Step-up bike - z1000, Bandit 1250?

[YellowDog]

Just have to say if the bandit 1250 is on your list the issue would be weight ride one and see if it is an issue
The power is there but its very smooth (even compared with bandit 1200) and you have to twist the throttle hard to get into trouble (assuming you know how to ride)

Only you know yourself and how able you are to keep control and dapt to something new.

I spoke with a cop today asking why the Greenhithe Road was closed preventing me riding down. He showed me a smashed up Subaru Impreza smashed up in a ditch. I said 'Bloody Kids eh!', he said, 'No, it was a 40 year old married man'. 'What a tosser' I said.

It's not your age that counts, it's your maturity and control.

[MaxCannon]

I'd still be inclined to recommend a bike in the 500-650cc range, and I'd exclude all the supersports (R6, ZX6 etc) because of the seating positions (and to a lesser extent the power).

I went 250 > 400 > 600

The 250 was small, light, easy to handle, had piss weak power and poor brakes.
It was easy to ride and I never crashed it.
A couple of times I came close but a mix of luck and a bike with so little power had me staying upright.

The 400 was much heavier, it made double the power but it was all at the redline. Hardly any torque to speak of which meant you could mash the throttle without fear of the front end coming up of the back spinning out.
I dropped it once because I wasn't expecting it to be so damn heavy.
It scared the shit out of me when I twisted the throttle going round a corner and got way more power than I was expecting.
On a bigger bike I'd have been down the cliff or head on into traffic.
Speed was much higher. It would do 180kph and get there damn quick.
Despite shitty torque it was a rocket between 10k and 14k.
Because cornering speed was much higher the handling character was vastly different, I now had to worry about weight transfer, front end running wide, back end twitching etc
It also had crappy brakes and taught me how to survive corners when you come in about 40kph too hot and can't slow down.

The 600 weighs about the same as the 400 did. It's got almost 4 times the power of the 250
Because I learnt some very valuable lessons on the 400 I haven't scared myself stupid on it.
It will do 220kph and gets to 200 in the time the 250 took to get to 100.
It's got quite good brakes. In fact I just about went over the bars when I pulled the lever as hard I was used to and got much more stopping power than I was expecting.
It makes a lot more torque than my two earlier bikes. If I grab too much throttle it lifts the front.
If I twisted the grip like I rode the 250 I'd probably be in hospital.
In the wet it will spin up the rear, something the 250 and the 400 never did.

While some people may step off a light weight lower power 250 onto a 1000+ and never have a problem my view is that you are missing out on a lot of learning along the way.
On a wet roundabout when someone doesn't indicate and is coming straight towards you having the experience to know how much throttle / brake / lean you can apply is the difference between riding home and getting a gift basket in hospital.

[chanceyy]

I went from a RZ 350 straight to a Bandit 1200. when I was test riding tried the bandit 600 .. however on some great advice from guys I ride with they suggested I try a 1200 .. (had not considered it before)

When I discussed with my mentor, he said I would find the 600 pretty vanilla pretty quickly however it might take 12 months to get comfortable on the bandit 1200 but I will never outgrow it ..

so far he has been right .. it look a good 5000 ks to get really comfortable with the power/weight of the bike esp as its quite top heavy but on the road just beautiful. I pretty much stuck to around the speed limit & got used to that lovely roll on power for a few months .. then slowly progressed as I got used to the bike and its ability

so I can recommend it .. but like others have said depends on how you will handle the bike .. total control in the wrist .. as long as your prepared to take the time it takes to make that step up then do it .. if your not that controlled then move up in stages may be a better option for you.. however test riding is always your friend .. I rode my first bandit & knew it was the bike for me .. its been ever since .. and our 1st yr anniversary this friday

[DarkLord]

I gotta agree with the previous posts, 3.5k isn't a lot if you are already thinking of upgrading....

My first blast on a bigger bike was in October last year (Bandit 1200) and I knew when I rode the thing that I was nowhere near ready for a bigger bike, and I'd done probably 15,000 k's by that point.

Only a week or so ago when I rode the same Bandit again did I realize I'm now ready to upgrade. I've talked to riders who have said they actually wished they'd spent more time on their 250s before getting bigger bikes.

I really wouldn't be too hasty from jumping off the 250 onto something bigger, even once you do get your full. Your life is at stake. Enjoy the 250 while you have it, and use it to learn as much as you can about bikes and how to ride them. That experience will prove invaluable once you do upgrade.

[mynameis]

The Triumph Street Triple is a little pearler. Had the pleasure of a ride recently and at this stage would be the only bike I would look at changing to.

If only those big eyes didn't look so real, it's seems like it would come up alive sometime and talk to you saying hi I am Street Tripple.

Kinda scary really otherwise I'd get it I'd be scared to keep her in the garage at night

Bo0o0..

[Manix48]

....I keep going in circles!

If the Street triple was 2.5k cheaper....
If the er6n wasn't so ugly...
If the z750s suspension wasnt shit....
If the 600s weren't so cramped...
Maybe the 1250 isn't so bad... upright riding position usable and controllable torque, competitive price... maybe a bit big for commuting but good fuel economy.

All speculation until October anyway

I'll throw in my two cents.....

I went from 250 2smokes to a VTR1000. Took it real easy to begin with as you do have have a big size/power difference. A mate of mine then bought an r6 a couple years later and after taking that for a spin I would have to say that they were too light for the power that they produce. I would end up on my arse if I had one of those. At least with the bigger bikes you do FEEL the power as it comes on. Just my experience. I also am looking at getting the Bandit SAT model later on in the year. Well priced and will have the co-pilot with me (as Big Dave puts it) for most of the time, so the 1250's torque will come in useful.

Good luck with YOUR final decision!