View Full Version : Suzuki - Free insurance on new Bandits and SV650
neilhatch
11-12-06, 11:05 AM
Hey all.....
Looking through Dec' Ride magazine there is an advert for Free insurance (and top box) on the Bandit (650), looking on the their web site the free insurance also includes the SV (no top box).
I'm possibly looking to me doing a lot more motorway travelling and hadn't considered the bandit. But with this offer (including the top box) it may come into strong contention when I shop in the the SV.
Any open opinions held here? Bandit a good option for motorway 70miles round trip five days a week or sholuld I be thinking a little further afield.?
As always, many thanks.....
Neil
I commute 100mile/day round trip, mostly under motorway conditions at this time of year. The SV does me perfectly.
If it's a choice between the two, I'd be looking at fuel usage & your riding style. Do you prefer a low down torque vtwin, or a high rev screaming IL4?
With your sort of milage (and mine), services come around very quickly, and tyres not that far behind. Something to think about perhaps.
Whichever you get, you'll be glad of even a bikini fairing!
HTH
EDIT: Thank **** that suzuki have some sense, and don't offer the SV with a top-box though!
Personally I love them both but remember that if you are after a half-faired bike the SV has clip-ons whereas the Bandit has bars, combining that with the fact it is physically bigger the Bandit is a much more comfortable commute (doesn't sound or look as good though).
instigator
11-12-06, 11:50 AM
I'd choose the bandit. They use locknut adjusters for the valve clearances don't they so with your kind of mileage, it's good to know the valve clearances are very straight forward to do. Sv is a little bit more difficult.
Faired bandit with a high screen, thats what I would have. :)
Steve H
11-12-06, 12:39 PM
The final line of the review of the Bandit 650 in this months BIKE magazine reads
something like.
'All in all, if you had just purchased the Bandit as your first bike you would be
more than happy.............until an SV650 rode by'
That may say something, although the new 1250 Bandit looks a bit of a bargain.
neilhatch
18-12-06, 10:53 AM
okay...an update.
My new trip will be 100 round trip rather than just 70. M3 ->M25->A1(M).
My SV thoug would lap up the miles...it has no windprotection.
My options are looking like this. For the miles and the need to carry a lapto and clothes I'd rather have something with paniers or top box.
Migrate naked to faired SV - no paniers
A R1200(ST/RT) - with paniers.
Honda Deuville - with paniers
Fazer - top box.
ANy ideas?
Cheers,
Neil
Migrate naked to faired SV - no paniers - sounds good/cheap/with some gut and u can put panniers
A R1200(ST/RT) - with paniers. - nice - can you afford it though? abit more expensive than the rest
Honda Deuville - with paniers - toooooo slow man:)
Fazer - top box. - nice but depends which year you go for
neilhatch
18-12-06, 11:54 AM
Hmmmm.....
Not sure if I'd want to put paniers on an SV. Would have to be a rigid set and still look half decent.
For the BMW, could probably afford it and justify it (don't have a car), but would be second/third hand.
Honda.....M25, there is no pace.
Fazer, what year?
I'm still in the early days of looking at this, but will need it sorted by the 17th Jan. Am I missing some very obvious options here? Me thikns I need to spend some time going through my oldie Ride Mags.
Requirments.
Laps up the 100 miles a day trip.
MPG must be good
Paniers or decent top box.
Faired/or decent screen.
Lower running - Honda has the drive shaft.
:?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?
Not sure if I'd want to put paniers on an SV. Would have to be a rigid set and still look half decent. - You can get hard panniers and it'll be fine as far as i'm concerned
For the BMW, could probably afford it and justify it (don't have a car), but would be second/third hand. - yeah good if you find one with low mileage
Honda.....M25, there is no pace. - you can always find some:)
Fazer, what year? - I wouldn't go for the early models - Had one which was 1999 and gearbox was loud, turning was crap. My dad has a 05 model and is excellent. I'm sure you can pick one up easily. Not sure what mpg they do though - might b worth checking on a fazer forum. Good bikes though!
With regards to the SV top box situation, I've found two options so far whilst on my own hunt...the first is the Suzuki model which replaces the pillion seat (hope furkuk doesn't mind me using his pic!):
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.fairclough/SV650S1a.jpg
..and the second is the Givi set, here shown on an SV1000S with panniers and a top box:
http://www.givi.co.uk/downloadfree.asp?lib=Immagini&ID=2586&UT_ID=0
This top box also has a back rest, should you wish to carry a pillion; shown on a naked SV:
http://www.givi.co.uk/downloadfree.asp?lib=Immagini&ID=3164&UT_ID=0
If u don't go for another SV, how about a VFR800 VTEC? All day comfy, great wind protection from the fairings, plenty quick enough, lots of luggage options (the gf's parent shave one, tour all over France and the UK on it together), and its a lovely ride IMO...can be had for £4k easy for a good one now :D
http://www.moto-station.com/ttesimages/motodivers/nouveautes2006/Honda_VFR800_st3pz.jpg
Luckypants
18-12-06, 02:45 PM
Stuff...Givi hard luggage is ace. I wouldn't be that happy will a full set on an SV due to no center stand. The bike leans over a long way on the stand and the extra weight from those panniers carried so high up would make it wobbly on the stand IMHO. You can just fit the GIVI topbox or just the panniers, as theirs is a modular system. They do a monster top box which is 52 litres and holds two full face helmets no problem.
neilhatch
18-12-06, 04:46 PM
VFR looks like a sound option....if I can find one with paniers.
Would you say its a no no having paniers on any bike that doesn't have a center stand?
Cheers all,
Neil
As above really, panniers can make it top heavy and too heavy for a sidestand...no experience myself thou!
There's plenty of VFR's around too....and I know of a bright red one with luggage for sale if you like, he's a friend of my gf's stepdad who has the VFR!
ethariel
18-12-06, 10:28 PM
Don't forget, it may be getting a bit long in the tooth but the ST1100 eat's up miles left right and centre. Would happily hope with the commute.
Colin
You could get a 2004+ FZ6 and then get the top box and givi v35 panniers:
http://www.bykebitz.co.uk/acatalog/V3502.GIF
http://www.bykebitz.co.uk/acatalog/V35.GIF
£93 for the side rack http://www.busters-accessories.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=PLX
£269 for the panniers http://www.busters-accessories.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=V35
Jelster
20-12-06, 04:25 PM
VFR will be the best ride but the servicing can be expensive. Do you really want to buy a new bike and put all those miles on it ? I'd look for a decent snd hand bike, whichever one you chose, and see what turns up.
This time of year you'd get a good price on a used Bandit 650 (early one, not the latest one) and on an SV. If I went for a Faser it would be the last of the non FI models, they're easier to ride and have a great reputation.
If it were me, it would be a used Vtec VFR or a Faser, both can stand the British winter better than the average SV or Bandit.
.
And if you go for the FZ6 route you get 6000 miles oil changes and 26000 valve clearances service.
I think the FZ6 is lovely, far better than a Bandit.
I love my GSX750 - similar ride and engine to the Bandit, but it is a bit dull (in a good way - it is so easy to ride and comfortable) and I think the Bandit is even duller (to ride - I have ridden both a lot)
The FZ6 adds a bit of interest to the practical nature of a cheap IL4 commuter.
But an SV still has more character and is a better bike IMHO, but maybe more hassle on servicing when doing lots of miles and not as good 2 up as the others.
If it were me, it would be a used Vtec VFR
I was suggesting used too, rather than a new bike!
instigator
20-12-06, 09:27 PM
This time of year you'd get a good price on a used Bandit 650 (early one, not the latest one)
Early? Like January 2006 early? :lol:
Jelster
20-12-06, 09:30 PM
This time of year you'd get a good price on a used Bandit 650 (early one, not the latest one)
Early? Like January 2006 early? :lol:Yep, the "latest" model is different from the one they released at the end of '05.
Not sure what's changed, but I believe there's a few differences.
.
any VFR will do you, they are bullet proof and handle great too.
they look nice with the honda panniers.
instigator
20-12-06, 11:37 PM
This time of year you'd get a good price on a used Bandit 650 (early one, not the latest one)
Early? Like January 2006 early? :lol:Yep, the "latest" model is different from the one they released at the end of '05.
Not sure what's changed, but I believe there's a few differences.
.
Ocht....spoilsport. :evil: :oops:
neilhatch
12-01-07, 03:19 PM
I was all geared up for a VFR...not having the luck with that.
What I need is a list of decent commuters....all I need is, budget of £4000 (heavy Xmas), top box or paniers and faired.
All ideas welcome.....
FZ6
GSX750
..
...
....
I was all geared up for a VFR...not having the luck with that.
What I need is a list of decent commuters....all I need is, budget of £4000 (heavy Xmas), top box or paniers and faired.
All ideas welcome.....
FZ6
GSX750
..
...
....
The SV650S K6 does me fine as a commuter :D Just please, don't commit a cardinal sin & put a top box on one!
northwind
12-01-07, 05:31 PM
Not sure what's changed, but I believe there's a few differences.
Totally new liquid cooled engine in the latest 650. Still lardy and **** though. The engine's heavier, the chassis's about the same, power's in the same ballpark and it loses the indestructible oilboiler engine. Better fuel efficiency though. Why anyone would buy a new Bandit just baffles me... A year old Hornet will be in better condition than a brand new Bandit :)
drumroll
13-01-07, 01:14 AM
i know ill prob be shot for this, but what about the new honda deuville?
chap i work with has bought one as a winter commuter. now styled like a mini Pan European, loads of built in storage, shaft drive (if im not mistaken), well put together and its now a 700cc twin apparently. i know the mags says its dull as dishwater but hes very happy with it. says much quicker and nimbler than he expected. and still showing no signs of dissolving - suzuki style! his other bikes a yam 1300.
just another option i guess!
The Basket
13-01-07, 10:05 AM
The old air cooled Bandits must be going for a song now. If you want cheap new bike then I can think of nothing better. One has all the panniers and top boxes u need built in too. I think they now will have to be all pre-reg as they now fail 2007 EU emissions and so illegal to sell.
I have to disagree with Northwind and say that even the Water cooled new 650 Bandit is still a fine mo'sickle for riding from a to b.
A 2nd hand Hornet would also do but most are unfaired.
A CBF500 would be a good choice as it is cheap, got enough go and it's a Honda.
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