US RIDER Poll/Do you want to see the new 1200 here?

[Desolation Angel]

Yeah, I saw this some time ago.  It's way prettier than a 'Busa.

I guess that's in the eye of the beer holder.

I think it looks like the crap I took after hot-wing night last week.

Not that the busa is much better.
It kinda looks like a cross between a Busa and a RF900

O-o-o-o...kay.   While you're feeling industrious, would you cr@p me out a DL1000, please?

[gtbandit]

I'm still perfectly happy with my '99 Bandit, but if I had to replace it, I would definately consider the 3rd. gen. I don't know what kind of upgrades they did to it, but I would like to see it become more competitive with the other new standards. But even as it stands now, it's still a great bike and an awesome value!

[LowRyter]

I'm pretty well married to my 98 Bandit.  Don't think I'd get rid of it, I've got too many mods and too much fun invested into it.  But it does have 48k miles and I would consider something with more performance.

The B12 is gone in the US even though revamped in other markets.  
I was at the Ft Worth CycleWorld show and the Suzuki rep hinted that the B-King would be out soon.  He talked like the Bandit wouldn't return.  I hope the B-King is light & sporty if it comes out. I'f hate too see something heavier than the B12.
 
The new FZ-1 is really nice bike.  That one is tops on my list.  Really looks like a naked sportsbike with all the goodies right out front- except for those ulgly radiator hoses.

I saw the Z-14 there too, more for the Busa crowds I think.

John

[ttewejnodnarb]

I agree...The FZ1 is like the stripper that gave me a lap dance last week...great fun but I think I'll stick with the 'Ol girl for a while.

Hmmm...maybe the FZ can be my mistress?

[Bazza]

All the options in that Poll are effectively a YES vote so I didn't vote.

As much as I loved my B12, it is getting dated and long in the tooth.  It's so uncompetitive in the shootouts that it's not even included anymore in a lot of them!
It needs to be completely re-done!  Engine, frame, suspension, style... all of it.
I would certainly be interested in another NEW Super Standard/ Hooligan bike from Suzuki whether it's called Bandit or not, but I can't think of any version of the current model I would buy new.  Especially considering how terrible the resale value is on the G1 and G2 bikes and the fact that the market is flooded with CHEAP, clean used B12's and B6's.

I think Manny hit it right on the head here folks!

I love my B-12 also, but it really is getting long in the tooth, and while I have sat on a new B-12, it really does feel just like the old B-12. That old expression "like putting lipstick on a pig" comes to mind.

Yes, the new B-12 is prettier than the old B-12, but nothing much has really changed on the bike, other than some changes in plastic & gauges.

There are just so many nice bikes out there now I am not sure I would fork out cash for another B-12.

[Desolation Angel]

I don't know...if a really super good deal appeared locally, a Bandito a couple of years newer than mine, I might just snag it.  But gotta be a different color.  I can see 2 completely differently set up Bandits gracing my garage!

I really love the new Bandit's sheathing!  Very nice.

[Red01]

I think what kills the new B12 for the US market is the new FZ1... the old one already had a bit of a leg up on the B12 in most areas, and it's major overhaul for '06 really leaves the minor upgrades of the B12 in the dust.

Still waiting to see the GSR1300... been reading rumors (can't remember where, now) that the big GSR may be out as early as spring '06.

[PaulVS]

Here's my poll question.

If your Bandit 1200 or 600 dies an untimely death next week... and you want to buy a new motorcycle....

What would you buy?

For me, it would be an '06 Bandit.  That NOT being an option, I'd buy a leftover '05.

The FZ is TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED dollars more... and it's the only bike in the Bandit-type category.  Think there are a lot of new FZ owners who think the bike is perfect from the factory?  Guess again.

Think about what kind of mods you could even have the dealer ($$$) do to a new Bandit for 2.5 large before you even drove it once.

[PitterB4]

Here's my poll question.

If your Bandit 1200 or 600 dies an untimely death next week... and you want to buy a new motorcycle....

What would you buy?.

Start the thread, Paul.  I'd list the main "standard" competitors - FZ, ZRX, VFR.. - and I'd put in a option for Super Sport, Cruiser, Pitter's B4...  

[Red01]

I know they're more - but not $2500 more (new '06 MSRP's @ $9099, '05's @ $8599, vs the B12 @ $7399). I know they aren't considered perfect out of the box by most either... but the 1G FZ1 do seem to be better sellers than the B12 despite the higher price. I considered one, but opted for the B12 because of it's lower price and wider availablity of performance upgrades and easier DIY maintenance. Personally, I'm not that fond of the new FZ1 (I think the tail is too short, the passenger accomodations are worse than the 1G and that can is an eyesore - but will probably be one of the first things most people change). It seems to have lost some of it's UJM charm in an effort to be more like a naked R1. If I were in the market for a naked hooligan bike, I'd probably spend the extra coin for a Tuono R and get some exclusivity and Italian charm along with it.

If my B12 were to meet an untimely end, it would probably be replaced with an FJR... but if that weren't financially reasonable, I wouldn't be unhappy with another B12, and IF the 3G B12 were available here, I would take one over the 2G FZ1, but most people use magazine shootouts to help them decide, and the B12 is either forgotten, or gets overshadowed by the FZ1.

Most would say the Kawi Z1000 ($8499 MSRP) is in the Bandit category, as is any leftover ZRX's. The Z750S maybe, too, though it's a bit small in displacement for someone that wants the power of the liter/liter-plus bikes.

Then there's the Speed Triple, Monsters, Rockster, etc. The prices may be more than the Bandit (which is undoubtedly the best bang for the buck winner), but the category is hardly populated by just the FZ1...

IMHO anyway...  

[Desolation Angel]

Now that I know exactly what modifications will make a Bandit near perfect, for me, I would be tempted to go Bandit again.

Price not being an issue, hmmm, maybe FJR1300AE or a Beemer, but the cost differences are unbelievable.

Naw, I know me, I'd want a brand new '05 Bandit before they're all gone.

I got my '01 by accident, knowing nothing about them and not even ever having heard of them, and now I really dig it.

[PaulVS]

I was actually looking at the 'going rate' for Bandits ($800 under list) when I calculated price... so I was a bit unfair in my comparison.

If you're looking for a semi-faired literbike in the USA... the choices are few and far-between.  The US has probably the slackest import restrictions of any country and Suzuki couldn't import the Bandit this year????

Comparisons?  From what I've heard, the FZ motor is a twitchy hi-rpm engine... and while it will smoke the Bandit... the powerband isn't nearly as linear and smooth.

The Bandit, Kawasaki, FZ-1, and Viffer are the only "UJM" S/T literbikes left in existence in this country to my knowledge under $10k.

The FJR has its own set of problems from what I hear as well (roasting your legs to a golden crunch not being the least of them.)  The Kawasaki has a 'baby fairing', and the VFR is supposedly high-maintenance.

My knowledge on the Bandit competition is admittedly a lot less than a lot of you guys... but my question is... why couldn't Suzuki at least continue to offer their entry in this class until they came up a suitable replacement?

[PitterB4]

My knowledge on the Bandit competition is admittedly a lot less than a lot of you guys... but my question is... why couldn't Suzuki at least continue to offer their entry in this class until they came up a suitable replacement?

I think that Suzuki thinks that they already have a (slow selling) entry in the "class" - the SV1K.

[Red01]

I think Suzuki totally blew it with the SV1K... they already had the TL-R & TL-S, which were pretty good except for the funky rear shock the magazines always complained about, so what do they do with it when they update to the SV? They "fix" the rear shock by putting a so-so conventional shock on it, but drop the TL's better front end and detune the motor (even from the TL-S spec). I think many were hoping for the SV1K to be an improvement on the TL's and have friendlier ergos in at least one version, which even the naked one didn't do well. The downgrading of power & hardware was a disappointment. It's still a good bike, but it could have been so much more...

The FZ is peakier than the B12, but it is still a pretty tractable unit.
Go to Holeshot's site and look at FZ1 dyno charts and you can see for yourself.

Honda still has the $8399 919, too.

As for the FJR's heat issues, that's supposedly fixed with the '06, but even on the older ones, it seemed like not everyone complained, so it could be where they ride or their sensitivity to heat (and the Honda ST13 is just as bad, or worse). Since I live in the temperate Pacific Northwest and don't do a lot of riding in hot, arid places, I think I could deal with a little warm air on my legs - and in the cooler months, this could be a plus, not a minus.

Now if Suzuki tweaked the B12 a little harder and say added EFI, another point or two of compression & hotter cams they'd have a more competitive bike with the new FZ - and if they added a shaft final drive, full fairing and hard bags, they'd have a low budget FJR fighter (and I'd be very interested in that). Suzuki already has a reputation as having the best EFI in the m/c biz, so it shouldn't be hard to adapt something to the B12, and they've got the parts already in the bins for a shafty.

[PaulVS]

But the Bandit is still selling in almost every nation in the world except the USA.

I find it hard to believe that Canada, Australia, UK, et. al. have a much bigger market for a variety of motorcycles than the USA.

What do we demand from the Big 3 U.S. car manufacturers?  We want sports cars, SUVS, Pick-up trucks, sedans... all the options, from every one of them.

But the American equivalent of those companies in the motorcycle arena(Suzuki/Honda/Kawasaki/Yamaha) are reduced to offering 'crotch rockets' and Harley knock-offs?  

What's up with that?

Bandit = CB750 of the 21st century.  

Some things just don't get obsolete, IMHO.