Bandit as a first bike - good idea?

[badas]

Hello everyone,

I am really considering getting a bandit 600 for my first bike on a restricted liscence (which i am aiming ot pass before christmas) but i have a few questions.

1) Are they suitable and comfortable for 6ft 5 riders?

2) What are common faults / things i should check a bandit for before handing any money over?

3) How easy are they to restrict / can i restrict them my self and how do i then prove its restricted to insurers?

4) What are the main difference between a bandit and a hornet apart from the manufacturer and 2nd hand going price?

5) If you would have any other bike instead for the price of £700 to £800, what would it be for a first time big bike owner?

Thanks

[chris-red]

1 , yeah should be fine
2, Electrics ond coils went on mine, there are fairly reliable but the fixings rust which makes maintenance a pig.
3, Carb washers easy, fake a certificate.
4, Bandit is 40kg heavier and has 10-15 less bhp. Hornets are far superior IMO.
5, Maybe an old CBR600
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[ollieholt]

hornet is probably too small for your frame fella, especially if you are long the leg. bandit is a good first bike to have for someone who likes a bandit, best thing to do would be go and sit on one. as for common faults ive never had one but look for the typical things like worn rear shocks, loose head bearings, bad sounds to the engine cams and chain, look at sprockets and chain, check the brakes for over wear or warping, these are all bits that can soon add up.

restriction, well im not an expert on this so i will wait for a more intelligent fella to answer that one.

have you considered the fzs600 fazer? im 6'3'' and long in the leg its perfect for me and goes like stink, they can be easily restricted also.
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< This? Well this is just a day brightner.

[chris-red]

I'm 6'5 and was fine on a hornet. The Bandit is bigger though.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[yuri2085]

I wouldn't be comfortable with a 6-700 bandit that must be 92 or something? or with 60k+ miles no?



1) Yes, almost certainly

2) Being a suzuki keep an eye on rust; also you may find you want to change the suspension and check the downpipe linkage which is a sure area for corrosion.

3) Quite easy to restrict although the bandit carbs are quite difficult to get at, I bought the carb diaphragms for about 25 quid from someone off here but never got round to putting them in

4) Not sure, although I do hear good things about the hornet- I still have my bandit 2 years later although am considering upgrading the bandit still does everything it needs to well.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not as tall as you so can't comment on comfort for you.

Things to watch out for:-

Rust. Around the rear peg hangers, front down tubes and underneath near the centre stand mount are the most likely places.
Rear brake caliper has the pad retaining pins seize in place.
Accident damage (plenty are used as first bikes).
Seized rear suspension linkage.
Notchy steering head bearings from ham fisted wheelies.
Broken tabs on the front of the side panels
Seats rip at the front.

The engines are tough (they are a sleeved down and detuned 750). They seem to survive crashing quite well (unlike Hornets). Decent size petrol tank. Loads of spares around.

Easy enough to restrict with washers if you can get a set for reasonable money. Proving it to an insurance company is no different to any other bike (ie, quite random requirements).

I have no doubt that the Hornet is a better bike, but they are more expensive and also have their own faults (such as crash resistance and a poxey fuel tank size).

All the best

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

[badas]

really appreciate the help

as for my height, my leg size is 34"

i am currently riding an mtx 125cc comfortable but never really ridden it further than say 2hrs constantly.

big thing for me is something that is going ot be able to cruise comfotably at 60mph easily rather than revving its nuts off, and also comfort but still be able to do some decent milage out of a tank.

ony my 125 i get 10 miles per £1 i spend on fuel, how is this on a bandit or cbr 600?

ty

[GSF Jamie 600]

Hi

The bandit can crusie at 60mph all day and all night but the revs will will be at around 5000rpm, it is up to you if you feel thats to revvy.

I find mine quite revvy when on the m-way, sitting at 6000rpm at 70mph, but it pulls all the way to 120mph+ easily

I'm 6ft 1 and the bandit fits me well, but i dont know how much of a difference your height would make, as said best thing to do is to just go and sit on one and see how it feels. If not i'd say the tdm 900 is a bike worth looking at

As for fuel economy its not amazing, i get around 150 miles until reserve, and then a further 30 miles until empty

Hope this has helped

Jamie

[Acemastr]

I get 43mpg on my CBR600F3 no matter how i ride (well, between 42 and 48mpg)
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[badas]

hmmm.. so how much does a full tank of petrol cost?

atm im paying about £7 a tank on average to get 80 miles

god bless the 125cc ha

[Acemastr]

120miles from £13-14
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[woll]

Acemaster i wish i could get that much from £13-£14 i put £18 in most the time and only get 130 miles to a tank, less when i hoon it.
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Current Bike- Suzuki DRZ400 SM K6
Previous bikes - Derbi Senda Xtreme50r, Honda CBR 125, Kawasaki ZZR 250, Yamaha DT125R, Suzuki Bandit 600, Gas gas ec 250, Honda CBR600FW
Damaged spleen, damaged kindey, 2 popped lungs, 2 broken ribs, broken face, broken wrist and 5 back fractures... remember kids walls hurt

[defblade]

I'm 6' 4", my bandit fits me fine but as others have said, go sit on them. Mine's faired but it's so low and I'm so lanky that it may as well be a naked.

My bandit's restricted (but a 650, should be pretty much the same tho as we're heading for the same bhp) and pulls just fine up to real M-way speeds; gives 53mpg week in, week out on mixed riding - I'm not shy of using the throttle in NSLs but stick to 30s and 40s, so make of that what you will.

As said, most common fault is the exhaust collector box (where the seperate pipes go into 1) rusting out, can be repaired tho - www.banditmania.com

Hornet is probably better made; power will be indentical; I sat on one and it just wasn't comfy for me so straight off the list.

Restricting is easy but buried quite deep - get a Haynes before you start (will come in handy anyway). There is no real proof, short of a dyno trace done at the exact time the question is asked - there's a thread on here somewhere about the great certificate rip-off.
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[badas]

thanks defblade

going to try and find a local bike store which has a bandit or two i can sit on,

but the problem is, if i go sitting on newest models surely they are more comfortable or could be owrse than say a 97 or 98 bandit i have been looking to buy?

ty

[GSF Jamie 600]

In my opinion the older bandits are comfier than the new ones, the new ones all have hard seat for some unknown reason.

Also bare in mind you could always jack the bike up using longer dog bones This will then definately allow you to fit on the bike and will give sharper steering

All for just £15

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/suzuki-bandit-600-650-35mm-jack-up-kits-/280519753270?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item415047be36

[defblade]

[badas]

think my mate has one and if its the one im thinking of, insurance is going to bum me for it.

considerign i have already made two claims (latest not being my fault) i would be having ot pay £450 for third party fire n theft on a bandit which i thought was reasonable compared to quotes i am getting for other bikes such as the cbr 600's.

will defo try sitting on a few bandits next week

just need to pass my mod 1 and mod 2 then save some more money

[badas]

also whats top speed on a restricted bandit and how long for 0-60 on a bandit restricted?

ty

[yuri2085]

[Misc]

I'm 6ft 3 on a Bandit & raised the rear 50mm to suit my needs. You can get various jack up kits, very cheap & easy to do.

[Clanger]

Should be fine.
Plus, as I keep saying over and over, its inside leg measurement that matters... do keep up!
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Louise]

I had the 98 Bandit 6 as my first big bike.
Loved it - and I feel the need to buy as a second bike again.

[Davie J]

I'm in the same boat myself, test before November and looking at other bikes. Got a lot of good info from this thread.

I'm swaying between a Bandit and a Fazer.

[c_dug]

[badas]

c_dug what you on about? lol

i just know i buy 34" leg jeans and they are comfotable and not short on me (any not handing under my shoes either).

also what are recomended changes to make on a bandit such as brakes etc??

ty