Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => PRODUCT REVIEWS => Topic started by: banditone1250s on May 31, 2007, 11:54:40 AM

Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: banditone1250s on May 31, 2007, 11:54:40 AM
Does any one know where I might find a leather bra for a 2007 Bandit 1250s. I use a tank bag and also stand a chance of scratching the tank with a jacket zipper or a belt buckle.. Any help any where??????
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: Red01 on May 31, 2007, 01:31:53 PM
A standard tank bra wouldn't give you much, if any, protection from a magnetic tank bag, just from your knees and jacket zippers.

Suzuki offered accessory bras for the 1G & 2G, but I haven't seen one even in the well-appointed French accessory catalog for the new bike. The only thing they show is one of those stick-on protectors that protects the center of the tank from jacket zippers.

Bagster (http://www.bagster.com/en/moto/catalogue-moto.php?id_moto=4929) has a full-tank bra for the 1250 that accepts their clip-on tank bags. You might have to order it from Europe though. I can't seems to find anyone in the US that handles them anymore.
Title: tank bras
Post by: banditone1250s on June 02, 2007, 11:35:52 AM
The protection from jacket zippers and belt buckles is really what I am looking for. I really do not need to protect from my tank bag because it is well padded on the bottom and I did use it on another bike with no problems at all. Bagster's site is a little indescreet about how you go about purchasing any thing from their site. You have to contact them via phone and I am not all about making all those long drawn out long distance phone calls to to add to the cost of the product. Maybe Suzuki will soon come out with a long list of after market products for the new Bandit 1250s. SOOOON!!!!!!!!
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: ZenMan on June 02, 2007, 11:40:59 AM
Here's my solution... Pro-Grip tank protector, around $20:

(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/ZenMan33/99g.jpg)
Title: tank protector
Post by: banditone1250s on June 02, 2007, 11:55:17 AM
ZeeMan...

    If you don't mind my asking where did you get that thing for $20.00. They are considerably more expensive at my dealer...
Title: Re: tank protector
Post by: ZenMan on June 02, 2007, 01:23:59 PM
Quote from: "banditone1250s"
ZeeMan...  If you don't mind my asking where did you get that thing for $20.00. They are considerably more expensive at my dealer...


Don't mind at all...glad to help.  :wink:

They have them at BikeBandit for $14.98... three different styles, including mine.

http://tinyurl.com/2a8lst

http://tinyurl.com/2rgz6t

http://tinyurl.com/2dfeac

I paid $19.95 at my dealer.

I like it, it looks like it was made for the bike... plus they can be peeled off easily, they don't leave any gluey mess on your tank.  :motorsmile:
Title: tank protector
Post by: banditone1250s on June 02, 2007, 01:39:22 PM
Thanks ZeeMan...
   I really appreciate the input. I not only ordered the tank protector but I also ordered the gas filler protector too. Looks like a great product and I really like the idea that it doesn't leave that gooey crap all over the tank too. Do you remember how long it took BikerBandit to get the stuff to you?? Doesn't really matter just thought I might get an idea of how long I needed to wait before I started shaking their tree a little. Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!
Title: Re: tank protector
Post by: ZenMan on June 02, 2007, 01:46:01 PM
Quote from: "banditone1250s"
Do you remember how long it took BikerBandit to get the stuff to you?


I got the tank protector from my dealer, but the last order from BikeBandit took 3-4 days, shipping was $4 postal.

It was an Eiko H7 100-watt headlight bulb for my high-beam, only $12.55... Plugs in easily in 2 minutes, and lights up the road way better than the stock bulb.

http://tinyurl.com/2pfctf
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: Nitro on June 02, 2007, 07:30:58 PM
Will that bulb work in a 97 1200S?

Thanks.
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: ZenMan on June 03, 2007, 11:26:52 AM
I don't know a lot about the older Bandits... but there are plenty here who do. Someone will be along shortly... Red?  :bandit:
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: Red01 on June 04, 2007, 09:28:01 AM
The 1G B6/12 use a H4 bulb.
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: ZenMan on June 04, 2007, 11:34:59 AM
Thanks, Red.

The H4 is a dual-filament bulb, which means it has the hi/low beam combined in one bulb. If you wanted a legal 55w low beam but an "off-road" 100w hi beam combination like I have now, you can find it here:

http://tinyurl.com/2gxv29 (scroll down)

Or here:

http://tinyurl.com/2frwly

They also have other hi/lo/watt combinations. Most H4's are under $10.

Now maybe Red can tell you which type of base you need for your 1G... P-43T or P-45T?  :bandit:
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: Nitro on June 04, 2007, 06:59:54 PM
Hey thanks!
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: Vlad on June 05, 2007, 11:45:22 AM
Be careful with those 100W bulbs. They can burn your reflector very quickly if your wiring harness does not give up first.
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: ZenMan on June 05, 2007, 01:48:04 PM
Quote from: "vlad"
Be careful with those 100W bulbs. They can burn your reflector very quickly if your wiring harness does not give up first.


That's very good advice. When I put mine in, I let her idle for ten minutes or so on high-beam, reaching up under the fairing to check for any hot spots in the the wiring or reflector. Nothing got even slightly warm. But I'll continue to keep an eye (or hand) on it for awhile yet.

By only upgrading the hi-beam, it's not as much of an issue because you don't use it as much, whereas the lo-beam is always on.

I think I'm going to install two bullet-type driving lights under the fairing, and aim them up and off to the side a little, so they point into the curves when your'e leaned over. Mount a switch on the handlebar to reach it easily. A little trick from the 24-hour endurance racers...  :bandit:
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: Vlad on June 05, 2007, 01:54:41 PM
Quote from: "ZenMan"
By only upgrading the hi-beam, it's not as much of an issue because you don't use it as much, whereas the lo-beam is always on.


It depends. My high beam is always on during the day and I recommend the same practice to everyone. I do have a headlight modulator, but that is of no consequence in this case.
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: ZenMan on June 05, 2007, 02:55:20 PM
To each their own... personally I ride on lo-beam in daylight, that way I can "strobe" flash potential threats with a few stabs at the pass button. Most of my riding is country roads with little traffic.

Your way is good practice also... whatever will get you noticed is a good thing.  :wink:
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: Vlad on June 05, 2007, 02:59:14 PM
Quote from: "ZenMan"
To each their own... personally I ride on lo-beam in daylight, that way I can "strobe" flash potential threats with a few stabs at the pass button. Most of my riding is country roads with little traffic.


I agree. I wish I had a pass button, but modulator blinking keeps me highly visible anyway. I'll just change it so it blinks both lights on high beam so cagers don't confuse it with a turn signal. I've had only one case of that happening, but one is all you need to get you in trouble.

Quote from: "ZenMan"
Your way is good practice also... whatever will get you noticed is a good thing.  :wink:


Agreed again. I'm not out to annoy anyone, but I'd rather get on their nerves then on their bumpers. :>
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: Red01 on June 05, 2007, 09:32:51 PM
Quote from: "ZenMan"
I think I'm going to install two bullet-type driving lights under the fairing, and aim them up and off to the side a little, so they point into the curves when your'e leaned over. Mount a switch on the handlebar to reach it easily. A little trick from the 24-hour endurance racers...  :bandit:


That's old-skool 24-hour endurance racers. :wink:
Modern ones are just using the stock headlight positions. I guess they don't wanna muss up the airflow.

From last year's Bol d'Or 24 Endurance Race @ Magny-Cours:
 
(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3/a4xnut/French%20bikes/Bol%20D%20Or%20Photos/Bol_dOr_082.jpg)

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3/a4xnut/French%20bikes/Bol%20D%20Or%20Photos/Bol_dOr_088.jpg)
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: ZenMan on June 05, 2007, 11:32:54 PM
Well, then I'm old-skool allright.  :wink:

I've ridden a few "short" endurance races, 2 & 4 hours, and one 6-hour, all in daylight. But I've worked the corners (safety crew) in the 24 Hours at Nelson Ledges a few times, and helped out a few pit crews. The lights they used to run were pretty outrageous sometimes... big off-road lights mounted on the side of the frames so when the bike was at extreme lean angle, the lights pointed right into the curves. Of course, going down the straights the light-beams would shine up in the air at crazy angles, lighting up tree tops going by at 150 mph+... a weird and surreal scene indeed.  :bandit:
Title: tank protector
Post by: banditone1250s on June 18, 2007, 03:40:03 PM
Hey Zenman, I found those tank protectors at cycle gear for $9.99. I got a couple of them in case I decided that I did not like the one I initially put on the bike. Ha Ha Ha!!!...Banditone1250s... :stickpoke:
Title: Re: tank protector
Post by: ZenMan on June 29, 2007, 09:44:26 AM
Quote from: "banditone1250s"
Hey Zenman, I found those tank protectors at cycle gear for $9.99. I got a couple of them in case I decided that I did not like the one I initially put on the bike. Ha Ha Ha!!!...Banditone1250s... :stickpoke:


What, no link?  :sad:

Good deal... that's a great price. Always good to have extras.  :wink:

I thought about putting another one on my tailpiece to protect it from my tailbag. Might look kinda cool too, like a carbon-fiber "vertebrae" running the length of the bike from the tank to the tailpiece... hmmm?
Title: tank protectors
Post by: banditone1250s on June 29, 2007, 12:23:20 PM
No I did not get a link but you can go to cyclegear.com and I think that you can find them there...Banditone1250s... :burnout:
Title: leather tank bras....
Post by: ZenMan on June 29, 2007, 01:13:13 PM
http://tinyurl.com/38vpof