bandits

Has anyone on here had a Bandit either before or after the SV?

I'm looking at them, both naked versions (have SV at the moment). I just want to try out different bikes and have always liked the look.

There's another bike I am looking at - the GSX750 (made from 97-02) if anyone knows them.

One of the things I still don't like on the SV although I have raised bars is the leaning forward position, I want to be a bit more upright. Standing at traffic lights I still can't have my hands on the bars if you see what I mean.

I also wouldn't mind if the bars are a bit less sensitive and slower, and I'm hoping that the Bandit will do that?

And last but not least I understand the bandit has an adjustable seat height making it ideal for someone with shorter legs.

I commute on my bike too.

Anyway, any views would be good. Please keep it nice.

I had a Blandit 650N (58 plate). It is very comfortable and smooth - no jerks like the V Twin, especially on the down changes. IL4's require a lot of revs, and loads of gear changes - I found that i had to shift down all 6 gears at every set of lights - I'm a lazy rider hence lovin' the V Twin (2nd gear all round town). Blandits are VERY heavy compared to the flickable SV - try getting that off a camber. Because it's such a heavy lump, I found myself more confident on the corners as it feels well planted to the floor. Give it a test ride yourself to see how YOU feel about them.

This is just my opinion.

HTH

Chin

[fizzwheel]

I've not owned one, but I have ridden both faired and naked 600's and a naked 650.

The steering is a little slower to respond and turn in than the SV, it will turn quickly, but you mind find it needs more muscle / body weight shift to get it to turn as quickly as the SV does.

Its definately more relaxed to ride chassis wise, the motor is a peach, silky smooth and the gearbox is lovely, it does need rev's but thats an IL4 for you.

It didnt find it much heavier than the SV and its certainly just as easy to manage IMHO.

The seat is quite wide, so I dont know how that would work with somebody with short legs, but it is more comfortable than the SV seat is.

I quite like them. they are fun and easy to ride, although I found the front end a bit spongey when pushing on, and it started to feel a little vague, ( but I'm being picky and comparing it with my GSXR here )

Get yourself down your local bike shop and have a sit on one, get a test ride, its the only way you're going to know if you like it or not.

I really really like the 1250 Bandit, if I wanted a mutipurpose do anything bike it would be at the top of my list, but that is a bit heavier to manage at slow speed than the SV, but once your on the move you wont notice the weight, same can be said for the 600 / 650 bandit as well

HTH.

Spot on Fizz, much more in-depth than my account. When I was describing weight, I meant in the sense of dead/dry weight, pushing, i.e. trying to get it into the garage, which has a slope or moving it around - I'm a scrawny little thing! Riding the Blandit was fine - as I stated, it felt better on corners because of its weight. Sorry for the confusion.

Chin

I have just today infact been handed a bandit by my insurers while they work on my bike.

First impressions were bad - I really didn't like the riding position it felt far too upright and my arms felt far too bent. Also the lack of a fairing made the wind blast a real factor at motorway speeds.

However, after a few miles I started to feel a bit more comfortable and noticed in particular all the pressure was taken off my wrists, making for a much more comfortable commute. Weirdly I also found it made me ride in a much more relxed and less aggressive manner, with the additional benefit of being able to see more traffic as my head is higher up.

Found it incredibly easy to chuck into the corners, as chin says, it feels really planted and that definitely inspires confidence. The engine seems sweet, though I am yet to get to grips with using all the revs and TBH I much prefer the grunt and jerkyness of the SV's v-twin!

As for weight I really did notice a difference in wheeling the bike about and when stopped at traffic lights etc. though this was mainly after filling her up with fuel - think the tank is a fair bit bigger than on the sv?

Agree entirely with all the above comments though - I think the more I ride it the more I like it. I do definitely miss my SV though and would rather have that back any day! I am ~6ft.

As has been said, give one a go.

PS. If you do get a Blandit - FIRST MOD definitely has to be a slip on exhaust. The Blandit sounds like a whistling kettle, as opposed to the sewing-machine-lawn-mower chatter of an SV with a standard can - it's extremely quite due to all the CO2/Emmission regs etc. I felt invisible on the Blandit due to this, so take extra precautions when riding. Pin64 can vouch for this, I hope?

Chin

Thanks guys sounds good. Yes I've always liked the torque and as for more gear changing I just have to try it out. I've had 3 twins so far and one single (my 125) so maybe it's time for a change.

yup I definitely agree. The guy I bought my SV of had stuck a beowulf can on, which sounds fantastic even with the baffle in (which it is most of the time).

Initially I thought it was just going from a bike with an after market can to one with a standard - but I could hardly hear the bandit at all over traffic noise, especially at low revs, and neither could many other road users by the looks of it!

Slip on would definitely be worth the dosh.

Yes, I hear once you're used to an IL4 they are lovely. My bro has just gone from his sv to an R6, which understandably he loves.

One thing I forgot to mention is you get very little engine braking with the bandit (and any IL4 I presume). I find this a bonus, means you can take your hand off if you need to shake out an ache or gesture to someone without the bike instantly grinding to a stop!

I had a 2000 Bandit 600. At the time I thought it was the dog's danglie doodads. However, after owning many other bikes and now after having a Hornet I think they are quite slow and lardy. This is only in comparison though. As a commuter they are okay but not exactly the most exciting bike in the world. You could do worse but you could also do much better. A naked Hornet would give you many more grins.