding) and 8000 to 12000 rpm is gung ho territory. It took a little time before I was confident to...

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

Bring on the muscle!!

Advantages: Easy to ride, comfortable, effortless
Disadvantages: cant think of one

...and another 1200 Bandit but the naked one. A true muscle bike and the original one at that!!!...

suzban12 06.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 1200S

Bandit still in the big league

Advantages: Easy handling, comfortable ride. Very fun
Disadvantages: Can be intense

...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 producing the 600cc and 1200cc bandits? The bandit competes 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...

MysteryMan1982 17.05.2005 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

600cc Bandit S year 2000 model

Advantages: cheap to buy and run
Disadvantages: taller and heavier than some similar bikes

...easily attainable by both rider and pillion. Also it was on this trip that I discovered that the tank range is at least 160 miles from a 20 litre tank (140ish to reserve) whilst riding normally (i.e quite briskly) and with a passenger and our luggage - including tent and cooking equipment! I have heard reports of so called "sports tourers" with much worse fuel consumption than that! Top speed seen by me on the clocks is about 130 mph and it feels quite stable at that speed, and the acceleration is more than adequate in the real world. On a racetrack many bikes would make the Bandit look slow but out on the open road it easily holds it's own with most of my friend's machines, although it sometimes feels just a little wallowy in bends. All in all I would say that the Suzuki Bandit 600S is an excellent machine if you want to do a bit...

curley 29.10.2002 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 600S

The best all round Sport Cruiser

Advantages: reliable, great power ,very nimble ,durable
Disadvantages: suspension a little soft, fairings buzzy

...The wife and I both ride Bandits hers is the 05, 650 and mine is a 06, 1200s , This is my second Bandit after my 04 1200 was wrecked by a guy running a red light, I've owned this series of Suzuki since the old 1985 gs750es and it is by far one of the most dependable motorcycles on the market. With all the years this motor combo has bean around up grading it is cheap and proven results are easy to get. As a great all round sport cruiser there is really isn't any thing close in it's price range and for me any price range. The only improvement I would request from Suzuki would be a slightly firmer suspension as it is a little washy in corners although that is corrected by put a Busa rear shock in it and replacing the springs in the front with the progressive style. If you purchase the 1200s you might find the fairing a little buzzy but...

iceangels 30.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 1200S

The Muscle Bike

Advantages: Torque Power Comfort Grin Factor Price
Disadvantages: Rear Shock

...The 1200 Suzuki Bandit has always been the choice of stunt riders and for good reason! The nature of this motorcycle is, well, a little skitz! One minute your gently crusing along country roads with your gal comfortable as it can get, sitting in fifth gear without a murmur. Then, when your ready, lift up that front wheel hold it through the gears and finish with a stoppie! What? the same bike? oh yes! The rear shock lasts about two years befor going a little soft, easily sorted, so no real problem! Front shocks could do with multi rate springs, again thats quite cheap so not a problem! The engine, which has been around for over 11 years, was first found in the GSXR1100. It's bomb proof! Very strong torque peaks at 6,500 rpm according to my dyno tests. My own standard bike recorded 110 BHP and 79 lbs/ft Torque. AT THE BACK WHEEL...

bandit_pav 13.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Bandit 1200S