Bandit 1200 -what are they like?

[Smooth]

I know they're common-as-mook and they feature a lot on here, but what are (standard -are there any left?!) Bandit 1200s like?

Engine - Grunty and reluctant to rev? I believe that the original exhaust was restrictive.
Handling - Barge-like and wobbly or deceptively nimble?
Suspension - pogo sticks at both ends or decent?
Fuel consumption -thirsty?


There seem to be a lot of mods out there. Can the bike be improved much (-mechanically rather than tarted-up) ?
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TDM850

[Keir]

i loved my bandit 1200. it was standad apart from a viper race can. was easy to work on (not that anything went wrong) and felt very torquey. for a very heavy bike, it handled pretty well for standard suspension. it was fairly heavy on fuel but its an ancient large cc engine on carbs so what can you expect. id have another one if i could find a good condition standard one.... so i think ill struggle!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/keir_compact/bandit001.jpg?t=1244538112
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Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[the grim reaper]

I had the Bandit 1200s, I think it was on an X plate if I remember correctly and it was a good bike. It did wallow a bit in fast corners but not in a bad way and it was actually quite fun.

I put 12,000 miles on mine in six months and it didn't miss a beat, I would recommend one, if you can find a standard one that is.

Cheers

Grim
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Adverts don't always work: Remember that advert, where the army are running across the desert and they have a wounded man on a stretcher. They get to a ravine, the bridge is down and a caption pops up that says, 'What are you thinking?'. I don't know about you but I was thinking, 'Christ, I'm glad I'm not in the f***ing army'.

[garth]

Brilliant bikes, did 400 miles in a day easy 2 up a few weekends ago.

Easiest. Bike. To. Wheelie. Ever.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Kickstart]

Hi

Engine is pretty grunty but not reluctant to rev. Stock silencer is pretty poor (hence one of the few recentish bikes that has a real gain from changing the can). Stock exhaust is stainless steel except for one bit under the engine that rots away.

Handling is a bit heavy, but acceptable. Same for the suspension.

General use about 45mpg, basically very marginally worse than my FZR600 in the same use. 2 up cruising at 90+ with a bit of a head wind reduced it to 28mpg once though.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Blau Zedong]

If you want a big oil cooled Suzuki buy a real one, like, say, a GSXR1100K. More power and torque than a bandit 12, better chassis, better build quality (due to minimal use of mild steel) and better looking. One went on Egay for about £1600 a few months back so they are still around for sensible cash.
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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

[Kickstart]

Hi

Thats quite a high price for one. I paid just over that for my GSXR1100L and knew I was paying over the odds for one (but that was with a Spondon swinging arm).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Smooth]

cheers folks.

They do appeal to me.

A lot seem to have been modified and not necessarily for the better.
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TDM850

[the grim reaper]

[Pete.]

Have the best of both worlds - buy the bandit and put a GSXR head & cams (or just the cams) in it

Or buy the Bandit, put 'busa rods & pistons in it and bloody great turbo
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Blau Zedong]