I may be answering the wrong questions here but...
The 1250 was a move for EPA reasons... cleaner exhaust, only... as I understand it.
Nice bike in many ways... another but:
A bit less HP
Fuel injection... nice... puts fuel pump in tank, so it's about 1 litre smaller and no blank spots as I hear it.
Heavier than a 98, (got one), and less amenable to HP tweaks since it is "mapped" for fuel injection.
ABS is nice especially when wet or approaching urban places of death. These are stop lights where cars, trucks etc. sit and idle while some drip oil on the road day after day. A back up can streach a LONG way back and suddenly you are on a "skid pan". The last time I was asleep in one of these situations, I went down the side between the guard rail and the line of cars, (2-3 cars worth). Helmets are great for hiding your identity and a red face.
That said, the Bandit is still a magnificent "Standard Bike" that is marvelously adaptable to your needs... but then you knew that.