Wife no longer wants to be a passenger

[SilverHound]

My wife recently decided that she wanted to get her M/C license. She said it's her reward to herself for quitting drinking for 2 years, quitting smoking for 2 months and losing about 30 lbs. So after acing her written test and signing up for the MSF Basic Rider course (that was my stipulation) we looked around and ended up buying her a 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600S as her starter bike in her favorite color (and color played a major role in her decision).

At 6' with about a 36" inseam she needed something with a little height but not a lot of weight. We officially pick the bike up tomorrow but here she is at the dealer on her new ride. She looks pretty happy and I couldn't be prouder. Already have ordered some frame sliders, a new lid for her, boots and of course the service manual. Bike is in great shape, 1 owner and about 5600 miles on the ODO and new rubber front and back.

Anyone with any Bandit experience or knowledge please speak up. I have noticed that online info on the 600S model is pretty sparse.

[lj516]

She will love it! I am about 99% sure that the 600S is identical to the 1200S with the exception to the motor of course. I would set it up with a jet kit from Ivan's performance products along with a nice pipe. The projector headlights are notorious for building up a black dust that coats the lens and reflector bowl. I would throw an HID kit in it right away and properly aim the projectors. That was my biggest complaint about my b12. I ended up taking out the stock projectors and doing a custom retrofit of FX-R bi-xenon projectors, but that's just because I love to ride at night but am paranoid of stupid critters. But to be honest I am rarely content with any stock headlight setup. Oh and drop in a busa/gsxr shock, helps massively with ride quality and is super cheap and super easy to do.

[SilverHound]

  Thanks for the tips. Picked up the bike yesterday and was both pleased and surprised by how smooth the engine runs and the power it had on the highway for a 600CC. Sliders are now installed along with some grip puppies. Took me about an hour to get the original warning stickers off the tank and fairing. PO had made an attempt so they were all buggered up and looked crappy.

Have to remember to teach her about the choke and fuel petcock as I am spoiled by having a FI bike. In fact I left the choke on after starting off and was perplexed for a minute when it stalled at the first traffic light.

[Roadscum]

Great news to hear that you wife has made those very positive changes to her lfe. Not only does she deserve to be treated to a bike but she deserves a special hug from you!!!  

Tell her I said so!!!!!  

Regards, Paul

[MerlotMax]

That's awesome! Sounds like she has made some very positive changes in her life and what better reason to treat herself.  Best wishes for many wonderful years of riding together.

My girlfriend and I picked up a 1200S in Feb. It has been great bike so far. With her expressing an internist in getting her license, the 600S is a bike to consider.

[Nolan]

I had a Bandit 1200 previously for about 5 years, i loved it. I had Givi e21 sidebags on there and would just bungee a large bag across the passenger seat when i needed more storage. I also had a Yosh pipe and a Holeshot stage 1 jet kit installed. The Yosh pipe was quite loud with out the silencer installed. I would have to try to be as quiet as possible when starting it in the morning leaving for work.

I recommend checking out this forum:
http://www.maximum-suzuki.com/
They have some great info there about the bandits.

Congrats on the purchase...makes me miss mine

Nolan

[UHOH]

 I would set it up with a jet kit from Ivan's performance products along with ...

man, not me.  Keep it stock for wife: reliabilty.  
Let her want more in 3 yrs for next bike...


Gripe: why did moderator Orson move this from beginner to Suzuki subforum?  
The story is about wife passenger getting her own beginner bike.  
Would have most use for others in 'beginners'

[Carbonero]

man, not me.  Keep it stock for wife: reliabilty.  
Let her want more in 3 yrs for next bike...

Normally, I'd be right there with you on stock=reliable, but these bikes have awful fueling (stock), which results in major flat spots in acceleration, and it can be frustrating having such a non-linear throttle.

The jet kit will only make it better, smoother, and less likely to stumble out of the gate, and will eliminate the mid-rev surging.