Author Topic: Do you think your Banidt holds value? (Read 5533 times)

kevinfromrex · « **on:** August 28, 2006, 12:03:07 PM »

I find something very surprising.
I researched bikes before buying a used bandit. I wanted power, speed, handling but nakedness, a good riding position, reliablility and some good looks, the bandit did it all.
So I search the local trader publication and watch the papers. I didnt try ebay, bikes looked cheaper but Ive had a not so good experience, I bought a bike on ebay that was rougher than it looked, drove 400 miles to get it and the guy took decent pictures, I determined its just too hard to tell, theose little pictures can hide alot. So Ive sold a few REAL nice bikes on ebay, but Im not buying there.
I was finding 600S model bandits with the super low milage I was looking for (3-4000) for $3800-4200. Wow not bad I thought for a bike that retailed for $6K new.
I found some in the trader, found a couple at used bike dealers and finally bought one from a small used bike dealer when I found the grand blue S model I was in love.
Then I find out when insuring that the loan value on a 2001 600S is about $2400, I see some bandit 1200 for sale with alittle more milage for under $4K. There are several bandit 600 S on ebay selling for under $3k , some for just over $2k, but they look alot rougher than my baby. I paid $3900 for my 2001 600S with new tires, 3000 miles absolutely mint condition and Id do it again.
Whats the bandit worth?
600 or 1200?

Have Blue · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2006, 12:14:10 PM »

I think what really matters is what the bike is worth to the person that has it.. I'm happy with my 12S. It does everything I need and does it better than I had hopes of. I wouldnt sell it if offered $1000 more than I paid for it. On the other hand, a new GSXR1000 isnt worth near the $12k selling price as far as I'm concerned because I cant ride one continuously without being in pain. LOL

Blue

tacoman · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2006, 02:40:22 PM »

Remember, things will always be cheaper on ebay because its an auction. Tthe exception will be some specialty vehicles where the seller makes a lot of guarantees and there's a bidding war. Otherwise, careful what you buy sight unseen. I don't think you can give a used vehicle an exact price, especially when they get to be 2-3 yrs old. You can have a hammered thrasher thats worth only $1000, or a barely used garage queen that may fetch over $4000.

10Zero · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2006, 07:14:09 PM »

Also, loan values are always less than retail prices. I've also noticed quite a difference between the two main value books, NADA and Kelley Blue Book, so if the loan value is $2400, retail could be $3000 to 3500, depending on condition and options......just my two cents, i buy bikes way too often.....

Rocketboy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2006, 09:17:43 PM »

Quote

Remember, things will always be cheaper on ebay because its an auction.

Plus they'll be cheaper because you gotta get it home some how. If there's a bike on ebay for 500 cheaper than in the local paper, but then you gotta drive 1200 miles in a truck pulling a trailer and blow a weekend or take some days off work, it's not really cheaper.

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2006, 10:03:02 AM »

"Do you think your Bandit holds value?"

I don't think so. I think Bandits are one of those things you buy with the foreknowledge that you're gonna keep it. You know it's a great bike, but no longer in demand like it was early on.

I got my mint condition '01 B12S with Holeshot in December of '04 from a Kawasaki dealer for $2,900. At that time, the KBB was showing a trade-in value of $3,090 and a retail of $4,490. Of course, I had to pay taxes since it was local. I always felt like I sort of stole that bike. I guess the Kawasaki dealer really wanted it off his showroom floor!

Anyway, I think my experiences with Bandit values are pretty standard locally. Oh, sure, people ask more, but I don't think they're getting it.

GSFStiny · « **Reply #6 on:** August 29, 2006, 01:54:50 PM »

Bandits really were a parts bin special. As a result, they didnt really have anything that made them a hot topic in the market. Nobody wants them because they are oil/air cooled, tube steel frame (read: heavy), and no fuel injection *sobs uncontrollably*.

Thats why theyre such a great deal, if you know what youre looking at. I got my 99 B12 for $3200, with 4500 miles. Yeah, its gonna need some tires soon, but for a bike in showroom condition, it couldnt be beat.

IMO, the reason the bandits werent hugely popular in the states is that they are riders' bikes. Not posers' bikes. Poser bikes need something special: fuel injection, loudazz pipes, and/or tons o' bling to be popular. The bandit is for those that dont care about that crap, people that want a true all around bike.

Swamp Rat · « **Reply #7 on:** August 29, 2006, 02:11:24 PM »

Hold value....? No more or any less than most used vehicles. I bought mine used for $5500 1600 miles on it and less than a year off the dealers floor. I got 2 helmets also with the deal. I think I came out smelling like a rose. I , like the earlier post ,wouldn't sell it for for $1000 more. I just couldn't replace it with anything that much better for the money, sept maybe the FZ1.
Any ways like the fella said earlier....it's how you fell about your bike...theres the true value of the Bandit.

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #8 on:** August 29, 2006, 04:07:22 PM »

Bandits do seem to always be popular overseas and in Canada. That new B12SA Holiday in Europe is sweet!

Personally, I like the idea of just having to deal with oil and gas. Not water and coolant, too. And even though I'd like a shaft and fuel injection, that would jack the price of the bike way up, I'd guess.

Bob Holland · « **Reply #9 on:** August 29, 2006, 06:07:24 PM »

"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, Holeshot top end oiler kit, Mikuni 38mm Flatslide Carbs with K-N Pod Filters, HEL Oversized Oil Cooler w/ SS Lines, Hindle SS Exhaust, Holeshot Power Shifter3, Dyna shift light, Pingel High Flow Petcock, GSXR 1100 Clutch, Cable clutch conversion, GSXR 1100 shock rebuilt by Lindeman, Front Forks Rebuilt by Lindeman, LSL Rearsets, Tokico 6 Pot Brakes w/ SS Lines,
155 RWH, 94 ft lb torque,"

I ran this ad in the spring, for 5 weeks in the local thrifty nichol and on the Internet. I have $5000+ in performance upgrades, I asked $4,500 or best offer, and I did not get one call.

Kickstart · « **Reply #10 on:** August 29, 2006, 06:27:03 PM »

Hi

In the UK they certainly don't hold their value, but then the real price for a new one is a lot less than the Suzuki recommended price.

All the best

Keith

kevinfromrex · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2006, 07:28:59 AM »

The Bandit doesnt get any respect. The bike is fast, beautiful and should hold value as much as any GSXR or R1, CBR etc. In my book it is as reliable and well built. So what if steel frame is alittle heavier, bike handles and is WAY more comfortable. I would'nt sell mine for $1000 more than I paid it took months to find one this color this clean, I love it!

When I stop somewhere, church, gas station, food joint on the weekends people come straight to the bike and love it. Most cant beleive its a 600 and few have ever heard of a bandit (but they all know what a GSXR is!)

I just dont think they get the respect they deserve, its an all around bike, I can cruise, tour or speed my a** off!

Its my understanding that the 2006 Bandit 650 fairing version retails for 4599 pounds or about $8700 us dollars, does anyone know what the dealer is actually asking?

Of course the Bandit is gone from US delaerships however I searched the local ( largest used bike dealer in the southeast) used bike dealer and he sells lower mileage Bandit 600's all day for $3670-$4170 and a couple hundred more gets you a 1200.
Rougher (small scratches, mileage teens and above) 1200's can be had for under $4K.
And I cant believe Bob couldnt sell his bike for $4500 bucks pitiful........,

smooth operator · « **Reply #12 on:** August 30, 2006, 07:43:05 AM »

Do they hold their value? Absalutly not! But it sure gets the looks when you kick ass on a big $ Ducatti or Aprillia. At the track I come off and pepole have to walk up in the paddock to see what it is. Then they see the steel tubed frame and usally ask what it is.(doesn't say Bandit or Suzuki anywhere except for the fork brace) I've even been asked what a NRC was befor,seems he never heard of one of those. If and when I purchase another bike, I'll just have to keep the Bandit. Looks better haveing 2 bikes (in my case the basement) parked next to each other anyhow.

0to60 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 30, 2006, 10:04:51 PM »

According to a Honda dealership my B6 with 22,000 miles (at the time) and in near showroom condition was worth a whooping 500 dollars in trade in value on one of their bikes. However my experiences with the Bandit is priceless. I don't think they hold their value, but I refuse to sell it for chump change. That bike has carried me through 5 years of school/work through all seasons and conditions. Regardless of what its worth I'm keeping mine and modifying it to its potential.

P.S. 1 motosmile for each school year.

aussiebandit · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2006, 09:15:26 PM »

In Oz I think it does hold it's value, relative to it's purchase value.

On average B12's are 2 grand cheaper when new than most bikes in the class, so you'd expect it to be worth less when you come to sell it.

However, it's my experiance that an item is only worth what someone else is prepared to pay for it.

Trade in values aren't worth a pinch of shyte because the trade in value is directly related to the value of the vehicle you're buying and whether the dealership has made it's quota for the month - I know this for two reasons, 1 I've bought/sold many many vehicles over the years and 2 the Treasurer confirmed it both in the bike industry and now in the car industry.

Second hand values (private sales) are influenced by season - bikes don't sell well in winter (good time to buy, bad time to sell) and location - you're not going to find it easy to sell a scooter in outback Australia and I doubt there are many 'Ag' bikes in the cities.