Suzuki Bandit

[vellies]

So, I have a GSX1250FA I bought last year and have done 9,000km. I am sick of the thing aiming all the wind it can collect at my head. I have been testing naked bikes (which I have always avoided) like the Speed Triple and Monster, just to find out at legal speeds none of them cause nearly the same amount of wind blast. Sure you are in the wind (it is a bike after all), but it is more even and a lot less irritating.

So, now the question becomes, do I sell mine and try to find a naked 1250 with ABS, which they no longer seem to sell in Australia, or is there a way to convert my bike to a naked.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[skysailor]

vellies, is the wind coming in through the lowers? There are a few aftermarket shields that might help. I have just the upper fairing on my 650, and it's not bad. Might try Dale Walker at www.holeshot.com He has some aftermarket shields, and at any rate, he'd be worth an email on the subject. Cheers
Lyle

[nbsdave]

Originally Posted by vellies

So, I have a GSX1250FA I bought last year and have done 9,000km. I am sick of the thing aiming all the wind it can collect at my head. I have been testing naked bikes (which I have always avoided) like the Speed Triple and Monster, just to find out at legal speeds none of them cause nearly the same amount of wind blast. Sure you are in the wind (it is a bike after all), but it is more even and a lot less irritating.

So, now the question becomes, do I sell mine and try to find a naked 1250 with ABS, which they no longer seem to sell in Australia, or is there a way to convert my bike to a naked.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

try here, some good stuff and they speak your language
http://nswbandits.forumotion.net/

or here
http://www.twtex.com/forums/index.php?
or here
http://www.riderforums.com/general-bandit-chat/

[Süsser Tod]

Originally Posted by vellies

So, I have a GSX1250FA I bought last year and have done 9,000km. I am sick of the thing aiming all the wind it can collect at my head. I have been testing naked bikes (which I have always avoided) like the Speed Triple and Monster, just to find out at legal speeds none of them cause nearly the same amount of wind blast. Sure you are in the wind (it is a bike after all), but it is more even and a lot less irritating.

So, now the question becomes, do I sell mine and try to find a naked 1250 with ABS, which they no longer seem to sell in Australia, or is there a way to convert my bike to a naked.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

I've found naked bikes to be much more comfortable than faired "non touring" bikes. I added windshields to both my XT660R and XJR1300 just to remove them later, removed the windshield on the XJR in the middle of a 1200km ride. I rather have a clean blast of air than all the turbulent air aimed by the windshield to my head. I find my SV1000S unridable without ear plugs because of the windnoise created by the turbulent air, not that I do long rides without ear plugs, but I do ride my other bikes without them in the city... Not the SV1K.

As for the naked conversion, you can convert it easily, but a lot of parts are required if you want it to look like a OEM naked Bandit.

[Cortez]

Originally Posted by vellies

So, I have a GSX1250FA I bought last year and have done 9,000km. I am sick of the thing aiming all the wind it can collect at my head. I have been testing naked bikes (which I have always avoided) like the Speed Triple and Monster, just to find out at legal speeds none of them cause nearly the same amount of wind blast. Sure you are in the wind (it is a bike after all), but it is more even and a lot less irritating.

So, now the question becomes, do I sell mine and try to find a naked 1250 with ABS, which they no longer seem to sell in Australia, or is there a way to convert my bike to a naked.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

If you're sitting down, there's 400+ pages on the Bandit 1250 here:
http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17255

The windscreens have been discussed A LOT.

Drop in with your inseam and height and you'll probably get an answer
or two that many will agree with.

[EvanADV]

Just got around to putting new chain/sprockets on my 07 Bandit 1250.

To my surprise the PO had 17 tooth front and 40 tooth rear. Stock is 18/43, which is what I bought. I put 20k+ miles on that bike with some LOW gearing. Never had a clue.

Anxious to experience 18/43 gearing now, especially on the highway.

Just need to get my hands on a chain riveting tool...

[oldschoolsk8ter]

If anyone is selling a givi rack for gen 1 bandit let me know, part # PLB 511. Have been looking for weeks now and so far nothing.

[Draechon]

Originally Posted by oldschoolsk8ter

If anyone is selling a givi rack for gen 1 bandit let me know, part # PLB 511. Have been looking for weeks now and so far nothing.

]


Been there, done that, and failed. They were "never" sold in the USA and their Canadian counterpart is permanently out of stock and said I would also have to pay a $100 customs/import fee. Supposedly, Givi in Bulgaria still carries them, but I have no way of contacting them. Looks like the only solution is fabricating something.

[EvanADV]

Originally Posted by EvanADV

To my surprise the PO had 17 tooth front and 40 tooth rear. Stock is 18/43, which is what I bought. I put 20k+ miles on that bike with some LOW gearing. Never had a clue.

Anxious to experience 18/43 gearing now, especially on the highway.

On second thought, dropping one tooth in front and three in the rear would keep the ratio nearly the same, wouldn't it? Can someone chime in here?

[Cortez]

Originally Posted by EvanADV

On second thought, dropping one tooth in front and three in the rear would keep the ratio nearly the same, wouldn't it? Can someone chime in here?

Almost.

[FUTURE]

After a bit of a fight with a very heavy gate that closed on my bike and knocked it to the ground I had to buy some new levers. Yes the bike lost the fight with the gate.

I bought these off eBay after reading many forums postings about Chinese levers. Mine came out of Hong Kong. They are very well made. Feel good against my fingers when using them. They feel nice and sturdy. I think they look good. They operate as they should. This is the good.

Now the bad. This was the seller, aumotomarts. He sent a set that has the clutch side as cable operated. Wrong wrong wrong for a 2002 1200 Bandit. My clutch is hydraulic. In fact he has photos with a clutch lever that is cable operated.



I should have twigged this when I bought them but did not. I contact them as soon I get the levers. Tell them the problem. They reply and want photos of my OEM lever compared to the one they sent. I do this. Then they email me to say they never got the photos. So I upload them to the net and send the links for the photos. They say they will investigate. Then they say they will send me a replacement lever. Time goes by. I email them for a copy of the tracking number. I am told it will be sent the next day. A week later I send a very rude and threatening email. Still no reply. A few days go by. I send another abusive email.

Meanwhile I have logged a claim with PayPal for a refund. After a month I get a reply from Paypal that the seller has denied refund. The seller has sent another. So again I send an email asking for the tracking number. I get a reply. With what is not a standard postal tracking number. Then I get another email saying they sent u the wrong tracking number. Hey dumbo neither are tracking numbers. I used to do this for a living, tracking overseas mail. So I know what they are.

Then 2 days ago, at long last, a parcel from the seller has arrived. Its not a replacement lever. It is a part that will allow me to fit the lever to a hydraulic system. So I had to pull the lever to bits to fit this part. Ok no big deal for me. I am handy with tools. Had I not been, I would have been beyond pissed. I have not left feedback for the seller. If I do it will only be negative. Which would mean he would leave negative for me.

Lessons learnt from this. Look at the photos better Ross before you buy.

So what do they look like fitted?

[gpounce]

I have a similar pair of PSR levers, really like the feel compared to the stockers. I did the gsxr clutch upgrade w/ the stronger Barnett springs, in heavy commuting traffic the shorter lever does end up giving my clutch hand a workout though.

[beeper]

After 13 years it's time for some service work and some changes to my beloved Bandit. The steering head bearings are notchy and the forks need freshening. I will also be removing the fairing and storing it away as it's going naked with a classic look single round headlight.

This is how it looked a week ago...




Here it is today...



After only 18,000 miles and the stem bearings are toast! Probably the result of some hard landings after wheelies and I think the preload was too loose as the spanner nut was only finger tight when I removed it. I bought this bike new and this the the first time the front end has been apart.



The forks are going to the dealer for an overhaul and new Progressive springs. I've ordered a Delkevic headlight and some E-bay brackets also.The handlebar is getting replaced with a Bikemaster Daytona piece and If funds allow I shall also be installing braided stainless brake hoses.

[YJake]

2003 B12 with a slip on and enough popping on decel to wake the dead... Not to mention a stutter down low in the power-band.

Holeshot Stage One candidate?

-Jake

[Michelangelo]

If anyone is looking for some add-on/aftermarket fairing lowers...

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218...169077&cat=464