Bandit tank shapes

[.Chris.]

OK, so I've been looking at 400cc Bandits on ebay recently, but when you take a closer look at the photos it seems that they don't all look the same - the fuel tanks are a different shape.

If you look at these two you can see the difference:
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320152703252&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT&ih=011
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150155196091&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT&ih=005

Are there any other differences between the two that the tank shape is indicative of, and would the tanks swap over?

Please enlighten me!
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[veeeffarr]

Isn't the first one a VTEC and the other one not?

[alun111]

The first one is a 1993, and the second one is a 1995. The tank's changed, and I think the rear seat fairing also changed as well as the rear light.

https://www.suzukicycles.org/Bandit-series/GSF400-Bandit.shtml

[.Chris.]

Ah that'll explain it then. I thought the model was unchanged through the production run, but that's obviously not the case.

Thanks.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[veeeffarr]

[alun111]

[veeeffarr]

Same shit, different smell.

[Blau Zedong]

The VVC models are fine. Mine being an unreliable heap of shit was down to carbs. The only proplem with the VVC ones is finding service info, or diagnostics if it does go wrong. In hindsight it doesn't make too much difference, it's a 400 - you still have to bray it mercillesly to go quick, just means less gear changes at low speeds.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[.Chris.]

Right thanks for that.

It's probably a stupid misty-eyed heart-not-head decision but I've decided to ignore the tales of unreliability get one as my next bike. Me and bandits were love at first sight I think!

I do feel like a bit of a dirty defector getting a 4-stroke though
____________________
Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Blau Zedong]

Chris - mechanically they are pretty good. The carbs must a) be surgically clean (not a problem on a bike thats used often) and b) have good o-rings and rubber bits. I had three breakdowns - twice due to f@@ked plugs from running too rich (blocked pilot circuit which took an ultrasonic cleaner and a dyno to sort), and the other was a stuck float flooding one pot and nearly setting me on fire. The quality of finish is disgusting - if you neglect it you will end up with a pile of scrap in six months. Can get more grunt using GSXR400 carbs (more slide lift). Any mods will require dyno time. I've said it before - very good chassis and brakes, engine loses alot of it's appeal with it's "detune", it's still harsh and gutless low and mid, but without the GSXR (GK73A) top end lunge it's a bit flat.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[alun111]

I like mine. Good points are: It's nice and fast for a first "big" bike (In my opinion), it's sexy as fuck, the brakes are very good (although I don't have much to compare them to) It's fairly comfortable to ride (I can be a pain in the ass for long trips), I get 120 ISH miles per tank (decent enough) The stainless steel exhaust is nice and shiny and sounds pretty nice. There's more but I'm ready for bed.

Bad points - Maintenance is a pain in the arse, the spark plugs are so badly situated making them hard to get to, and the oil filter is also right behind the downpipes so that's a pain to get out. No storage WHATSOEVER - just enough for a toolkit under the pillion seat. You need an allen key to take the pillion seat off so have to strap one somewhere on the bike so you will be able to get the toolkit when you need it. You also can't buy a rack for this bike, and screwing a givi plate to the fairing seemed like a good idea once strengthened, but eventually snapped my rear seat fearing when I went over a tall speed bump at 40mph (yer, I know). Spark plugs (as I found out yesterday) Cost £7.50 EACH as they have two electrodes. Parts can be hard to find and not always fairly priced. Some parts they don't even make anymore.

If you do decide to buy one, just have a good test ride of it first and bear in mind that there's always a tank bag for storage, and you can also restrict this bike if you're on a restricted license.

Also... www.banditspares.com is a good site for spares, as well as ebay.

Sorry for the pathetic attempt at structuring this post. Hah. G'night.