Bandit 12 - commuter bike?

[Keir]

Im looking at changing the fazer for something different to commute on. Can anyone tell me MPG stats for a bandit? Im thinking being a 1200 its going to be quite juicy?
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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

[Kickstart]

Hi

On stock gearing / stock exhaust / engine in general commuting use I got 45mpg. Got down one tooth on the front and knock 10% off that.

Strangely when tuned and set up properly it improved by ~2mpg.

All the best

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

[doggone]

Fuel is one of its weak points but not outrageous.
You will not get better than 50mpg even being very gentle.

Its good to weedle through cars though, being relatively short and compact - plus lots of squirtability to get you out of trouble if things close in on you.

[Kickstart]

[Keir]

how many miles will i get from 1 fill up?
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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

[nrml76]

If you are looking for something to commute on, consider the ZR-7S. It does 45mpg and has a 24 litre tank. Reserve to reseve is about 250 miles. Power is nothing to shout about, but is more than adequate (75bhp) for getting past and keeping comfortably ahead of most cars on the road. It is cheap to buy, cheap to insure and cheap to maintain. The half fairing is really useful on long commutes. The best part is that it is cheap enough for most people to afford keeping a second no compromise fun bike.
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Everyone who lives dies, yet not everyone who dies has lived. We take these risks not to escape life, but to prevent life from escaping us.

[Kickstart]

[Keir]

Cool, thanks for your help. Ive seen an unmolested 1998 one with 16k on the clocks for £1500. good price?
Looks like the fazer is going on ebay tomorrow....
____________________
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

[Kickstart]

Hi

Sounds like a pretty good price.

Things to check.

Rear suspension linkages can seize up.
Steering head bearings suffer due to some peoples single wheel tendencies.
Finish is not that good. Check the frame paint carefully. Especially just behind the front wheel and under the frame (near the rear suspension linkage mount).
Exhaust rots badly where the 4>1 section links to the link pipe.
Fuel gauge often fails, or reads wrongly.
Front calipers seem very weather resistant. Rear is a sick joke. The pin that locates the pads seizes in place.
Wiring covering fails where it goes round the head stock.
Choke cables seize.
Ignition switch can get temperamental with age.
Oil coolers are hideously expensive.
Plastic locating bits on the side panels snap off (although apparently new panels are pretty cheap).
Seats split at the front.

Might sound bad, but those are things that go wrong with them. Unlikely all (or even more than 1~2) would go wrong at once.

This months Ride magazine has a feature on Bandits.

All the best

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

[Gazdaman]

I've never heard such a true list!

My seat has split
My head bearings are on the way out
My exhaust rotted through
My frame paint was shagged
My side panels have no locating lugs, they now have cable ties
My rear caliper is fecked.
Oil coolers are hidiously expensive.

Even after all those things bandits are great bikes. If I didn't want something sportier, I'd happily go to a 1200 next.

£1500's a bargain.

The pre k model ones are sexier.

Gaz

[king756]

Don't forget to factor in tyres, a friends 1200 used to eat tyres. Then again he always had the front off the floor and rode it hard every where he went.

[Keir]

thanks. deposit paid so i just hope the fazer goes this week on ebay. The seller is holding it for 2 weeks on my deposit so i have some time.

few more questions...

How much is a years tax?
How many litres does the petrol tank hold?

cheers
____________________
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

[Kickstart]

[bish777]

Tax is getting on for seventy quid a year now. Bloody robbery.
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GSXR1100J