Questions for any 2007 Bandit 1250 owners

[Hanadarko]

Hi guys....

I am debating ordering a 2008 1250ABS (when I can) as that is the bike I think I have narrowed down to what I am looking for. Before this I was considering the V-strom 1000 but have read too many concerns of the same nature with that bike.

So with this in mind, I am asking the owners of this bike for comments good/bad on their
experience. Here in WI, I am not permitted to test drive ANY new bike...but if the dealer happens to have a used 07 or 06, I can drive that. They claim its due to insurance regulations...but to spend $8k something w/o driving it seems a bit daffed. So all I can do is sit on the bike (if they have one in stock) and/or ask around...

I am 6' tall and 185lbs. I currently have a 2007 ninja 500 (teeny bike) but fit on it fine. It belongs to my son who is headed over to IRAQ and he had just bought it and gave it to me (before he left)....its a nice bike but not really for me.

I know I want the following in a new bike:

dual front headlights that actually light something up
Fuel Injection. No more carbs and 'throttle enricher'.
twin disc front brakes with ABS ideally
around 850+ cc engine liquid cooled
hand wind deflectors for the bike (I think the v-strom 650's fit on this bike)
factory heated hand grips - ideally. I live in WI and its COLD here at times!
some storage under the seat...
some tie downs for bunjee cords


I think the Bandit 1250 covers most if not all of these. The price is cheaper than the V-Strom too and I like the i-4 vs a shakier twin.

Thanks in advance...

[Red01]

I don't have a 1250, but it sounds like it meets most of your criteria. 
No factory heated grips, but they can be added for ~$30, and yes, the V-Strom guards can be used. 
Underseat storage isn't much either - less than the older carb'd 1200 because some of the sapce is taken up by the EFI computer.

[Hanadarko]

thanks. I currently stow my sunglasses (in a hard case) and bunjee net under the seat and in the area of the tail light. There is a nook there that fits both of them perfect....and I have got rather used to storing my Oakleys in there....I think the v-strom 1000 comes with a factory harness ready to go for heated grips..and that was a plus. $189 IIRC though....$30 seems a bit cheap 

I have managed to stay warm enough in the low 30s when riding except for my hands.
I dont want to go to electrics for gloves and the warmest gloves I have found fail after about 15mins of riding....thats annoying!

So I figured wind deflectors are a great start...that should really help the most and then some heated grips...I love to ride as long as I can here...but Friday, it was 15f out in the AM and that was NOT a riding day for sure   

[Red01]

Well, for $30, you just get a 3-way switch with the grip heaters, if you want a dial adjustable heat controller, the price goes up by another $50-$60.

I've been using Dual Star's $30 grip heaters for several trouble-free years.  IIRC, the Kimpex heaters are roughly the same price.  Never could understand why BMW charges what they do for theirs!


FWIW: The B1250's understeat area:



And a B1250 with Wee-Strom handguards:

[Hanadarko]

so I think I got this...you take off the hand grips and install these and then re-attach the grips I take it...and then wire up and mount the switch.

I wonder if the heated suzuki grips from a v-strom would fit.....   

Any photo of under the seat on the rear taillight area? - thats the storage nook I am looking to see if I can use...but the ECM takes up (so far) most of the open space I have used in the past..

[CWO4GUNNER]

I have the B1250 and so far its the most pleasing street bike I have ever owned. Looks that eventually grow on you, great ergonomics for age 50+ riders, sweet handling (frame), excellent FI delivery of brute power, all at an excellent price while it last. Every owner that I have heard from is very pleased with the bike and complaints are hard to find. Although some are kept up cleaner then others LOL.

[Red01]

so I think I got this...you take off the hand grips and install these and then re-attach the grips I take it...and then wire up and mount the switch.

You got it! 

I wonder if the heated suzuki grips from a v-strom would fit.....   

Both use 7/8" bars, so I don't see why not.

Any photo of under the seat on the rear taillight area? - thats the storage nook I am looking to see if I can use...but the ECM takes up (so far) most of the open space I have used in the past..

That area is occupied by the OEM toolkit.

[Hanadarko]

 

Next time I stop in at the stealership I will ask them about this possibility.
I have never taken off the handgrips on a cycle so I was not sure what's involved
or if they are swappable.

Well I think my Ninja was missing the tool kit. I didnt even know it was supposed to have one   

So thats the area I have been hiding my glasses in..!
I asked my kid about the tool kit. He removed it to save weight. 

[wilinfla]

I think you will be happy with the 1250S. I only have 450 miles on mine in just over a week, but I love it so far. I have 6 other motorcycles in the garage and none of them have even been started since I bought the Bandit. I think for the first time in my life I am going to have to buy some battery tenders for those bikes 

                                                 
                                                                   Will

[Nitro]

Pro Motorsports (Suzuki, Yamaha dealer) in Fond du Lac has a 2007 B1250 left over, and they allow test rides. Winnebagoland in Oshkosh (Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki dealer) also allows test rides.

[Blue Racer]

I have the '07 with ABS.  Had a chance using the ABS when I came upon water over the road at night.  Clamped the brakes, it shuddered slightly, and STOPPED!!  Saved the $500 I spent on ABS in one stop.  Well worth it....on any bike.

[CWO4GUNNER]

Too late everyone. After posting allot of indecisive possibilities over at Max Zuk Hanadarko has settled (ordered) on a new V-Storm 1000. I never had a chance to ride one myself but from what I heard its the next best thing to a Bandit.

[Hanadarko]

Indeed.
It wasnt a close call..the v-strom just fit me better...
but it was a tad more money....

[guffter6969]

For what it's worth, I came from a v strom 1000 and I personally think it's a far better bike than the bandit 1250 I have now, loads more character more comfy and surprisingly better handling, it also has far superior headlights, however the brakes on the bandit are much more effective

[CWO4GUNNER]

Well if I wanted noticeable caracter in place of power & performance I would have bought a Harley years ago, and if I wanted bicycle like handling in place of high performance engine weight I would have bought a Ducati Monster of one of those  variations, all for twice the price. But I wanted all those things plus performance & value. The B1250 is what it is, a better deal.