2002 Bandit 600 transformation

[Ar-Bandit]

So I am sucker for making projects harder than they need to be.  Does anyone know how much work it would take to put the 1200 motor into the 600 body.  I am working on a drag bike for next season and I think this is the route I wanna go.  The whole reason I am trying to shove the 1200 into the 600 is because of insurance prices.  I'm not in the mood for my insurance to sky rocket when the insurance figures out I am sportin a bigger bike.  So yeah, if anyone has any answers that will help me just let me know.

[Bob Holland]

I have never done it, but it should be a easy swap. Try it and see, you could fool a lot of 600 riders.

[Vee Dub Nut]

Here is my take on it.... It can be done very easily, the only problem is the prices of the 1200 motors usually make the swap uneconomical.. now if you have a line on an inexpensive motor I can understand..

I honestly recomend getting a 1200 if at all possible, the upgraded brakes and suspesion are worth the money IMO.. by the time you get the 600 set up equally its cheaper to get the 12...

I did a Kat 750 switch on my bike and it was nice and very driveable with the 600 brakes and suspension. Now after driving the 1200 I have now i would recomend upgrading the brakes if you do the motor swap. The 12 can get you moving in a hurry and it can get harry trying to slow it down.

if you want any technical info IM me and i can give you a link to my swap page

[Red01]

I have never done it, but it should be a easy swap. Try it and see, you could fool a lot of 600 riders.

As Vee Dub says, it bolts right in (you'll need a 1200's header, too - the downtubes are longer).
You'll be missing all the other upgrades that come with a 1200, like better brakes, wider wheels, better swingarm, etc. - That's why we recommend a new bike for a 600 owner interested in the swap.

If you want a sleeper, just take a 1200, remove the "1200" decals and paint the motor silver. But unless someone is really up on their Suzukis, they wouldn't know a 600 from a 1200 if there are no size decals.

[Ar-Bandit]

So I was wondering if the 1996 katana 1100 are the same mount ups as the 1200 bandit motor??? This could get intresting...

[PitterB4]

Unfortunately, his insurance company isn't gonna be fooled by the sticker swap and painted covers.

[Red01]

So I was wondering if the 1996 katana 1100 are the same mount ups as the 1200 bandit motor??? This could get intresting...

GSXR1100 (both the 1052 & the 1127), & GSX1100F (Katana in the USA) motors mount up just the same as all the other 600 & 750 SACS motors.

The GSX1100G would probably work too - except since it's a shaft drive version, you might have some problems making the motor make a Bandit move down the road without a few mods.

[ldbandit76]

The whole reason I am trying to shove the 1200 into the 600 is because of insurance prices.  I'm not in the mood for my insurance to sky rocket when the insurance figures out I am sportin a bigger bike.  

Just out of curiosity, do you know how much your rates will go up on the 12?  Some companies don't care much about displacement, and others do.  It may be most economical for you to shop around for insurance, rather than spend the time swapping engines.  Not near as fun, of course.

They should be able to quote you rates even if you don't have the bike.  Have 'em quote a couple new ones (Busa?  Burgman?) and say you're shopping around.  

Dave

[tacoman]

Don't think you're going to pull one over the insurance man.  If you have an accident and you go to make a claim, they will send an inspector to verify VINS.  When he sees you have a different motor in your bike and you didn't disclose this upfront, they will promptly drop your claim.  This will be bad if an accident is your fault, its like not having coverage at all.  Insurance agents will act like your friends until a claim, especially a large one, occurs.  Then you're thrown to the adjusters and attorneys.  (yes, this knowledge is thru personal experience).

[Ar-Bandit]

I have maid my mind up and i am just gonna keep the 600 the way it is...do some suspension work to get it through the twisties faster.  Then save some money and just buy a 1200 and build it like that....Alot less of a headahce I am pretty sure.

[PeteSC]

You'd have difficulty selling a b6 with a 'strange' motor, also, not to mention recovering your costs...

[PitterB4]

Don't think you're going to pull one over the insurance man.  If you have an accident and you go to make a claim, they will send an inspector to verify VINS.  When he sees you have a different motor in your bike and you didn't disclose this upfront, they will promptly drop your claim.  This will be bad if an accident is your fault, its like not having coverage at all.  Insurance agents will act like your friends until a claim, especially a large one, occurs.  Then you're thrown to the adjusters and attorneys.  (yes, this knowledge is thru personal experience).

Really?  What about guys that have bored their 12s out to 1300+ vs. someone dropping in a Busa motor (if it would fit)???  What's the difference or are you saying you'd have to disclose the increase in the stock motor, too?  Hopefully, one of our insurance experts (ratbike or theroamr) will chime in with a clarification.

[2005B12S]

I would look into the 750 motor option. Katana 750 motors are fairly inexpensive and can be modified easily.

I bought a 1993 Katana 750 complete rolling chasis- everything- for $300 to update wheels and brakes for my '83 GS750ED project. Katana's are plentiful in salvage yards and part houses. There is a huge difference between the 600 and 750 air/oil cooled powerplants, and the 750 has much more hot rod capability. Your brakes, wheels, and suspension are equivelent to very early GSXR components and will handle a 750cc motor.

Good Luck, Ed.
2005 GSF1200SZ
1983 GS750ED

[ratbike05]

From the insurance standpoint, if you make any major engine modifications(swap outs, engine booring, nos, turbo etc) and you don't advise the insurance company two things could happen in the event of a claim.  First, they could pay the claim but deduct the difference from the premium you paid vs. the premium you would have paid had you reported the changes.  They could charge you for the difference from the beginning of the policy term regardless of when you actually made the change which could wipe out the claim entirely and actually cost you a few bucks.  The second option is to deny the claim, cancel your policy(possibly back to its start) and potentially charge you with insurance fraud.  That would not only cause your rates to increase due to whatever accident but could also destroy your probability of getting good(everything is relative) rates for your home, auto or bike insurance.  The flip side of all this is that if you do tell an insurance company that you made the modifications they could cancel you anyway because they don't want the risk(liability) of a modified bike.

P.S.  The adjuster will figure it out fairly easily if they come from one of the big boy insurance companies like Progressive.  Most companies have specialized adjusters for things like motorcycles, rv's and boats.  In a lot of cases, those adjusters are also enthusiasts.

[tacoman]

I was involved in a 2 year battle with an insurance company over a fire damage claim.  Believe me, their attorneys take over and if there is a way to weasel out, they'll find it.  It will come down to the extent of your mods and if a claim arises, how much it is (my fire claim was over $300k).  I learned to go by the book, you've at least got a fighting chance if trouble arises.