Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: Bazza on May 06, 2006, 06:29:00 AM
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I must tell you, I like everything about this bike!
Comfort, appearance, oh it all worked for me! I am anxiously awaiting Yamaha's demo days this year.
Me thinks my Bandit has been de-throned as the best all around motorcycle. I would urge you all to go sit on one!
Too bad I have no money!
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I sat on one at the Clevland bike show. It fit me just right! The local dealer hasn't got one in yet,but I'm sure they'll let me know when it comes in. I also have no$,so it won't matter. The SV1000,feels right to me too. It just feels like it was custom made to fit me.
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I sat on the FZ1. Nice build quality, but the small front fairing turned me off. I'm waiting for the much-anticipated update/replacement of the Hayabusa!
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That new FZ1 is very appealing to me guys for looks, low maintenance, and fuel economy. If money was no object and the bandit wasn't so damn reliable, powerfull, and easy to work on, I'd be on a waiting list for a 2006 FZ1.
(http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/products/mcy/500/fz1_red_4sized.jpg)
(http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/products/mcy/500/fz1_red_3sized.jpg)
Dave
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I sat on the same coloured one in terrebandit's photos at the Toronto Bike Show. The pipes are drop dead gorgeous as is the whole bike and you're right - it doesn feel just right when you sit on it. But yamaha seems a bit stodgy with the deals - the bike is way more money than a Bandit so for me there was no question which way to go.
Jim
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I wonder how comfy that seat is for the long haul. That could also be an issue for me as I like to do LD trips (600 mile in one day), on occasion. The Corbin on my bandit fits the bill nicely in that department. Anyone see a MC test that commented on that?
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The bike is gorgeous and probably the best "Bandit Replacement". I'm with Dave... that seat looks like it would need aftermarket fix.
My big problem is that it's $1700 more than the Bandit - and that doesn't include the fact that the Bandit is probably discounted WAY more than the Yammy and probably would be a $2000-$2500 price difference in the end.
Bandit + $2000 =
New Full Header & Exhaust
New Tires
New Progressive Shock
New Progressive Springs
New Corbin Seat
New ZG/Suzuki/Givi Windscreen
New S.S. Brake Lines & Pads
Stage 1 Jet Kit
;)
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So whats better about this bike? It looks like it has the same little gas tank as my brothers R1. If that's the case you would be limited to about 140 miles between fill ups. It also seems to have the same plastic front on the gas tank wich would prevent the use of magnetic tank bags like mine.
After the price would you really have a bike all that much better than the Bandit?....I don't think so. I wouldn't replace my trusty Bandit with that. How ever, that being said, if I were in the market for a new sport standard I would definately lean towards the Yamy. Next best thing to a bandit as far as ergonomics are concerned as well as more ponies on tap. I'm sure it has a few other selling point I'm unaware of that would make it worth while steed.
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So whats better about this bike?
That list is pretty long but the main things are much better suspension (front and rear), sportbike level engine w/ 20 valves, fuel injection, water cooled, 24K valve adjust intervals, tons more HP, better fuel economy (at least compared to my 1G bandit), alum frame, better handling characteristics, considerably lighter weight, need I say more?
Good point about the gas tank but 4.75 gallons at 40 mpg (proably higher on this bike) is still 190 miles - MUCH better than my 1G.
The bandit is very old technology... but it works, its cheap, and thats why I still have one. I LOVE the looks of that FZ1. Total bad ass machine with the perfect ergos for old guys like me. Its where new meets old, I guess.
Notice how there is no frame member below the engine. The engine IS the frame! VERY clean!
Dave
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I can tell you that after leaving the dealership & jumping on my B-12, I thought to myself, did someone weld a car to this thing while I was inside?
I stll love the Bandit, don't get me wrong but really the two are like night & day.
Plus for all you sport tourer's, soon to be available will be a lower FJR style Fairing & bags acccording to a saleman I spoke with.
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I can tell you that after leaving the dealership & jumping on my B-12, I thought to myself, did someone weld a car to this thing while I was inside?
At 438lbs dry, it certainly isn't a lightweight. Damn sexy though. The enormous, wide tail on the B12 makes it LOOK so much bigger.
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I've been checking out the new FZ-1 since is was unveiled. Unfortunately, like the new Nikon D200 DSLR camera, this bike is in such short supply that that most customers have to wait for delivery and pay close to retail.
I've been on the FZ-1 board for months. One of the posters has a totally tricked Gen 1 FZ-1 (major suspension & engine mods) and said the new bike was better right out of the box.
Actually. I had planned to have a new bike & camera by last Feb or March.....and making do with what I have. Frankly, I still love the Bandit and don't use near all the performance that it provides -but that new camera has many things I could really use now.
I can't seem to find either one for sale today at a good price.
John 98 Red B12
50k miles
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I can tell you that after leaving the dealership & jumping on my B-12, I thought to myself, did someone weld a car to this thing while I was inside?
At 438lbs dry, it certainly isn't a lightweight. Damn sexy though. The enormous, wide tail on the B12 makes it LOOK so much bigger.
Funny! Every time I leave the Honda dealership and walk towards the Bandit I think, "D@mn, my bike is little!" :lol:
Bizarro World.
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the main reason i did not get the FZ was $$$$$
also I happen to think it's ugly
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I looked at the FZ1 and a lot of other bikes when I was bike shopping recently. Everything about the FZ is nice, but I just could not bring myself to ride something that looks like that. :-) I'll stick with my "prehistoric" as has been referred to :-) 12S. :-) Now if I could just fit a Busa engine into the Bandit, we could be talking.
Blue
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Prehistoric would be what some of my acquaintances ride ('77s to '86s)...
GS1000/GS1100/GS1150
Here's one...
(http://www.thegsresources.com/images/hall_of_fame/05-2006.jpg)
Check out that headlight. Now that's a headlight! I believe this is your Bandit's granddad!
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I think the FZ1 is beautiful. In the Motorcycle Consumer News this month, there is an extensive review. According to MCN, the seat is painful and the bike is down on power from previous generations. They really like the bike though. The local Yamaha/Honda dealership sucks so bad that I could never buy one.
The local Suzuki dealership is so customer friendly that I just can't leave them.
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Here's my replacement for my Bandito
(http://www.bikepics.com/pics/pics/yamaha-fjr1300-06-bikepics-579905.jpg)
Had it for 2 weeks now and have almost 1300 miles on it. Will be heading to BOSS on it Thurs.
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Here's my replacement for my Bandito
(http://www.bikepics.com/pics/pics/yamaha-fjr1300-06-bikepics-579905.jpg)
Had it for 2 weeks now and have almost 1300 miles on it. Will be heading to BOSS on it Thurs.
Noticing the clutch lever...did the FJR1300AE tempt you at all?
Anyway, the FJR is one of my favorites.
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According to MCN, the seat is painful and the bike is down on power from previous generations.
AMA News: 2006 Yamaha FZ1
Yamaha says the engine changes add up to an increase of 7 horsepower over the 2005 ... The old FZ1 is handsome in an understated way.
How is it exactly down on power?
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The new FZ has a nice looking R1 insired tail, but it also looks like it would be about as comfortable as sitting on a R1 all day - and that would be the deal-killer for me.
That abomination of a can would have to be the FIRST mod!
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Noticing the clutch lever...did the FJR1300AE tempt you at all?
Anyway, the FJR is one of my favorites.
Not really Herb. The AE model costs $1800 more and most likely deliveries won't begin until June or July.
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The FZ got Rider magazine's bike of the year. Its gotten this with several mags now. Suzuki could build this if they wanted. Just a frame and put in a GSXR motor and it would be there. They seemed to have been focused on the Boulevard cruiser line lately so not much in the way of sporty new bikes. Maybe thats next with a Busa and Bandit replacement.
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The FZ got Rider magazine's bike of the year. Its gotten this with several mags now. Suzuki could build this if they wanted. Just a frame and put in a GSXR motor and it would be there.
When Suzuki gives us the big motor version of this, I think they'll be there:
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/paulweit/Bandit%20Alley/Suzuki_GSR600.jpg)
Just for some odd reason, they've decided to follow the Bandit tradition with the new GSR and offer a 600 first.
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The FZ got Rider magazine's bike of the year. Its gotten this with several mags now. Suzuki could build this if they wanted. Just a frame and put in a GSXR motor and it would be there.
When Suzuki gives us the big motor version of this, I think they'll be there:
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/paulweit/Bandit%20Alley/Suzuki_GSR600.jpg)
Just for some odd reason, they've decided to follow the Bandit tradition with the new GSR and offer a 600 first.
Well, I hope it's a sight better than the 600, which is getting mediocre reviews. To paraphrase Bike, it's just yet another 600 in Suzuki's lineup, unique looking, but otherwise no new thrill. A teched-down version of the B-King. Cosmetically kinda cool, but so is an SV!
Too bad, too.
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I'm hoping they take a lesson from the Europeans on the bigger version and NOT detune the motor from its sportbike donor.
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OH, they will, like they did with the SVs and V-Strom motors.
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I know... :roll:
but I can dream. :bouncy:
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How is it exactly down on power?
MCN WRITES: "Peak power is claimed to be up 7hp but thats not what our dyno testing found. Only 1.7 hp stronger at peak than the first generation FZ1 was back in 2001. The new motor's mid-range is also weaker from 3400 rpm all the way up to 10,000 rpm- much weaker- by as much as 20 hp at 7000 rpm."
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Here are quotes directly from the June '06 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News dealing with the seat..."Unfortunately, the whole super-sport makeover has a downside too. The FZ1's seat now resembles the R1's. Although slightly thicker than the supersport's, it doesn't have near the long term comfort of the older FZ1's plush saddle. We'd opine that your comfortable riding distance has been cut in half by the new seat, which seems to get thinner the further back you go and isn't much wider than an "average" posterior at the back." "The new seat is more sportbike-like to help differentiate it from the FJR1300. It's good, but not as good as the old seat for long-term comfort, and while the passenger portion is well shaped, the passenger pegs are fairly high." I have ridden over 5000 miles on the stock seat on my '00 1200 with no complaints. I have gone as many as 5 hours on mine with no problems. I had the Corbin Gunfighter on mine when I bought it, but wrecked 2 days later and tore a nice hole in it. I got a factory seat as a repalcement until I got the Corbin fixed...well that was over 5000 miles ago and the Corbin has yet to be repaired.
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In Ontario you also have to look at the insurance prices. We pay probably one of the highest in North America.
For example I'm 35 with 2 tickets in the last 3 years which doesn't count yet.(cross fingers) 20 years on a a bike. Multiple owner of different bikes yadda yadda. Experienced in the insurance eyes.
Bandit 1200 1 year $695/year for basic liability( I pay $1400 now to include everything theft, fire, Al Queda, whatever on a brand new bike.)
FZ1 $1750!!! for basic!!
With just the insurance savings alone I can buy a bunch of accesories!!
I talk to some kids and they are paying $2000+ for GS500's in Toronto!! Holy! I'm suprised the motorcycle manuafacturers don't bitch at the governement for cutting into their sales.
When I was in Vancouver I paid $380/year for a Seca 550 with just 5 years experience. And it was considered a "bad"(?) bike because it had 4 cylinders and a mini fairing. Ohhh scary!
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That is amazing! What is their logic? The Bandit 1200 is a rocket! And the GS500F ought to be cheaper than fried chicken with it's late '70s technology.
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if the kids had a B12 it would cost $10K for insurance
i pay $1200 for full coverage
asked about an SV1000 and it was about half that????? the B is sport and the SV isn't??????
can't figure insurance.