Author Topic: Bandit came in last? (Read 10165 times)

kevinfromrex · « **on:** October 26, 2006, 07:06:34 AM »

I read several bike mags a month, Cycle World ( since the mid 70's), Sport Rider and the UK's Bike.
This months bike compares 3 good used sport/tour bikes, a Bandit 1200, an FZ-1 Yamaha and the ZRX1200 Kawasaki.
The Kawi won the test riders hearts for its attitude and overall power and powerband, the yamaha won second, again great power on top and the Bandit seemed to get last (though results were not numbered).
The Bandit did everything right by theyre own admission, was the newest and lowest mile bike for the best money and lost for what, because we are not as flashy?
And the Bandit was the best selling bike in the UK for how many years (3 in a row in early 2000's said Total Motorcycle).

I know we Bandit rider catch hell because we are not covered in tirbal flamed plastic, but damn.
We catch hell because we dont have inverted forks and trick parts.

But we have suspension that works, sport riding, touring and 2 up. The brakes do the job, the 1200 goes 150 mph or more, the 600 with a little tweaking goes high 11 second quarter miles. The bike looks good NAKED with old GSXR derived air cooled engine poking out. Our bike starts runs and hauls a** everyday. all day. all year, all weather and it is dirt cheap to buy because we get no respect and I can service just about anything myself.

Wow, I guess I did get the right bike (after 27 years on the road).

GSFStiny · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2006, 08:23:29 AM »

I saw the article too, and no doubt the other 2 have a 'look' that the bandit doesnt. I think you hit the nail on the head. People (Bike editors included) like flash. Period. I dont think youll have a hard time finding people to agree that the bandit doesnt have much in the flash department. Not to mention the stock suspension sucks. The bandit isnt the cheapest (but its close), it isnt the most comfortable (but its good for hours upon hours in the saddle), it isnt the fastest (but you better watch your ass from 0-100mph), and it doesnt handle the best (but a good rider can make the average squid look like a real retard). In my very unexpert opinion, its a damn solid amalgamation of the 4. Thats why Im riding a bandit instead of a speed triple, or yammie or kawi or any number of other bikes.
Flash? No thanks. Ill take a B12, please.

Just an aside--WTF is with those lower fairings. I love the look, But damn, if you can swing fairings, buy $20 in paint and color-match the SOB's.

Silly brits.

aussiebandit · « **Reply #2 on:** October 26, 2006, 08:37:20 AM »

One of the best quotes I've ever seen about the Bandit 12 was in an Aussie bike mag and went something like.....

"In it's day the Bandit was the badest, fastest, most powerful bike in it's class, but now, just like some of it's owners, it's a bit tubby round the middle, takes a while to warm up and is really more about comfort than all out performance"

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #3 on:** October 26, 2006, 10:02:14 AM »

Well, the bike mags are all about the very latest and gimmicky and that's OK. Besides, tell me a bike that's perfect in every regard. There ain't one!

My opinion of all the plastic on bikes is that some of it DOES look nice, or cool, or racey, but it's so susceptible to rock nicks and chips that it turns me off, plus if you have to replace anything....

$$$

Funny thing is, over the last couple of years I've come to think the Bandit is a pretty bike and has the big honkin' engine look to it. I can't ride most of the bikes currently being offered in the States, not counting cruisers, because of riding postition. If I were 20...maybe, but not now.

If you just keep in mind that bike mags are all about the newest, highest technology, then it won't faze you that they obsess over GSXR1000s and the like. A year from now it'll be something else.

Rocketjock · « **Reply #4 on:** October 26, 2006, 10:04:47 AM »

The bike I was originally after cost $5000 more than the Bandit. It had all the bells and whistles. But, ya know, I am sooo glad I didn't go for it and couldn't be happier with my beauty. And the Modding. Oh, the Modding.

CWO4GUNNER · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2006, 12:10:05 PM »

After 69 new marketing strategies have pushed hard to get the publics attention away from classic looks and styling and more on gadgetry and the techno race. So the ear and eye of the new generations has changed into buying the next socially acceptable cool thing (what others think) and show off move on. The bandit is a classic for more then just its gadgets, but very few are capable to notice that or care about it.

GSFStiny · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2006, 01:24:57 PM »

Quote from: Desolation Angel

Funny thing is, over the last couple of years I've come to think the Bandit is a pretty bike and has the big honkin' engine look to it.

In the 2.5 months Ive had my bandit, prolly 10 people have come up to me and asked "Dude, what is that thing, that engine is friggin HUGE!?" I suppose its a look i can live with.

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2006, 02:30:04 PM »

Quote from: GSFStiny

Quote from: Desolation Angel
Funny thing is, over the last couple of years I've come to think the Bandit is a pretty bike and has the big honkin' engine look to it.

In the 2.5 months Ive had my bandit, prolly 10 people have come up to me and asked "Dude, what is that thing, that engine is friggin HUGE!?" I suppose its a look i can live with.

Yep, same way I feel. They can't see the engines nowadays, or the engine is a twin, and then they see a big badass 4-across and they dig it! Engine envy, for sure!

dandit · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2006, 12:15:21 AM »

I have 60,000 miles on my '97 1200s. I've had to replace the steering head bearings and that's it other than tires, chains, etc. I travel the PA turnpike and hundreds of miles of secondary PA roads every weekend. I haul ass too. I wouldn't even consider any other mount for rapid transit. The Germans are too expensive and Harleys just don't match up. I've spent a lot of time at or over 100 mph and my Bandit NEVER lets me down. BTW I'm still on the original battery

I love my Bandit!!!

Cryptoman · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2006, 10:36:48 AM »

I used to have a ZRX1200R. Let me tell you, that thing had one hell of a motor. The power was everywhere, and there were many times I found myself laughing inside my helmet. I didn't care for the square headlight, the bikini fairing didn't provide enough wind protection, and the seat was angled funny which made long distance rides tiring. I always liked the looks of the Bandit better, and what I really wanted at the time was a Bandit 1200S with a better motor. If the new 1250 hasn't been totally castrated by emissions regulations, maybe I can now have the bike I've always wanted.

Asphalt · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2006, 05:32:40 PM »

The funny thing is that the Bandit looks like a sleeper bike. My roommate drive a 2001 GSXR 1000 and when she is stopped at a light No one and I mean no one has the stones to revv at her. The bike looks sporty and of course fast. Now I drive a 99 Bandit 1200s, and if I am stopped at a light even toyota's and suped up neons revv at me, and want to race. The funny thing is the look on their face when I leave a blurr. I had a friend of mine who bought the new Dodge charger with a V-8 Hemi, and when my roommate was tired of hearing that it could decimate anything on the road, she challenged him to a straight drag race, and the moment he saw what she was driving, backed down. I wanted to prove a point so I took the challenge with him, and he happily bet 300 dollars. I took a look at him and pointed out the 1200 printed on my front cowel, and his remarks were...."It can't be that fast it looks old". I wasn't going to race him but after that statement I couldn't resist. I walked away with 300 bucks and my roommate laughed at him after she said that I can keep up with her bike no problem, and that was the stupidest bet she had ever seen made. Everytime I go to the club he is always there telling how he modified his car......I would just look at him and ask if he wants to test it out.

The bandit gets a bad rap because of the way it looks. So I say let them all think it is an old POS, then that way you can just shake your head when its all done. I love my bandit and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2006, 04:16:11 PM »

Quote from: Asphalt

The funny thing is that the Bandit looks like a sleeper bike. My roommate drive a 2001 GSXR 1000 and when she is stopped at a light No one and I mean no one has the stones to revv at her. The bike looks sporty and of course fast. Now I drive a 99 Bandit 1200s, and if I am stopped at a light even toyota's and suped up neons revv at me, and want to race. The funny thing is the look on their face when I leave a blurr. I had a friend of mine who bought the new Dodge charger with a V-8 Hemi, and when my roommate was tired of hearing that it could decimate anything on the road, she challenged him to a straight drag race, and the moment he saw what she was driving, backed down. I wanted to prove a point so I took the challenge with him, and he happily bet 300 dollars. I took a look at him and pointed out the 1200 printed on my front cowel, and his remarks were...."It can't be that fast it looks old". I wasn't going to race him but after that statement I couldn't resist. I walked away with 300 bucks and my roommate laughed at him after she said that I can keep up with her bike no problem, and that was the stupidest bet she had ever seen made. Everytime I go to the club he is always there telling how he modified his car......I would just look at him and ask if he wants to test it out.

The bandit gets a bad rap because of the way it looks. So I say let them all think it is an old POS, then that way you can just shake your head when its all done. I love my bandit and wouldn't trade it for anything.

He must've been quite the dumb@ss to stand there looking at ANY 4 cylinder, 1200cc, from a Japanese manufacturer and thinking he could take it!

How many decades will it take to sink in with people about these bikes?

kevinfromrex · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2006, 05:13:41 PM »

I got the same thing a couple weeks ago. A POS old a** rx7 thing pulled up smoking from its bumble bee can and revs it up. I thought he must be kidding, light changes he wasnt, he drops the hammer. I dont thinkhe knows my little 600 slightly breathed on Bandit runs a 12 flat Im guessing, well he knows now. I jumped out, jumped in his lane and let him stare at the rear while I dissappeared into the distance.

I guess we are never going to get respect, BIKE magazine wrote the bike did everything right for the best price, best all around, said a pipe unleashed the last 15hp that smoothed out the top end and gave a bigger charge, but the bandit lost because it didnt stir up his loins as much as a ZRX......................, give me a break. Ill just keep having fun on the most under respected, cheapest little sportsbike on the road, dont tell anyone how much fun they are!

solman · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2006, 10:53:11 AM »

Quote

Well, the bike mags are all about the very latest and gimmicky and that's OK. Besides, tell me a bike that's perfect in every regard. There ain't one!

I love the Bandit and I keep it for good reason, it suits me. But, you have to admit, Suzuki has done little to upgrade the bike. In '01 they fixed a few of the bad areas, but were small changes in the grand scheme of things. Yamaha, did some serious upgrades to the FZ1. Changed the frame, exhaust, inverted forks, etc. Obviously a bike that has better upgrades is going to get better reviews. The Bandit when it first came out was at the top of its game, and continued to be in '01. But after that, other bikes continue to upgrade and the Bandit sat idle. Regardless, I honestly think that the writers are looking more into the bike than just the flash or plastics. If flash was the case, then the V-Strom would've never got great reviews when it came out.

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2006, 11:45:57 AM »

Quote from: solman

Quote
Well, the bike mags are all about the very latest and gimmicky and that's OK. Besides, tell me a bike that's perfect in every regard. There ain't one!

I love the Bandit and I keep it for good reason, it suits me. But, you have to admit, Suzuki has done little to upgrade the bike. In '01 they fixed a few of the bad areas, but were small changes in the grand scheme of things. Yamaha, did some serious upgrades to the FZ1. Changed the frame, exhaust, inverted forks, etc. Obviously a bike that has better upgrades is going to get better reviews. The Bandit when it first came out was at the top of its game, and continued to be in '01. But after that, other bikes continue to upgrade and the Bandit sat idle. Regardless, I honestly think that the writers are looking more into the bike than just the flash or plastics. If flash was the case, then the V-Strom would've never got great reviews when it came out.

Well, there is that.