sv or bandit???

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 . 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.

Originally Posted by riktherider

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.

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

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.

[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]

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

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

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

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.