Bandit as adventure tourer?

[bandibull]

If you want a motorcross bike than you need to buy a motorcross bike.

If you want to do some riding on the backroads,
however, then the bandit will do just fine.

You probably want to stiffen up the suspension
(most people do so anyway) so your not bouncing over the bumps.
I have a twin clicker and race tech valves on my bike,
both set fairly stiff for streetriding anyway, and they work
great when running the logging roads here in Oregon.

I've ridden with a VStrom, several Tigers and a couple of thumpers.
The bandit obviously can't go where the thumpers can but it does
just as well as the vstrom/tiger bikes.
You just have to watch the clearance.

For quick riding on gravel or well packed dirt I would give the edge
to the bandit.

This is assuming that you are riding on dry roads in good weather.
You do not want to bog down the bandit in a mudhole.

In general, I try to stay from these wildcountry rides becasue
I will be forced to clean my chain when I get back, something
I normally avoid with a passion.

     

[tacoman]

What kind of tires do you run for off road excursions?  I've looked at the Bandit and its chassis is basically a dirt bike from about 1979.  The biggest issue is the under frame exhaust.  I've seen 17 in. dirt track radials in some of the mail order catalogs.