big bore bandit?

[BLACKSMITHY99]

I am considering going with a 1216 big bore kit for my bandit (97 1200s) with a gsxr intake cam and full exhaust and was wondering if anyone had any information/experience with that mod.  reliability and driveability primarily.  yes i know the bandit doesnt need more power, but i'm a nut

[Red01]

I'd go with the 1216 kit from Holeshot as it's a little lower compression than the JE piston set from APE and is better suited to pump gas. The JE pistons get better reviews than the Wiseco ones.

This is still a relatively mild state of tune for this motor, so reliabilty shouldn't be an issue. About the only minus is if you get stuck in stop & go traffic on a hot day, you might need to keep an eye on oil temps, so an oil temp gauge would be a worthy addition.

[Bob Holland]

I have had both 1216 kits in my Bandit, one Holeshot kit and one 13.5 to 1 JE kit, and a GSXR, 1216. I now have the Bandit 1246 JE 13 to 1 kit in my 98 Bandit. If you want max. performance, go with the 1216 JE 13.5 to 1, if you are doing a lot of touring, use the Holeshot kit, it is JE pistons also, just lower compression. I have also used the 1186 and 1201 kits. I also use both GSXR cams not just the intake. My best ET and MPH with my Bandit is with stock GSXR cams, 9.78 at 139.

[BLACKSMITHY99]

I'm looking for max power that i can run on pump gas.  i figure this will cost me about 2k but i'm hopeing to work some deals with friends and cut that down a lot.   I think i will prob have to get a larger oil cooler so any suggestions on what will work for that would be apreciated.  holeshot told me to mill the head 25kths with his kit and stepped exhaust with gsxr intake cam.  i would like to make max power without makeing like the old christmas carol "roasting chestnuts on an open fire"  

was that 9.78 run with extended swing arm or just strapped?  I want the bike to run 9's cause every squid with a paycheck has a busa.  btw i plan to giggle gas it on top of the big bore kit eventualy.  hehhee yea i know i'm nuts

[12sdrag]

just remember all that power doesn`t  always work to your advantage. It seems like every bike I race against is a busa or a zx9. Me being a 240 lbs rider they could pretty much abuse me at will. Fortunately I have a friend that races a top gas bike he told me something very simple, I don`t need more power I need to learn how to use the power I have. When i started racing my bike and not the bike next to me i started winning. I race in pro e.t. and street e.t. In pro i have to race against  everything  from squidbusa`s to 6sec. snowmobiles. Sometimes i win sometimes i lose, but i can`t say i wouldn`t mind a few extra ponys for that saturday nite grudge match! good luck   my bike now runs 10.70 131mph

[BLACKSMITHY99]

I already run 11.1 at 126 and i've only made two passes with the bike ever.  I only weigh 148lbs so i've got a pretty decent advantage already.  
most of my prob is trying to launch hard in first.  cant keep the front end  down.  I only have a stage one jet kit with a d&d slip on and one down sprocket in the front.  i think the bike has a 10.80 in it just like it is.  but i want a 9 sec streetbike that noone will suspect of that kind of power.  i try to keep all my racin at the track, cause street is not worth it.  i live about 20 min from moroso motorsports park so i have easy acess to the track.
 

[Bob Holland]

Go with the 13.5 to 1 1216 kit or the 1246 13 to 1 kit, it will still run on 93 oct, and you don't need a bigger oil cooler, unless you just have the extra money and want to spend it. I ride my 1246 to work every day that we are not expecting rain. Don't advance your timing, that will make it run hotter. I run 36 degrees total advance on the street, and 40 degrees when I race. I have the dyna 2000 ignition. I run 9.78 et at 139 mph at the track.

[Bob Holland]

This is what I have in my Bandit now

1998 Suzuki Bandit, J&E 13 to 1- 1246 Piston Kit, Lazer Level 3 Ported Head w/ over-size stainless steel, 30mm intake and 26mm exhaust, valves, APE bronze valve guides, Heavy Duty Valve Springs. CamMotion G21 Cams w/ Slotted Sprockets, Mikuni 38mm Flatslide Carbs with K-N Pod Filters, Quarter Turn Throttle. 4” over swing arm, HEL Oversized Oil Cooler w/ SS Lines, Hindle SS Exhaust, Holeshot Power Shifter3, Pingel High Flow Petcock,  GSXR Clutch GSXR 1100, Cable clutch conversion, Shock Rebuilt by Lindeman Front Forks Rebuilt by Lindeman, LSL Rearsets, Tokico 6 Pot Brakes w/ SS Lines, 155 RWH, 94 ft lb torque

[Red01]

Well, if all-out drag racing numbers are what you're after, then I agree, the higher compression JE pistons are the way to go.

     

[BLACKSMITHY99]

i think i'll go with a 12 to 1 or so.  that should make it a bit more reliable and smooth on the street and still give quite a bit of power.  besides i plan to spray it eventualy.. probably like a 40 shot.  i'm only wondering at what point i will have to do clutch work.  
 

[Bob Holland]

When they calculate the compression ratio, they do it without the base and head gasket out, so the 13.5 to 1 JE kit is really around 12.5 to 1 when installed. My bike is as smooth as a stock bike, with more hp.
The Bandit clutch did not work for me so I went with, new parts, but the 1989 GSXR clutch basket and 1986 clutch hub and clutch plate with 4 individual springs instead of the cone springs. If you get too high on horsepower, you will need a lock up clutch.
I weight 240, and my bandit will run 9s, with the 4" over swingarm, it runs low 10s with the stock swingarm, which is what I have on it now.
I set it up for the street when the gas price got so high.

[wrecker]

I'll save you the expense and down time.  I've got my Bandit 1216 up for sale(see bikes for sale).  I've done everything that Dale Walker has suggested and this bike kicks some serious booty!  The Holeshot 1216 combo works extremly well for all day street riding.  My bike is set up for the twisties, but if the bike was lowered in the back with an extended swing arm installed, a shot of squeeze, it would be a real handful.  I'm not that brave on two-wheels.

[Bob Holland]

My bike used to have all the Dale Walker parts, but when I change out the DW exhaust for D&D with larger header tubes, I gained about 3/10s of a second in the quater, I ended up putting a Hindle on for ground clearance. I took out the DW 1216 pistons when I went to the 1246 kit.
I always use APE for piston kits and cylinder boring, anyone with any mechanical ability at all, can put in a piston kit, you don't even have to pull the engine. I use large water hose clamps and 1" stainless steel bands to go around the pistons and hold the rings in, to slide the cylinders on.
Go for it, you want regret it, no matter whick kit you decide on.

[wrecker]

I also went went with the Hindle Exhaust and could not be happier with the sound, performance and ground clearance.  I used DW parts because of his background in the Bandit.  You definitely have a good working combination that works for you, I had short notice due to my faulty pistons from Suzuki(1 quart per 300 miles).  I was trying to suggest an alternative to building a dragbike, by buying someone elses project.  You can save alot of downtime and money at the expense of the previous owner.

[Bob Holland]

Buying one already built is a very good way to get a lot of extras for little cost. My 98 Bandit, I bought over the internet. He had receipts for $5,000
in engine, head work and extras, and I gave him $5,100 dollars.