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...
 
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 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.
 
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...
 
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.
 
4T5 said:
I'd say you are gripping the bars to tight, Try to relax your grip & bend your arms more. :)
Click to expand...

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.
 
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