Beginner Bike: 1992 Suzuki Bandit 400 GSF

[BaoQingTian]

Hi, I just finished my MSF last weekend. I did great on the test, but have no motorcycle experience. I was wondering if this is a suitable beginner bike. Mileage is 21000. Is $1700 a fair price? And does anyone know if it gets decent gas mileage. I'd really like a ninja 250 or 500 or suzuki gs500, but so far no luck.

[kabob983]

I'm in the exact same boat that you are. Can't find a GS or EX, and a '91 Bandit 400 is available. But that's a lil' high.

The one I'm probably gonna buy has about 2800 miles on it and is in mint condition and he's asking $1600 (which is still a lil' high but I might go ahead and get it). $1700 for a bike with more than 7x the mileage...neg. Try and talk him down to $1300 or so.

[BaoQingTian]

My concern is really the ridability. Will I have to rev high to get any power and when I do so will it tend to get away from me? Are the brakes super touchy? It's a 4 cylinder machine, and I just don't want to get a bike that I have to walk on eggshells with for months until I get my skill level up.

[Heimdall Einherjar]

400cc is easy.

You should have no troubles with it.

[flynrider]

The little Bandit will work as a beginner bike. It does have a lot more power than the average 400cc bike, but most of it is located up in the high end of the rpm range. As a beginner, you're probably not going to be revving it up to 10K plus, so I wouldn't worry about it. In the lower rpm range it has plenty of power to do what you need to do. The beauty of this bike is that as you get more experienced, you'll have more power on tap. It's very versatile.

If I had to pick a bike under 500cc to ride, it would definitely be the Bandit 400. Much better than average suspension and brakes, with a zippy little engine.

$1700 seems to be a little steep for a 14 year old 400. I'd try to talk 'em down at least a few hundred.

[kabob983]

$1700 seems to be a little steep for a 14 year old 400. I'd try to talk 'em down at least a few hundred.

What about a 14 year old Bandit 400 in mint condition with only 2800 miles on it? I think it also has a new can. Is $1600 a bad price or should I just pass it by? Seems like such a nice lil' bike...

[flynrider]

Well, I didn't say it was out of the question Ultimately, bikes are worth what a buyer is willing to pay. My point was that you're not going to find many 14 yr old bikes in the 400 cc class that someone will pay $1700 for.

One of the reasons is that old bikes have age related issues and problems that come from having been parked in a garage for years without starting. 2800 miles on a 14 yr. old bike is not a good thing in my book. I'd feel better about one with 28,000 miles.

Unless, someone has gone through the whole bike and replaced all of the various rubber parts that dry out from sitting, regreased all of the bearings, rebuilt the carbs, replaced the tires, etc..., I wouldn't pay a premium for it. All that stuff will need to be done and it's going to cost money.

So, if it is truly in mint condition, yes, it might be worth it. If it's in "original" condition, probably not. It may look pretty and run for a few hundred miles without problems, but eventually the items I mentioned are going to rear their ugly heads.

[V4underme]

You'll be hard pressed to find any bike with a few years on it for much under $1,400 if it has been well cared for and runs well, especially an older bike in mint condition.

[kabob983]

Well, I didn't say it was out of the question Ultimately, bikes are worth what a buyer is willing to pay. My point was that you're not going to find many 14 yr old bikes in the 400 cc class that someone will pay $1700 for.

One of the reasons is that old bikes have age related issues and problems that come from having been parked in a garage for years without starting. 2800 miles on a 14 yr. old bike is not a good thing in my book. I'd feel better about one with 28,000 miles.

Unless, someone has gone through the whole bike and replaced all of the various rubber parts that dry out from sitting, regreased all of the bearings, rebuilt the carbs, replaced the tires, etc..., I wouldn't pay a premium for it. All that stuff will need to be done and it's going to cost money.

So, if it is truly in mint condition, yes, it might be worth it. If it's in "original" condition, probably not. It may look pretty and run for a few hundred miles without problems, but eventually the items I mentioned are going to rear their ugly heads.

It just rolled out of a bud's shop, they rebuilt the carbs and replaced all the fluids, etc. The brake fluid could use a changing and the brake pads will need to be replaced sometime in the not too distant future, but everything else seems to be in great order.

[DivideOverflow]

With bike prices how they are right now, that doesn't sound too horrible if the bike is in very good shape.