Suzuki's New Sport Tourer

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twowheelnut

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Bandit 1250 GT/ABS anyone?

bandit%201250%20gt-1.jpg


Linkage.

Discuss.

 
Well, I must say that the look is more appealing to me than the Kawasaki. Pretty nice from what I can tell in the small pic.

 
I'm dumping my FJR immediately.....NOT.

Is that a chain drive??

I'm sure it will be a fine machine for wannabe FJR owners.

 
Used to own a naked 1200 Bandit, fun bike, lots of bike for the money, plenty power, twisties or long ride, rode to Daytona for BIKE WEEK and to the Dragon for the twisties. But once I rode the [SIZE=24pt]TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE [/SIZE]it was trade in time. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

 
Well, I must say that the look is more appealing to me than the Kawasaki. Pretty nice from what I can tell in the small pic.
Go to the Suzuki site and look at the butt fugly can hidden on the other side...ACK

 
From what I remember, You can only order the Bandit GT in Europe, its not being made available as a complete unit by Suzuki North America.

However, that being said, you CAN go to Suzuki and purchase all the GT components and add them to the bike your self. Lower belly fairing, hard bags and trunk are available. The downside os the overall cost of buying all the accessories.

The lower fairing, $500

Side case set $365

Top Case $184

Side case mount $200

Top case Mount $200

Backrest pad for top case $35

Double Bubble Windshield $60

Total for all accessories $1544

Add that onto the MSRP of $8800 and your just over $10K. All that for a standard bike, with chain drive and you still have to do the work to install the add ons.

Don't get me wrong, I really do like my Bandit and I'd probably buy another if I fell into a sweet deal like I did on this one. But if I wanted to compare apples and oranges, I'd spend my money on a FJR simply because it comes from the factory set up as a Sport Touring machine. And because Yamaha went and did their homework on building a capable, comfortable ST machine, I think Suzuki is just gonna be playing catch up, if they ever decide to do so. The Honda ST1300 looks like a scooter on steroids to me, especially with the way they intergrated the mirrors into the fairing. And the new Connie looks good from the front, but I still can't get my head around that weird looking exhaust and those screwy looking lines on the side cases. Just my opinion, FWIW.

Everything I've seen coming from Suzuki, they aren't interested in getting into the ST market. They seem to be perfectly willing to leave that segment to the other big 3 Japanese bike builders and concetrating on building sport bikes and big heavy cruisers. So be it, I think Yamaha is way ahead of the competition and will continue to be the meteric bike ST leader.

Ray

 
Used to own a naked 1200 Bandit, fun bike, lots of bike for the money, plenty power, twisties or long ride, rode to Daytona for BIKE WEEK and to the Dragon for the twisties. But once I rode the [SIZE=24pt]TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE [/SIZE]it was trade in time. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Tell me about your Triple. Thinking about picking one up. PM me or start a thread.

Bill

 
The topcase and panniers look like the ones FlyingMonkeyGirl has on her FZ-6 (seen @ WFO in Park City). The lowers are a good idea. IIRC Nanc (& ElfireBob) has lowers on her FZ-1.

It looks to me like Suzuki is trying to find a niche buyer. Someone on the fringes who either doesn't want to or can't pony up the $$$'s for a dedicated ST. Plus it gives options to the Bandit faithful. That's a good thing!

There are many here who came from those roots, but I'm with Badcat....chain??? I guess I'm just too lazy in my older age :blink: , or old in my lazy-er age :dribble: . I love the maintenance simplicity of what I now own.

That it looks great, goes like stink, stops better than I would and has handling beyond my capabilites...well...that just makes my FJR "special" to me! :yahoo: Besides, it makes me look good, :eek: act charming :( and attracks beyootifull wimmens. :lol:

 
Add that onto the MSRP of $8800 and your just over $10K. All that for a standard bike, with chain drive and you still have to do the work to install the add ons.
Okay, but the topcase isn't stock on the FJR either, so you'd need to add $815 to match the Suzuki's equipment level, so the FJR would be at about $14,700 and the Suzuki at about $10,350. That's $4350 difference, or a 42% bump over the Suzuki for the FJR's shaft, electric screen, and designed-in sport touring prowess.

Not saying the FJR isn't the better bike overall, but if you're value-conscious, I don't think you can beat this new Bandit.

- Mark

 
I've seen many riders tour on Blackbirds and FZ-1's with nary a thought to chain issues. I like the shaft and hard bags of the FJR but my '05 was cheep at

$10,300 back then. I would probably get a Tiger w/bags and a new shock if I were buying today.

 
I owned a 2002 Bandit 1200 before the FJR. I took it on a 7000+ cross country trip the month before I bought the FJR. I loved that bike. But, having both, I can say, it isn't even close to an FJR. It is a fantastic all round bike, no doubt about it. It is one of the best jack of all trade bikes out there IMO. But, it isn't an FJR and, again, IMO, doesn't belong in the ST category.

 
Used to own a naked 1200 Bandit, fun bike, lots of bike for the money, plenty power, twisties or long ride, rode to Daytona for BIKE WEEK and to the Dragon for the twisties. But once I rode the [SIZE=24pt]TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE [/SIZE]it was trade in time. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Tell me about your Triple. Thinking about picking one up. PM me or start a thread.

Bill
sent you a PM on the Speed Triple.
 
I owned a 2002 Bandit 1200 before the FJR. I took it on a 7000+ cross country trip the month before I bought the FJR. I loved that bike. But, having both, I can say, it isn't even close to an FJR. It is a fantastic all round bike, no doubt about it. It is one of the best jack of all trade bikes out there IMO. But, it isn't an FJR and, again, IMO, doesn't belong in the ST category.
You hit the nail on the head. We have a winner.
 
Wow, i was just wondering about this bike ........

Me wonders why this wouldn't make a great sport touring machine for those looking to drop some of the obesity associated with an FJR, ST13 etc etc ......

For me, I'd love to lose 100+ lbs on the bike, I travel light. I don't need much luggage space and never use a top-case unless 2-up .....and rarely 2-up.

I have no problem with the weight advantage and extra horsepower that a chain drive brings .....

Why wouldn't this work great as a nimble sport tourer?? Me can't see why not.

Questions: how much protection does that plastic really bring you? how bullet-proof is that engine and can it spank an FZ1 ??

 
Everything I've seen coming from Suzuki, they aren't interested in getting into the ST market. They seem to be perfectly willing to leave that segment to the other big 3 Japanese bike builders and concetrating on building sport bikes and big heavy cruisers. So be it, I think Yamaha is way ahead of the competition and will continue to be the meteric bike ST leader.
I disagree. I see this as Suzuki sticking it's toe into the ST water with a well-liked, well-reviewed, proven platform. A test bed of sorts... My bet is that we will see a bona fide ST out of them in '09. Though it's doubtful that whatever they come up with will ever outsell their true sportbikes, it's nuts for them to watch their aging sportbike-riding customers jump ship to another brand, e.g., Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, when the knees start to go. (As an aside, I think Honda will respond to Kawi's C14 with something really compelling for '09 too. An ST1400 perhaps..?)

 
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