Author Topic: FZ1 and the Bandit (Read 5393 times)

solman · « **on:** September 22, 2007, 12:47:15 PM »

Once again, I found another blurp on how the FZ1 is lacking and how the Bandit is so awesome. Since the 1250 is out now, they are using that as the comparison. The FZ1 has more horsepower, better suspension, and lighter frame. But they still continue to dog it in the magazines and give praise to the Bandit. It is funny on how that the only people who dog the Bandit are people who haven't ridden one. They look at the bike and the stats and assume that it is lacking in all departments. Here is a blurp from the latest issue of Sport Rider:

"We tested Suzuki's new for '07 Bandit 1250S earlier this year and figured it had the "best standard/naked bike engine yet." Overall, the Bandit rates higher than the FZ1 in our book."

Yamaha would have an excellent bike if they just listened to the people and magazines and give people what they want.

r_outsider · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2007, 02:23:05 PM »

It's funny-the FZ-1 has all the stats and numbers to make a great bike, yet everyone I know who's ridden one says "It just doesn't do it for me." Maybe it just lacks personality. Seems like the FZ series was designed and built by a marketing team instead of riders.

solman · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2007, 06:18:36 PM »

It seems that Suzuki is the only Japanese bike that listens to what the people want. Probably why Suzuki is such a dominant factor in Superbike class AMA racing. They listen the riders and develop it from there. I have heard that Mladin was and is an instrumental factor in development of the Yoshimura Suzuki team. If Yamaha would pay attention to riders and magazines, they could have such a better following with the R1 and FZ1.

leedogg · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2007, 12:10:56 AM »

I wrote a long post to this- but lost my connection earlier...so here's the condensed version.

I think the FZ1 and Z1000 are placed too close to their liter bike siblings, IMO. Suzuki done a great job in building a sporty bike without it competing against the GSXR's also sitting in the showroom.

leedogg · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2007, 12:11:45 AM »

I wrote a long post to this- but lost my connection earlier...so here's the condensed version.

I think the FZ1 and Z1000 are placed too close to their liter bike siblings, IMO. Suzuki done a great job in building a sporty bike without it competing against the GSXR's also sitting in the showroom.

solman · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2007, 06:10:57 AM »

Quote

I wrote a long post to this- but lost my connection earlier...so here's the condensed version.

Quote

I wrote a long post to this- but lost my connection earlier...so here's the condensed version.

So you post it twice?

So you post it twice?

lol

stormi · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2007, 12:57:40 PM »

Quote from: "solman"

It seems that Suzuki is the only Japanese bike that listens to what the people want.

It's too bad that, here in Canada anyway, they don't seem to take into account that people don't want to wait a season for parts though. I think that their market share would go up immensely if they were to improve their parts situation.

Most people I know with Suzuki's are ordering their parts online, rather than wait for the parts to come on the slow boat after being made.

I've tried to order Gixxer parts, GS500 parts, and B6 and B12 parts from the dealers here. It's always the same answer... "6 weeks, after they make it." And I doubt that they're going to retool for me tomorrow. So, I order from the states. A lot of people I've talked to think that's the way it is with bikes in general, til I point out where I usually get local parts from...

Oh!! And $300 for an RR is extortion...

solman · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2007, 03:17:25 PM »

What I meant was in designing bikes. Parts and service are always a different issue.

H2RICK · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2007, 05:02:50 PM »

Quote

Oh!! And $300 for an RR is extortion...

Stormi, you need to phone your Uncle H2 on stuff like this.
We can usually get a RR new in the box for ~C$ 140 - $190
depending on application. The aftermarket is all over stuff like this....and it's usually BETTER than the OE crap because the aftermarket KNOWS where the OE crap is weak and then spends the extra 50 cents on better components to cure the weak points. It never ceases to amaze me why factories DON'T spend that extra money up front. It just makes the customer mad AND makes the OE look like a cheapskie.

Nitro · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2007, 09:16:10 PM »

What is an RR?

Red01 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2007, 09:33:44 PM »

Regulator/Rectifier.

Nitro · « **Reply #11 on:** October 08, 2007, 11:10:12 PM »

Thanks.

SteelD · « **Reply #12 on:** October 09, 2007, 01:31:17 PM »

Quote from: "r_outsider"

It's funny-the FZ-1 has all the stats and numbers to make a great bike, yet everyone I know who's ridden one says "It just doesn't do it for me." Maybe it just lacks personality. Seems like the FZ series was designed and built by a marketing team instead of riders.

I agree. The FZ1 has it all on paper. I even prefer the looks over the Bandit which looks somewhat plain and old-fashioned in comparison. It's when you ride them that the Bandit clearly wins. The Bandit is designed for real road use. In other words, it can be utilised and enjoyed more fully on the average road unlike the FZ1 that can only be fully exploited on a race track and feels uneasy and ineffective around town or on roads at legal and safe speeds.

The FZ1 is designed for those who want to impress. The Bandit is designed for those who want to ride.

stormi · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2007, 01:59:53 PM »

Quote from: "H2RICK"

Stormi, you need to phone your Uncle H2 on stuff like this.
We can usually get a RR new in the box for ~C$ 140 - $190
depending on application. The aftermarket is all over stuff like this....and it's usually BETTER than the OE crap because the aftermarket KNOWS where the OE crap is weak and then spends the extra 50 cents on better components to cure the weak points. It never ceases to amaze me why factories DON'T spend that extra money up front. It just makes the customer mad AND makes the OE look like a cheapskie.

I agree that the OE stuff tends to be worse quality. It really is a shame, especially when you see the prices, and the quality together. It sure leaves a bad taste in one's mouth for the product.

I didn't pay the $300, I paid $145, and got a Honda CB400 RR. In stock, no waiting too.

If I hadn't found that though, I might have been looking in your direction. There is a chance though that Dita might have rejected her RR before you even joined though...

Nope,.. I was wrong, it was after you joined.

CWO4GUNNER · « **Reply #14 on:** November 08, 2007, 03:19:24 PM »

I'm a bit late in getting here but here is my nickel on the subject. I don't know anything about the FZ1 other then that I don't like the way it looks and when I looked at Yamaha the bike on my list was the R1, if any. So perhaps for allot of Yamaha loyalist when they consider a FZ1 purchase they think "well what the hell, if I'm going to spend this much on the FZ1, I might as well buy the R1 as it is much better". I think for Suzuki Loyalist the Bandit sits so far removed in style and ride from the rest of the Suzuki line that loyalist are really pigeon holed which is something I believe Suzuki deliberately as a marketing strategy. For me it was not an easy consideration to consider a transition from a B1200 to a Bursa as the bikes are so different in so many ways. In fact the Bandit line is so different from other bikes in general that the transition to a different make is not an easy decision either, and I think this is something that Suzuki tries hard to do to keep customers and they do it well.