Author Topic: comparingBandit to DL1000 (Read 10674 times)

terrebandit · « **Reply #15 on:** April 04, 2005, 09:38:07 AM »

My brother has a DL1000 and its a great bike. We road in Arkansas together a couple of years back and his bike did as good as mine in the twisties. He gets better gas mileage (1-2 mpg) than me but my bandit makes more power. I could out pull him at just about any rpm.

The DL1000 is twin so the vibes are different. The bike is a much higher profile so it you are tall, that would be a plus. I like the smoothness of a "4" and I'm fairly short. The bandit is the bike of choice for me...

What did you expect from a bandit board?

Dave

97RedBird · « **Reply #16 on:** April 04, 2005, 10:08:07 AM »

I ride on a few dirt/gravel roads in Kansas visiting family and the bandit is okay as long as it is dry. I was going under 10 mph for 4 miles to visit a friend a month ago on a wet clay dirt road. That took forever, I'm still cleaning the bike from that day. I also bottom out (headers hit gravel) on some parts of the gravel roads if I'm going to fast. The height of the DL would be beneficial in this arena. Also the seat looks so comfortable for me and my wife. The 5.8 gallon tank and fuel injection has me considering it.

But my B6 is great for the purpose I got it for commuting, and occasional two up short trips (1.5 hours max)

stetracer · « **Reply #17 on:** April 04, 2005, 07:01:15 PM »

I paid $3000 for a 98 1200S It is very clean and never been dropped and
and runs great and it already had $2000 in mods when I bought it
I LOVE MY BANDIT sorry for yelling but I do. Now I am a life long bandit owner I will never sell mabey I'll buy another one to build and sell my GS1150E? NO WAY!! I love my 1150 too

BUY A BANDIT, BUY A BANDIT, buy a bandit you wont be sorry

no I don't work for Suzuki

OK the Mirrors are very ugly they had to go

Drumbeater · « **Reply #18 on:** April 04, 2005, 07:36:15 PM »

TerraBandit,

What did you expect from a bandit board?

I expected some honest opinions about Bandits - with a lot of "hey, these are absolutely the best bikes in the world, what are you waiting for?" thrown in for good measure!

Stop by our HD Road King forum to find out how wrong you are. *joking*

Luckily, that's what I got, and I appriciate it. I've learned a lot about Bandits anyway, but I believe I'm going to open my cash drawer a little wider and spring for the DL1000. Hey, at least it is a Suzuki, and I've never had a Zuke before. I've had a Yam and an Aprilia though. If the Bandit wasn't such a good, comfortable bike, i would not have been nearly as interested. Long and short of it though, is that I have miles of dirt roads and lots of camping gear that I'd better be getting some use out of again.

Thanks again for your hospitality. See ya'll on the road.

BBurton · « **Reply #19 on:** April 04, 2005, 09:41:13 PM »

I think ya made the right choice.

I love my Bandit 1200, but the Vsrtom"DL1000" is more versatile. Also, don't forget that it is the same engine that is in the SV1000s, just tuned different with gearing for more low and mid range. I think that you will be able to hang pretty well with most sport bikes. Heck, it's quite the wheelie machine from what I hear!!

txbanditrydr · « **Reply #20 on:** April 04, 2005, 10:56:28 PM »

Just a quick note about the 2005 paint scheme..... it really is awesome in good sunlight. A lot of folks don't realize the blue and white have some metal flake or pearlessance (sp?) to it. It sparkles like crazy.... I like it a lot - some don't. The side panels would look better in dark gray (like my 600) and I though about switching them out but I'm leaving mine stock for now.

Edit...now I read page two - end of story. Oh well, need the post.

Swamp Rat · « **Reply #21 on:** April 05, 2005, 02:20:24 AM »

Just saw your post and figured I would chime in as well. I have a completely syock 03 1200s and can't see wanting more power in the near future. As far as keeping up with the sport bikes....1000's will out run you, about an even pull with the newer 750's and you will walk away from the 600's. Make a few changes and you will stay in the 1000's mirrors for sure if not run with them. Can't comment on handling as I don't have any experience with other bikes...seems pretty zippy to me though. Seat! must change seat. I could only ride about 3 or 4 hours befor my buttocks went numb. Got a Corbin and all is well in my world of the Happy Ass.
I'm a little more forward than I would like but it isn't nearly as bad as my brothers R1.
The tires aren't worth worrying about til they go bald. They work just fine when it's dry,don't know about wet roads as I won't do any thing that my upset my verticle inclinations. In other words I ride really slow when it's raining.Ido know they don't like gravel.

I too looked at the V Strom and was sorely temped..but do you know how many upgrades you can do to a Bandit for the price difference of about $3500,[got mine used] ? You could be easily running with the sport bike crowd. I don't think an over sized dual sport would be able to pull that off.

Just my penny.

BBurton · « **Reply #22 on:** April 05, 2005, 09:52:23 AM »

Quote

As far as keeping up with the sport bikes....1000's will out run you, about an even pull with the newer 750's and you will walk away from the 600's.

I wouldn't say that a Bandit can walk away from a new 600, especially a new 636 Kawa. 2days new 600 are bad a** pure racing bikes with more stock horsepower than a B12. But you are right, put a little money in a B12 and you have a sleeper bike that can for sure hold its own!

Red01 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 05, 2005, 07:13:10 PM »

Yup, the latest 600's are fast & powerful. One thing they don't have over the B12 though is torque. If a 600 rider is keeping it on the boil and working the gearbox well, you'll have a tough time getting away from him, but if he's not on the ball, the B12 will get 'em.

stetracer · « **Reply #24 on:** April 05, 2005, 07:24:24 PM »

I know how to solve this dilemma buy one of each if you buy them used you can probably get them for the price of one new DL1000 problem solved you can never have too many bikes right?

J.D.

BBurton · « **Reply #25 on:** April 05, 2005, 11:28:10 PM »

B12 is a torque machine, one of the things that makes it so fun!!

Yeah, 600's gotta be revving like crazy "which is very easy to do" almost like a powerband on a 2 stroke dirtbike when they kick in. Nothing quite like the sound of a big bore inline 4 with a sweet can in the high rev range.

Drumbeater · « **Reply #26 on:** April 06, 2005, 02:41:19 AM »

JD.

Wish I could find a good DL1000 used. I've looked off and on for better part of a year - rarely happens in my neck of the woods and they command a premium price. The DL isn't yet too popular on East Coast. Cruisers seem to be the norm.

I got a really good deal on a new one today though. Got it almost $1,000 under MSRP.

bandit1 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 09, 2005, 04:21:39 AM »

the 2005 bandit would do the trick, 4 cylinders are smooth and if you leave it stock,alls you will hear is the wind rushing by. The dl is cool but for serious road riding you will need mods on that machine as well. One thing i really dont like is socker moms in mini vans/suvs creeping up on you at 70 while on the cell phone, the bandit 1200 you just wic it up to 100 or so for a few minutes and get away to a free zone. i like to ride with no one in front or back for at least 500 yards.

BBurton · « **Reply #28 on:** April 10, 2005, 01:36:37 PM »

Quote

The dl is cool but for serious road riding you will need mods on that machine as well

Just curious as to what mods the DL-1000 needs, most reviews say that the V-Strom will outhandle the B12 in the twisties. It is also a torque machine and its performance numbers aren't too far off the B12 mark. Like I have said before, I like my Bandit 1200 but I also know that I have an open mind about other great bikes. I read an article that said that the DL1000 has dethroned the Bandit as the best all around bike that Suzuki makes. I really hope that Suzuki makes some much needed modern changes to the Bandit, without making it more of a supersport. How about for example, "a really fast Bandit that looks and rides like a VFR or a Sprint ST."

Hope that nobody exiles me, believe me I do really like my Bandit!!

Red01 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 10, 2005, 06:41:20 PM »

I won't exile you. I agree, the DL's are great bikes.
And I love my B12, too.

I'd like to ride both the DL650 & the 1000 to get personal referances. Like it's SV cousins, the 650 seems to get a little more rave than the 1000 due to it's lighter weight and crisper handling. I think my wife might find the passenger accomodations on the DL more accomodating than the B12. She complains of the B's high passenger pegs.