Bandit service

[Gavster88]

Hi all!

Going to attempt an oil and filter change during the week, just want to know how much more of an effort would it be to change the spark plugs and air filter? I've done these jobs on my cars but it will be a first on the bike!

It's a bandit gsf 600s k2

I also will be attempting to change the brake pads on the front and rear, again I've done this on the cars but new to bikes. The principles will be the same right?

I have got the Haynes manual to guide me through everything but seeing as you guys have the experience, would be good for some pointers if their are any!

Many thanks and il keep you posted on how i get on

Gav

[Frost]

Air filter is piss easy.
Plugs can be tricky to get at on some bikes. You might need to remove the tank to get at them.
remember do NOT cross thread them. Do them with your fingers at least a few full rotations before you consider any form of tool.

[Ericck]

You can change the plugs without taking the tank off so
is quite easy. At least you can on the naked, I am not sure
about the S faired version.

Saying that taking the tank off isn't a big deal so
you might as well have a go at it and change the
the air filter too.

Have a look a this.
https://www.youtube.com/v/wIYRtAiyqWA&hl=en&fs=1

Not done much work on cars but the pads are
easy enough, just check how everything goes
before you take it apart and make sure you
copper grease the retaining pins on the rear caliper
when you put them back in, as these are prone to seizing
and then you need to drill the caliper to get them out.

If you have a Haynes and take your time I am sure you
wont have a problem as the Bandit is quite an easy
bike to work on
____________________
Current Bike: 2004 Suzuki Bandit 600S
Previous Bikes: Yamaha FS1E, Mobylette Moped Thingy, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki Zephyr 550, Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Kawasaki ER500, Suzuki Bandit 600, Honda CBR600F, Triumph Street Triple 675, Suzuki V Strom 650, Suzuki Bandit 1200, Suzuki SV650N, Honda CB500F.

[Gavster88]

Thanks for the tips

That vid is very helpful Ericck, definitely put my mind at ease by watching how simple it actually is!

I'm getting some motul 10w40 semi synthetic oil, k+n oil filter and air filter, NGK sparks tomorrow.

But as for the pads, I understand you get what you pay for but i tend to go for the middle ground.

I don't want to break the bank but the reasonable ones iv seen are EBC pads, £34.58 for the front 2 and £14.46 for the rear. Alternative would be Bendix pads at £47.88 for the front pair and £23.40 for the rear if EBC are ones with not much ratings?

[P.]

I found the spark plugs a pain, but not too bad on the Bandit, deep holes and little gaps... but I have small hands.

[Bezzer]

As long as you've got the OE toolkit spark plug box spanner you don't need to remove the tank on any of the Bandits naked or faired, it's the right length for access and hard to get the spot on right length using aftermarket sockets and extensions.......but you need to remove the tank for the air filter anyway.
Front and rear calipers are easy to work on and clean and always worth doing on a Bandit as the rear is infamous for seized pad pins so a good opportunity to keep them greased or replaced with stainless ones.
____________________
I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite so sure.

[Tomzo47]

[Gavsta88]

Well I finally went out and did it today!

First up was the rear brake pads, what a ball ache!!!! Couldn't get the retaining pins to budge at first but once they were out it was a pain to get the pads out. One the pads were out after a big of wiggling I noticed that on one side it was completely worn out but the other was pretty much like new??

Replaced them anyway but I take it I have a piston seized?

Thought I would do the spark plugs and oil change next

Spark plugs were no problem at all, oil change went fine until I went to take the old oil filter off, I didn't have the special tool needed for the filters that have pretty much rounded edges (hopefully you know which one i mean) which resulted in lots of swearing and spanner throwing.....alas it eventually came off replaced it ith a k+n one with a nice easy bolt on the end to tighten and remove

That's as far as i got today, took 3 hours to do all that because of simple tasks turning into time consuming ones.

Will have a bash at the front brakes tomorrow

It decided to pour it down this afternoon too so I'm soaked to the bone, time for a soak in the bath and a pat on on the back for an afternoons work well done!

[Gavsta88]

going to be stripping the rear caliper and cleaning it in an attempt to release the seized piston tomorrw. Confident that i can do it seeing as iv already dissembled a bit of it to replace the pads.

Depending on how long that takes to do i will be replacing the front brake pads tomorrow too....fingers crossed!

[Bikeless]