Suzuki Bandit 600 reviews

Got rid of my beginner Sportster for it. Great bike for sport touring. Fast enough stock, really pulls after 3k rpm and have gotten 51mpg highest, usually get 48mpg on the highway and 42-45 city. No need for downshifting out of 6th for highway passing. As with most bikes the stock seat is a weakness, would recommend moving arond after 100 miles or so but became worse only after 50 miles after doing an 1000 mile iron butt w/the stock seat. A lot better w/ the sargent cycle seat. The Suzuki top and side cases are great addition and pop right off in seconds. The color panels have to be orderd seperately from the cases, there are no non-painted panels that come with them and they are required to hold the reflecters on. You can probably get away without the side case panels if you want but not with the top case. Stock tires are expensive to replace if you want to keep them, wear fast, too much of a performance tire if you want it to be more of sport touring bike. Replaced both tires due to a bolt in the rear tire at 1500 miles, the rear tire alone was $300 so for under that I replaced both w/the dunlop sportmax roadsmarts which will last longer and I haven't noticed a difference in performance. W/1500 miles the stock stires had half tread left. Show less

I have owned many bikes including large touring bikes, dirt bikes and way too many cruisers. I must say this bike is the biggest bang for the buck without question! It is smoother and faster than my other bikes. It's a grown-up's bike, not a butt-busting crotch rocket. This bike has the best engine I have ever had in 40 + years of riding. This is the bike every biker wants but does not know it! Show less

I've have so much fun on this bike, it's my everyday ride (only bike). My last bike was a 1976 Yamaha XS400 a long time ago. I changed my mind numerous times before settling on the Bandit 1250 SA. I'm certain the ABS saved my life on a wet road one afternoon when a truck switched lanes and didn't see me. On long trips (over 900 miles on one trip) or short trips to the mountains and back the smiles keep coming. My only complaint is the tires keep wearing out (especially the back). It has loads of torque to play with. There is a winding road close to town that all the sport bikes ride on; they seemed shocked that I keep up with them on such a big bike (weight-wise). I would like a more comfortable seat for longer rides. The stock seat is good for about an hour. This is a fast bike for me. The top end is right up there with the gentlemen's agreement. After 2 full seasons of riding I still can't get enough seat time. Show less

I love this motorcycle. I believe it is the best buy for the money and more. There is plenty of power at all rpms, even though you are carrying somebody in the back. It has great fuel economy also; over 50 miles per gallon of fuel. Keep it up Suzuki! Show less

I have been riding for about 3 years and previously owned 2 dual-sports. I traded in my last bike, a DR-Z400, for this Bandit about a month ago, and I couldn't be happier. The only complaints I had with the bike stock was the seat, the wind protection, and the quietness (not necessarily a bad thing). My first add-on was a Givi windshield, which helped a little. And today I got my Corbin seat in. The Corbin seating position is an inch lower than stock, which made the windshield much more effective, and very comfortable and supportive. Do not let people discourage you from buying a seat based on price alone. With the stock seat, my butt was burning after 30 minutes of riding and I was constantly changing positions to try and get comfortable. I rode 100 miles today on the new seat and my butt was not sore at all! Best money I have spent on the bike so far, period. The bike is still quiet, but that will be my next upgrade, probably in the form of a Yoshimura TRS. This is a bike that I want to just ride all day, and has to be one of the best buys in motorcycling today. Eventually I will get some kind of luggage, as this is a bike I would have no trouble riding for a week straight. What more can I say? I love it! Show less

I bought my 07 July 2nd this year. I am completely satisfied with the engine, transmission and chassis performance. Overall the quality is excellent. I would ride this bike anywhere! Without a doubt it is the best BANG FOR THE BUCK motorcycle out there! This is my 26th bike since 1968 and it's right up there as one of the best overall bikes I've ever owned. It absolutely has the best overall powerband I've ever enjoyed! Show less

My wife and I went to our local dealership to look at a sportbike that I had wanted for some time. After deciding for budgetary reasons that I couldn't get it, we decided to head back home. On the way out, my wife noticed a used 2005 Suzuki Bandit 1200S for sale sitting off to the side and brought it to my attention. At first, I wasn't too interested since I've always liked the aggressive look and power of the bullet-bikes. Still, she insisted that I take a closer look. As soon as I sat on the bike I felt at home on this machine and the price was something that I couldn't ignore. I knew I had to explore this bike further. I've always loved the Suzuki GSXR oil-cooled powerplants so that was a big selling point as well. After mulling things over, we decided to buy. At first, I must admit that I was somewhat skeptical at purchasing this bike since it wasn't my first choice. After being on this bike a bit, my skepticism soon evaporated and it was replaced with sheer joy and excitement. Without question, it's the smoothest, most ergonomic and friendly bike I've owned with power that really surprised me. I drag race motorcycles for a hobby so big-time power isn't something that is new to me. For the record, I've also owned/ridden the following bikes over the last 27 years: 1983 Kawasaki KZ750 (first streetbike), 1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J, 1986 Kawasaki Ninja 1000R, 1985 Kawasaki Ninja 900, 1985 GPz 750 turbo, 2003 Suzuki GSXR-1000, 2004 Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R, 2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX14, and now the 2005 Suzuki Bandit 1200S. After all these bikes, I love the Bandit the best. While it doesn't have the horsepower or the nimble handling of the other bikes I've ridden, it does everything well overall. It's a jack of all trades and a master of all. This bike is a do-it-all machine and will probably be my last for quite some time to come. It has earned my respect. Show less

I sold my first bike, a Suzuki V-Strom 650. Great bike for a beginner that is for sure, but a little rough for me, since I am in-seam challenged. The Bandit's ergonomics are perfect for me. I added the full fairings and hard saddlebags. This is a great sport tourer! The Bandit is a great do-it-all bike. Great torque, comfort and great handling! Five stars!! Show less

I just sold my Vulcan 1500 cruiser, and had done a lot of study on the Bandit 1250S, so I found a beautiful '08 dark blue one, and boy did I impress myself with this choice. This is by far the most nimble, powerful bike I have ever ridden. The 1250S lives up to its name and all the hype about this year's Bandit. The seat was a little hard at first and the new way to ride this bike compared to my cruiser took a few miles and road trips to figure out, but I feel that this is what motorcycle riding is all about. You just become one with the road, bike & your surroundings on any ride with the Bandit. Its smooth acceleration and instant power to the rear wheel is breathtaking. I'm sold. I would not consider riding anything but a Bandit 1250S again. Show less

Well this is my first bike and I love it. I learned to ride on my dad's Honda Valkyrie and I thought that thing was fast. Once I got used to how this bike handles (a lot more flickable obviously) I realized that this Bandit is all anyone could ever REALLY need on the street. I leave my dad in the dust in 5th gear roll-ons and everywhere else. It is as comfortable as any 23 year old needs, maybe someone with a weak back would like bar risers... they also have a higher windscreen that might be good sometimes, but I am more into a sporty look. For the price this is the best bike I could have gotten. Not to mention my girlfriend is glad that I didn't get a full sport bike when she rides with me! Show less