Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: andrewsh71 on September 09, 2006, 10:04:20 PM
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If any of you get Cycle World they just tested the top 12 naked bikes and of course left out the Bandit. WTF. They even put a Buell in there. Now theres a pig.
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I don't take that rag. But I'm curious, what did they pick? Give us the list.
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Yeah, I'd like to see the list.
Did they leave off the Bandit cuz it's not availabe in the States? Something weird is going on up here as a local stealership is big into 1200 Bandits but absolutely no mention of the 650, even though it is still on the Suzuki Canada website. These things are dying off one by one. :sad:
jim
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The Honda 919, Kawi Z1000, Suzi SV1000, BMWk1200r, Buell xb12x, KTM 950, Ducati s4rs, and an MV and a Aprilla.
Overall they handed it to the Kawi for price, versatility and fun. And the SV1000 as best sport V-twin, they said its as good as the Italians and half the price.
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The way I read it, they handed it to the Triumph.
:duh:
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Not wanting to bite the hand that feeds them, they gave major props to everyone. I read that the Speed Trip was the choice, too.
I'm sure they didn't review the B since it's not available here in the US.
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well ya know the triple is a hell of a bike LOL! :grin:
mike
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On a different twist -
One of my co-workers here (a contract employee that works at several Boeing vendor site in Europe) lives in Scotland, so I had him bring me some UK bike mags. In one of them, they rate their top street bikes in several categories... in the naked bike category, they gave the Z1000 top honors. The B12 was a ways down the list, getting negative marks for a dated design and being too heavy, but kudos as a great all-arounder with a huge aftermarket support network.
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They gave best of show to the Aprillia Tuano but the other 11 bikes got awards tailored to thier strengths.
Also part of the group of 12, including the bikes Andrew already listed:
Triumph Speed Triple
Moto Guzzi Griso
Yamaha FZ1
So now the Aprillia Mille won Masterbike and the Tuano wins this comparo...or takes best of show...with the other 11 bikes that won awards.
It's like Pre-K..."Everyones a winner, here's your gold star little johnny"
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Who cares what "they" think. It's what you (we, us) think that matters......am I right? :beers:
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I don't suppose that anyone would be willing to scan this article? I'd love to see the write ups on it. Or alternatively, what Month's issue was it? I don't know if we have that one here, but it would be worth looking. (since for a change one of my bikes made the list) :wink:
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T.W.O. Just had a bandit on the front cover, named it Best Bang for the Buck. The article was riddled with comments along the lines of "...it's old, but how can one complain about such a competent package for x-pounds"
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pshaw! when they don't give credits to a good bike, then i say screw it!. Dated, schmated! :monkeymoon: :motorsmile:
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I have the same issue. No...the bandit isn't listed but I'm sure it's due to it not being sold here in the states any longer. Concidering how old it is it probably wouldn't have made the list anyways. It was the Buel Ulyses that they tested in amongst the 12 and they gave it honors as being the best do it all bike.
The FZ1 got top honors in the naked category for good reason....it hauls butt and is still relatively comfortable. Good handling and decent brakes also helped put on the top of the heap.
Personally, I do love my Bandit but, if I were to buy another sport standard and had the extra money on hand, I'd either get the FZ1 or the Buel Ulyses.
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this is from the editor of Cycle World -
Andrew, time to update. There is no such thing as a Bandit 1200 in the U.S. anymore. Been discontinued. Maybe we’ll see a follow-on for 2007? If so, then we’ll test one.
David Edwards
Editor-in-Chief
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So when the Bandit was available how much ink did you give it? Not much in the past 5 or 6 years, right?
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In Oz the B12 is now considered a sports tourer - not a naked bike.
I suppose that's fair when you consider the age of the design, and the age of most B12 Riders.
To quote one of the local bike mags
"10 years ago it was the badest meanest thing on the block, now, like a lot of B12 owners, it's a bit older, a bit fat round the middle and not quite as bad an mean as it was...but it'll still show the young guns a trick or two"
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Of course, if supposedly dated design made any difference in reality, then I'd bet you that about half the cars on the dealer lots wouldn't be there. I'm just guessing about it being half the car models, but I bet it's true, especially if you throw all the American made pickup trucks into the mix.
You know, unless you race for money, this "dated design" thing is rather a moot point, isn't it? So, the Bandit is 50 lbs. heavier than another bike, and 1 second slower in the quarter mile than this other bike. So? :grin:
My Saab 9-5 is no Maserati, but I still like it! :lol:
All Suzuki needed to do was hype the inexpensive sport-tourer qualities of the Bandit in a little advertising and they could have sold more. Mostly all the advertising I see is for bikes I can't ride unless I lose 80 lbs.! :beers:
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Bandits have always been underrated. Everybody claims they like mines, but if given the oppurtunity to own one, they'll run to a busa or a ninja.
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The Bandit needs a water cooled, fuel injected 1300cc engine, tuned for more bottom end torque and less top end than the busa. It would be everyones top naked bike then :motorsmile: :beers:
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The Bandit needs a water cooled, fuel injected 1300cc engine, tuned for more bottom end torque and less top end than the busa. It would be everyones top naked bike then :motorsmile: :beers:
Geez,.. with the exception of the 1300ccs, I'd thought you were referring to my bike. :lol:
Honestly though, the Bandit isn't the flashy new technology and styling they were looking for in that article. :stickpoke:
Now if it was the Suzuki GSR600 that they're getting in the UK,... that might be worthy of note....
(http://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/files/images/GSR600/520_gsr_ambience_02.jpg)
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The last articles on the B12 that they did reviews was when they came out with the 2G version. A few times since, they did a few comparisons with other bikes. It would've been sweet for Suzuki to take the Bandit and just update it like they did to the FZ1. The new changes that Yamaha did for the FZ1 was fantastic.
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Suzuki looks to be doing the same thing GM did with the Firebird/Camaro.
"Ooooh,.. sales are low,.. dump it!" Whereas, IMHO, they should see why they're not hitting their target market instead.
Of course redesigns don't always go well either. Look at the new Camaro "designs". Yuck.
GM's designers need to be relieved, and new blood put in there.
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The Bandit needs a water cooled, fuel injected 1300cc engine, tuned for more bottom end torque and less top end than the busa. It would be everyones top naked bike then :motorsmile: :beers:
And a shaft for direct sport touring competition with BMW and Honda.
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Now if it was the Suzuki GSR600 that they're getting in the UK,... that might be worthy of note....
(http://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/files/images/GSR600/520_gsr_ambience_02.jpg)
Except that most of the reviews I've read on the GSR600 are mediocre at best. Basically, I've read that it looks kinda cool, but didn't get all the high tech tweaks of the B-King that it was based on, so that it's really just another plain 600 in Suzuki's multi-600 lines. Performance unimpressive when put up against the SV and DL, not to mention the GSF600.
I do like it's looks, though.
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Except that most of the reviews I've read on the GSR600 are mediocre at best. Basically, I've read that it looks kinda cool, but didn't get all the high tech tweaks of the B-King that it was based on, so that it's really just another plain 600 in Suzuki's multi-600 lines. Performance unimpressive when put up against the SV and DL, not to mention the GSF600.
I do like it's looks, though.
Damn,.. so it's like a slightly bigger GS500? It looks like it was designed to run against Honda's Hornet 599, but if the performance is crap, sounds like Suz. missed the boat. What a shame. It had potential. Naked standard, Water cooled, watered down GSXR motor, top speed of 140mph ...
The first I'd ever seen of it was in a UK bike magazine last night. They gave it 4 out of 5 stars. They gave the gs500 2 stars, stating that it was difficult to find redeeming qualities.
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Except that most of the reviews I've read on the GSR600 are mediocre at best. Basically, I've read that it looks kinda cool, but didn't get all the high tech tweaks of the B-King that it was based on, so that it's really just another plain 600 in Suzuki's multi-600 lines. Performance unimpressive when put up against the SV and DL, not to mention the GSF600.
I do like it's looks, though.
Damn,.. so it's like a slightly bigger GS500? It looks like it was designed to run against Honda's Hornet 599, but if the performance is crap, sounds like Suz. missed the boat. What a shame. It had potential. Naked standard, Water cooled, watered down GSXR motor, top speed of 140mph ...
The first I'd ever seen of it was in a UK bike magazine last night. They gave it 4 out of 5 stars. They gave the gs500 2 stars, stating that it was difficult to find redeeming qualities.
Oh, I didn't mean it's performance was crap. Supposed to be right in there with the other 600s in Suzuki's line up and competitive with other brands, too, just nothing spectacularly innovative. Suzuki got too conservative with it so that the performance doesn't quite keep up with the badass looks. Didn't get certain goodies that it should have like USD forks, either, etc.
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Oh, I didn't mean it's performance was crap. Supposed to be right in there with the other 600s in Suzuki's line up and competitive with other brands, too, just nothing spectacularly innovative. Suzuki got too conservative with it so that the performance doesn't quite keep up with the badass looks. Didn't get certain goodies that it should have like USD forks, either, etc.
So it sounds like a half assed attempt. Dammit. It really sounds like Suzuki is sharing engineers and designers with GM. :sad:
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And a shaft for direct sport touring competition with BMW and Honda - Desolate Angel.
I dont get the shaft principal you have more HP loss with them. And they are heavier. Ill take a chain.
I would like to see newer suspension with the same engine and add some FI. Now your talking.....
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Maybe it would be OK to just have a shaft on the 1200cc+ version, if they end up making one. Or maybe a belt? Quiet and light.
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The one thing that caught my eye in the article was they called the Triumph the original Hooligan bike. I thought that title went to the Bandit??? :roll:
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The way I saw it they set the bikes up in three different groups. Here is a list of the bikes tested:
Aprilia Tuono vs. BMW K1200R vs. Buell Ulysses vs. Ducati S4RS vs. Honda 919 vs. Kawasaki Z1000 vs. KTM 950SM vs. Moto Guzzi Griso vs. MV Agusta 910R vs. Suzuki SV1000S vs. Triumph Speed Triple vs. Yamaha FZ1
October 2006 issue
(http://www.cycleworld.com/assets/image/2006/Q3/090420061549095730.jpg)
They say they liked the Honda 919 the most out of the Japanese bikes because of the refinement of its drivetrain, but gave the Z1000 the award "best from the west". The FZ1 was given "most likely to keep up with your friends on sportbikes" or something to that nature. The Aprilia Tuono won overall, with the MV Agusta 910R Brutale in an extremely close 2nd. The Moto Guzzi didn't fair too well because of lack of power and cornering issues. Pretty much they gave every bike an award for something. My favorite though of course is the Z1000 for obvious reasons.
Ron
Oh yeah, they also have an article in it about a water-cooled HD Sportster.
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in all fairness the speed triple has been around since 1995, in the first gen. they are now on the fifth. if i am right in thinking the b-1200 was not out in 95 was it? i know the 1200 came stateside in 97? by 97 the triple was on its 2nd gen already, the t509 speedtriple. they have had the t3 in 95, the t509 in 96 to 98. in 99 they came out with the 955i triple, which ran till 02 then they had a 955i that was redone from the ground up that ran from 03 till 05 when they came out with the 1050. if only suzuki would have done the like with the bandit. the triple started as a air oil cooled, carbs, heavy and not to high on the horses. after 10 years it now has state of the art brakes, suspension, uses f.i. and has lost about 40 pounds from the 95. oh and it picked up about 30 horses and 20 ft lbs. and the price from 95 to 06 has only gone up 1500 bucks? the first one sold for around 8500 i beleive, the new ones sell for 10k. think of a 450 pound wet bandit, with upside down forks, radial brakes with stainless lines, fuel injection, fully adjustable front and rear suspension. with almost 120 horse and near 80 ft lbs for 10k?! if they made one i would sell my triple and run to buy one. but if they did that think of all the gsxr's that wouldnt sell? thats why they never will build a great modern sport standard, they dont want to loose any squid sales on the gixxer 1000!
mike
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to be fair, our old girl can't compete in that sort of company.
triple you're right about it stealing sales, but never from gixxers for squids.. They wouldn't improve the Bandit as lovely as you put it, they'd make a cheapo standard-tourer with budget suspension, and another bike that handles (but too heavy to be considered truly sporty) and is fairly poor for touring.
Lucky for us the Bandit can do both very well, we can only keep our fingers crossed.
(Also the fact that they seem to be openly putting more expensive stuff on bikes that shouldn't have it- look at the rear footpeg on the GSR it's ridiculous & how much $$$ must it cost?)
**edit** but if Suzuki does want add more bikes, it should be a mix of DL1000 & SV - which means a Bandit litre twin! :banana: :banana:
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The thing that counts against a bandit is the suspension especially the rear shock, its a dog. changed my for a GSXR shock, mate! its a different bike- 100% better. If Suzuki made this of shock standard they would have had to sell the bike for a few hundred more but would have got rid of 99%of the one and only critism most people have with the Bike.
You just gotta love a Bandit.
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What year model gixxer, rocketman? I've been looking for a Busa shock for a while.
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i still think the B12 is the best "real world" bike. that is why i chose it.
we all know what i mean don't we.
i wanted non high tech, non water cooled, non fuel injection,
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Just curious about the triple. I was looking at the Sprint 1050 the other day in the Yammy showroom. How smooth is that engine? Three cylinders just doesn't add up to smoothness in my mind. Could I be wrong?? :roll:
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well i put around 30k miles on my bandit before i wrecked it. and i have over 32k on my triple now. and i would say on the highway the triple motor is smoother. in 6th gear on the triple i run 4k on the tach and it has almost no vibes anywhere. on my bandit at 4 or 5k it had vibes in the grips and foot pegs. i have never ridden a st befor in the 1050 version. the 955 was smooth. i have ridden a 1050 triple and it is smoother then my triple is. and they share motors? the bandit is more comfortable then the sprint st is. st has more power and is lighter with out bags. bandit has WAY bigger aftermarket support. if i have one major gripe about owning a triumph its lack of aftermarket parts. the st can be laid out with factory stuff but is pricey. the bandit can be done with factory stuff or aftermarket. but the biggest thing is sprint st still being made, bandit is not :sad:
mike
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I own an '94 Z-28 6 speed & '98 1200 Bandit....and for good measure a (now discontinued) 1999 Isuzu Trooper. All unique & relatively bargain vehicles. The Isuzu being the most solid & trouble free of the lot.
Suzuki looks to be doing the same thing GM did with the Firebird/Camaro.
"Ooooh,.. sales are low,.. dump it!" Whereas, IMHO, they should see why they're not hitting their target market instead.
Of course redesigns don't always go well either. Look at the new Camaro "designs". Yuck.
GM's designers need to be relieved, and new blood put in there.