Suggestions for PB

[PrincessBandit]

I have been wondering lately if the bandit is really the right bike for me since it is so heavy to manhandle (well, it is for me). Riding is no problem and I LOVE riding it but have had a few instances where I've had to do slow maneuvering on either gravel or rough surfaces like those parking tiles which are meant to allow for water drainage. I don't mind riding on gravel but with short legs you don't have quite the same contact or leverage that longer legged folk have!

I'm trying to decide whether to stick with my beloved bandit or go for something else such as the SV650. Have had a few suggestions but thought I'd open it up to see what else people might come up with.

Cheers.

[Gubb]

GSX650F

Lovely bike, puts the SV to shame. (It did for me anyway)

[DarkLord]

Gixxer Thou. :devil2:

[Mikkel]

Voted for the SV650 - from all I've heard it should be a good bike indeed.

Otherwise, buy a motard! :D

[Hitcher]

Take your Bandit to Tauranga for a visit to McDonalds Motor Trimmers and get the seat modified. The SV650 is too tall and won't help your low-speed issues, and the GSR600 is too vibey and has crap mirrors.

[bungbung]

ER6 f or n. Light and low

[slofox]

Agree with Hitcher re the SV - they are tallish....

[PrincessBandit]

Can get a custom seat for the SV which lowers it to about what I am currently with the bandit. But there is still quite a big weight difference between the two bikes. My thinking is along the lines that if I could get the SVs seat height to pretty much what the bandit's is then I'd still have the "advantage" of a much lighter bike. Make sense?

[Cajun]

taken from suzuki.co.nz
SV650 (full fairing)
Seat Height 800mm
Curb Mass 198kg

sv650 (half fairing)
Seat Height 800mm
Dry Weight 172kg

GSX650f
Seat Height 770mm
Curb Mass 241kg

Bandit 650
Seat Height Low/High : 770/790 mm
Dry Weight 218 kg

GSR600
Seat Height 785mm
Dry Weight 183 kg

GSXR600
Seat Height 810mm
Dry Weight 166kg

GSXR750
Seat Height 810mm
Dry Weight 167kg

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personally i would go for the gsxr 600/750 if was you, works out 51kgs lighter than your current bandit.
THe seat height might say 810, but its seat is narrower than the bandit i think from memory, and easy to take some out of seat, and suspension to get it touch more lower.
Really gotta decide if you want a light sports bike(gsxr/zxr/cbr), or a sports tourer(sv, bandit etc)

[Devil]

218kg dry for the bandit 650??? No way. that's as much as a blackbird.
20 more than a hornet 900.

[98tls]

Personally princess i think anyone elses opinion of what bike you should ride is as useful as a third ball on a Greyhound,make a list then go ride each one of them,ride them through town/tricky bits then head out to open road.

[The Stranger]

taken from suzuki.co.nz
SV650 (full fairing)
Seat Height 800mm
Curb Mass 198kg

sv650 (half fairing)
Seat Height 800mm
Dry Weight 172kg

GSX650f
Seat Height 770mm
Curb Mass 241kg

Bandit 650
Seat Height Low/High : 770/790 mm
Dry Weight 218 kg

GSR600
Seat Height 785mm
Dry Weight 183 kg

GSXR600
Seat Height 810mm
Dry Weight 166kg

GSXR750
Seat Height 810mm
Dry Weight 167kg



Cagiva Raptor 650
Dry Weight=180kg
Seat Height=775mm

Personally, were I a short arse, I'd go for the Cagiva and get decent brakes and suspension with your SV650 (engine)

[HenryDorsetCase]

Cagiva Raptor 650
Dry Weight=180kg
Seat Height=775mm

Personally, were I a short arse, I'd go for the Cagiva and get decent brakes and suspension with your SV650 (engine)

buy my Hornet 900!

[limbimtimwim]

Despite the numbers saying GSXR600, it's lower handle bars may actually make it harder to manoeuvre for you.

However, they are extremely good bikes.

May I also suggest the Aprilia Shiver and Ducati Monster 696? If you are going to spend brand new GSXR600 money they are not too far from that. And both in my opinion are vastly superior to the SV650. If only because their suspension actually works. They both have wide high bars that make them easier to move around.

Or randomly: New or slightly used 2008 GSXR1000s can also be had for stupid money because there is a new model on the way.

Also out there is the new Honda Hornet 600, no idea what this is like though.

And of course, what everyone should say at this point: Ride them all.

[gijoe1313]

Should drop a PM to Trace, she rides a lowered gixxer and scoots around okay on it! :yes:

[fatzx10r]

zx10r :first:

[Pwalo]

I don't know how 'tall' you are, but at a 'towering' 168cm I think you'd struggle with an SV if you're much shorter. I'm comfortable on mine, but slow speed manouvers, u turns etc, need a bit of confidence.

The GSR is lower, but has a wider seat. Still great fun to buzz along on. The GSXR (well the K6 onwards)feels lower than the SV, and earlier Bandit, but does have lower bars that do make low speed stuff more demanding (same as the SV-S).

If you don't have a problem with ego try the GS500, or the ER6N. Not the coolest perhaps, but bloody good if you are building your confidence.

[pritch]

Have you considered a Gagiva, I haven't checked the seat height but they seem popular with the ladies.

[Pussy]

Gixxer six hundy, PB!
Talk to Gassit Girl and GSXR Trace... they'll give you the good oil :)

[Hitcher]

Have you considered a Gagiva, I haven't checked the seat height but they seem popular with the ladies.

Is that like a Cagiva that makes you gag when you see the size of it?

[GSXR Trace]

Im personally vertically challenged as well, i was riding a GSXR600 stock, and found it okay, but everyone laughed at me while backing it up (on tiptoes!) and had a few issues if there was even the remotest incline!

However i am currently on a lowered GSXR600... and have found it much easier to manoeuvre.

But i have also heard good things about SV... which is also obviously in a similar position for riding to your bandit, while gixxer is quite a different position

Personally, i love my gixxer, so would recommend it, but its personal preference, and from sounds of things you like your bandit, so perhaps you should go for the SV

[MsKABC]

I'm 167cm tall and found the sv comfortable re seat height (one of the older ones - not sure if the newer ones are different?), but it did feel like the bike was a little top heavy. Not familiar with any of the other bikes.

I see your point though PB, re seat height and weight. I guess you're just gonna have to test ride lots of bikes to find the best one....bugger. :shifty:

Have fun and good luck.

[ducatilover]

find a tidy bros650. mind you i am biased....

the cagiva or a gixxer would do the trick, as already mentioned the gixxer has a skinny seat and i doubt there would be much problems holding such a feather weight toy up. go good too :woohoo:
best idea i can think of though is for you to go sit on as many bikes as you can and go from there

or buy my spada

[MsKABC]

find a tidy bros650. mind you i am biased....


Heh heh, I was going to suggest that, but I didn't think she'd want a 20 year old bike! :laugh: My 400 bros is such a lovely wee bike to handle. Is the 650 the same size? We are still quite keen to get hold of one, but they're not that common and quite expensive for a bike that age.

[ducatilover]

Heh heh, I was going to suggest that, but I didn't think she'd want a 20 year old bike! :laugh: My 400 bros is such a lovely wee bike to handle. Is the 650 the same size? We are still quite keen to get hold of one, but they're not that common and quite expensive for a bike that age.

yeah the 650 is the same size, actually smaller to sit on than my spada :2thumbsup

[Pussy]

...gixxer six hundy.. lighter than SV, lower seat height(even with genuine Suzuki lower seat), closer to bars, better suspension components.... You know you want one, PB!!

[nallac]

Gixxer Thou. :devil2:


zx10r :first:

all good choices......+ add an R1 to the mix...




ER6 f or n. Light and low

probably a better choice. would be my pick of lower cc bikes.

[MsKABC]

yeah the 650 is the same size, actually smaller to sit on than my spada :2thumbsup

Well that is good to know, so there probably isn't a huge weight difference either then. Hubby being quite mechanically competent, maintaining an older bike is not too much of an issue (he loves it!), so maybe the 650 is the next step up for me.

Sorry for the TJ PB :Offtopic: