Canadian Bandits?

[SHREDDER]

So how come Canada has the new bandits and not us?

[solman]

So how come Canada has the new bandits and not us?

Don't know if it is true or not, but I heard that we are suppose to be getting the B-King within the next year or two.  It has the Hayabusa motor installed.

[Oldschooler]

Which means its gonna cost lots of $$$$$ compaired to the Bandit.

[solman]

Which means its gonna cost lots of $$$$$ compaired to the Bandit.

It definitely won't be inexpensive like the Bandit, thats for sure.  It will probably go up $2 to 4K.

[Red01]

So how come Canada has the new bandits and not us?

Because the people in charge of making those decisions at US Suzuki felt the Bandits weren't selling well enough in the US to be worth the trouble. Between the rave reviews the magazines gave to Yamaha's FZ-1 and all the bad press from the oil burning issue of the '01 & early '02 B12 models, there's been a lot of leftover B12's. Add to that the '06 FZ-1 got improved suspension, a newer, more powerful engine and all new bodywork compared to the B12 just getting cosmetic changes (and available ABS - which didn't sell well in the US the first time they offered it back in 1997), they figured it wouldn't be worth competing in this market until the big GSR is ready for market.

That's my guess, anyway.

[rider123]

Because we're broke!!    I think it may come to the US if enough people ask for it. Usually they test bed new bikes for North America in Canada as it's a perfect test bed because the market is small enough that if something doesn't sell well, they won't lose much money. We are close enough in our motorcycle tastes to the States(at least in English Canada) for Suzuki to test bed it. Considering we are getting the nice all black model and people in Canada love sport tourers(it's a big country!) and we aren't on average as affluent as Americans, I forcast the new Bandit will sell well. There are hardly any Bandit leftovers, I have been trying to get a good deal on a leftover for 2 years, finally, I had to go to another smaller city to get a 2005 leftover that theoretically isn't a leftover since its still 2005. Out tastes lie somewhere between Europe and America.

Also consider the gasoline price hick this past year. I've seen more motocycles and scooters than I've ever seen. Even the Bandit at the large end of the displacement scale still gets around 40-45(some posters even got up to high 40's) MPG stock which is still way better than alot of cars, and if you own an SUV it might as well be solar powered for the gas your saving!

[Maniac]

I don't know why, myself.

The last few times I went to a dealer, they kept trying to seat me on a GSXR or a CBR. Those are nice bikes, I'm sure, but not what I want. I have back problems, I'd not be able to stand up straight for a month if I rode one of those. Plus I can't imagine riding one across the state would be comfortable, let alone across several (like I hope to do this summer).

The local Suzuki dealer, however, -did- have a nice used 1200N Bandit. Shame I can't afford it. The local honda dealer didn't have anything in a 'Standard' other than a couple of Ninja 250s for $2500 or so. Nice little bikes, but I'm not exactly a small guy. When I asked about the 919/599, they looked at me like I'd grown a second head or something.

I wonder, whats the markup on the 'sport' bikes? I know it's fairly high on the cruisers (You can't tell me it -really- costs $20,000+ to make one), is it hte same for the sport bikes, with the standards being a lower markup item? That could explain it.

[tacoman]

I'd be curious to see what the mark up on sportbikes like the GSXR run.  You get a lot of bike for your money.  You can race these right out of the crate.  They can be raced all season only needing tires, chains, & sprockets.  Compare this to other forms of racing, even motocross, and its the best deal going.  Whatever the mark up is, you're not getting gouged.  I'm going to the motorcycle show tonite, maybe some Suz folks will be on hand to answer some questions.

[Red01]

Canada may or may not be a test market. There's a long history of them getting some bikes the US never got - and demand wasn't always the reason. For instance, there was demand for the RG500 & RZ500 fours in the 80's. We can credit the EPA for not letting US folks have ready access to those. However, the Bandit was already here for as long as Canada got them... someone just decided not to bring them in anymore. IMHO, the changes in the '06 model aren't drastic enough to warrant the caution of a Canadian test market approach. US Suzuki didn't do that with the B4 or the 1G B6/12 or 2G B6/12 changes. That's why I made the speculations above.

They might decide to bring the 3G B12 to the US if a lot of noise is made, but I kind of doubt there'll be enough noise to make them change their mind.

[rider123]

You may be right those new GSR's look interesting. I know there is a 600 model is there going to be a liter class? And what engine would be based on? Wiould it be based on the 90's GSXR-1xxx liquid cooled mill? That would be awsome.

[Red01]

Two rumors are floating about the big bore GSR. The oldest one has it gettting a Hayabusa based engine, like the B-King show bike, but without the B-King's supercharger (bummer!). The newer rumor is it will have an engine based on the current generation GSXR1000.

Rumors have also been floating that the Hayabusa will be updated. It was speculated the update would be here for the '06 model year, but that has not transpired. With the new Kawasaki ZX/ZZR14's appearance, I wouldn't expect Suzuki to take that laying down, so I'd expect to see it in '07... then the question is if the big GSR is going to be based on a Hayabusa lump, will they use the current 1300, or the new bike's motor?

[SHREDDER]

I can't wait to see what these bikes will look like.  Another thing the Canadians have is The Red Green Show!  Damn.

[Desolation Angel]

I'm just convinced no one buys the more standard style bikes.  They say they will, but don't.  That 1200 naked Kawasaki retro thing was really nice and no one bought it either, evidently, since it's gone already.

I believe most buyers in the U.S. are completely obsessed with cruisers and radical sportbikes.  They buy the ones you have to lay down on, they ride down the road holding themselves up as high as they can on one hand with the other hand on their hip because their back and neck hurts.  

But, like the cruisers, they buy the sportbikes based on looks (I know they perform well on the track, but it's the looks that snag 'em) and then go to their forums and talk about how fast they took the twisties on their 20 minute ride!   I mean, I couldn't possibly ride the Daytona 675 for more than a few minutes, but, man, it's awful cool looking...if you can drive in a fetal position.

[DaveG]

maybe Canadians are just a more practical people.

the best selling car in Cananda is usaully the cheapest one. for those not driving a pickup.



i wanted value for money and the B12 fit.
vehicles here are transportation first fun second and status symbol third.

please don't ever stop the UJM
i have always owned hondas but they and most other manufacturers did not offer a basic air cooled non cruiser  model.

[Desolation Angel]

I think you are probably right and the same holds for Europe.  Much more willing to embrace bikes and scooters than in the U.S.  I used to wonder why, but I think it must be because of the significantly higher fuel prices.  Would you Europeans agree with that statement?