Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Short ride: Bandit 1250 ABS

  1. #1
    Join Date
    27th March 2006 - 10:29
    Bike
    KTM 1190 Adv R and a bunch of dirties
    Location
    Burglary capital of Unzud
    Posts
    2,879

    Short ride: Bandit 1250 ABS

    I went into the local bike store on the way home to pick up the latest Kiwi Rider mag. Anyway the latest K7 Gixer and the ABS bandit were there too, I so got distracted.

    So, as I was looking over the Bandit and about to walk over to get the mag, the sales guy wanders up (as they do) said "Hello, do you want to take it for a ride?"

    I said "nah not really" and we shot the shite for a couple of minutes before I left. As I was swinging my leg over the SV I though - why not? So I wanderred back in and said how about I take it home tonight and drop it in in the morning - he said sure.

    So long story short It will have about an extra 60ks on it by tomorrow morning.

    Engine - very quiet and smooth. Its pulls smoothly from just under 2000rpm and has lots of mid range grunt. It is doing about 3500 at 100ks and accelerates about the same as the SV (4000 at 100ks). There wouldn't be a big difference between them for that. Engine braking isn't huge. Basicaly just very smooth torquey motor. And very quiet shhhhh. Didn't get to sample the top end.

    Instruments - standard zook fare, Analogue tacho, digital speed, LCD fuel guage, trip, clock and idiot lights. The mirrors only just OK with a big look at my elbows. The headlight is not as good as the SV. It has a single bulb on low beam with sharp horizontal cutoff. High beam brings on a spot and the low beam stays on.

    Comfort wise I was expecting more but was dissapointed. The seat height felt marginally higher than the SV and is too narrow and firm for this style of bike. My old GS1000 puts it to shame for comfort. The seat somehow seemed to put pressure on the 2 bony bits where my femur bone joins the hip if you know what I mean. I tried sitting back further where the seat is wider but it didn't seem to make any difference. I measured the distance from the peg to the seat and the old GS is about 2 inches longer. This may explain the sore rs effect with the knees being higher and less weight on the inner thigh????

    The reach to the bars was OK and almost identical to the old GS. I felt that the bars were angled backwards a bit too much too - probably just my reaction to the SV clip ons, than anything meaningful. I was really surprised at the pillion seat, I was expecting wide soft comfort. I put it on the centre stand and perched up there. The distance to the pegs is quite short resulting in a tight knee bend. It is also a lot higher than the pilot seat. It is overly firm and not all that big.

    Ride was OK, at low speeds I could feel all of the little bumps, but above 20ks it all smooths out. I didn't get to do any twisties and couldn't detect the extra weight (about 45kg more than the SV). There is no steering damper.

    What did I like? Smooth and quiet. Good low and mid range grunt.

    What didn't I like? Seat.

    Pic1) Big fat can, 2) 1981 GS1000s seat to peg about 50 cm, 3) Bandit seat to peg about 45 cm, 4) Quite a new engine shape.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	157-5783_IMG.JPG 
Views:	20 
Size:	51.1 KB 
ID:	58973   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	157-5784_IMG.JPG 
Views:	16 
Size:	67.8 KB 
ID:	58974   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	157-5785_IMG.JPG 
Views:	33 
Size:	70.4 KB 
ID:	58975   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	157-5786_IMG.JPG 
Views:	13 
Size:	54.3 KB 
ID:	58976  
    Quote Originally Posted by Albert
    Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe

  2. #2
    Join Date
    27th March 2006 - 10:29
    Bike
    KTM 1190 Adv R and a bunch of dirties
    Location
    Burglary capital of Unzud
    Posts
    2,879
    What did surprise me is that I was riding faster on the Bandit than I do on the SV. Sitting here and thinking about that, it is probably the smoothness and quietness that caused that.

    More pics

    1) standard bandit shape hasn't really changed 2) I really need to clean up my garage!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	157-5781_IMG.JPG 
Views:	42 
Size:	59.0 KB 
ID:	58978   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	157-5782_IMG.JPG 
Views:	30 
Size:	70.4 KB 
ID:	58979  
    Quote Originally Posted by Albert
    Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe

  3. #3
    Join Date
    17th May 2006 - 08:18
    Bike
    2010 vfr 1200f
    Location
    auckland
    Posts
    485
    you still got the gs1000s for sale .

  4. #4
    Join Date
    24th September 2004 - 06:46
    Bike
    '76 CB550 Super Sport
    Location
    On the road to nowhere...
    Posts
    7,414
    Quote Originally Posted by insane1 View Post
    you still got the gs1000s for sale .
    http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...910361.htm?p=2

  5. #5
    Join Date
    19th November 2003 - 18:45
    Bike
    KTM 690 DUKE R
    Location
    Auckland - unavoidably...
    Posts
    6,422
    Quote Originally Posted by paturoa View Post
    the 2 bony bits where my femur bone joins the hip if you know what I mean. I tried sitting back further where the seat is wider but it didn't seem to make any difference.


    What didn't I like? Seat.
    Sit Bones is what they are referred to in Cycling, or ischial tuberosities if your that way inclined, get the wrong seat and you can compress the nerves that run between the rear exit and the man tools at the front and lead to problems!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    15th March 2004 - 13:00
    Bike
    Austrian and Italian
    Location
    Glenfield, Auckland
    Posts
    4,687
    I've got the 1250 at the moment while my Triumph is being attended to.

    Difference between the 1250 and last years 1200 (from my experience):
    It's lost a tiny bit of the low end torque, but seems to be all there from 3000rpm onwards. Found a few imperfections in the injection, particularly when closing the throttle, very abrupt. Carbs were definately smoother in this regard.
    Seat was good. I found the bars swept back slightly too much too, but I think I had the same issue with the 1200.

    Still very very smooth and quiet. Have to pay attention to speed because you get cranking along without even realising it!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    27th March 2006 - 10:29
    Bike
    KTM 1190 Adv R and a bunch of dirties
    Location
    Burglary capital of Unzud
    Posts
    2,879
    Quote Originally Posted by insane1 View Post
    you still got the gs1000s for sale .
    Yes,

    I had a guy from Wellington call me up and make an offer (on retardme too) - I lost his phone number DUH! and he hasn't caled back.
    Quote Originally Posted by Albert
    Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe

  8. #8
    Join Date
    27th March 2006 - 10:29
    Bike
    KTM 1190 Adv R and a bunch of dirties
    Location
    Burglary capital of Unzud
    Posts
    2,879
    Quote Originally Posted by sAsLEX View Post
    Sit Bones is what they are referred to in Cycling, or ischial tuberosities if your that way inclined, get the wrong seat and you can compress the nerves that run between the rear exit and the man tools at the front and lead to problems!
    Yeah - thats them. It didn't seem to matter where I sat, after about 15-20m minutes I was getting a sore rs. I read somewhere that it has a height adjustable seat. I didn't play with that cos I didn't know about it when I took it for a ride.
    Quote Originally Posted by Albert
    Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe

  9. #9
    Join Date
    27th March 2006 - 10:29
    Bike
    KTM 1190 Adv R and a bunch of dirties
    Location
    Burglary capital of Unzud
    Posts
    2,879
    Quote Originally Posted by Devil View Post
    ... particularly when closing the throttle, very abrupt. Carbs were definately smoother in this regard....

    .... Have to pay attention to speed because you get cranking along without even realising it!
    SV is injected so I didn't notice that.

    Agree about the speed getting up without noticing it, could be expensive!
    Quote Originally Posted by Albert
    Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe

  10. #10
    Join Date
    15th March 2004 - 13:00
    Bike
    Austrian and Italian
    Location
    Glenfield, Auckland
    Posts
    4,687
    Quote Originally Posted by paturoa View Post
    SV is injected so I didn't notice that.

    Agree about the speed getting up without noticing it, could be expensive!
    Yeah sorry, mean that the carbs on the OLD version was much smoother.
    SV fueling is smoother than the new injected system on the bandit...

    Darn good bikes though. Good value. Just dont drop it on yourself! Heavy bike walking it around!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    9th June 2005 - 13:22
    Bike
    Sold
    Location
    Oblivion
    Posts
    2,945
    I have just finished reading a review in Aussie mag "Two wheels" and almost immediately logged on KB and have read your review of the same bike!

    Your review and theirs concur with only small differences, they liked the seat but thought the fuel tank capacity reduction (about one liter) due to the new fuel pump installation would be an annoying disadvantage over time!

    All in all the Bandit old or new seems to me to be a good bang for your bucks bike deal.

    Good write up Paturoa. Cheers John.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •