Bandit 1250… am I losing it?

[Tribal Chestnut]

Fancy replacing the MT10 with something that has a little more range, is less attractive to scrotes and for which winter rot is less of a concern, so thought maybe a Tracer, maybe an old 990 SMT or maybe, just maybe, a GSF1250.

Can someone talk me out of it?

I’ve got a 750 for trying to go fast and have only taken the MT10 on one ‘fun’ ride this year. It really is wasted, even more so given that it now stops, goes and sounds as god intended.

[ChocolateFrog]

Are they much better than older Bandit's?

Mine suffered badly in year round riding.

[Kuwahara]

Surely Suzuki and year round riding are incompatible when it comes to finish,there was thin paint then there was Suzuki paint…

[Jakey123]

Wouldn't worry about finish.

Bit of ACF and XCP and it'll be fine.

I think they'd be a nice bike, Just not that fashionable!

I had an MT10, sold it and got a 950SM (not a KTM fan and that went again quick) now got a CB500 for a winter commuter hack!

[Tribal Chestnut]

Jakey123 said:

Wouldn't worry about finish.

Bit of ACF and XCP and it'll be fine.

I think they'd be a nice bike, Just not that fashionable!

I had an MT10, sold it and got a 950SM (not a KTM fan and that went again quick) now got a CB500 for a winter commuter hack!

Exactly what the plan would be - I want a bike that I’m happy to get grotty, it’ll be ACF’d, but I won’t be crying at furry fasteners, banjos, etc.

I had a 950SM, so a 990 wouldn’t be a major step into the unknown.

[KTMsm]

Tribal Chestnut said:

Exactly what the plan would be - I want a bike that I’m happy to get grotty, it’ll be ACF’d, but I won’t be crying at furry fasteners, banjos, etc.

I had a 950SM, so a 990 wouldn’t be a major step into the unknown.

990 SMT rides 99% the same as the 950 SM - so if you liked that, you'll hate a Bandit

[jjones]

I commuted a gsxf1250fa through winter. It didn't take it too well, the front of the frame was covered in rust (and it had been covered in acf50).

For the price they are a decent machine thought.

[Biker9090]

What are you smoking?

You want an old suzuki because you think it'll shrug off the winter?

[Tribal Chestnut]

Biker9090 said:

What are you smoking?

You want an old suzuki because you think it'll shrug off the winter?

Nope - more a case of not being too precious about it NOT shrugging off a winter. Slather it in ACF50 and let the salt do its worst. Clean it in spring and admire the patina…

The MT is in pretty good condition and is rather sorted, so there’s also the appeal of a bit of tinkering in trying to polish a bit of a turd.

[Tribal Chestnut]

KTMsm said:

990 SMT rides 99% the same as the 950 SM - so if you liked that, you'll hate a Bandit

I had to take a friends XJ6, complete with square tyres, around Brands this year and enjoyed that, so I’m sure I’d be able to find enough positives in the Bandit riding experience.

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

You might be better off getting an equivalent Honda. Are you effected by ulez expansion?

[sixor8]

A biased opinion here, I've had 4 Suzuki Bandits, the only brand new bike I ever had was a 1999 1200. The 1250 being fuel injected is a much better all-round thing and I don't like the faired versions. They were cheap for a reason, a steel cradle frame. If you commute on one on a wet and potentially salty road you'll need to wash it every day but your answer above shows you're aware of this.

I only use my current 1250 on dry days. I'm over 6ft tall and a lot of bikes are too uncomfortable, but not the Bandit 1250. I've seen them for sale with big mileages so that's not an issue.

[Steve_H80]

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

You might be better off getting an equivalent Honda.

That would be a Honda CBF1000.... they rust too

[Rubin215]

Steve_H80 said:

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

You might be better off getting an equivalent Honda.

That would be a Honda CBF1000.... they rust too

Both are fantastic value for money.

The Bandit probably has more oomph about it but does rot significantly faster than the Honda.

Good thing about the Bandit is that there are many more used spare parts available for it so it is easier to get back into nice condition if you have an 'oops' at any stage.

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

Aprilia Falco sl1000 are good value.

[tdm34]

Honda CB1300F is worth a look, I did nearly 40,000 miles on mine all year round over four years, it got covered in ACF50 in the autumn every year and then in the spring it got a proper cleaning, apart from the fork bottoms taking a battering it held up near perfectly, and they do ride well.

[fred bloggs]

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

Aprilia Falco sl1000 are good value.

LOL. Italian bikes don't even start in winter.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Rubin215 said:

Both are fantastic value for money.

The Bandit probably has more oomph about it but does rot significantly faster than the Honda.

Good thing about the Bandit is that there are many more used spare parts available for it so it is easier to get back into nice condition if you have an 'oops' at any stage.

CBF1000 is quite thirsty as well - I've no clue about Bandits but I did own a CBF.

[FNG]

fred bloggs said:

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

Aprilia Falco sl1000 are good value.

LOL. Italian bikes don't even start in winter.

My Aprilia does.

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

FNG said:

fred bloggs said:

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

Aprilia Falco sl1000 are good value.

LOL. Italian bikes don't even start in winter.

My Aprilia does.

Mine does too, it's as though Italy has some cold bits.