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.
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.
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'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.
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 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.
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
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
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: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vM60UId7eaI.html
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.
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'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.
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!
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.
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 .
craig wilson Thanks for your feedback. I aim to please. The next vid is up if you're interested: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vM60UId7eaI.html
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 ,
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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!!
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.
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 🙂
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.
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
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
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!
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
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
great video, i started out on a bandit 600 mk1 when i passed me test few years ago, ive been doing up a mk1 1200 97 for the last 2 years, its nearly ready for the road, just having the carbs ulter sonic clean, like you said in the video the bandit 1200 only got 5 gears is strange because the 600mk1 has 6, easy enough to work on, only thing i will say is if your buying a bandit b12 is check the headers and join on the exhaust as that's where they go, plus back brake is crap if honest gets all the crap from the raod salt ect can be a nightmare to get the potions out if anything like mine, as when i bought mine was a mess if honest and i payed £920 from london keep the video coming
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!
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.
