'96 Suzuki Bandit 600 as a bike to learn on.....

[epikhigh]

Hello everyone!

Before I go out and put down the cash, I wanted to make sure what you seasoned riders think.
About me: 5'10", 180lbs. gonna be riding is Arizona.
and don't worry! I plan on taking the MSF course. lol.


So its a '96 Suzuki Bandit 600 with 24k on it @ $2000 obo.

I would like to know if this bike is comparable to the sv650??
Its kind of hard for me to tell if this is a reasonable price or not..
I was going to offer 1600 or so for it.

Would you guys say that I might have trouble with it due to its age and mileage? is 24k a lot for a bike?

LAst Q: if you were presented with this scenerio which way would you go.. A or B?

Bike A: '96 bandit 600 18k, $2000 - doesn't look very well maintained (cosmetically) alot of wear on fairings as well as exhaust etc...

Bike B: '96 bandit 600 24k, $2000 - very well maintained, clean engine parts, new exhaust... looks like it was garaged.


Thats it! Thanks!

[Scott58]

If those were my only choices I'd go with B. The difference in mileage doesn't make up for obuse. Having said that however your talking close to 75hp for a first bike. that's pretty beefy. If you have never riden at all before and your dead set on this type of bike all I can say is cover your clutch and back brake pretty well and take it easy. Spend alot of time practicing in a parking lot even if you do take the MSF class. The only thing that is going to build your character as a motorcyclist is experience.

[Shiv]

I second the practice in a parking lot part if you're dead set on that bike.

I plan on getting a 500 for my first bike and still planning on plenty of lot time before I hit the streets. And yes I've taken the MSF, you should to (saw that you were planning to, just re-enforcing the decision).

[2wheel]

I'd go with B also. Get an insurance quote before you buy!

[jmillheiser]

I would go for bike B.

The 600 bandit has a tad more power than the SV650, but is heavier so in reality the performance is very comparable to the SV650.

The bandit is known to be a pretty rock solid bike and has pretty comfy ergos. I am around your size and found the 600 bandit to be very comfy, even more so than the SV650.

I would consider this bike and the 600 katana to both be pretty much right along the lines of the SV650 insofar as their suitability as a first bike.

[canuckerjay]

I'd go for B. 24K being babied is nicer than 18K as an abused crotch toy

[epikhigh]

Thanks for the help boys~ I really appreciate it!

Just one last thing though, what do you think about the price... is it reasonable, or should i wait for a better deal?
The listing had the price at $2000 obo. How much do sellers normally
expect when posting their bike trader-websites?

[canuckerjay]

PRice sounds alright for a relatively late model bandit -- a very popular bike with good reason. I tested a 98 650 once. Felt very smooth and easy to control. Nice choice.

[Scott58]

I tell every new rider to cover the clutch and rear brake normally. Someone posted a video showing a first ride where the guy started out on the bike and procedes to cross the street, jump the curb, and hit a tree. That could probably happen on any bike, but if it has to happen better it be 18hp then 74hp and 300 lbs then 400+lbs. Not saying it's going to happen, but for that very first ride the less someone has to remember the better. For some new riders just the fact they are trying to balance hundreds of pounds for the first time can be a handfull. Adding horsepower to that equation can be even more intimidating. Covering the clutch to remove power from the rear wheel and concentrating on the rear brake to stop usually is a better way to go then the guy in the video. All this is normally happening at speeds around 10mph so effectiveness of the front brake really doesn't come into play unless they grab to much of it (god forbid they be on gravel or sand). Staying in a parking lot and practicing one bit at a time is more helpful then trying to get it all at once no matter what bike you decide to get. How well behaved a bike is really depends on what we compare it to. To me my S50 is pretty well behaved at 50 or so hp or whatever it is, but compared to my Rebel it's a maniac. Always remember that some of the people coming here for advice may never have thrown a leg over anything bigger then their schwinn. My advice is always free for the taking, but in the end personal choice always wins out. I'll recommend a smaller bike to new riders, but if they say they want something more substantial then the best we can do is minimize the mistakes they might make. The bottom line is, iis that they enjoy the experience and as safely as possible with whatever choice they end up making.