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| Bandit 600S chasing RC8 |
We’ve owned two Bandits now, of different variants, so it puts us in a good position to give you an honest bike review. A lot of people have given the nickname 'Blandit' to this Suzuki and it’s pretty hard for us to understand why.
Suzuki Bandit 600 (1996-2005) specification
Max power: 78 bhp
Max torque: 39 ft-lb
Top speed: 129 mph
1/4-mile acceleration: 12.4 secs
Fuel capacity: 18 litres
Average fuel consumption: 44 mpg
Tank range: 190 miles
Engine size: 600cc
Engine type: 16v transverse four, 6 gears
Frame type: Steel tube double cradle
Seat height: 805mm
Bike weight: 204kg
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| Bandit 600N admiring country views |
One of
our first bikes was a 2002 Suzuki Bandit 600N (N meaning naked). With 78bhp and
a fuel range knocking on 200 miles it’s easy to see why a lot of people use
these for commuting. The small fly screen as standard does offer some wind
protection but take it above 75mph (on a private road) and you start to feel the wind resistance
strain on your neck.
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| Bandit 600N catching the sun |
The
Bandit is a budget middleweight bike, but don’t let the word budget put you
off, you get a wide comfy seat, ample under seat storage, 4 pot Tokicos on the
front and a fuel gauge from 2002 onwards. Who needs mod cons anyway?
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| Bandit 600N detailing |
The engine is reasonably free revving, giving enough low down torque to be able to enjoy riding at town speeds in a higher gear. It is very comfortable to cruise at 70mph on the motorway, and you can rest assured that you can keep on going, as it’s often described as a bullet proof engine. With routine servicing we’ve seen Bandits exceed 100k miles.
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| Bandit 600S |
The riding position is up right with wide bars and this combination makes for a very comfortable ride. Fear not, you show the bike some twisty lanes and it isn’t shy. It will make cornering fast feel effortless, although it’s not a patch on its sporty big sister, the GSXR. The adjustable forks can be a bit soft for some, but it’s nothing some thicker oil can’t sort.
We used
our first Bandit as a fun bike, with the occasional pillion, and it managed
this without a problem. We’d say it’s an ideal first bike and because of this, if
you’re interested in buying one, we recommend that you check carefully for
signs of it being dropped and for any large gaps in servicing.
In late
2014 we’d been missing our first Bandit and so decided to see what was out there.
After a few phone calls and a long drive to Wales we retuned with a 600S (the
faired version of our first bike).
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| Morning sun in Wales |
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| 'How many men does it take to load up a Bandit?' |
Comparing the two is night and day in terms
of wind protection, we could happily sit on this all day and enjoy minimal wind
resistance, although we have put an aftermarket screen on. With the engines
being exactly the same, we knew what to expect in terms of power, nothing that will
make the earth shake, but plenty to enjoy on day-to-day rides.
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| Bandit 600S |
We have
fitted a top box on our 600S and we use it for everyday commuting, social
rides, pillions and doing the shopping. It still has the same soft front
suspension as previous but with today’s roads, the softness is welcomed. These
bikes are very easy to work on, with a plug, oil and filter change being done
in about an hour start to finish, it’s easy to keep on top of routine
maintenance.
The Suzuki Bandit 600 isn’t going to win any awards, unless there is one for simplicity and reliability, but it is genuinely a comfy bike that will take you across many foreign borders (and back) and then ask you: what’s next?
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| Photograph taken by Wil Collins Photography, Alexandra Palace London |
