Never Hear Much About Suzuki 1250 Bandit

[Fun Dog]

I got my 07 this past July with 2800 miles on it.  It is now approaching 11,000 miles.  I've ridden 4 days of 500+ miles (not in a row).  

For reference, I'm 6'5", 260lbs.  

My biggest complaint is hitting bumps in corners.  Maybe I need to setup the suspension better.

Ralph

Interesting, as I'm 6'6", 240lbs.  I sat on one at a bike show here in Atlanta the year they came out and remember just barely getting my legs under the contours on the gas tank.  Are your legs cramped?

[rapuckett]

Interesting, as I'm 6'6", 240lbs.  I sat on one at a bike show here in Atlanta the year they came out and remember just barely getting my legs under the contours on the gas tank.  Are your legs cramped?

No problems fitting knees in the contours of the tank.  I don't feel cramped at all. In fact, I have more leg room than my 95 BMW R1100R did, and that was before I raised the seat. I do, however have to let my legs hang every now and then on long rides. No biggie though.

Ralph

[Ves]

Ves, did you do your seat or did you have someone else do it? I like the way that it looks, I bet it is much more comfortable.
...

Yup, did my own... first one I did was on my R1150R  http://www.vesware.com/R1150RSeat/RealManSeatR1150R.htm

Did basically the same thing on the Bandit, slightly different approach: http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=12063.msg96270#msg96270

Bottom line is the seat has a curve, so it makes you slide forward.  I cut it flat starting from the front and then added a layer of foam, making up evenly for the inch I lost in back and also making it wider at the same time.  Because of the type of foam I used it doesn't look as good as the 1150R I did, but it's much more comfortable.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I miss my old 00' 1200S Bandit she was a damn fine bike  

[MCRyder]

When Suzuki revamped their Bandit from 1200 to 1250 and re-tuned the engine for more torque, I figured it would be a big hit.  It was said to have 80 ft./lbs. of torque down around 3000 rpm or something like that, and about 100 hp.  Perfect, I thought.

But I never hear anything about it.  Nobody ever writes in about the new Bandit (well 2 or 3 years old now).  Either people are buying them and not talking about them or Bandit sales have gone to hell.

Anybody out there got a newish Bandit 1250?  What's it like?

If you want feedback on the 1250, here's the mega thread on the model:

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17255&highlight=Suzuki+Bandit+1250

Over 6K posts and rising  

I picked up my '08 ABS last year.  The dealer had it priced way below MSRP and it fit the bill of what I was looking for in a 2nd bike.  Good power, ABS, two-up capability, and a local dealership for service/parts.

I didn't intend to use it for touring, I have my '03 Sprint ST for that.  But last year I decided to use it for a trip to Wyoming and South Dakota.  3300 miles in 7 days, including a couple of 600+ mile days.  My best fuel mileage was 47MPG on the interstate at 75mph, and it did well as a LD tourer.   I installed a Zero Gravity ST Windscreen before the trip, which helped with wind blast at my 5-9 height.  Also a Givi topcase and rack, which bolted right up.  The seat gets a little hard after a long riding day, but not the worst I've dealt with.

Also used it on a trip to North Central Arkansas in October.  I pushed it hard on Push Mtn and it performed well, it's no sportbike but is stable and capable.  The torque is great in the tight stuff, just keep it in the meat of the powerband and it gives some awesome thrust.  That's proabably the best way to ride this bike thru the curvy stuff.  Take a stable line/speed on the entrance and use the motor's torque to strongly accelerate through.

There's a pretty good aftermarket for the 1250.  Holeshot http://holeshot.com/ offers some great suspension and exhaust upgrades.

[Canuck]

I have the 08 1250 SAE, the sport-touring model that comes with factory hard bags, trunk and lower fairing, plus ABS. I like it more the longer I have it. I did a few ST upgrades: heated grips, MRA Vario windscreen, Spencer seat mod, V-Strom handguards. I've done quite a few trips on it, including one three week trip, and it works great as a ST bike. It really is a great bike for the price, and I'm definitely keeping it for a few more years.

[Mr.Black]

What is a "Spencer seat mod ". The last thing I need to do is something to the seat. I've done every thing thAt you have done but that

[mwt]

http://greatdaytoride.com/Seat_Mod_Pics.php

[Canuck]

http://greatdaytoride.com/Seat_Mod_Pics.php

I can't say enough good things about my experience with Spencer's, and I've read glowing reports many times on different sites. He's fast, professional, cheap and the modification really works. If you are just doing the driver section of the seat, it is only $75.

[Stever]

Hello: I have an '07 1250abs  and for the money you can't beat it. It has big torque right off idle and is so easy to ride. It will cruise at any speed that you can stand. The motor is far forward and the front wheel feels planted. I get about 45mpg. I didn't want a bike in the 650 # class like an FJr, c14 or st1300, they were also much more expensive. A Sprint ST was a lot of fun but the front end was light and it fried you with the heat under the seat and was $4k more. I can't think of any other bike out there that compares. Maybe a R1200RT BMW for $20k. Good Luck
Stever 5-10, 205

[RodeRash]

Judging by the subject lines in this Suzuki sub-forum, Bandits are about the only thing that is ever talked about.

[MadOzodi]

I can't say enough good things about my experience with Spencer's, and I've read glowing reports many times on different sites. He's fast, professional, cheap and the modification really works. If you are just doing the driver section of the seat, it is only $75.

+ LOTS!

I'm very satisfied with the modification he did to my seat, especially the price!  When he says your seat will be returned packed the same way it arrived, he ain't lyin!

[BlueRidgeKat]

I have the 08 1250 SAE, the sport-touring model that comes with factory hard bags, trunk and lower fairing, plus ABS. I like it more the longer I have it. I did a few ST upgrades: heated grips, MRA Vario windscreen, Spencer seat mod, V-Strom handguards. I've done quite a few trips on it, including one three week trip, and it works great as a ST bike. It really is a great bike for the price, and I'm definitely keeping it for a few more years.

I would very much like to see a picture of the Bandit with the V-Strom handguards. Also what heated grips did you install?

And to anyone who knows..... does the Bandit use the cheap regular fuel or the expensive super grade ??

[Mr.Black]

I would very much like to see a picture of the Bandit with the V-Strom handguards. Also what heated grips did you install?

And to anyone who knows..... does the Bandit use the cheap regular fuel or the expensive super grade ??

I just put the MRA Vario Touring screen on, and a cheap set of heated grips. If no pics are put up, Ill put some up tomorrow.

The link is to a forum that has a lot of info. The thread has step by step instructions on installation of the DL hand guards. It is what I used to install mine.

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=341173&postcount=23

Oh, regular fuel works best. It calls for 87. I thought when it was brand new I'd put super in it. As I went down through the grades it ran better.