Adventure Bike Rider

My trusty 650GS has done me well other the past 3 years and 32,000 miles. However I fancy a change. At the moment all my riding is on the road so was thinking of one of these,




Hopefully I will soon be able to add either of these to the shed collection,





My thinking is that It would be better to have a bike dedicated to trail riding. I find myself worrying about decking and breaking the GS when I take her off road. Its my only means of transport.

Good idea to seperate the two rolls? And suggestion welcome!

hi bud sports bikes dont go down the power ranger route.cheers al

moto al wrote:


Haha, its not a sports bike, just a faired bandit with a fairing. BMW ownership is getting a little expensive for my liking!

1150 GS can be dirt cheap to run and easy to look after. If you are in London, Steptoe is the man for quality work at very good prices.

Yes, there are worries about drive shafts etc but all down to luck really. You can get a good one for £3000, 50 mpg and service it for around £70 basic every 5000 to 10000 miles if you like.

If you are in London you are very welcome to have a spin on mine.

gsking wrote:


I may take you up on that! I live in Lancing, near brighton! When I got the 650GS twin I was looking at 1150GS but they were all over priced! I shall have to look into it again!

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Sprockette wrote:


Thanks for the feed back! I plan to take a 650 and a 1250 out. I had a 650 for months whilst my bike was being repaired and loved it! What one do you have?

The Bandit is coming to an end, they are stopping them this year!

I've always been a fan of the Bandits and i've had 4 of them. MK1 600 and 1200, MK2 1200 and my last Bandit the 1250. Personally i prefer the half faired ones, as you still have some wind protection for distance riding, but the engine is still on show so it has less of a sportsbike look to it. You can also trick em up to your hearts content, you rarely see standard Bandits.

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They really are great bikes, bulletproof reliable, and cheap to run, my 1250 would do 50mpg as long as i never screwed the arse off it.

PS.... The 1250 is the one to go for, its not too high an insurance group so it costs not a lot more to run than the 650.
It has 80 ft/lb of torque, from 30 to 150 mph you only ever need 6th gear and it pulls like a freight train from low revs... with the 650 you are constantly up & down the box.

VR_Rider wrote:


Im on the newest Bandit 1250 fully faired, I have had 2 bandits & being only 5ft 4 ish size is not a problem for me & 2 up, a great all round Rd bike.

where did you read they are stopping making the Bandit!!!!!! I havnt seen that & in 2007 they changed the cc & went from oil to water cooled

My old bandit 1250 2007



My Currant




Not sure about the MT, although the Harly does have a Agricultural feel to it have a look on the MT Forum site forum.mtridersclub.co.uk/
as most of them have been upgraded
of course with them you dont need any keys to start the bike! if you can get it started.
they are not the lightest of bikes for mud plugging.

Me on the back, A new way to advance to the FEBA on a sniper course, not sure we would of got off if we where on the Rd wearing Army Helmets & non Motorbike

Selous wrote:


First of, great pic with you on the back with a sniper riffle! Seen it a few times, love it!

I found out via haslemere motorcycles, your local Suzuki dealer will be able to confirm that they are no more next year! I'll check out that forum, thanks. Indeed they are probably heavy but always liked them!

Thanks for all the pics!

Bandits are good bikes, but not called Blandits for nothing, though I do have a big spot spot for the power delivery on the 1250, it's ace.

If I were in the market for a 1250 though, I would also be looking at

Slightly older Triumph Sprint ST1050
Yamaha FZ1-S
Honda CBF1000 if your not too worried about looks
Honda CB1300S has massive retro appeal, half faired in red & white I think the look the mutts nuts

there are a few places you can get an MT Force Motorcycles I think they have just brough out by another firm? they sell a few ex Plod bikes, www.klmotorsport.com/default.aspx
or here he has wads of them & holds them back & sells now & again the others are just rusting away
www.mod-sales.com/

Yes I agree they do have a erm 'charm' of there own I saw one on fleabay £200 but needed a bit of work & i didn't have time to

them sites may be of use for you.

Yamaha FZS 1000

i have an 04 one, had her for nearly 5 years. fantastic bike....commutes, it can be a racer, tourer e.t.c i nearly bought a bandit but luckily had a glance at a Fazer and am so glad i got one.

Also has a good following so theres plenty of knowledge out there, parts too.

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