Suzuki Bandit

[acdfan]

Thanks to those who pm'd me and sent me to powersportsplus, the schematic was there. heading out to crank down the nuts and fill the reservoir...

[Fred Garvin]

Please put up a report on the improvement in braking and where you purchased. I have a 2007 and want to do the same: increased length for higher bars and braided for better brake feel. Thanks.

[eakins]

New street touring bike for me.
2000 600S, 5kmi...mods to follow.

[Against The Wind]

I'm thinking about an 09 Bandit 1250 ABS, for the resident Bandit experts:

Does the bike run on regular fuel?
What is the range of the tank, under legal interstate speed limits?
What is the valve service interval?
What are the known issues?

Thank you for your input.

[flaadvandmtbrider]

I have the very bike you are considering. Runs on regular, the tank is 5 gallons, but the low fuel light comes on way early, I'm comfortable with about 160 miles between fill ups on the highway, valve "inspection" interval is 14,500 miles, no known issues that I know of or have experienced, wears tires and chains/sprockets like you would expect for a big powerful bike. Overall, a great bike with no issues.

[BossMaverick]

Originally Posted by flaadvandmtbrider

I have the very bike you are considering. Runs on regular, the tank is 5 gallons, but the low fuel light comes on way early, I'm comfortable with about 160 miles between fill ups on the highway, valve "inspection" interval is 14,500 miles, no known issues that I know of or have experienced, wears tires and chains/sprockets like you would expect for a big powerful bike. Overall, a great bike with no issues.

+1

I also have an '09 Bandit 1250. I get an average of 45 mpg with my high record being 52 mpg when I had an extreme tail wind during a trip. The low fuel warning comes on early when there is about 1.5 gallons remaining. There is a second warning that comes on when there is about .5 gallons remaining but I haven't reached that point yet. Going 180 miles per tank is easy as long as you can ignore the first warning for 25+ miles of it.

Valve inspection is 14,500 miles. I haven't read a report online yet where the clearances were out of spec when checked and that includes a person with 50,000+ miles on their Bandit. The Bandits are known to hold their valve clearances amazingly well.

There are no known mechanical issues. The Bandits are known to be very reliable. There are some comfort complaints (like the stock handlebars) but no complaints mechanically.

In summary, I love my Bandit. It is awesome for doing it all. I mainly use it to gobble up highway miles but it's also good for curves and for weekend fun rides. It's not as fast as a true sport bike but it is still no slouch. The down low torque and overall engine smoothness are outstanding features of the 1250's.

Edited to Add: I noticed that you are considering an ABS model. You will read a lot of complaints of the brake lever and pedal feeling when it kicks in. I personally don't think the feeling is that bad and I'm glad I went with the ABS option.

[Scrivens]

Does the bike run on regular fuel?

Yes

What is the range of the tank, under legal interstate speed limits?

Hits the first warning light around 150-70 miles but still has another 40 miles at least in it. I've averaged 45-47mpg on mine on the highway, over 50 at times on a 60mph cruise.

What is the valve service interval?

How often have you had the valves checked in your car? The 1250 motor does not appear to change even with big miles.

What are the known issues?

Nothing mechanical has shown up yet as an issue, but the seat is pretty dire and a lot of people change the bars and screen. Pillion accommodation is cramped for anyone over about 5'4" and the rear shock is rubbish if you live in a place with poor roads. Michelin Pilot Road 3s give longer service life and handle better than BT021s. Mine has around 17,000km on it and the chain has never needed adjusting since the first tiny tweak at about 1000km.

The motor is pretty well perfect.

[SteelB12]

Originally Posted by TexanInSeattle

I have heard of this issue with top cases and the renntec style rack.. After lots of research I have found that the only rear rack that is really desigend for the weight of a top case would be the Givi rack....the others just arent built for anthing more than about 5 lbs. ..This is not so much a subframe issue as a rack design issue.

Here is what happens when you regularly overload the Motech rear rack on a 1200 Bandit:


I now have the Givi mount for both top case and side cases. Much sturdier.

[Mike Hunt]

Originally Posted by BossMaverick

+1

In summary, I love my Bandit. It is awesome for doing it all. I mainly use it to gobble up highway miles but it's also good for curves and for weekend fun rides. It's not as fast as a true sport bike but it is still no slouch. The down low torque and overall engine smoothness are outstanding features of the 1250's.

.

Low down torque maybe, but I get a real kick out of chucking it down a gear and pulling back the throttle for overtakes. From my experience an engine generates its power through more revs. Never gone above 7000rpm tho, apparently the power fades at that point.
Also I got 200 miles once out of my bandit GT. Fuel stations are rare in central scotland! This was with the bikes fully loaded top box and side cases too. However the 200 miles was done in one go mixing up motorways, city driving and scottish highland roads so a mixture of everything. I typically refuel it at about 150 miles, only occasionally taking it 180 miles. What I wanna know is its actual top speed. Anyone actually tried it? I done 140mph on it once, I figured that was pretty close to it.

[CheesyRider]

Originally Posted by SteelB12

Here is what happens when you regularly overload the Motech rear rack on a 1200 Bandit:
I now have the Givi mount for both top case and side cases. Much sturdier.

I'm sure the same thing would happen with the Motech rack my wife has on her 1250 Bandit. She never puts anything much heavier than a laptop computer in there, so I think it will be okay.

[02TAC]

I find the Bandit (mine is a 2002 1200s) to be a very good scoot for real world riding. Yes, sport bikes are quicker through the twisties, touring bike make the miles easier and dual sporty take the worry out of dirt/gravel roads, but the Bandit handles them all with aplomb.

The engine makes power where you need it. She will really get you moving in the upper half of the tach, but at teh same time will pull very strongly from 3K up so a downshift to pass is rarely needed. I have the Holeshot Stage 1 Mod jet kit installed with the stock pipe and average 45+ mpg with a high of 53.

Added a SW Motec Alumarack and a Bestum top case, Holeshot/Corbin saddle and a Zero Gravity Sport Touring screen and she is all day comfy. A Scottoiler was alse installed recently. All I can say is get one!

[Fred Garvin]

I have a 2007 Bandit. Best bang for the buck bike I have ever owned. Runs on regular fuel, gets 48-50 mpg with all of the Holeshot stage 2 mods, I have seen valves go to 25k with little to no adjustment needed. The only issues are NEVER enough time to ride!!!!

[andruboz]

i started with the regular windshield. a little turbulent.

then i tried the suzuki touring windshield. a little better

then i tried the laminar lip [which doesn't fit on the touring-only the stock]. it was a very good upgrade on my z750. but on the bandit? not so much. air is a little less turbulent but still aimed at my face not the top of my helmet the way it was on the z750. it was a bolt on on the z750. on the bandit -stickers and velcro.

sooo.. what should i try next?

[EvanADV]

Originally Posted by andruboz

i started with the regular windshield. a little turbulent.

then i tried the suzuki touring windshield. a little better

then i tried the laminar lip [which doesn't fit on the touring-only the stock]. it was a very good upgrade on my z750. but on the bandit? not so much. air is a little less turbulent but still aimed at my face not the top of my helmet the way it was on the z750. it was a bolt on on the z750. on the bandit -stickers and velcro.

sooo.. what should i try next?

A madstad bracket.

[02TAC]

Originally Posted by andruboz

i started with the regular windshield. a little turbulent.

then i tried the suzuki touring windshield. a little better

then i tried the laminar lip [which doesn't fit on the touring-only the stock]. it was a very good upgrade on my z750. but on the bandit? not so much. air is a little less turbulent but still aimed at my face not the top of my helmet the way it was on the z750. it was a bolt on on the z750. on the bandit -stickers and velcro.

sooo.. what should i try next?

I have the Zero Gravity Sport Tourind windscreen and find it works very well. I am about 5'11' and have a Holeshot/corbin seat with a Beadrider.