Calling All Bandit Owners ? past & present!

[Stegsie]

Following on from my previous posts about my first big bike; I am looking at getting a 600 Bandit and have a budget of about £1k.

It will be used for my daily commute (about 20 mile round trip), out and about at weekends etc. and also the odd motorway trip (around 50 mile round trip).

What I’d like to know is some Pro and Cons of the Bandit 600, and also which specific years / specs etc to avoid or indeed go for.

Anything really that would help me out.

Thanks in advance.

[Richard_Schmid]

Compared to other 600`s, the bandit donsn`t fair well performace wise. It produces about 80bhp, with a realisic top end of 125ish.

However it is a pretty bomb proof bike, and reasonably simple to maintain/repair. It also takes to restriuction very well.

Look out the a Rotting exhaust collector. This is at the lowest point of the exhaust system. This happens because for some reason they made part of the exhaust out of mild steel, while the rest is of stainless . https://www.banditmania.co.uk do a specific repair for this problem at abouut £80

Persoannly I like my Bandit. It`s a good starter bike and Parts for repair are everywhere. Mine '97 has done 13,000mls, and not yet missed a beat. Also you can pick up decent ones for about a grand.

Hope this helps,

Richard

[TheDonUK]

As richard said about the collector box, that WILL go, if you have the money bandits sounds great with a nice aftermarket can anyway.

Also having owned both a 97 bandit and now a 98 hornet, the bandit has more 'soul', take that to mean what you will.

I advise fitting either engine crash bars or R+G style bobbins, its a pretty top heavy bike and you may well drop it at low speed (in my case a newbie pillion dismounted at the worst time and in the worst way in a tesco carpark, no damage due to the bars)

I suggest Goodridge/HEL braided brake lines if not all round then at least on the front.

The bandit absolutely loves Bridgestone BT-021's, and can keep up with sportsbikes in the twiesties with them on.

The only other things i can think of to look out for is a fracture in the pipe that connects to the radiator, they are prone to snapping.

Parts are plentiful.

[Pie-Roe]

Theres a thread exactly the same as this about 3/4 down

Decent bikes, I have one which has done 57k, previous owner was on here, used it on a long commute daily. Exhaust is a little dodgy, I've neglected mine, so where the 4>1 pipes go its all corroded.

I've crashed mine twice and had a friend seriously smash it, and being my first bike, it was expected to take a little abuse but not this much, however, nooby pyro mechanics have it still working.

Theres enough power for me (I assume your coming off a 125, so yeah twill be for you too.) Sounds nice enough with a viper race can, and when I had it 33bhp (for about a week) it didn't feel too bad, topped at 105 indicated, and still could do 90 two up. Comfortable for long use, I did a 280 mile stint in the freezing cold and wet, and it was less unbearable as I expected. I have the bandit S which means it has pretty much just a screen and some fairing around the lights, but I assume it helps a lot.

The only con I've been able to find is that everyone I know of who has a pre 650 bandit who's done more than 10k miles has a tear in the seat just below the tank. Gaffer tape ftw though.

I could see it getting left behind in the summer rides with thou's but then thats probably down to rider error not the bike

Pyro
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[mitch99]

Had an SK1 for a couple of years, everything is original except the collector box which i had done by banditmania. It has 50k on the clocks and the main weaknesses are the electrics and finish, both of which need attention in the winter to stop them dissolving. Maintenance is a complete piece of piss, get a haynes or download one and you should be able to do most if not everything. It ain't the fastest mind, but a very good starter/hack bike.

[Kris]

Not another Bandit thread! Aaaaaaaaghhh.

I can't be arsed to type my experiences again.

Basically a good budget bike, spens as much as you can on getting a nice one. Exhaust will rot. Oil cooler clamps will most likely split. Rear brake caliper will seize. Seat (on early shapes) will split.

Oh and if it's done anywhere near 20K miles the suspension will be a bit saggy.

BUT..

Great engine, easily and cheaply serviced, easy to insure, decent tank range, good comfy riding position, not a thief magnet, will hustle if you make it dadadoooda and all that jazz.


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[apple tango]

I have a Bandit GSF600 1999 model, 22k miles. Only had it since the end of Oct. Was riding a 125 before then.

Being my first big bike, i think its great. It seems like a missile to me, coming from a 125.

I use it for commuting around 15 miles a day, and occasional weekends if the weather is half decent. I find it fine for city riding and filtering. Although i do struggle on motorways as i have the unfaired model, so the wind pushing my head back sometimes gets annoying.

I get around 125-130 miles from a full tank (excluding reserve) which i think costs me around £13 or something.

I havn't had any problems with it so far, apart from the gear lever coming loose. Easily fixed though.

I have a Viper can on it, which sounds bloody awesome. Certainly turns heads.

Had it serviced a couple of weeks ago. Oil filters were done and 2 new front brake pads, and some other little jobs. Cost me £239 (£150 for labour)

Can't really think of anything else to say about it. If its your first big bike, and are using it through winter, its a good choice.
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CBR125 -> Bandit GSF600 '99 -> SV650 02

[SmOk3]

Hi , I have just passed my test, but i am restricted ! , and i am seriously thinking about getting a 600 bandit, but obviously it needs restricting, i just need someone to tell me what they are like when restricted because i have heard a few storys that they will not go over 50mph wen restricted, any replies will be most helpfull as i am hoping to get one very soon ! cheers

[Kickstart]

Hi

Restricted they should do around 100mph, pretty much the same as any other restricted bike.

All the best

Keith
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