UK's Bike Magazine reclassifies Bandit?

[kevinfromrex]

I like to read lots of motorcycle mags, motorcyclist, cycle world, sportbike, bike, etc.
I came across an article in UK's Bike Magazine they said they have reclassified the Bandit to sport tourer.
They see the bandit as falling behind without updates, they didnt include the bandit in their recent testing of 600 naked sports. One section said the bike is no longer competitive in its class.

Despite not being changed from 2001-2005 I would say the bike is still a great sporty street bike. I realize some of the purists like the 96-2000 frame and look. But I like the 01-05 bandit, the bike that does everything well.

I guess Ill never get it, Ive got 90hp (with rejet, air filter, box mods, advancer, mid pipe and can) and I can run with any 100-105hp 2006 model supersport 600 unless its ridden by a pro?

However I can ride 600 miles a day and get off and still walk! I can carry a passenger without perching her in the sky with nothing to hold onto and a foot position 2 feet off the ground. I can cruise along cleanly in wall to wall Atlanta traffic at 4000 rpm or blast off the line a 7K front end bouncing with each gear while I powershift to a nice top end of 130 plus. Sure the front end is soft, a 90$ set of racetech springs talkes care of that and I have kept the rear shock, its really not that bad. I can dive into corners with confidence.

I am flabbergasted that the bike (600-650) is not going to be sold in the us, the public is getting cheated, this is a great sports bike for the real world!

[Airmotive]

That's really odd considering how enamoured the Brits are with the Bandit. Rarely does PB, RiDE or Bike go a month without a Bandit article.

Make it faster, smoother, sportier, tourier(?)...whatever, they appreciate the Bandit for what it is. A well-behaved, easy-to-work-on, HONEST motorcycle. She's got no secrets or hype (cough, R6, cough).

[pmackie]

I understand your disappointment, but for me, the Bandit really is what a "sport tourer" is all about. Sporty enough to be fun in the twisties, comfortable enough for an all day ride, good fuel capacity and mileage, strong enough to hold hard bags without moding the frame, etc. And on top of all that, still a bargin in the price department, easy to work on, easy to upgrade, etc.

So...I'm OK with it being classified as a "Sport Tourer" as that IS what it is to me.

[aussiebandit]

The local Aussie mags have classified the B12 as a Sports Tourer as well.

One guy even wrote

"The Bandit, like me, was once a lean, mean, fighting machine.  There was nothing else like it on the market.  Now, like me, it's carrying a bit of fat, is a bit kinder to people, and would rather 'take everything in it's stride' than fight about it.......

And, I love it.  There still isn't anything else quite like it, a 1200cc bike, with 100hp, comfort, reasonable handling for under $12,000."

[H2RICK]

Well, as Bill Shakespeare said: "A rose by any other name....".
Call it what you/they will, it is what it is......most bikes to most people. I can't think of a better recommendation, IMO....and I DID vote with my wallet on the Bandit......as lots of other folks have since 1996. So, let 'em call it what they want.....

[kevinfromrex]

All true, all true, I voted with my dollars and dont regret a moment. I just have some phobia against being called a tourer, sounds too slow to call the Bandit such a thing.

I knew things were going wrong when Bike Magazine did the article comparing used bikes and picked out a FZ1, a ZRX and  1200 Bandit and somehow the poor bandit came in last because it had 105 hp, went 154 mph and did everything just fine wasnt exciting enough for them, they liked the revs of an FZ1 (which I find utterly annoying, not to mention the F'd up fuel injection) and they chose the ZRX as their favorite, they liked the huge beasts feeling of power, yes it has 115 hp and mountains oof torque but it weighs as much as the mountain!

Looks like weve become old hat to these chaps. Maybe its true, weve grown nicer and a little fatter. But the bargain sports tourer still cant be beat at what it does, everything, long live the champion!

2001 GSF600S in Grand Blue...NOT for sale

[H2RICK]

Yep, Kevin, I've got that issue too and read that article about 4 times. The one thing that stuck out about the Zrex was that they really liked the better protection from its fairing compared to the other two bikes.
As I mentioned in another thread, if the faired Zrex had been offered in Canada, I'd have given it VERY serious consideration when I was in my "decision-making" mode before making my purchase. Yes, it's somewhat heavier according to the data panel but not excessively so. However, it's all moot because the faired ZRex was never offered in Canada.....
No naked Bandits and no faired ZRexes in Canada. Looks like some kinda conspiracy to me.....    

[Red01]

I would have considered the ZRX1200S if it were offered in the States, too. I did see a used one for sale in France...



The Euros also got a real naked version of the ZRX. One without the bikini fairing and with a big round headlight, like the naked Bandits.

[smooth operator]

I don't think the weight of the ZRX is much off the weight of the Bandit. I rode my brothers, and I didn't think the wind protection was much different either. Mine being a 1st gen.S. Compairing stock bikes,the ZRX will out perform the Bandit in hp. The Bandit is a easy mantinence bike for those of us who perfer to do our own work.

[H2RICK]

Thanks for the pics, Red01.
It just makes me soooooo mad when dopey marketing wankers make decisions like that about what market gets what bike(s).
How the hell do they KNOW what will sell in a particular market UNLESS they offer it first ?? Unless I'm missing some Japanese-zen thing here....  
I think that a lot of the decisions are actually made by the distributor in that particular country (e.g. Suzuki Canada) as to what they want to sell. I think they tossed a coin and said:
"No nekkid Bandits for Canada.".....dolts......