Suzuki Bandit 600 or 1200???

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Highboost · Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:36 am

Ok, so first off My name is Nick and I am 18 years old. So I am finally going to get my motorcycle license since my parents wouldn't cosign before hand. Anyways. I was thinking about gettign a Suzuki Bandit. I want a good beginners bike that will also give me room to grow later so I was thinking of the 1200 but do you think this will be to much for me and should I go with the 600 instead? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank You.

VermilionX · Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:48 am

yeah, go w/ the 600.

it's got 77bhp... a little more than the SV650, a gray area beginner bike.

plus, you'll have cheaper insurance rates.

Inquizator · Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:51 pm

Hi, I'm 19 and I have a 2002 Suzuki Bandit 600S. I believe it's a manageable beginners bike, I still keep it low in the revs till I get more used to it and have put over 1000 miles on it in about a month without any problems. Haven't had it try to loop on me or anything like that, which seems to be a worry with newbs on powerful sport bikes. I'd say deffinitely get the 600 if you're new, and I can't see outgrowing it very fast... It seems to have plenty of power, and I'm still keeping it low in the revs! So when I am ready to move up to more power, all I gotta do is rev it up a little more... Only problem I have is that I'm about 5'9" and can't quite flatfoot it when stopped, which caused me to tip over at a stop sign once when the road sloped and I wasn't ready for it.

Overall though, I'd say you'll need to be smart about it as it probably is (as Verm mentioned) at the top end of acceptable beginner bikes, but you'll like it a lot and it will be fun.

VermilionX · Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:03 pm

keep in mind too that the bandit is heavy a bike. 450lbs dry.

J.R. Bob Dobbs · Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:09 pm

18+1200=RIP

VermilionX · Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:17 pm

J.R. Bob Dobbs wrote:18+1200=RIP

even a bandit 1200 has less bhp than a 600 RR bike. there are far worse choices for a beginner bike out there than a bandit 1200.

not saying the bandit 1200 is good for beginners but around here, many people start on a 600 RR bike and not all of them are squids, i met a few that quite responsible riders.

i just don't like it when people try to scare others by saying... "OMG you started on a high power bike, you will die!"

kabob983 · #7 Unread post by **kabob983** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:26 pm

For a beginner's bike (if I were you) I'd take a look at the Suzuki SV650 over the Bandit. The V-Twin isn't so jumpy with the powerband and is about 75 lbs lighter. Over both of those bike though I'd suggest the big 3 that we normall recommend for beginners (myself included): Kawaaki EX250, Kawasaki EX500, and the Suzuki GS500.

Mintbread · #8 Unread post by **Mintbread** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:20 pm

VermilionX wrote:yeah, go w/ the 600.

it's got 77bhp... a little more than the SV650, a gray area beginner bike.

You started on a litre bike, crashed it and it got pinched. You then had the perfect opportunity to buy a sensible bike after a lot of input from experienced riders and still chose a GSX-R750. Now you have the audacity to recommend smaller bikes to others.
I suggest you pull your head in because you have no idea about anything.

VermilionX · Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:33 pm

Mintbread wrote: You started on a litre bike, crashed it and it got pinched. You then had the perfect opportunity to buy a sensible bike after a lot of input from experienced riders and still chose a GSX-R750. Now you have the audacity to recommend smaller bikes to others.
I suggest you pull your head in because you have no idea about anything.

oh here we go again...

i crashed it bec i rode above my skill level. i pushed my limits too far. you can ride above your skill level on any bike.

don't make it sound like i crashed bec i accidentally gun'ed the throttle.

and don't make it sound like i lost the bike bec of the crash...my crash only did some cosmetic damage, i fixed it. it wasn't a super wipeout.

i lost it when it was stolen.

and regarding recommending beginner bikes, i've already said it a million times here... eventhough i started on a RR literbike, i don't recommend starting on any RR bike to anyone. i agree, it's better to start small.

you may not see me try to go all out and stop people from getting RR bikes, but i have never recommended it.

like i always say... you can learn on any bike. it just depends on how much you are willing to risk.

Mintbread · Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:36 pm

Mintbread wrote: I suggest you pull your head in because you have no idea about anything.