Bandit 1250 GT Mini-review

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by Ben, Sep 29, 2009.

  1. Ben

    Ben Guest

    So I picked up my new Bandit on Saturday.

    I'd thought I was just getting the bike with no GT kit until the first
    service, as I was told that Suzuki will only supply the kit on a sold
    bike and they were taking a while. Anyway, turned up there and the
    Suzuki rep had come in the day before with all the bits so I had a
    fully kitted up bike sat in the showroom waiting for me.

    I've put a full-on touring/winter spec on it, touring Scotoiler,
    V-strom handguards, Oxford Hotgrips, hugger, fender-extender, and a
    double bubble screen. Couple this with the GT kit which provides
    Suzuki-badged Givi V46 topbox, E35 panniers, and full fairing lowers
    and I'm ready to cross continents. Or at least go to Worcester every
    day. Bargain for £6800 on the road brand new.

    Riding it feels a bit odd to me, but all I've ever ridden for the last
    14 years has been sportsbikes, a sit-up-and-beg feels a bit alien.
    Comfy though, although I might need an even taller screen. Will use
    it for a bit and then decide. Amazingly, even the mirrors work. Mind
    you I keep getting glimpses of the topbox in the edge of the mirror
    and it feels like someone it tailgating me.

    As to how it rides, well, it just kind of glides along. The engine
    and gearbox are very smooth, FI is very good. You just stick it in
    6th and ride the torque everywhere. Handles well for a big beast and
    so far the tyres are ok, but I've not used them in the wet yet.
    Brakes very good, as good as the GSXR in fact, plus ABS. It seems
    from reviews that they'll wear out in about 2500 miles, so I think a
    set of BT021s will be going on then.

    Two interesting things also came out of the collection: Suzuki are
    now instructing their dealers to charge labour for the first service.
    So that'll be £150 rather than £40. And they're also getting hotter
    on battery warranty. To the extent the my dealer is fitting Optimate
    leads to every bike he sells to encourage people to leave their bikes
    on trickle chargers. Apparently pretty much any new Suzuki bike needs
    to do about 30 miles from started simply to recharge the battery to
    the state it was in before the bike was started. People using them
    for short journeys weren't charging the battery properly and then
    wanting warranty replacements. Wouldn't really affect me as I can't
    imagine putting the bike away with less than 30 miles on it.

    All in all, I'm pleased the with bike. It's funny, having a bike
    kitted like that makes you feel like you should just pack it up and
    disappear somewhere far away every weekend.
     
    Ben, Sep 29, 2009
    #1
    1. Advertisements

  2. I don't care how good the brakes are if they're toast in 2500 miles!
     
    Doesnotcompute, Sep 29, 2009
    #2
    1. Advertisements

  3. Ben

    Ben Guest

    Only a crap mobile phone one at the moment. It's the same as this
    anyway...

    http://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/uploads/bandit_1250gt.1.jpg
    heh, bad editing, that should have gone in the sentence after the one
    about tyres.
     
    Ben, Sep 29, 2009
    #3
  4. Ben

    B650 Guest

    I quite fancy one, but have been put off by the fact that my Bandit
    650 has been a bit shit and unreliable. As others have pointed out, I
    think I got a friday afternoon one, but it still makes me consider a
    change
    I assume you mean the tyres will wear out after 2500 miles? Don't
    know what effect the extra power & weight will have, but I got nearly
    10,000 miles of motorway on whatever bridgestones my 650 wears
    (BT020?)

    I find the ABS cuts in too early, especially at low speed, but it
    stopped me from running into the back of an 09 plate Honda tourer this
    morning (I stopped so close, I thought I'd actually hit him, until he
    rode away oblivious...)
    My 650 battery has caused no end of grief, even when it was mainly
    being used for long runs, but that might be down to the Datatool
    System 3 it came with. Seems to have got a bit better once I replaced
    it after it completely died over the winter a couple of years back,
    maybe the OEM battery was duff.
     
    B650, Sep 29, 2009
    #4
  5. Ben

    zymurgy Guest

    Sounds like a big chunk of change for what used to be Suzuki's budget
    end of the range ?
    I can't recommend the MRA Vario highly enough. (If they're available
    yet for this model ..)

    Cheers,

    Paul.
     
    zymurgy, Sep 29, 2009
    #5
  6. Ben

    Ben Guest

    I've had a lot of Suzuki's and for the most part they've been fine.
    Certainly no warranty related work.

    My Kawasaki on the other hand was shit.
    Yeah, the tyres. I'll see how they go, but given I've got 5000 miles
    out of a rear BT015 on a GSXR1000 without hanging around too much, I
    expect to get decent mileage out of the Bandit's tyres.
    I managed to get the rear ABS to kick in on some gravel this morning.
    I'll have a play over the weekend to find out when the front kicks in.
    I haven't got an alarm on mine, because I hate them with a passion,
    and one would take about 3 years to pay for itself with reduced
    premiums. Obviously, I've got the heated grips, but they're wiring
    into am ignition switched circuit so there's no chance of leaving them
    on.
     
    Ben, Sep 29, 2009
    #6
  7. Ben

    Ben Guest

    The base faired model is 6400 on the road. The luggage and fairings
    are worth about a grand. The other odds and sods, maybe 300 quid.

    Even the base naked bike is about 5900 on the road.
    They are, and I've seen them recommended for it. I'll see how I get
    on with the db screen first before spending more money.
     
    Ben, Sep 29, 2009
    #7
  8. Ben

    SD Guest

    Ooh, ta. <more expense>
     
    SD, Sep 29, 2009
    #8
  9. Ben

    Krusty Guest

    Counter point - the Vario doesn't work too well for me on the Tiger.
    It's /slightly/ better than stock, but nothing like the improvement I
    got with the old non-Vario MRA on the old Tiger.
     
    Krusty, Sep 29, 2009
    #9
  10. Ben

    zymurgy Guest

    Your counter point is worth naught old man ;)

    Both the short and tall OEM screens on the later Tigers are wank.
    They're flimsy worthless pieces of shit.

    The vario is stiffer, doesn't flap about in the breeze, and if you
    adjust the flip right it's perfect for me. No buffeting, keeps rain
    off, etc ..

    YMH(obviously)V

    Cheers,

    Paul.
     
    zymurgy, Sep 29, 2009
    #10
  11. Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Beelzebub
    Oh.

    <crest falls>
     
    Wicked Uncle Nigel, Sep 29, 2009
    #11
  12. Ben

    zymurgy Guest

    Ya, thanks.

    That one, the fork leg i've just done a deal on and the UR'd wheel
    from Eddie, and the plan comes together nicely ..

    Not that anything'll happen from here on in once I have the bits of
    course :)

    Paul.
     
    zymurgy, Sep 29, 2009
    #12
  13. Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, zymurgy
    HOW BIG ARE THE FUCKING HOLES IN THESE FUCKING DOGBONES, YOU USELESS
    ****?

    (Sorry, the subtle approach seems to have failed).
     
    Wicked Uncle Nigel, Sep 29, 2009
    #13
  14. Ben

    Lozzo Guest

    I have one on my Versys and compared to the orignal it's a revelation.
     
    Lozzo, Sep 30, 2009
    #14
  15. Ben

    zymurgy Guest

    Hey. I seem to have a meesage coming through. It's faint though :)

    Well, consensus says 12mm, I did send an email and said drill 'em 8 or
    10mm, I can always open them out a bit if needs be.

    Cheers,

    Paul.
     
    zymurgy, Sep 30, 2009
    #15
  16. Ben

    Ben Guest

    I'm thinking I might put some lower bars on it as well. I could do
    with being tilted forward just a little to take some pressure off my
    coccyx. Dropping the bars about an inch should do it.
     
    Ben, Sep 30, 2009
    #16
  17. Ben

    Hog Guest

    Garage!

    Try HOUSE
     
    Hog, Sep 30, 2009
    #17
  18. Ben

    Hog Guest

    And so it begins!

    I like that feeling of wanting to ride somewhere far far away that you
    discovered though. Amazing VFM they seem to me.

    Tyres for a bike like that? I think you know the answer by now, I'm not
    going to repeat it!
     
    Hog, Sep 30, 2009
    #18
  19. Ben

    platypus Guest

    I'm currently fallow, but I had to move house to achieve it.
     
    platypus, Sep 30, 2009
    #19
  20. Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, zymurgy
    10mm it shall be.
     
    Wicked Uncle Nigel, Sep 30, 2009
    #20
    1. Advertisements

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.