2003 Bandit 1200S - Quick review

**Devil** · 8th February 2007, 08:17

Ok. So I dropped my bike into Holeshot last night so they can change my tyres some time today. Not many dealer plates around for a bike to use so had to choose from the second hand stock. Carl suggested the Bandit, which I had never ridden before so I jumped at the chance.

I wheeled it out from where it was parked and immediately thought "damn, this sucker is a bit porky". Nevermind. This particular unit had 57,000km on it and was still in pretty good nick. Fired up easy, but you've gotta get it off the choke fairly quick or it'll shit itself. Once a little temperature was in the engine she was fine.

Geared up and jumped on. oooo squishy seat! oooo adjustable brake and clutch levers. Thoroughly good clunk into first gear (hrm, Suzuki trait?) and we're off... well the bike was off, I think I almost left my body behind. Seems these things have some low end torque.

Quick zip up to riverhead/coatesville to enjoy some open road. Seems once you get to 50km/h on these things you dont need any gear other than top (5th).
Overtaking a breeze. Suspension a little on the basic side, but fairly comfy. Easily remedied by an ohlins unit with corresponding springs in the front.

Decided to take the missus for a cruise. Took off at the first set of lights, I think the bikes opinion was "what pillion?". Cruising through the East Coast Bays I decided to see how flexible this engine really was. Coming from castor bay through to milford theres a couple of slowish uphill corners. I left the bike in top gear and slowed to 45km/h. Here we are, heading uphill, in top gear, with a pillion, with 1500rpm on the clock (redline at 11,000). Open the throttle and....holy shit, smooth acceleration with no hesitation whatsoever.

Mmmm I think it's time I tried some more of these large capacity torque machines!

**Toast** · 8th February 2007, 14:22

Sounds tasty.

I've always been in to screamers, hadn't ridden anything with less than 4 cylinders (not including a 250cc parallel twin) until the other day when I took a Moto Morini v-twin down the street.

The thing nearly pulled my arms off from as low as 3k rpm. Definitely gave me a good taste for torquey street bikes.

**beyond** · 8th February 2007, 18:18

Yep, torque is awesome especially low end.

Wait till you try a GSX1400

**MacD** · 8th February 2007, 19:39

Yep, they're great bikes. I think most people would actually have more fun on this type of bike than the ones with lots of R's in their names if they gave it a go.

**Lou Girardin** · 9th February 2007, 06:07

Next, try a Bandit with can and airbox mods. The bottom end's still there, but it doesn't feel strangled up top.
It seem's that the new 1250 is even torquier.

**Devil** · 9th February 2007, 07:19

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Next, try a Bandit with can and airbox mods. The bottom end's still there, but it doesn't feel strangled up top.
It seem's that the new 1250 is even torquier.

Yeah, want to try both. The one I rode had the stock exhaust and it was a bit boring up top! Not that you really need anything more than 6000rpm...

Any guesses on the price for the new model (due soon right?).
Water cooled, 6 speed, injected eh?

**MikeL** · 9th February 2007, 07:55

I once had an argument with a fellow biker about my (late lamented) GSX1200, which he insisted was a Bandit. I was equally insistent that it wasn't, although acknowledging that they shared many components. In particular I was sure (and still am) that the GSX engine had been tweaked to produce even more low-end torque. It's true that the top end was a bit lacking, but for me that wasn't the point - the power available at low revs and the fact that you don't need to check what gear you're in before overtaking make for a good combination of exciting and relaxing riding.

**MacD** · 9th February 2007, 10:34

I recently bought myself one of the Oregan cameras that have been discussed on KB in the Reviews section. To test the camera I took a trip out to Piha on the weekend. Apart from finding I needed better vibration damping on the camera mount, the most interesting thing I noticed was how infrequently I changed gear on the Bandit despite a fairly twisty road and quite a bit of traffic to pass. Most of the time it was just a matter of winding the throttle on and off in 4th gear, yet more than enough acceleration was available even from fairly low initial revs.

While top end (max horsepower ~100hp) is down on a modern litre IL4 the torque curve is very flat from around 4000 rpm so the power development is very linear up to around 10K rpm, which gives you a very useable range for road riding. It's still a bike that you could lose your licence on without even really noticing.

**Edbear** · 9th February 2007, 11:23

Originally Posted by MacD

It's still a bike that you could lose your licence on without even really noticing.

Must make a note to buy a Bandit! I think I'd notice if I lost my licence....

(p/t)

**Macktheknife** · 9th February 2007, 12:04

The Bandit is often under-rated IMO, bloody great bikes that pull like a catholic schoolboy.
For the 'higher speed' touring it would be nice to have the 6th gear though.
The new models are even better apparently, injected too.