2007-current Suzuki Bandit 1250S
 

...

I've only heard love stories from people with the new bandits.

It's big and heavy, that's the only problem you need to know about to keep you from buying one.

The old ones were air/oil cooled 1100s. Pretty bullet proof with old style top side valve adjustement. I am not certain how many improvements they made with the new gen 1250 but I do know they plated the cylinder liners with SCEM? Suzuki Composite Electro Material or some shyte that was supposed to seat the rings better with less friction.

Nikasil plating has been done on 2 stroke motors forever. Are they using it on 4 strokes now? Cool.

Yes: from what I've heard (and experienced once) you won't want to stop riding it.

Its big and heavy, a little tall for me with a 31" inseam, but once ou et moving you never feel the weight. Its definatley no SS, wont handle like the SV, has more power than the SV, but probably isn't much faster, its built with low mid range power more than the SV. And its way more comfortable.

Yep. Have been for a while now. Eliminating that cast iron or steel sleeve shaves weight.

I demoed an '08 I think. Super smooth engine but the trans is kinda clunky- typical zook. Top two gears feel like overdrive- around 2500 RPM at 65 in 6th. Seat doesn't slide you into the tank, but the bars are too high. Suspension and brakes are soft. The right mods (emulators, pads, bars) and it's a perfectly capable, comfortable bike.

Why does every bike have to be light? I find it funny cause we can start talking about cars an most guys want a big heavy ass car with a big block and laugh at ricer shit.

Far as I know, the bandits are GREAT bikes in general. the older B12 actually has the potential for 160 hp I think to the wheel if memory serves.

if you like that style, why not split the difference and go with a Gladius or a naked SV1000 if you don't want the 650?

It has been pretty common in cars for quite a while. BMW had problems with the plating coming off and eating engines in the mid 90s and Jag had the same thing in the late 90s. I think it has been in 4 stroke bikes longer than that.

Small, lightweight cars are viewed as "ghey" by guys who are insecure about their masculinity. The only reason they don't view sportbikes the same way is because sportbikes are fast which allows them to pretend to be macho racer dudes.

Because a light bike is fun to ride. I also light light cars.

Friend of mine has an 08 that I have ridden on occasion.
It had ridiculous amounts of low end power/torque! Very comfortable to ride, and easy to handle. Wheelie on command in the lower 2 gears.
Super smooth with almost no vibes, and VERY quiet.
We usually ride with his brother (08 FZ1) and me, The FZ will drown out the Bandit, and my 1125 well... yeah.
The Bandit will take all of us off the line, I pull ahead at around 50, and the FZ pulls me at about 130.
Great all around bike, and an awesome sport tourer!
Mileage is in the low 40's with spirited riding and commuting.
Will be better as a commuter than your SV with all the mods.

Looks good to me. Have u riddin it?

Looks clean in the pic. Sucks when it's that far away because of the time you are out if it's a no good deal, but sometimes it's worth it.

I was reading through the first page and kept thinking to myself... "I think I actually prefer a bigger, heavier machine..." My Buell was pretty light and small, I liked that... but the 954 was fucking small and felt too light sometimes... my TLR, for what little I've ridden it, felt great... and nowadays it's big and heavy.

I really want another bike and the one I want just isn't selling in my area. I really dont want to go far but I might have too. Its kinda funny on the pricing. All the bikes in the Dallas region are listing for up to $2k more then the bikes west of me. Silly big city people. Hell. One was $2300 over blue book and it was stock and 3 years old.

what be the one you want?

The old ones were 1200s.

With regard to the old ones eating oil, that was only a select few 2002 models. That was a issue that was way overhyped. It was a ring issue. Some where fixed, some were not.

I would buy a 3rd Bandit 1200 in a new york minute. Very fun bikes. The new ones are very much different. Totally different bikes IMO.

Still think they are a great buy though for what the OP is looking for.
Buddy has had no issues at all in the first 10K. Just gas and oil (and one rear tire from the burnouts)

Dedicated to the Bandit.

http://www.twtex.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=94

and the SV 1K (N)?

no longer made...

I'll say it again. I like the 1250. It's not a V-twin, but it's still not a bad ride.

And it has to be the QUIETEST stock bike I have ever heard.

I know that.

You can still find 'em either new (ie they've sat there on the floor) or slightly used.

Motorcyclist magazine compared the $18K BMW K1200R versus the $9K Suzuki 1250S: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/fe...les/index.html.

I agree, sans top case is better.

Most definitely!
Top cases look like some bizarre starship come to abduct your bike