View Full Version : sv or bandit???
riktherider
23-02-07, 03:37 PM
some of you might have remembered but i crashed my beloved sv650 a good 6 months ago, and have been "tidying" it up over the winter period. well it still isnt done, and recently i got a new job, which forced me to use a bike...kinda :p. well cut a long stry short, my dad let me use his bandit 1200. and oh my god how nicer is it to ride than the sv!!! i find it a lot smoother, obviuosly a lot more usable power and generaly a lot comfier. the problem i now face is that when i get the sv back on the road, i dont think i will want it. i think i might well have to go and buy a bandit.
help needed now really...as i love the character of the little sv, but i love the power and the shear strength of the bandit. got a quote on one the other day and cheapist was 280 fully comp. but is it really worth getting?? I have a soft spot for twins, so what is the sv1000 like compared to a bandit??
cheers buddys
IL4 vs V-Twin. Different beasts. That's like comparing a cup to a spoon. Yes, they both hold liquids, but they do very different jobs.
The IL4 (bandit 12) also has almost double the capacity, so stands to rights that it'll be a bigger bike generally, which accounts for the comfort at least a little.
I was warned away from the bandit 12 just before I bought the SV650, because they can be a little top heavy. Nice if you want that, if you don't, well...
A lot of it is down to riding style too. If you hold high revs, esp in corners etc, then you're more likely to appreciate the IL4's power band.
kwak zzr
23-02-07, 04:08 PM
so what is the sv1000 like compared to a bandit??
its like a big 650 with slower steering and twice the power! still not as comfy as a blandit tho, you wont fall asleep on the sv tho and you just might on the blandit.:D
The Basket
23-02-07, 04:17 PM
The Bandit is comfy fast and punchy and you like it. Not sure the problem here! I'll go for comfort. Nice to be comfy
kwak zzr
23-02-07, 04:42 PM
owned a bandit 6 from new for about 6 months then i was bored of it and sold it for a £1000 loss. it did everything you wanted it to do but it didnt excite me? and whilst lying on the tank flat out at 115mph i was thinking " is this all you've got?" the bandit 12 is the same but faster with better brakes.
Steve W
23-02-07, 04:46 PM
[quote=Baph;1123995]IL4 vs V-Twin. Different beasts. That's like comparing a cup to a spoon. Yes, they both hold liquids, but they do very different jobs.
Its like the man said... they're different beasts but I'd say more like cup and mug. IL4s are smoother but perhaps less involving...
The reviews all seem to say the Bandit 1250 is excellent for the price. In a better world I'd have a V-Twin and a IL4, okay and a Triple and maybe a V4 and...
northwind
23-02-07, 04:58 PM
One of the best Suzuki engines ever, IMO, in the B12. I don't like the package much, too lardy, but that's because i'm not the target market. I'd have a 7/11 :smt077
scorpion
23-02-07, 05:03 PM
Depends on the sort of riding you want to do. If your daily commute is long motorway stints then the bandit is the choice for comfy smoothness and fuel economy. But if its shorter involved blasts to work, then the sv1000 would be choice for me. You wont be on it long enough to get a sore ass and the torque and rumble would keep you grinning for years!
When your SV is back on the road, take it for a good blat on your favourite roads, come home and borrow the Bandit and ride those same roads. Then decide how you feel about the bike. If you like the handling and the riding position of the SV but would like more power (and a smaller fuel tank range) then the SV thou might be for you (better suspended allegedly as well than the 650), if not I would not draw a line under the Bandit straight away. You also consider riding other bikes like the zed thou Fazar, Hornet etc. Then make your decision, you may end up with that Bandit after all.
Good luck choosing :)
owned a bandit 6 from new for about 6 months then i was bored of it and sold it for a £1000 loss. it did everything you wanted it to do but it didnt excite me? and whilst lying on the tank flat out at 115mph i was thinking " is this all you've got?" the bandit 12 is the same but faster with better brakes.
I had a Bandit 600s and liked it but it wasn't exciting even with Scorpion. But still a bloody good bike. it never felt that sure footed to me - I find my Tona 955 much easier to ride better confidence. Have ridden my wife's SV and although I'm not that keen on it would probably prefer it to the bandit. It has much more mid range torque so its easier to ride with better mid range acceleration. Its also lower in the seat which suits my short ass.
You can't compare the 12 with a 650 SV. Except for the riding position.
Like Beenz says, take the SV out for a couple of decent rides then reflect.
riktherider
23-02-07, 10:45 PM
Yea im going to have to compare the two closely. i dont agree with some of you saying the 12's arnt exciting! going too and from work overtaking and every other exciting manuover is 100 times more exciting than the sv. the acceloration is amasing as well. i have looked at the zed thou as well...but havnt riden one yet. think im going to have to go for a couple of test rides. the other option was going for a project bike. something like a gsxr1100 and make a very nice streetfighter/custom. not sure yet... i'll get the sv back on the road and then make a decision
netsurfer
25-02-07, 01:24 PM
Maybe worth taking a SV1000 for a spin? Then you get the best of both worlds ;)
Pete
Cloggsy
25-02-07, 02:04 PM
If you liked the Bandit 1200, take a look at the GSX 1400 and Honda's CB1300...
For V twin stuff, look at the SV1000 (a lot more power than the 650 ;))
Personally I prefer V-Twins to IL4's, but that's me :p
wknight
25-02-07, 04:11 PM
Well I have been riding a 650 Bandit for the last 12 months and have really enjoyed it. Nice comfy position, great fuel economy, good in town and over long distances. Its a real workhorse.
That said, I pick up an SV on Thursday because I wanted a bike that was completely different. I like the sports bike feel and when I took it out for a demo I immediately noticed the better pick-up. Its also much lighter, the bandit is top heavy which can be a problem. My SV is going to be my Sunday fun bike :riding: and the Bandit for those trips into town and overseas.
Only I don't know that I would like the riding position for very extended periods, but we shall see and also I don't want to spoil the nice line of my SV with nasty top boxes!
But isn't the bandit Suzuki's version of the ER-5 or CB500?
Dave The Rave
27-02-07, 08:21 AM
If you liked the Bandit 1200, take a look at the GSX 1400 and Honda's CB1300...
For V twin stuff, look at the SV1000 (a lot more power than the 650 ;))
Personally I prefer V-Twins to IL4's, but that's me :p
Top Man. Honda gets my vote!
Jelster
27-02-07, 08:35 AM
The bandit 600/650 is not as much fun to ride as the SV, I've had 2 SV's and before I bought the 2nd one I had a Bandit on loan for a few hours. I didn't like it that much - but it was new and I had to watch the revs. It was definitely more comfortable though.
However, what the smaller one lacks is that lazy mid range that the SV has, but the Bandit 12 (or 1250 now) has loads of torque which fills in that gap. The difference is weight and handling; nobody ever called the Bandit 12 a "B lane scratcher", which is exactly what the SV is. But the bigger Bandit can still be fun.
SV Thou' is a totally different kettle of fish, but both have their place. I'd probably fall towards the larger SV myself, but it's not a comfortable pillion machine compared to the Bandit, so if that is a requirement it make sure your passenger will be happy with that rock hard seat on the SV (which is also about 3 inches above the rider).
.
The Basket
27-02-07, 09:14 AM
The new1250 water cooled Bandit is a winner in the writeups in the bike mags...cheapish too. Said to be a proper torque monster.
Steve H
27-02-07, 03:56 PM
On a twisty B road blast (one without many straights) an SV would
be more than a match for a Bandit 12. Even a standard SVs handling is light years ahead of the original Bandit............and that is saying something! ;)
kwak zzr
27-02-07, 03:59 PM
and the thou gets better brakes and suspension.
Jelster
27-02-07, 04:18 PM
and the thou gets better brakes and suspension.
But is heavier and doesn't corner as well... The price you pay for that TL lump in the frame I guess.
.
kwak zzr
27-02-07, 04:29 PM
But is heavier and doesn't corner as well... The price you pay for that TL lump in the frame I guess.
.
ive noticed my sv corners better at speed, the thou is very slow cornering whilst riding slowly but surprised me at speed.
riktherider
27-02-07, 05:13 PM
im looking at the origional bandit really...the origional hooligans machine. i am a bit of a loon myself. and plus the older ones are a lot cheaper, engine is awsome and tunable. i rode the yam 1300 and that was nice, but more sluggish than the bandit, and i have been told the honda 13 and the suzuki 14 are very similar. i just want a bike i can have a lot of fun on, go silly fast (at times in responsible areas officer!!) and also trick easily. the sv i found just lacks in certain areas. it should be back ont he road in a week or too so i will come to a conclusion very very soon.
Warthog
27-02-07, 07:50 PM
seems a bit unfair comapairing one bike to another with a twice as big engine. At least try some thou+ twins, like the aprilias or sv1000?
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