Introducing the Bandit

Listerine

Listerine

Listerine

Associate
Joined
15 May 2012
Posts
60
Location
Birmingham
Long time reader of this subsection but first time poster! I've found these threads really entertaining and informative to read and it's certainly helped me pick up tips from doing the theory test, techniques for Mod 1 and questions on the Mod 2 (thanks to you all!).

Needless to say, I passed my test on the 15th May and did a part exchange with my 09 YBR125 for a Suzuki Bandit 600 (1999 model with under 5k mileage). All I can say is, holy moley, talk about sensitive throttle! I didn't think it would be a big step up from the ER-5's I was learning on.

Anyways, rabble over, here's a pic of the wild girl herself...
XNS9V.jpg


I will be implementing a few mods on her in the next few weeks to make her a bit more comfortable to ride and wondered if you had any suggestions for a decent windscreen and a possible installation of a fuel gauge. Bear in mind, my mechanical skill goes as far as lubing the chain and making sure that the bike's roadworthy.

Certainly learning about manual choke and not having a fuel gauge...
 
Nice I had a brand new red one on a R plate many moons ago.

You can retro fit a windscreen but then you should have just bought the 'S'
Fuel gauge will be a pain I should think it'll mean a finding a 1200 tank, has it got a main/reserve ?

Also put your lid on the floor that's a daft place to put it
 
The helmet was only on there briefly but i do realise that it's an idiotic place to have it - it was just for the photo!

It does have a main/reserve switch but how does a 1200 tank come into this? Are they practically the same dimensions but with a gauge built in?
 
I would imagine it has the float sensor in it, which is obviously required for a gauge to read.

P.S. Nice sensible first "big bike" .... some folk just wanna jump straight onto a thousand.
 
Looks good :)

Wouldn't worry about a fuel gauge too much. You tend to rely on the trip counter anyway :)

And gratz on passing your test :D
 
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I got it to just under 170 miles-ish before I had to refuel but that was probably me getting used to the gears and accidently accelerating a bit too harshly in the first few gears due to it being a wee bit sensitive. Slowly getting the hang of it now.

I wouldn't have gone more than a 600cc for a first proper bike. It'll do me for a year or so. The 500 I trained on was comfortable but I wanted a tiny little bit more out of it.
 
Good looking example you've got there! Looks well kept. I had a K5 Bandit as my first bike, was great fun. Ended up having quite a few subtle mods done to it, and it looked fantastic. Then it got nicked :( lol.

As said, don't worry too much about a fuel gauge, you'll get used to how heavy the bike feels when stationary to gauge how much fuel is in the tank. And you'll get used to your trip counter helping you estimate how much you've used.

Ride safe :D.

Oh, and shame on you for not posting earlier :p.

hlxbravo said:
P.S. Nice sensible first "big bike" .... some folk just wanna jump straight onto a thousand.
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To be fair, I don't think I know of anyone who's actually gone straight for a thou' as a first bike. But I agree on the Bandit being a sensible choice for an all round good starter bike.
 
I had a GSX650F as my first big bike, which is a faired Bandit. I really enjoyed it - it was quite forgiving but still quick enough to put a smile on your face.

I thought it was daunting too with but you'll very quickly get used to it.
 
It's the slow controls that I'm getting to grips with, mainly due to the clutch lever being slightly further out and a million times more powerful than a 125. I'm not sure if I can adjust the existing lever to have a shorter gripping distance or i'd have to replace it with an aftermarket one.

Also when doing slow control then hitting a bump in the road or something similar, I tend to accidently twist the throttle a wee bit and jump forward - only briefly though. Quite annoying really. Only had the bike for 48 hours but I'll just keep at it.

I have to remember that I was the same on a 125, constantly stalling on a hillstart in the middle of traffic, embarrassing looking back...
 
Listerine said:
I got it to just under 170 miles-ish before I had to refuel but that was probably me getting used to the gears and accidently accelerating a bit too harshly in the first few gears due to it being a wee bit sensitive.
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170 miles is very good, I doubt you'll be getting close to that once you are used to the bike!
 
With a 50 mile round trip to work everyday, I have to go a bit boring and make it a tad economical (at least during the week, the weekends are made for having a blast around on it). It's just nice knowing the power's there if I need it for an overtake or a quick shimmy shimmy ya.
 
Nice first bike & Welcome to the club. :cool:


Listerine said:
Also when doing slow control then hitting a bump in the road or something similar, I tend to accidently twist the throttle a wee bit and jump forward - only briefly though. Quite annoying really. Only had the bike for 48 hours but I'll just keep at it.
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I'd say you are gripping the bars to tight, Try to relax your grip & bend your arms more. :)
 
4T5 said:
I'd say you are gripping the bars to tight, Try to relax your grip & bend your arms more. :)
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This actually helped! I just leaned forward a wee bit and bent my arms and it was a bit better. I think I'm gripping it a bit too tight as it's only a tiny bit of throttle twist that gets it going so I don't really have that much free play without the bike jerking about.
 
Support yourself by gripping the tank with your knees & put the balls of your feet on the pegs then lean back at the hips, If done properly you should be able to lift both hands off the bars without so much as a wobble.
Also use a lower gear & then the throttle movement won't have as much effect if you twitch a bit.
 
Good words :-) and nice bike!

I agree about not worrying about fuel guage too much, after a few weeks the trip is a more useful method I think (I suppose easily said when I have both).
 
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