Bandit question

[Ryan381]

So I've been looking at getting a new bike and I'm between the GSX 650F and the Bandit 1250...but I'm not sure if I'm ready for the power of the Bandit...How is the power on it, will I get in over my head? This will be my second bike, coming off a GS500 that I have around 8k miles on now.


Also I ran both of them on insurance and the bandit it like $30 a mth cheaper than the 650F...How does that work? Is it because of the full fairing on the 650F?

[erda]

Went from a Ninja 500ex to a V-Strom 650 to a Bandit 1250SEA. Power is considerably more, but the right hand can control that. Power comes on very linearly, and pulls like a locomotive from about 2200rpm-a real torque monster. Went on a 4000km tour last summer and it was great! I average about 5L/100km.
Having said all that, I really wanted to check out the 650F before I bought the 'strom and later the Bandit. Unfortunately, they were scarcer than hens' teeth here last spring/summer. I think that had they been available, I likely would have saved some money by not buying the 'strom and later trading it for the Bandit.
Must add that one of the guys on the tour was on a SV650S and he had no trouble keeping up to the Bandit or the Honda CBF1000.

[Zerosum]

I'd suggest something more 'intermediate' than a Bandit 1250.  IMO, the B1250 is a '3rd bike', not a '2nd bike.'

I test rode one back in July.  It's comfortable and easy to ride, provided that you know how to handle a high-HP bike.  It will happily power-wheelie in every gear if you ask it too.  Which is a hoot -- if you know what you're doing.  Its reputation as a torque-monster is well-deserved.  It comes on at a really low RPM and the power just keeps coming.  Shifting feels like it's optional.  

My concern in your case is that on a little twin like the GS500, you can whack open the throttle all you want and nothing really bad will happen.  The front wheel stays planted, the rear wheel maintains traction, the bike goes VRROOOM and all is well.    But when you step up to a more powerful bike, you need to re-train your right hand.  Once you get up around 80 or 90 HP, you can pretty much break the rear wheel loose from the pavement at will.  Do that at a corner exit and you're looking at a lowside or worse, a highside.  

There's an ocean of difference between the GS500 and the Bandit 1250 - more than enough room for a 'middle' bike, IMO.

[Mr.Black]

I ride a 1250. It will do what you ask it to do. If you dont want it to kill you, dont ask it to.

[Zerosum]

I ride a 1250. It will do what you ask it to do. If you dont want it to kill you, dont ask it to.

   By that rationalle, he should go ahead and get a Hyabusa or a B-King.  "Just respect it."  

[chornbe]

   By that rationalle, he should go ahead and get a Hyabusa or a B-King.  "Just respect it."  

I generally recommend lower-power bikes for newer riders, but sure... it's very possible. I know lots of folks who have managed to not die on powerful bikes. It's 100% in the rational and mature rider's hands to die or not on these machines.

There's the rub... how many of us are rational and mature?

[MadMax96]

The B1250 isn't twitchy like a rev happy supersport.  As long as you aren't buying the bike because "I want to be able to pull wheelies real easy!" than I think you'll be fine.

FWIW I went from a '93 VX800 to my '99 B1200.  It was a huge change - the clutch had such a heavier pull and it had a ton of power down low even though the VX was considered a torquey bike.  It did help that I purchased it new so I kept my eye on the tach to make sure I kept the revs limited during break-in.  This allowed me to get used to it before I really opened it up.

Insurance is $30/mo cheaper on the B1250?  Might want to shop around and find an insurance co that goes by cc size.  Granted - if both bikes simply fall over at 0mph I bet the 650 with the full fairing would cost much more to fix and that could have to do with it also.

[vulcanbill]

It will happily power-wheelie in every gear if you ask it too.

Statements like these, if not taken with a knowing grain of salt, could possibly scare someone out of seriously considering a good bike.  To the OP, the above is intended as sarcastic exaggeration only (I hope it was intended that way) so please don't think you're getting into a bike that will try to throw you off the back as you're going down the road.  Like anything, it's what you make of it and if you're not smart, it can bite you but then so can a nighthawk 250.  I believe the Bandit 1250 will power wheelie in 1st gear, and under the right circumstances possibly second gear.  After that, it's just a powerful bike, not a bucking bronco.  

If you have several to many thousand miles on a 500 and you have the physical ability to handle a 1250 comfortably (30+ inch inseam and average body strength) I say it's all about the brain.  You won't need to upgrade.

[Zerosum]

Statements like these, if not taken with a knowing grain of salt, could possibly scare someone out of seriously considering a good bike.

Good!  That was kinda what I was intending to do!.  I just don't think that stepping up from a GS500 to a Bandit 1250 is smart idea.  He should get a 650 and continue the learning curve.  There'll still be Bandit 1250s out there for him to buy in a few years.  They aren't going anywhere.

There's the rub... how many of us are rational and mature?

I sure-as-shit was not when I was shopping for my second bike.  (Which was a 45hp Hawk GT, BTW)  I barely am NOW.  In my experience, the second bike is the one you get into the most trouble on, not the first.  That's how it shook out for me, at least.

[JamieK]

Statements like these, if not taken with a knowing grain of salt, could possibly scare someone out of seriously considering a good bike.  To the OP, the above is intended as sarcastic exaggeration only (I hope it was intended that way) so please don't think you're getting into a bike that will try to throw you off the back as you're going down the road.  Like anything, it's what you make of it and if you're not smart, it can bite you but then so can a nighthawk 250.  I believe the Bandit 1250 will power wheelie in 1st gear, and under the right circumstances possibly second gear.  After that, it's just a powerful bike, not a bucking bronco. 

If you have several to many thousand miles on a 500 and you have the physical ability to handle a 1250 comfortably (30+ inch inseam and average body strength) I say it's all about the brain.  You won't need to upgrade.

Only once has my front end come up unintentionally...that was a full throttle launch from 4KRPM...but it was also on a track during an advanced rider course. The drill was to launch the bike at full throttle and take it to the rev limiter so that we knew what it felt like (both the launch and hitting the rev limiter). Vulcanbill is absolutely right, it will power wheelie in 1st, and second if you hit it just right. The power is linear and very controllable. It is one of few big bore bikes that a novice could ride with confidence as 'accidentally' whacking it wide open is not going to result in seeing nothing but sky just before the back of your helmet hits the ground.  Make no mistake though, a Bandit will get you into triple digits surprisingly quickly.

[MadMax96]

.  Make no mistake though, a Bandit will get you into triple digits surprisingly quickly.

Shhhh!  Insurance companies might catch on and up my rates!!!  I just like how most sportbike guys (Gixxer, CBR, ZX-R, etc) have never heard of the bike.  "Bandit?  who makes that?"  

Catching them off guard is the best.  

[chornbe]

Catching them off guard is the best.  

I don't understand what you're talking about. I thought you needed ergos that put your wrists on the front axle, and a 200lb machine (maximum) in order to ride in anything approaching a spirited fashion...? You confuse me.    

[Mr.Black]

To the OP.

The Bandit is a comfortable upright standard, needing very little added on to it right out of the box. There is plenty of power available to you when needed. It doesn't matter what you get, you will still have the option of riding like an idiot if you so choose.

With the 1250, you will have plenty of machine to "grow into".

I have just under 12,000 miles on mine, have never brought the front wheel up, pass when I need to and can pull myself out of hairy situations caused by others on the road. That is the benefit of having the power available. Unlike other bikes jokingly mentioned, it isn't difficult control like a "true?" sport bike.

I'm well into middle aged with a very juvenile attitude I seem to do well with mine.

[GooseMan]

I dont think going up to the B1250 will be a huge problem for you. If you have a few years experience on the 500, then you should already have some good throttle/bike control at this point.

My first bike was a bandit 400 actually, pretty similar in size/hp to your GS500. My second bike was a ZZR600 (aka the 00-02 ZX6R), which basically had DOUBLE the HP of the Bandit. The ZZR was pretty much a real sports bike, high-revving twitchy thing, had gobs of power (well, in the upper rev-range), but I got used to it in a few weeks or so. Just gotta be used to the fact that when you want to go fast, you WILL go fast, and quickly!  

My current bike is a Triumph Sprint 1050, which again is a step up from the ZZR..about 30 more hp, but 150lbs more weight, which takes some getting used to.

I think the physical size is also one of the bigger hurdles

[Big Bo]

Get the 1250. I had about 20 min bike time before I took the MSF course. Bought a 1984-86  Yam 650 that was tired. Put 500 miles on it. Bought a 1200s Bandit. Never looked back. Don`t get stupid with a new 600cc sport bike and it won`t bite you either. Get the 1250, don`t look back.

 

[kitesurfer]

go with the bandit.  but a 1250 will cost you a bit more than a 1200.  lot's of 1200's out thre for sale.  $2500 for a 1200 or $6k for a 1250.  

[joker21]

$6K?  I bought my '07 bandit with 6500 miles on it at the end of the season last year for $4500.  I guess I was just lucky  .

Anyway, the Bandit was technically my 3rd bike, I put about 200 miles on a 250 virago, about 1000 on a yamaha V-Star 650 (didn't like that bike, but it is a highly recommended starter bike), sold it for my 1250S Bandit.  I was actually shopping for a V-strom 650 or SV650 (not one to be found for 200 miles at the time) when I saw the Bandit pop up on craigslist.  I almost didn't even look at it because I was afraid it would be too much power.  But instead of blindly listening to the forum dwellers(no offence intended), I decided to test ride it and make my own decision.  I was very suprised at how docile the bike was.  About the same weight as the V* but more managable at parking lot speed.  More stable on the highway.  Power delivery was smooth and predictable.  I had to buy it.  

So far (about 750 miles) I have found it to be easier to handle than the V* at any speed and I have never even come close to a power wheelie.  

I am not making any recommendation one way or the other as I am a fairly inexperianced rider.  Just thought I'd share my experiance as a newbe with a Bandit.

[kemp]

If it's any help to the OP, I moved from a Ninja 250 to a Bandit 1200s . . .

It had a lot more power than the Ninjette, but it is very linear and controllable as stated by others. For me, the biggest adjustment was the difference in weight. It's not the heaviest bike around, but it was a big difference from the 250 and it did take a while to adjust to it. But, I did respect the power (still do) and have managed to keep out of trouble by doing so. I can't imagine what riders with 50-85 more horsepower have to contend with.

And, I've never wheelied it. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough.

[kitesurfer]

joker21, you got a good deal!  but not as good a dal as mine    but check the adds, most 1250's are listing at $6500.  but they never list the SOLD price.   coming off a smalller bike like a 600 can be a learning curve.  you have to twist the throttle to make it go.  thist the throttle on a bandit the same way and you'll see the stars.   it don't take but a few time of letting out the clutch to figure it all out.  the weight is definitely the issue.  not bad, just different.

[marc11]

 the Bandit was technically my 3rd bike, I put about 200 miles on a 250 virago, about 1000 on a yamaha V-Star 650 (didn't like that bike, but it is a highly recommended starter bike), sold it for my 1250S Bandit.  

And yet your profile says you have a Vulcan 500