Bike choices?

[awa355]

Am looking at a 1999 Gsf600 bandit, 40,000ks. $4000, and a 2000 Honda Hornet 600. 51,000ks, $4300. I'm not into hard riding, just want a bike that is comfortable, doesn't need a new set of tyres every weekend, and priced about the 4g mark.

I'm currently looking at my options of roadbikes. ( 250-600) Have gone away from the idea of a trail bike.

Has anyone had any experiences with either the 600 Bandit or Hornet? Thanks.

[240]

Both would be fine, I had a hornet 600 and loved it.
I would Bing them both and check out how many ks till any major work needed on each model,but both are japanese and from major manufacturers so really i would not expect any probs with either.
See which one fits you best then enjoy!

[Oakie]

Still plenty of life left in the Bandit at 40000k. They were upgraded after the 1999 model but the older ones are still great for what you describe. So impressed am I that when mine eventually needs replacing I'll probably just get another Bandit. Oh, nothing wrong with the Honda either so don't stress over the choice. Just go with whatever feels better under you.

[SMOKEU]

Personally I'd go for the Honda due to the better build quality. I own 2 Suzuki bikes as well.

[blackdog]

Personally I'd go for the Honda due to the better build quality.

What a load of horseshit.

[SMOKEU]

What a load of horseshit.

That's all you seem to be capable of.

[Fast Eddie]

.....

[blackdog]

That's all you seem to be capable of.

We are talking about machines more than ten years old. The way each bike has been treated is going to be exponentially more important than your assumption that a Honda was somehow built better than a Suzuki.

[SMOKEU]

We are talking about machines more than ten years old. The way each bike has been treated is going to be exponentially more important than your assumption that a Honda was somehow built better than a Suzuki.

Funny that considering how just about every second nut and bolt on my GSXR has been rounded off, whereas on the Honda I used to have I would use adjustable spanners on the nuts and bolts and they would never round off. Even the seat on the Suzuki took about 20 minutes to remove the first time because the bolts were so badly rounded off. Bits and pieces like nuts, bolts, assorted fastners, switches etc are all of a far poorer quality on the Suzuki than on the Honda I had.

[awa355]

Funny that considering how just about every second nut and bolt on my GSXR has been rounded off, whereas on the Honda I used to have I would use adjustable spanners on the nuts and bolts and they would never round off. Even the seat on the Suzuki took about 20 minutes to remove the first time because the bolts were so badly rounded off. Bits and pieces like nuts, bolts, assorted fastners, switches etc are all of a far poorer quality on the Suzuki than on the Honda I had.

Rounded off bolt heads are a sign of ignorant usage of tools, not build quality. I refuse pointblank to go near my bikes with a cresent, unless there is no other options. I would imagine, that all Jap manufacturers buy all their nuts and bolts from the same Tokyo Warehouse.

[SMOKEU]

Rounded off bolt heads are a sign of ignorant usage of tools, not build quality. I refuse pointblank to go near my bikes with a cresent, unless there is no other options. I would imagine, that all Jap manufacturers buy all their nuts and bolts from the same Tokyo Warehouse.

The metal for the nuts and bolts is just far too soft on the Suzuki. It's no big deal though, and I replace them with stainless steel ones when I need to which are very cheap and hard metal. The switches also feel cheaply made on the Suzuki, and don't have that solid feel that the Honda had. Again, not a big deal as it's just minor details and nothing major.

[nzspokes]

Well I just gots me a K1 Bandit 1200. What an epic bike, love it. I think the 600 has similar ergonomics. Stacks of parts for them to.

Take a look at the JustBandits site for lots of bling for em.

[akkadian]

Just about get a 900 Hornet for that money. Any reason you want a 600?

[awa355]

Just about get a 900 Hornet for that money. Any reason you want a 600?

I prefer the lighter bikes. A 600 will go as quick as I will ever want to go. Figured a 600 would be easier on tyres, brakes etc. I dont ride hard and happy to cruise at 100kph. Have just sold a 246kg cruiser, Too big and heavy at low speeds and tight corners.

I took a little GPX250 for a blat this afternoon and had a ball winging it through the corners.

[nzspokes]

Rounded off bolt heads are a sign of ignorant usage of tools, not build quality. I refuse pointblank to go near my bikes with a cresent, unless there is no other options. I would imagine, that all Jap manufacturers buy all their nuts and bolts from the same Tokyo Warehouse.

Agreed. When I did my apprenticeship the head mechanic had a crescent mounted on the wall with grease on it.

If any mechanic used one they would get his 15" crescent rammed where the sun dont shine.

Needless to say, we didnt use crescents.