I had a 1999 Bandit 1200S for many years. It was the last year of carburetors, and it was cold-blooded as hell. It also felt like a potato was jammed in the exhaust. Shortly after I rolled it out of the dealer and discovered this, I went online and bought a Holeshot Performance Stage 2 kit by Dale Walker with new jets, twin individual oval filters, a 5-degree ignition advancer, and a jet hot ceramic coated pipe with Holeshot Performance exhaust can/muffler. It was stunning how different the bike performed. I believe it was a 20 rear wheel increase in hp, and it ran perfectly from cold. It was all bolt-on and completely worth the money. Walker knows what he's doing, and I'm not alone in this opinion.
I used to watch this video many times before getting a Bandit, both because of the sound quality and the narration. This video did its part to motivate me to get a Bandit 12 of my own lol.
Bandit from 2000 here, i love it. i had 2 1200's and 2 600's. They are alot of fun, u can repair anything on ur own, enough power, good handling, comfortable. Most cars underestimate this bike, but there are not many cars that can hold up if i pull the throttle to be honest. Great for beginners(600's) and alot of fun for more experienced riders (1200). i never had technical problems with them and i never feel like it hasn't enough power, 120hp(with an performance exhaust) is way enough in almost any situation !!!
I first rode one of these in 1998, and had the same impressions as you. Good to see your 20-year-old 1200 is still out there making that famous GSX-R oil-cooled noise.
I ride Mk1 600 Bandit - very nice. Love the "analog" feel of these older bikes and the ability to fix anything on it in your own garage. Keep the vids coming, we need more Mk1 Bandit videos on internet :)
Cheers man. I plan to restore this bandit to its former glory so there will be plenty of updates on it. I don't think there's enough attention on the old school bargains that are out there. First step is new renthals and headlight. Then I'll get some tuning done! Glad you like the vid. I've got GSR600 and a Zx6r A2p coming up.
My favourite suzuki bandit video of the whole internet. If you have a chance make a video of this bike just for fun so we can listen to it more please.
+Adrian Maziarz I'll be resuming the videos soon as the seasons have finally started to turn. I've got plenty to do on the Bandit and a new sound recorder so it should sound even better than before. First up is a clutch upgrade and handlebar replacement. I have also just gotten hold of a lovely ZX12R and will be picking up a Triumph Sprint ST1050 so stay tuned for some new vids. I'm going to try keep things to 10-15 mins and refine the format a bit. There's a lot of butthurt people on the GSR-600 video so it should be interesting.
great review, wondering if i should get one, you convinced me friend. I'm not sure if I should get a mk1 or 2, but have been told to steer clear of '01 and '02 models due to the engine eating up oil issue. Would you recommended a particular model ? Cheers, Pierre from Québec
I have this bike. It will do over 110mph in 2nd gear. It is a Hooligan bike. It will kill a beginner or intermediate rider although the intermediate rider may live a little longer. If you are an older mature advanced pilot with tons and tons of experience riding motocross race and street bikes, you will love the Bandit 1200 series bikes. The single biggest power upgrade I have found is to simply remove the stock muffler and run only the collector. The increase in power is off the charts!! Wear ear plugs, enjoy the glorious sound when it gets on the pipe!! Wow!! And try not to get arrested... Enjoy!!
100% correct.I’m 60 yrs young & have been messing about with bikes all my life.Mainly 2 strokes from the 70s -Yamaha RD’s&Kawasaki triples.+ a fair few motocrosser’s ,CR500’s,Ktm’s etc. Just recently I found myself getting a bit bored with them-tired of being nearly shaken off them due to the old school near non existent suspension & the expansion pipe noise that I used to love finally got on my nerves. So I bought myself a 96 mk1 1200 with the usual mods-seat,pipe,motocross bars etc & I absolutely love it. Smooth,powerful & quick as f#ck if you want it to be.Comfortable & the handling & brakes are fantastic to me compared to the old stuff I’m used to.Also cheap as chips in comparison.I paid £1900,which is an absolute bargain compared to the 3 to 12k + the old strokers go for these days.
Hi LT, Great review. Informative, eloquent, and well presented with a hint of mischief. I love these bikes, especially the early air/oil cooled ones, with engines reminiscent of those from a WW2 fighter plane. Brilliant racket, huge gobs of power, and a touch of hooligan thrown in.
To be fair it shouldn't be left behind in a drag with an early 2000s 600, certainly not below 120mph, they aren't the most powerful thing but do deliver best part of 120bhp with a decent can & a good setup. Just over 200kg so not silly heavy either just no point in revving the conkers off them as the softy cams & lower compression removes top end. A head skim bumps the compression up & tweaks the cam timing to move the power up the range which works well. Decent pads & braided hoses sorts the brakes, decent fork springs & oil plus a decent rear shock sorts out pretty much all of the shortcomings! I know as that is exactly what my '96 has! Huge bang for your buck & the noise with a decent can is great (Yoshi RS3 gets my vote!).
I thought the same about the drag comment. I share a garage with my pal who has a 1999 CBR600f and he certainly cannot outdrag me, ever! Great review though.
mate this is a quality review,I've been waiting for proper 1st gen bandit review for ages,thanks very much!!! If you somehow have access to other bikes please review zrx1200r! Regards
I'm on my second Bandit now. 5 years after selling my '01 1200 naked i've got myself another, this time a 2005 1200S faired model and i absolutely love it. Your review is just spot on. My fave bit was 13.08, nice wheelie!
Thanks for making such a great vid/review on this bike. You've made me both jealous and wanting one. Biggest bike I've owned ever was a CB 750 K. Loved it but think I would love this bike more. Thanks again.
Bought mine 8 mouths ago , i can't put my finger on it why i love it , Easy to ride slow or fast , Easy to maintain, It dives on the brakes , wobbles in a bend with the power on , With my FZR 1000 EXUP i could not use all the power because it was all in the top of the rev range , 1200 bandit just twist the throttle any gear and off you go , Just FUN
Hi again , 18 mouth on I still have my 1200 bandit s and still love it , I've changed the exhaust for a full system black widow , road legal, just right for the image, lol , belly pan crash bars, and progressive springs for the forks , the feeling after a ride stays with me for week until next weekend , yes it's a weekend toy and I love it , can't see myself selling it ,
great review ! I still have my 98 1200 that I had since new. Over 50,000 miles on it and still runs good. Although I am considering tearing it apart over winter and putting a 1216 kit in. Service my Works Performance shock, and front forks (has Racetech gold valves and springs. ) All new bearings and just go over everything. It is worth more than the resale value, and she's just a keeper.
I've just started riding at 40 and my brother has kindly started teaching me on his 98 Bandit. I loved the raw feel of the bike, and wasn't quite prepared for how much in would love it. His ZZR 1400 is a much better bike, but doesn't have the same "feel" to it.
Great vid, after years of sportsbikes and then giving up riding for some years, I came back by getting on an old 1200 bandit, the K1 is still a great bike, very similar to the 1st gen. It was later on they really changed. You hit the nail on the head with your review, really enjoyed watching. Thanks.
Michael Andrews Thanks. As an everyday road bike that is still fun it's hard to beat. I've not ridden the K1 but glad to know it still has it's mojo. The 1250 was a great bike but just seemed a bit to grown up haha. I've posted a new vid if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/vM60UId7eaI/w-d-xo.html
excellent review and commentary! i've owned many suzuki oil-cooled engines, and they are an absolute blast, with easy maintenance. i'm from the USA, so watching the riding/driving on the opposite side is totally foreign, but also fun. cheers
had a 1200sx for 16 years and. 50k miles still feels tight . change the oil at 2k and do valves and carb balance at 5 to 6k. just keep a forensic eye out for cycle part corrosion. Good sensible vid cheers.
Nice review! I've got a 2006 Yamaha FZ6 and an '88 Ninja ZX600, both inline-4. I love the top end power and sound of them but videos like this make me want a bigger cc bike, something more torquey. Nice roads there and great riding!
I'm looking at getting a Bandit for my first proper bike, after riding my little12 plate ybr for a year. I'm 35 now and it's about bloody time I got off my arse and sorted my licence. Loved the video.
Nice review! I own the same bandit and recognize a lot of your criticism. It is really a lot of fun to drive, even after I owned several faster bikes like a 600 Thundercat and ZXR750. But on the road this is perfect for in The Netherlands and Germany.
Nice review. I've got a black '98 myself,..had it for 13 years and have unsuccessfully tried finding an excuse to buy a modern replacement. It never breaks down, always starts up(even after 10 month of having sat), has plenty enough power with a BOS exhaust, that great sound.......it is really hard to beat
I am a Bandit 12 pro. BEST OVERALL STREETBIKE EVER MADE. My current '98 has 160,000 miles on it, runs better than new. But like Clark Kent, it needs to be pulled out the Phone Booth. Simple motor work- JE 1216cc pistons, Ivan jetting, Yoshimura pipe, light head-porting - and it gives 120 HP-84 ft/lbs at the wheel. (Stock is 98 hp / 72ft/lb). CHANGE THE SUSPENSION, and Superman comes out swinging. This is a bike HUNGRY for Upgrading. I LOVE MY GSF1200!!
Love my 98 1200s. I am a novice rider and the suspension is adequate for me. Finished a 2.5 hour long trip this summer and had a great time. Looking at a gsxr 750 now although I am pleased with the power my bike makes.
Nice bike and sounds incredible. Mine's even more old-school than that being a '88 Katana 1100 (GSX1100F) but even at around 115,000 km still runs great and pulls like a freight train.
I bought a brand new Bandit GSF1200S in '01 and it was the most fun bike I ever had ridden . It wasn't the fastest or quickest , but it would take me anywhere I wanted to go and comfortable doing it . I put a couple of performance modifications recommended by my buddy that was a pit crew mechanic for the Suzuka GP Circuit for Suzuki . These mods woke this engine up with a Yoshimura carbon fiber exhaust system . Wish I never sold that bike . It was sweet ! Later on I bought a '02 Naked version and blew it up . I bought a new engine and modded the engine and it would wheelie any time I twisted the throttle . Loved this one too . Thanks for the video .
I've got an Honda Cbr600rr which I use as a daily commuter. Bought the Bandit 1200 recently as a second bike because it was so cheap.. I hate to admit it, but I find the Suzuki much more enjoy to drive. The engine is insane: smooth, powerful and its sound heavenly.
Genius video -- well done. I'm looking to pick up a low mile (23k miles) '98 myself this month. This bike defies reason -- a few bikes have better stats (1/4 mile, wet #, tech), but they just don't have that balance and visceral feel that your video captures so well. Nicely done.
The day I passed my test I got a bandit 1200 I've been on it for 9 years now and still love it it really dose teach you how to ride proper and u learn very fast on how quick the bandit can and will kill you if u ride like a prat
I have a 98 as well. I imagine every bandit owner says the same kind of things you say. It's not the fastest, but it's fast. It's boring, but it's fun. It's not the prettiest or slickest looking, but it's not ugly. I'd like to get another kind of bike, but.... I'm cool with this one. I always tell folks that it's a really cheap fast bike, and a really fast cheap bike. I would keep that "future classic" talk down, though, or it may mess that up as well. awesome job on capturing the sound
m0untainm0ney I think it's ugliness is a part of it's beauty. I was a bit pissed off with the sound as the mics on my Zoom H4 get overloaded above 50mph or so. I'll have to look at other options I think. Although it certainly captured the feeling of riding it. As regards "future classic" talk haha: th-cam.com/video/Tqrz-6cDjRA/w-d-xo.html
Funny thing, I have been looking for one of these bikes and came across your video. I knew something looked really familiar at the beginning of the video. And when I seen you come down the road by the hospital I knew exactly where you were. I live in the same town. I will be checking out all of your videos!
Loved your video mate especially the mid-talk wheelie🤣 on an even better note I've recently bought a mk1 1200N with just 7000 miles on it - can't wait for next summer 🙂
Very nice review. Gotta love the older bikes. Btw; anyone else immediately thought of the old Baron videos when we cut to the riding through London clips?
I have a 1999 1200 Bandit and it does very well keeping tabs on my Mates R1. The bike just breeds confidence, as you say in your review the front end can jiggle but it always feels safe. I have always maintained that the bike has more performance than I can give it so while still powering on, there is a safe limit there
Great review thanks. I'm 45 and only past my test 2 years ago. I've had an RF600 for the past year and a half but just sold it to buy a Bandit 1200. Been looking at the 1250 07+ but I'm finding myself more leaning towards a later pre water cool model. Looking forward to feeling all that torque. Cheers Gaz
TheGazWaz Thanks for the comment. The 1250 is a bloody good bike and more powerful too but it's a bit less "up for it" in the way it feels. The problem with the pre-watercooled models is finding one in good condition for a decent price. They rust and corrode like nothing else. Good luck in your search. They certainly are out there.
@@TheLoneTrader w Had been looking for a clean mk1 for a while and found one that had been in storage for years with just 7k miles on it - went fishing for mackerel and caught a shark, what a blast!
People say about them that "it's a bike that's not good at anything" but my experience with naked Suzukis, whether it's a GS500, GSF600 or 1200, is they're all fantastic for having fun within the speed limits in a way that nothing else is. Give them some mild suspension upgrades and they'll outperform just about anything. I turned a GS500 into a street scrambler which shaved a lot of weight, the resulting performance improvement was very surprising and to this day it's hands down one of the best bikes I've ever owned.
I bought a 1250 6mths ago, and I love it. I've always had v-twins, and the smoothness of the in-line 4, the hugs gobs of usable torque, along with the upright riding position all have me hooked! Yes, it's not truly 'fast', but as a road bike, putting it through a nice set of corners just puts that big grin on your face. My commute is a 250km round trip on highway, with one really great section of mountain range to go down in the morning and then up in the afternoon. The Bandit is perfect for this. With peak torque only a couple of hundred revs above what she sits on at the speed limit, there's no need to drop down. Just keep it in 6th, check over the shoulder, wind the throttle on and enjoy the train-like pull!
I've ridden a lot of different bikes, and nothing accelerates quite like the 1200 Bandit. It might not be the fastest accelerating thing out there, but it really is like Thanos. It's inevitable.
Picking up a Mk1 Bandit 1200 tomorrow - It has done 66000 miles but owned by a mature gent who has had it a very long time and regularly serviced it so it doesn't arouse concern, plus I am getting it for 1100 notes. Can't wait !
I have a 97 1200s. Modified air box and a five degree timing advance kit. And kerker exhaust pipe. Has 24,000 miles. It was my first motorcycle and I love it. It's hard to keep the front wheel on the ground. Just wish it had a six speed and a higher rev limit
Loved my 89 gsxr1100 now on the lookout for a bandit 12. Don’t say bad range, I get about 80miles before the light come on on my Harley. Anything that goes more than a 100miles to a tank is good in my book. Great review, thanks
Got myself a 2003 Bandit 1200 after watching this video and couldn't agree more. There's just something special about the visceral analog feel the bike has.
GSF 1200 BANDIT, very nice. My '05 GSF 650 BANDIT, is everything, one careful, cautious owner, who basically ran it in for 15,000 miles, and you could never want or need to accelerate faster than my 650 Bandit.' take care'!! No it's a Bandit, such a JOY, never same old, same old.
I know this video is nearly a decade old, but I own a 2008 650, been riding that for 2 years. It's ok, but I've had so many inexplicable problems with the FI system, and coming from a carbed 125 that I've been riding for 6 years, it's just a pain... Even an "old" bike like mine is too modern for me, hence why I want to "downgrade" but also increase the CC by getting a Mk1 bandit. Bonus points if it's a 97. I'm looking at this video as if it were made today, because I know these old bikes are just built to last (mechanically). They're absolute machines, motorcycling in its purest form. May not be the fastest, some call it ugly but I just think they're fab. They're just a normal, unassuming bike with enough power to get you in and out of trouble lmao. Dream machine. If you still have this bike, I'd like to ask a few questions: - Genuinely, is it actually a difficult thing to "balance the carbs"? Working with a carb isn't hard, but I can imagine it's annoying trying to tune them to work together. - How do you feel about not having ABS? I feel like I don't need it. My CG125 didn't have it, and the brakes on that were bloody awful. - 5 speed kinda worries me. I already try to go into imaginary 7th a lot on my bandit, but my CG was 5 speed too, but you seem to think it's fine due to the momentum. - What's the long term maintenance like? Is it easy enough to get parts for it still, being nearly 25 years old? Invaluable video mate, glad you kept it up all these years :D
Hi there. Here goes with answering your questions: - Once you get the hang of the method and use decent gear, it's not actually difficult to balance carbs. You just need a bit of patience. - I grew up riding bikes with no ABS, so it doesn't bother me at all. However, that's going to come down to personal preference. It's a heavy bike and the brakes aren't amazing, so it's something to think about. - The 1200 engine puts out so much torque that 5 gears is genuinely all you need. It's quite long legged in the gearing so it doesn't feel rushed at speed. - A lot of these older Bandits will be in need of a fair bit of maintenance and TLC but they really are hard to kill. Everything is easy to get at physically and online guides are plentiful. They also share so many parts with other bikes that there's no issue at all getting spares. Addendum: Carbs are great and I love them but they are more maintenance and a bit more fiddly than FI bikes. Once you learn how to fix and maintain them, it's all great. But it does require that investment of knowledge.
@@TheLoneTrader Thank you so much for answering, I will keep these in mind. As for the addendum, people say FI is superior in every way, but at least you don't need specialist software just to increase idle speed, or to slightly increase the fuel/air mixture ratio for carbs
🍺 If you enjoyed this video click this link to buy me a beer: www.buymeacoffee.com/thelonetrader 🍺
I had a 1999 Bandit 1200S for many years. It was the last year of carburetors, and it was cold-blooded as hell. It also felt like a potato was jammed in the exhaust. Shortly after I rolled it out of the dealer and discovered this, I went online and bought a Holeshot Performance Stage 2 kit by Dale Walker with new jets, twin individual oval filters, a 5-degree ignition advancer, and a jet hot ceramic coated pipe with Holeshot Performance exhaust can/muffler. It was stunning how different the bike performed. I believe it was a 20 rear wheel increase in hp, and it ran perfectly from cold. It was all bolt-on and completely worth the money. Walker knows what he's doing, and I'm not alone in this opinion.
@@privateer0561 Holeshot is a fantastic company. I used them for my ZRX tuning. Even worth the money getting stuff imported from them into the UK.
I used to watch this video many times before getting a Bandit, both because of the sound quality and the narration. This video did its part to motivate me to get a Bandit 12 of my own lol.
Cool. I like it too. Recently I got the 650. Havent filmed it yet. Drop by bro, you may like my content. Cheers.
you cant beat old school proper bikes, air cooled and carbs
bo440guitar oil cooled
@Gerry Cooney Air cooled, with an oil cooler
You're not kidding. I'm now riding a ZRX-1100. Just as awesome and old school.
The Lone Trader Is the ZRX Better or worse than the Bandit?
I got a 650 oil/air cooled one
Bandit from 2000 here, i love it. i had 2 1200's and 2 600's. They are alot of fun, u can repair anything on ur own, enough power, good handling, comfortable. Most cars underestimate this bike, but there are not many cars that can hold up if i pull the throttle to be honest.
Great for beginners(600's) and alot of fun for more experienced riders (1200). i never had technical problems with them and i never feel like it hasn't enough power, 120hp(with an performance exhaust) is way enough in almost any situation !!!
I first rode one of these in 1998, and had the same impressions as you. Good to see your 20-year-old 1200 is still out there making that famous GSX-R oil-cooled noise.
6 years later, still a good review, still an awsome bike, i have the '95 600 an love every part of it
I ride Mk1 600 Bandit - very nice. Love the "analog" feel of these older bikes and the ability to fix anything on it in your own garage. Keep the vids coming, we need more Mk1 Bandit videos on internet :)
Cheers man. I plan to restore this bandit to its former glory so there will be plenty of updates on it. I don't think there's enough attention on the old school bargains that are out there.
First step is new renthals and headlight. Then I'll get some tuning done!
Glad you like the vid. I've got GSR600 and a Zx6r A2p coming up.
First Bandit 1200n 1998 with carbs is a fantastic, beautiful and big bike with a perfect motor.
I´ve bought one two months ago and I´m in love with her...
My favourite suzuki bandit video of the whole internet. If you have a chance make a video of this bike just for fun so we can listen to it more please.
+Adrian Maziarz I'll be resuming the videos soon as the seasons have finally started to turn. I've got plenty to do on the Bandit and a new sound recorder so it should sound even better than before. First up is a clutch upgrade and handlebar replacement.
I have also just gotten hold of a lovely ZX12R and will be picking up a Triumph Sprint ST1050 so stay tuned for some new vids. I'm going to try keep things to 10-15 mins and refine the format a bit. There's a lot of butthurt people on the GSR-600 video so it should be interesting.
great review, wondering if i should get one, you convinced me friend.
I'm not sure if I should get a mk1 or 2, but have been told to steer clear of '01 and '02 models due to the engine eating up oil issue.
Would you recommended a particular model ?
Cheers, Pierre from Québec
I have this bike. It will do over 110mph in 2nd gear. It is a Hooligan bike. It will kill a beginner or intermediate rider although the intermediate rider may live a little longer. If you are an older mature advanced pilot with tons and tons of experience riding motocross race and street bikes, you will love the Bandit 1200 series bikes. The single biggest power upgrade I have found is to simply remove the stock muffler and run only the collector. The increase in power is off the charts!! Wear ear plugs, enjoy the glorious sound when it gets on the pipe!! Wow!! And try not to get arrested... Enjoy!!
100% correct.I’m 60 yrs young & have been messing about with bikes all my life.Mainly 2 strokes from the 70s -Yamaha RD’s&Kawasaki triples.+ a fair few motocrosser’s ,CR500’s,Ktm’s etc.
Just recently I found myself getting a bit bored with them-tired of being nearly shaken off them due to the old school near non existent suspension & the expansion pipe noise that I used to love finally got on my nerves.
So I bought myself a 96 mk1 1200 with the usual mods-seat,pipe,motocross bars etc & I absolutely love it.
Smooth,powerful & quick as f#ck if you want it to be.Comfortable & the handling & brakes are fantastic to me compared to the old stuff I’m used to.Also cheap as chips in comparison.I paid £1900,which is an absolute bargain compared to the 3 to 12k + the old strokers go for these days.
Suzuki make great bikes. Smooth transmissions. Solid bullet proof motors. Especially the older air cooled models.
Hi LT,
Great review. Informative, eloquent, and well presented with a hint of mischief.
I love these bikes, especially the early air/oil cooled ones, with engines reminiscent of those from a WW2 fighter plane. Brilliant racket, huge gobs of power, and a touch of hooligan thrown in.
To be fair it shouldn't be left behind in a drag with an early 2000s 600, certainly not below 120mph, they aren't the most powerful thing but do deliver best part of 120bhp with a decent can & a good setup. Just over 200kg so not silly heavy either just no point in revving the conkers off them as the softy cams & lower compression removes top end. A head skim bumps the compression up & tweaks the cam timing to move the power up the range which works well. Decent pads & braided hoses sorts the brakes, decent fork springs & oil plus a decent rear shock sorts out pretty much all of the shortcomings! I know as that is exactly what my '96 has! Huge bang for your buck & the noise with a decent can is great (Yoshi RS3 gets my vote!).
I thought the same about the drag comment. I share a garage with my pal who has a 1999 CBR600f and he certainly cannot outdrag me, ever! Great review though.
I fancy making a hardtail chop out of one, great machines.
mate this is a quality review,I've been waiting for proper 1st gen bandit review for ages,thanks very much!!!
If you somehow have access to other bikes please review zrx1200r!
Regards
Best description of the bandit I've heard so far. Down to the tea 👌🏻
I'm on my second Bandit now. 5 years after selling my '01 1200 naked i've got myself another, this time a 2005 1200S faired model and i absolutely love it. Your review is just spot on. My fave bit was 13.08, nice wheelie!
Exactly. after this, Bandit were changed to liguid cooled smooth engine, with another 30KG
Thanks for making such a great vid/review on this bike. You've made me both jealous and wanting one. Biggest bike I've owned ever was a CB 750 K. Loved it but think I would love this bike more. Thanks again.
19:01-19:10 That sound...
The key to my heart.
thank you so much for that timemark! didn't count how often I used it
@@TheLoneTrader Hi
whose exhaust have you got on your B12 ?
Bought mine 8 mouths ago , i can't put my finger on it why i love it ,
Easy to ride slow or fast ,
Easy to maintain,
It dives on the brakes , wobbles in a bend with the power on ,
With my FZR 1000 EXUP i could not use all the power because it was all in the top of the rev range , 1200 bandit just twist the throttle any gear and off you go ,
Just FUN
Hi again , 18 mouth on I still have my 1200 bandit s and still love it , I've changed the exhaust for a full system black widow , road legal, just right for the image, lol , belly pan crash bars, and progressive springs for the forks , the feeling after a ride stays with me for week until next weekend , yes it's a weekend toy and I love it , can't see myself selling it ,
This is my favorite review on the bandit. Well done!!
Really enjoyable review - loved it, I've got one and agree with everything.
Cracking review, good sound quality too!! Looking forward to getting mine out this summer, thank you
great review ! I still have my 98 1200 that I had since new. Over 50,000 miles on it and still runs good. Although I am considering tearing it apart over winter and putting a 1216 kit in. Service my Works Performance shock, and front forks (has Racetech gold valves and springs. ) All new bearings and just go over everything. It is worth more than the resale value, and she's just a keeper.
I've just started riding at 40 and my brother has kindly started teaching me on his 98 Bandit. I loved the raw feel of the bike, and wasn't quite prepared for how much in would love it. His ZZR 1400 is a much better bike, but doesn't have the same "feel" to it.
Music to my ears! Love the sound of that oil cooled engine through the Delkevik exhaust!
Great vid, after years of sportsbikes and then giving up riding for some years, I came back by getting on an old 1200 bandit, the K1 is still a great bike, very similar to the 1st gen. It was later on they really changed. You hit the nail on the head with your review, really enjoyed watching. Thanks.
Michael Andrews Thanks. As an everyday road bike that is still fun it's hard to beat. I've not ridden the K1 but glad to know it still has it's mojo. The 1250 was a great bike but just seemed a bit to grown up haha. I've posted a new vid if you're interested:
th-cam.com/video/vM60UId7eaI/w-d-xo.html
The Lone Trader ha. indeed.
As if I had reviewed it myself very good opinion and review good man
Very nice review on the bandit !
Waiting for your next review
yishay83 Thanks. I really appreciate it. Next vid is up:
th-cam.com/video/vM60UId7eaI/w-d-xo.html
+The Lone Trader Any more reviews in the future?
8:25
'In case the fuel prices have gone absolutely mental since then'
Me sat here in the summer of 2022, shoulders heaving as I stifle tears.
Cool review - looking at getting a '98 1200 Bandit so perfect run through - thanks
excellent review and commentary! i've owned many suzuki oil-cooled engines, and they are an absolute blast, with easy maintenance. i'm from the USA, so watching the riding/driving on the opposite side is totally foreign, but also fun. cheers
thanks for the review.I live in South Australia and I am thinking about buying 1 and your review has been very helpful.
I have recently fallen in love with this bike and i really enjoyed your review. Thanks. :)
had a 1200sx for 16 years and. 50k miles still feels tight . change the oil at 2k and do valves and carb balance at 5 to 6k. just keep a forensic eye out for cycle part corrosion. Good sensible vid cheers.
Nice review! I've got a 2006 Yamaha FZ6 and an '88 Ninja ZX600, both inline-4. I love the top end power and sound of them but videos like this make me want a bigger cc bike, something more torquey. Nice roads there and great riding!
Great video and commentary. The bike sounds fantastic looking forward to more of your vids
craig wilson Thanks for your feedback. I aim to please. The next vid is up if you're interested:
th-cam.com/video/vM60UId7eaI/w-d-xo.html
What a great review!! such a nice bike,I just got one that was wrecked and look forward to when I can try it.
Had my '98 1200 since 2007 and I still love it. The ART can makes it howl....a real bike for me.
The Suzuki engineers admired the Merlin installation in the Spitfire which has equal sized oil and water coolers.. Air cooled is actually oil cooled.
Just passed my bike test and hopefully getting a 650 bandit, yours sounds immense!
I'm looking at getting a Bandit for my first proper bike, after riding my little12 plate ybr for a year. I'm 35 now and it's about bloody time I got off my arse and sorted my licence. Loved the video.
Nice review! I own the same bandit and recognize a lot of your criticism. It is really a lot of fun to drive, even after I owned several faster bikes like a 600 Thundercat and ZXR750. But on the road this is perfect for in The Netherlands and Germany.
Nice review. I've got a black '98 myself,..had it for 13 years and have unsuccessfully tried finding an excuse to buy a modern replacement. It never breaks down, always starts up(even after 10 month of having sat), has plenty enough power with a BOS exhaust, that great sound.......it is really hard to beat
I am a Bandit 12 pro. BEST OVERALL STREETBIKE EVER MADE. My current '98 has 160,000 miles on it, runs better than new. But like Clark Kent, it needs to be pulled out the Phone Booth. Simple motor work- JE 1216cc pistons, Ivan jetting, Yoshimura pipe, light head-porting - and it gives 120 HP-84 ft/lbs at the wheel. (Stock is 98 hp / 72ft/lb). CHANGE THE SUSPENSION, and Superman comes out swinging. This is a bike HUNGRY for Upgrading. I LOVE MY GSF1200!!
Great review of a fantastic bike. Bravo!
Mate that was a fricking close call at 6:23 :O great review!
Yes I had one of those and it was great fun lots of lovely low down torque!!
Nice review. I own 2004 1200 Bandit and I love it :)
Ridden that road a million times, through Balcome to Burgess Hill :) Happy days!
Your review is quite nice. Thanks for that
Love my 98 1200s. I am a novice rider and the suspension is adequate for me. Finished a 2.5 hour long trip this summer and had a great time. Looking at a gsxr 750 now although I am pleased with the power my bike makes.
Nice bike and sounds incredible. Mine's even more old-school than that being a '88 Katana 1100 (GSX1100F) but even at around 115,000 km still runs great and pulls like a freight train.
That thing is an absolute honey, It will spoil you for anything else and ooohh what sound!
I bought a brand new Bandit GSF1200S in '01 and it was the most fun bike I ever had ridden . It wasn't the fastest or quickest , but it would take me anywhere I wanted to go and comfortable doing it . I put a couple of performance modifications recommended by my buddy that was a pit crew mechanic for the Suzuka GP Circuit for Suzuki . These mods woke this engine up with a Yoshimura carbon fiber exhaust system . Wish I never sold that bike . It was sweet ! Later on I bought a '02 Naked version and blew it up . I bought a new engine and modded the engine and it would wheelie any time I twisted the throttle . Loved this one too . Thanks for the video .
I've got an Honda Cbr600rr which I use as a daily commuter.
Bought the Bandit 1200 recently as a second bike because it was so cheap.. I hate to admit it, but I find the Suzuki much more enjoy to drive. The engine is insane: smooth, powerful and its sound heavenly.
Genius video -- well done. I'm looking to pick up a low mile (23k miles) '98 myself this month. This bike defies reason -- a few bikes have better stats (1/4 mile, wet #, tech), but they just don't have that balance and visceral feel that your video captures so well. Nicely done.
The day I passed my test I got a bandit 1200 I've been on it for 9 years now and still love it it really dose teach you how to ride proper and u learn very fast on how quick the bandit can and will kill you if u ride like a prat
So true they can be dangerous but this is great for tempering feelings of invincibility.
Great video and beautiful scenery!
The noise the power! Probably the best educational video I’ve watched on this icon of a bike! 1200cc naked power genuinely one of my favourites ❤️
Love, love old Bandit's! Had 5 of them, best bikes 👍
I have a 98 as well. I imagine every bandit owner says the same kind of things you say. It's not the fastest, but it's fast. It's boring, but it's fun. It's not the prettiest or slickest looking, but it's not ugly. I'd like to get another kind of bike, but.... I'm cool with this one. I always tell folks that it's a really cheap fast bike, and a really fast cheap bike. I would keep that "future classic" talk down, though, or it may mess that up as well. awesome job on capturing the sound
m0untainm0ney I think it's ugliness is a part of it's beauty. I was a bit pissed off with the sound as the mics on my Zoom H4 get overloaded above 50mph or so. I'll have to look at other options I think. Although it certainly captured the feeling of riding it.
As regards "future classic" talk haha:
th-cam.com/video/Tqrz-6cDjRA/w-d-xo.html
Been looking for other 1200 video’s but you’re is best;)
I do my best!
Great channel,, enjoy seeing the older "real world" bikes.
Funny thing, I have been looking for one of these bikes and came across your video. I knew something looked really familiar at the beginning of the video. And when I seen you come down the road by the hospital I knew exactly where you were. I live in the same town. I will be checking out all of your videos!
Loved your video mate especially the mid-talk wheelie🤣 on an even better note I've recently bought a mk1 1200N with just 7000 miles on it - can't wait for next summer 🙂
Good find for sure!!
Very nice review. Gotta love the older bikes. Btw; anyone else immediately thought of the old Baron videos when we cut to the riding through London clips?
Love my 1996 Bandit 1200. It's one very cheap, reliable torque explosion. And it's rock n' roll (in black).
You basically summed up my thoughts nicely 🤟
Enjoy ur coffee 🤘🏻
@@zeusdrummer666 Thanks, man. I really appreciate the support. 🤟🤘
I have a 1999 1200 Bandit and it does very well keeping tabs on my Mates R1. The bike just breeds confidence, as you say in your review the front end can jiggle but it always feels safe. I have always maintained that the bike has more performance than I can give it so while still powering on, there is a safe limit there
MrCimexman Also the bike has done ove r43000 miles and still runs sweetly
I have a ‘98 GSf600, and I love it.
Cost me a fortune over the last few years.
It is the best I have every owned.
How has it cost you? They usually stand up to abuse pretty well.
Owned one in ‘96.. loved this bike.. parked it into car at 95mph.. bike not too bad, car I hit cut in half..😁
Brilliant, you made me feel i was riding.. ;)
Wheelie meister! I miss my '01 Bandit.
Holeshot stage ll, Yoshi header, Gixxer 1100
intake cam, airbox work with K & N!
Other tweeks too.✌
Great review thanks. I'm 45 and only past my test 2 years ago. I've had an RF600 for the past year and a half but just sold it to buy a Bandit 1200. Been looking at the 1250 07+ but I'm finding myself more leaning towards a later pre water cool model.
Looking forward to feeling all that torque.
Cheers
Gaz
TheGazWaz Thanks for the comment. The 1250 is a bloody good bike and more powerful too but it's a bit less "up for it" in the way it feels. The problem with the pre-watercooled models is finding one in good condition for a decent price. They rust and corrode like nothing else.
Good luck in your search. They certainly are out there.
@@TheLoneTrader w
Had been looking for a clean mk1 for a while and found one that had been in storage for years with just 7k miles on it - went fishing for mackerel and caught a shark, what a blast!
I have a mk1 1200 N
Love it.
After riding old BMW'S and evo Harley's for years it's a blast to ride.
Great review recommend to anyone 👍
A well done video. Enjoyed. Got the 650 as a second bike. I like it a lot. Cheers bro.
People say about them that "it's a bike that's not good at anything" but my experience with naked Suzukis, whether it's a GS500, GSF600 or 1200, is they're all fantastic for having fun within the speed limits in a way that nothing else is. Give them some mild suspension upgrades and they'll outperform just about anything. I turned a GS500 into a street scrambler which shaved a lot of weight, the resulting performance improvement was very surprising and to this day it's hands down one of the best bikes I've ever owned.
I bought a 1250 6mths ago, and I love it. I've always had v-twins, and the smoothness of the in-line 4, the hugs gobs of usable torque, along with the upright riding position all have me hooked! Yes, it's not truly 'fast', but as a road bike, putting it through a nice set of corners just puts that big grin on your face. My commute is a 250km round trip on highway, with one really great section of mountain range to go down in the morning and then up in the afternoon. The Bandit is perfect for this. With peak torque only a couple of hundred revs above what she sits on at the speed limit, there's no need to drop down. Just keep it in 6th, check over the shoulder, wind the throttle on and enjoy the train-like pull!
I've ridden a lot of different bikes, and nothing accelerates quite like the 1200 Bandit. It might not be the fastest accelerating thing out there, but it really is like Thanos. It's inevitable.
dude that sounds so nice!! i've got a 1250 and am waiting for an exhaust to arrive :p i live in sussex too! thought those roads looked familiar ;)
Picking up a Mk1 Bandit 1200 tomorrow - It has done 66000 miles but owned by a mature gent who has had it a very long time and regularly serviced it so it doesn't arouse concern, plus I am getting it for 1100 notes.
Can't wait !
Very Nice video. Definitely cemented my decision to buy one.
nice Video. I have a 12er Kult Bj.2000. Greetings from Germany 👋
Well, I was undecided with regards to buying one. Been teetering for a while but you’ve swung me. Got a 1997 model firmly in my sights.
I have a 97 1200s. Modified air box and a five degree timing advance kit. And kerker exhaust pipe. Has 24,000 miles. It was my first motorcycle and I love it. It's hard to keep the front wheel on the ground. Just wish it had a six speed and a higher rev limit
Swap it out for gsxr engine and cdi if you like. 6 speed, wild cam and ignition as standard.
This could be my next Bike! Looks like lot of fun.
I love my 2002 Bandit!
Loved my 89 gsxr1100 now on the lookout for a bandit 12.
Don’t say bad range, I get about 80miles before the light come on on my Harley. Anything that goes more than a 100miles to a tank is good in my book.
Great review, thanks
Got myself a 2003 Bandit 1200 after watching this video and couldn't agree more. There's just something special about the visceral analog feel the bike has.
My dad has a bandit like this and he went round the outside of a gixer who had his knee down with me on the back😂
great bike ....... I have one and LOVE IT.
Another excellent review from TLT.
GSF 1200 BANDIT, very nice. My '05 GSF 650 BANDIT, is everything, one careful, cautious owner, who basically ran it in for 15,000 miles, and you could never want or need to accelerate faster than my 650 Bandit.' take care'!! No it's a Bandit, such a JOY, never same old, same old.
These are great bikes...great daily driver and keeps things exciting.
Awesome clean video, Sir!
I know this video is nearly a decade old, but I own a 2008 650, been riding that for 2 years. It's ok, but I've had so many inexplicable problems with the FI system, and coming from a carbed 125 that I've been riding for 6 years, it's just a pain... Even an "old" bike like mine is too modern for me, hence why I want to "downgrade" but also increase the CC by getting a Mk1 bandit. Bonus points if it's a 97. I'm looking at this video as if it were made today, because I know these old bikes are just built to last (mechanically). They're absolute machines, motorcycling in its purest form. May not be the fastest, some call it ugly but I just think they're fab. They're just a normal, unassuming bike with enough power to get you in and out of trouble lmao. Dream machine.
If you still have this bike, I'd like to ask a few questions:
- Genuinely, is it actually a difficult thing to "balance the carbs"? Working with a carb isn't hard, but I can imagine it's annoying trying to tune them to work together.
- How do you feel about not having ABS? I feel like I don't need it. My CG125 didn't have it, and the brakes on that were bloody awful.
- 5 speed kinda worries me. I already try to go into imaginary 7th a lot on my bandit, but my CG was 5 speed too, but you seem to think it's fine due to the momentum.
- What's the long term maintenance like? Is it easy enough to get parts for it still, being nearly 25 years old?
Invaluable video mate, glad you kept it up all these years :D
Hi there. Here goes with answering your questions:
- Once you get the hang of the method and use decent gear, it's not actually difficult to balance carbs. You just need a bit of patience.
- I grew up riding bikes with no ABS, so it doesn't bother me at all. However, that's going to come down to personal preference. It's a heavy bike and the brakes aren't amazing, so it's something to think about.
- The 1200 engine puts out so much torque that 5 gears is genuinely all you need. It's quite long legged in the gearing so it doesn't feel rushed at speed.
- A lot of these older Bandits will be in need of a fair bit of maintenance and TLC but they really are hard to kill. Everything is easy to get at physically and online guides are plentiful. They also share so many parts with other bikes that there's no issue at all getting spares.
Addendum: Carbs are great and I love them but they are more maintenance and a bit more fiddly than FI bikes. Once you learn how to fix and maintain them, it's all great. But it does require that investment of knowledge.
@@TheLoneTrader Thank you so much for answering, I will keep these in mind. As for the addendum, people say FI is superior in every way, but at least you don't need specialist software just to increase idle speed, or to slightly increase the fuel/air mixture ratio for carbs
Great review,super accurate.Never a truer word spoken about sports bikes too!
I have a k2 bandit and its perfect for the narrow San Francisco streets
thnx for sharing the vid!
This video is the reason for my recently purchased Bandit b12 1200s
I hope it lives up to expectations
Just bought a 1200s year 2000 for £1500 19000 miles,,go with my 06 gsxr 1000 ,,be keeping it great old bike ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland
I love older bikes cause you have to really ride them, even youre doing only 100km/h, feels fast as hell ;) I ride 2004 1200s Bandit