Ok motherfuckers, why didn't anyone tell me about the Bandit 1200?
 

On the streetfighters site, everyone sucks their dicks. Simple, torquey engine that with about $2k can go from bone stock 100hp, to 150hp and around 100ftlbs... air-cooled... simple... comfy...

Well fuck you guys, I bought one. Sold ONSSP's 250 Ninja for almost 2x what I paid to some 1st timer who loved the shit out of it a couple of weeks ago and used the money to buy this thing.

Not my pic, but it's dark and my phone sucks...
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...o/IMG_6918.jpg

Guy said full Yosh exhaust, but mid-pipes were common with the slip ons, so I'm not sure... It's been dumped and there's a dent in the tank, a big dent in the headlight bezel, rash on the speedo... and the gauges are head on with zip ties... some minor signs of neglect here and there and I had to drive 2 hours each way to get it...

I will be changing all the fluids this week and trying to figure out what exactly has been done to it. I know the speedo is off by about 15% or so... I figured it's geared... A wheelie is available pretty much any time for the first two gears... didn't try third... and a 6th gear would be nice... oh, and hydro clutch... god damnit I hate hydro clutches... The exhaust note is really nice, but between 3500 and 4000 RPM there's a tone that drives me bananas... I assume because of the hacked can.

Either way, it's fucking awesome. Torque on tap and should do everything I want it to do.

Well fuck me... she took a picture when I bought it... pretty much the exact same picture, lol.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...85826418_n.jpg

Lol nice

nice ghost in the background, lol

Congrats, dude. Sweet bike.

The naked versions are so much better looking than the 1/2 faired ones.

Congrats, dude. Sweet bike.

The 1/2 faired versions are so much better looking than the naked ones.

Love the old Oil Boilers. I had an 03 600 and they're rock solid.

Well dang, here's one done all up by local shop owner

:lol

Those bikes are ridiculous. I've ridden literbikes with 130+hp, but they don't make this much torque and they sure as fuck don't start doing it at 3k RPM... This is, hands down, the most powerful machine I've ever ridden... with the exhaust and I assume airbox mod (and proper jetting), this thing should be around 120hp and a hair over 80ft-lbs... And it feels like all 80 are IMMEDIATELY available.

Nice score, man. :dthumb:
Gotta love that couch of a seat too...reminds me of the seat on my YZF600R.

Looks good, like the shorty can on there too.

I like the Bandits. There is something to be said for a simple bike that makes "adequate" power and doesn't require two hours of removing stuff just to reach the oil filter.

Did ONNSP end up not enjoying riding?

Yeah, she wasnt into it, but she does like to ride pillion.

Ohh so that's what you picked up. I like. Very much.

Absolutely loved my Bandit 1200s. Great price and performance right out of the box with a crazy aftermarket. Really miss my B12 and that sweet sounding Holeshot exhaust....mmmm...

Brock davidson used one of these to make the first 7second streetbike pass waaaaaaay back in the day, before the busa even existed.

Congrats, man. Nice ride.

I've very seriously considered picking one up for myself. They seem to have decent legroom (at 6'6" with bad knees and 31 years old, supersports are starting to get impractical), and I'm pretty familiar with that engine. I always thought my GSXR1100 was really just an engine with a frame and wheels to keep it off the ground.

The only things holding me back are the lack of fuel injection and a sixth gear, but I'm really tempted anyway.

It is pretty roomie, though I'm much shorter than you...

Fuel injection is overrated... Carbs work just fine... And yeah, 6th gear would be nice, but with the right gearing, shouldnt be much of an issue...

The newer Bandit 1250 has all that plus liquid cooling.

They lack the character of the older 1200s though.

I'm all about character... and this bike has it in buckets...

Never been on the old 1200's. Buddy has a 1250, and it's nice, but not an over abundance of torque, at least compared to my V-twin.

Yeah, from what I read they stole the soul of the Bandit when they went water-cooled.

Don't get me wrong, I love a well-sorted carbed bike. Trouble is, my job has me on the road a lot, often for weeks or months at a time, and carbs get gummed up pretty easily.

There is a carbed bike in my garage and an FI bike. After weeks of neglect, the FI bike always fires right up, whereas the carbed bike tends to get pissy if it isn't run at least once a week.

Still, I find myself cruising CL pretty regularly for B12s, ZRX12s, and FZ1s.

Apparently they aren't such a well kept secret... a quick search of eBay listings only turned up 3 for sale. That means people have either bought them up or are hanging onto them. :wink:

Yep, it's one of those bikes... Suzuki sold a mess of them and nobody is trying to get rid of theirs... Guy I bought mine from wanted to get a 600 SS because the B12 was too big and heavy... pfft... kids.

There's a pretty good selection on CL, but most over $3k. My <$2k price point was simply not represented... Until I derf'ed this guy down...

I did look at one other one before this one... roached out former drag big... Guessing what I saw on the outside - flatsides, V&H sidewinder headers, etc, etc... it was legit. Obviously dumped on both sides and left outside to rot. It was also $2,200 obo, didn't run, and had all sorts of fuckery from the douche who owned it - $2 led turn signals (four on the back... really dude?), four different footpegs, grounded off the caliper mount up front to show off the PM-ripoff wheels (which were destined for the TL if I bought it), etc... And fucko wouldn't come off his $2,200 price - I told him $1200 or nothing... honestly kinda glad he didn't say yes.

:lol Pretty sure I remember this starting a bit of a grudge match between you two a while back?

http://columbia.craigslist.org/mcy/3375468399.html

Character enough?

looks like a half assed attempt at a monster look alike..... :wtf:

That's not too awfully different from what I want the Tiller to end up like... and I've seen MUCH cooler on the streetfighters site.

This was my 'no mod' purchase. A bike I could buy, ride, and do nothing to... A few minor things here and there, like frame sliders, but otherwise this bike will just get routine maintenance, gas, and miles.

The tiller has a better looking frame. It just looks beefier.

Changed the oil last night... confirmed, full Yosh exhaust. Didn't get a chance to dig into the airbox to see if/how it's been modded, but I will tonight.