Thinking of getting a new bike.

[GazandKatie]

...new bike.

I have been looking at the Bandit 1250SA and the Yamaha FZ1 (seen a nice one on a 57 plate).

Does anyone have any experience of either? Good and bad comments please.

I want something that can perform, wont cost the earth to insure and that we can comfortably tour on.

[zsv650]

bandit's are great but made of cheese by spaniard's better going for a nicer early 1200.

[Learningcurve]

Ive had two Bandits, a 600 and a 1200. Very heavy bike at slow speeds, feels very top heavy. Not the easiest bike when you have a pillion on board. Engines are sweet though. 1200 has enough pull for everyday use.

Tis true though about the build quality (or lack of it). Most bolts on the bike can only be undone once! Prone to rusting around the swingarm and rear subframe too. Front and rear suspension is very soft and springy as standard too.

Big benefit of the bikes, is that they are cheap. Plenty of "bang per buck". If your after a bike to keep for a few years though, I would spend your money elsewhere.

[GazandKatie]

Cheers for the replies guys.

We took one for a test ride today. I took Katie too as the idea is to tour two up. I have to say I was very impressed. Yes it was heavier than the SV but I expected that and soon adapted to it.

Performance wise it had bags of torque pulled like a steam train in all gears from about 2K revs and was very smooth. I actually felt alot more confident on the Bandit than the SV and my riding was much smoother too.

Comfort was good the riding position is much more relaxed, I got cramp in my hips and ankles as soon as I got back on the SV!

I think I would probably look at replacing all the bolts with Stainless over time anyway so not too worried about those and the Fazer is reported to corrode like hell too.

[zsv650]

awesome just ss bolt the lot and acf it to hell and your on to a winner bandit 12's are torque monster's anyway not gear fussy at all.