I picked up my Suzuki Bandit a couple weeks ago, and it’s sweeet.
Red. ABS brakes. Got me a nice tailbag since I won’t ever have passengers. Showed it off to most of my family, and my little brother is jealous with a capital J.
“I gotta get my license,” he says. Which he’s been saying for years. And will say until he’s dead.
Thing purrs like a dream, gets better fuel efficiency than any of the so-called “green” vehicles that’ll get you a massive tax rebate from Ottawa, and saves me time on my commute. Did I mention it accelerates like a rocket? Oh yeah. Not that I’ve had it above 108, 109 kph, but even then it’s motoring along at 5000 rpm, and I’ve got another 7000 before redlining.
It gives me an excuse to dress all in black leather. And they didn’t have any plain white helmets that fit, so I had to settle for a red and black number with a few skulls on the side. Heh.
Congratulations. I saw the original 600cc Bandit as Suzuki’s (improved) answer to the Yamaha XJ600 Seca II. I was a little miffed that, as the owner of a '94 Seca II, all of the motorcycle magazines that gushed over the Yamaha suddenly trashed it when the Bandit came out. Total 180. I guess we know how unbia$ed their product reviews are. But from all reports the Bandit was and is an excellent bike and value.
My Seca II was very adequate for nine years, until I just had to have more power and handling. But I still have it. No doubt you’ll be similarly pleased with your Bandit.
I loved the Seca II, but couldn’t scrape up the cash to buy a used one when I started riding.
But since I’m currently flush after my sojourn in NYC, I looked around at all the new midweights out there. The BMWs were just too damn tall for me, as were several of the Kawas; the Triumphs (especially the Scrambler) were a blast, real lookers, but still fairly pricey. And when straddled, the Bandit feels lighter than the Honda Shadows, just because of the seating position.
I’m still breaking in the engine, and today was my longest straight ride with a destination in mind – to the inlaws, then to work. Logged about 100km all told.
Tomorrow: wash and wax day! (And pop that pesky indicator back into the fairing. How the heck did that get shaken out?)
Are you in BC by any chance? I’m guessing not, since tomorrow is wash’n’wax day and it’s raining on this side of the border. But if you are, we should have a ride sometime.
Congrats. I am heading out in 45 minutes to drop loan papers off at the bank to get my first. I am getting something really lightweight for a firsttimer. Like a Lifan 250 or small Honda.
Like you, there were no plain white helmets available so I had to get a sweet black, silver and grey patterned with celtic knots.
Generally, the Chinese and Korean bikes are not up to par with Japanese, US and European bikes. They’re less expensive and it shows. (Hyosung has a long list of problems…)
By the way, I strongly recommend your first bike be used. I learned to ride on a Virago 250, moved up to an ancient Suzuki GS 750L, and my Bandit is my first “new from the dealer” bike.
I dunno, my first bike (purchases last year) was a brand new Suzuki 250, and it served me well. I guess it depends on how comfortable you are; ideally, you shouldn’t be dropping bikes in the first place.
I found that my bike wasn’t much more expensive than the used alternatives, and when I sold it just a few weeks ago (so I can upgrade0, I almost made back the entire value.
My first street bike was a KLR650. Being of a small stature, I went through several clutch levers prior to longer dogbones and a custom saddle. Hubby teased that my lever habit was going to put us in the poor house.
If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with the used route as well. I always felt so bad about hurting my shiny new baby! Of course, I develop emotional relationships with my vehicles, so take that as you will. Some people don’t feel pain when they drop their bikes.
