Most bikes now feel bland?

[grog]

Double post, sorry. I forgot to tell whole story on bandit. 5 or 6 yrs ago it was. I saw it parked in pushbike shop, unusual i thought   Went in to check why. Only 2th ks on clock. Bloke had scared himself on it and swapped it for pushbike. Buying price was $2500. Test ride offered, took it to re assure not damaged, bent frame etc. a total bargain. Worth 3x as much or more. Said yes, ill have it. Turned out bike shop owner then withdrew sale. Mustve realised too cheap. I never went back, was totally pissed off. Had forgotten that story until i was prompted by bandit talk.

[Irish in Oz]

I am returning to the Emerald Isle early next year for a very long holiday and I have a wee 2000 model Bandit waiting for me, and fitted out with luggage for all the sunny tours we will be doing.

[Timothy Spencer]

I had a Bandit 1250GT for touring with the good lady and really liked it - definitely not boring. Only sold it because she said she wanted even more comfort. That lead to the current Pan Euro which has loads of bottom end and howls like a Honda Moto GP bike when accelerating hard. Plenty of character and sits well at the ton on the Autobahn as I found out last week.
Many recent designs are sanitised by electronics and other gadgetry. Bikes should be simple devices that can be home spannered. I would not even have water cooling if I could get away with it.

[Andre]

Bikes should be simple devices that can be home spannered. I would not even have water cooling if I could get away with it.

That's why I got myself a 14 

[Timothy Spencer]

...and why I still have the 14 for when I do not need to lug her indoors and her make up and hair stuff around Europe 

[Batkwaka]

Three things turned me off the Bandit I bought in 1996.
Small fuel tank.
Soft fork springs.
High centre of gravity.
It was my first new bike and have no regrets buying it. It was the best value big bore on the market.
Aside from the tendency to do unintended wheelies, I found the whole package to be a bit bland and ended up trading it on a new ZZR1100.
The GSX1400 whilst similar in many ways to the old Bandit always managed to press the interesting button for me, I wouldn't say it is a better bike though, just better suited.

On a side note, it was the change from Bandit to ZZR1100 that made me realise how full of shit Bike magazines are. Claiming the ZZR1100 had an ample bottom end was a joke, I didn't ride it below 3000rpm because the engines labours under the strain. Fortunately the Kwaka made up for its shortfall elsewhere.

[Tony Nitrous]

Three things turned me off the Bandit I bought in 1996.
Small fuel tank.
Soft fork springs.
High centre of gravity.
It was my first new bike and have no regrets buying it. It was the best value big bore on the market.
Aside from the tendency to do unintended wheelies, I found the whole package to be a bit bland and ended up trading it on a new ZZR1100.
The GSX1400 whilst similar in many ways to the old Bandit always managed to press the interesting button for me, I wouldn't say it is a better bike though, just better suited.

I did the exact opposite.

I traded a ZZR1100C3 in for a brand new Bandit 1200.

I loved the way it gave so much more feedback, was entertaining without doing stupid speeds and was so happy (with a can and Renthals) to sit on the back wheel whenever asked. The ZZR hit higher top speeds but I had so much more fun on the Bandit.

[Tony Nitrous]

The ZZR was a good bike. A good all rounder, commute to work, run at the drags, nights out at bike meets and pubs, mad blasts through France. Like the GSX1400 it was a very useable big bike that was easy to live with.    The Bandit just makes misbehaving and acting stupid very easy. It brings out my inner-idiot !  I love the Bandit 12's basic, simple feel and build, something I never felt with the 1250.

[Tony Nitrous]

This old girl always made the ZZR feel like the sensible option.....

[Batkwaka]

I think this Forum needs a "Big Kat Diary"!

[Tony Nitrous]

[Michael Whitney]

Wish I had the money and storage space to buy other bikes lol. The GSX1400 is the most powerful bike I've ridden to date. Prior to that I rode my mates Aprilia Shiver 750. Got smoked by a gsxr 1000 rizla edition today (at a drag strip  )... I saw a video on youtube of a gsx 14 leaving a GSXR1000. Either that GSX14 was tuned up or something isn't right with my GSX lol. Tbf those GSXR's do make 190 hp. While I wouldn't mind having that kinda power, I find it some what pointless. Even when I rode my bandit 600, I'd come across faster bikes and they never got far until caught up in traffic again. Also sports bikes would be to uncomfortable to ride, would defo need another bike for long distance riding or commuting plus one of the biggest things I love about the GSX is the under seat storage.

[daveh]

It's the tourque and the way it comes on that makes the 14 what it is.
I've ridden a few other bikes, the Triumph triples are great, big twins are also different.
The Triumph Rocket3 made me laugh lots.
My time with my 14 is almost done, still unsure what will be next but I'll not forget it in a hurry.

[Blubber]

I saw a video on youtube of a gsx 14 leaving a GSXR1000. Either that GSX14 was tuned up or something isn't right with my GSX lol. Tbf those GSXR's do make 190 hp. While I wouldn't mind having that kinda power, I find it some what pointless.

I think you are talking about this video : sf_uFs2xUIQ

That specific GSX1400 has been bored out to 1700cc. ... and i bought the kit from him 

Waiting to be installed in a spare gsx1400 engine i already sourced.

At this very moment the ported head is being ultrasonically cleaned and in dire need of new stem seals. ( just ordered them incl a complete gasket kit )

Saving now for Yoshimura camshafts and hope to be able to start building this december 

[T 24]

Blubber, do not forget the 2nd gear, it is weak. Read the 2nd gear issue topic.