Trying to decide '98 or '01

[riggerrede6]

Guys,

I'm a US Army Reservist currently serving a year in Iraq and will be coming home mid August. I'm looking to get a used Bike prior to my return so as to be able to hopefully take a long relaxing tour when I get back before showing up for school and then use it for commuting. As I have been looking at possibilities I've been leaning more and more towards getting a Bandit 1200S. I'm a large guy 6'4' 220 and my wife is 5'3" 110 and other than a Honda ST1100, the Bandit 1200 seems to be closest to what I'm looking for and in the price range I can afford.

I've been pricing the different ones for sale on Craigslist in my area over the course of the last month or so and am having trouble deciding which year model to go with as there seem to be more of these two years models for sale in the price range I'm looking to spend than any other.  The price difference that I've been seeing has had the 01's running about 700 to 1200 dollars more than a 98 with comparable miles.  Just looking for some comments from anyone that has ridden both 1gen and 2gen bikes. Is it worth the extra money for the 2gen bike if mileage and care of the bikes are comparable? Thanks for any suggestions or comments.

[Snubnose]

Just looking for some comments from anyone that has ridden both 1gen and 2gen bikes. Is it worth the extra money for the 2gen bike if mileage and care of the bikes are comparable? Thanks for any suggestions or comments.

I have a second gen. as far as I know, the 1st and 2nd gen bikes have identical engines (cept maybe for tweaks and carbs). The 2nd gen is mostly a different body style, seat, perhaps frame too.

[txbanditrydr]

Do watch out for certain 2nd gen models.... some '01's & 02's were notorious for burning oil due to piston issues.

[smooth operator]

  I have a 1st generation and I've road my brothers 2nd genaeration.
  My 98 is a bit more flickable,maybe its the heavier fairing in the front of the 2nd gen. But his suspension seemed smoother than mine. Although I've changed mine, and have it set up stiffer,I don't ever remeber it ridding as smooth. Wich your wife would appreciate on the back. If you pick up a 1st gen with stock suspension, I'd figure on buying a new shock and Race Tech gold valves and springs for the forks. But I'd probably do the same for a 2nd gen too.
  You may be happy with it like it is, or you might pick one up that has already been upgraded. There are plenty of Bandits around with Progressive up grades.Many with GSX-R shocks wich raises the rear a bit. And sometimes shocks will pop up on ebay pretty cheap.Or you could go to Motocd.com for suspension needs.
  My brother was happy with his stock and he's a big guy. Mine has been like a Timex,it can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. I call my Bandit 'ol reliable.Although I also have a SV1000, I do most of my comuting on my faithfull Bandit.

[mademiriam]

I like the look of the 1st gen 1200 a lot more, it just has a much nicer frame. I can't comment on anything else though as I have an '05 and been very happy with it, other than like I mentioned that my frame isn't as nice... at least in my opinion

[Red01]

The 01 and early 02's did have a oil burning issue related to revised pistons.  I would hope any of these that did have issues (my 01 never had any issues) would have been fixed by now.  There are over 100 changes made between the 2000 and 2001 model years according to Suzuki ad copy from 2001 models.  The basic engine is the same, but the 01 does have a stronger clutch and different carbs and all of them have PAIR (air injection for smog, previous models only had it if they were California models).  Alternator, front brakes, forks, steering geometry, frame & rear shock, as well as the obvious things like bodywork is a quick highlight of  the bigger changes. Many folks have complained of the 2nd gen bikes projector headlights being weak (faired "S" models only), but there are fixes for that in the FAQ.  The H4 lights in the 1G and naked 2G bikes do cast stronger beams stock for stock though.

My son has a 97 and I've ridden it quite a few times.  It rides fine and I don't really notice that much difference.  The suspension is a little softer than mine was when it was stock - I think, that was a long time ago - but that could also be a function of the bike's age and mileage.  Both his bike and mine have just over 50K miles.  We just put a new clutch in his because it was slipping, but mine is still doing fine.  However, we have no idea what kind of life it had under it's previous owners, and it has had at least two others.

To answer your question though, If you want to save some money, there's no reason to avoid a 1st gen B12... and one could argue, due to the piston issue, that you may even want to avoid a 2001.  If it was my money, I'd buy the cleanest, newest bike I could afford.

[riggerrede6]

Thanks for the input. This bike is going to be my gift to myself for dealing with this year.

I had looked at the possibility of buying a Bandit new in '97/98 but it wasn't a good time to buy as I was planning on leaving active duty military in a year. I had a used 1980 CB900 custom fall into my lap for almost nothing at the time so went with that instead. My CB900 had been a good solid bike for almost 10 yrs but had started to need some work done that was more than I could afford as I had just gotten married so it ended up in storage until I could save enough to get it worked on.

It was frustrating as gas prices went up as I wanted to fix the bike up to save money on gas but couldn't afford to fix it because I was paying so much for gas. Anyway the little money I have saved over the course of this deployment(my wife has no financial discipline if I'm not there to say no) is going towards living expenses for the next year while I finally finish off college. I'm in the 20 year program... 9 years active duty military, 10 years in the reserves, 3 deployments since 9/11 and I am one semester from getting my Bachelors degree after I get back   Now I find out that the cost of repairs on my bike is going to be more that the cost of a newer used but working bike which leads me back towards looking at the Bandits again.

I'm paying to have a shop look over any bike I might buy as I'm probably going to end up buying the bike prior to my return so as to be tuned up, plated, insured and all ready to go as soon as I'm back and free again to hit the road. Meaning I'm ending up buying sight unseen on my part which is why I was asking for the help. So again thanks for the comments.

[LowRyter]

I'd go with the best condition, color, style or equipment.  Everyone mods these bikes these bikes to suit their needs.  You can make them pretty much anyway you want.  The older bikes are a little lighter.  The newer ones get better mileage and more comfy. 

I've not ridden any Bandit but my Gen 1 bike.  I have ridden my brother's new 650.  It is pretty well sorted (brakes and suspesnion) but is feels heavier than mine.

 

[asskickinpeanuts]

+1 what Red01 said about the differences.  If you are a cheapskate, like me, getting a 98 vs. a 2001 would be worth saving $1000 or so.  I have had both, and there are no major differences IMHO.

[PitterB4]

Unlike Miriam, I much prefer the styling of the second gen S (love them both naked).  With the upgrades and/or newer brakes/carbs/suspension and so forth, it'd be a no-brainer for me to find a second gen bike.  Of course oil burning is the wildcard in the equation.