Suzuki - Free insurance on new Bandits and SV650

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).

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.

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.

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

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!):



..and the second is the Givi set, here shown on an SV1000S with panniers and a top box:
http://www.givi.co.uk/downloadfree.a...D=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.a...D=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