I know you have an intro sticky, but who reads that? ;)
I just picked up a slightly neglected, 45k miles '97 Bandit last week.
I'm finding a few missing bolts (including what looks like a motor to frame set ), rust, plate light won't work, oil leaking from head, blah blah blah. Most of it I noticed before I bought it... and none of it life threatening.
My history (bike, miles I put on it):
'92 Seca II -38k miles
'92 VFR -69k m
'00 Busa -31k m
'00 DR650 -3k m
'91 CBRF2 -3k m
'97 B12 - about 85 miles
I got a really, really bad and misunderstood hair up my ass for a dual sport, and sold the Busa. It's been downhill ever since.
Finally decided to get rid of the F2 and try to find something similarly priced... found the B12, and took it for a ride.
Jesus. The thing freaking pulls. I've been off a big bike for awhile, but it doesn't feel a whole lot off of the Busa in terms of grunt off the bottom.
The owner has a Dale Walker Stage 1 setup installed ( i believe jet kit and ignition advance) and a Yosh RS3 slip-on. The nice thing about the Yosh is it really isn't too loud.
Anywho, just thought I'd throw that out there cuz I'm sure I'll be asking loads of questions that have been asked a gazillion times in the past 10 years. Or, maybe I could use the search.