next bike

[zorba]

Thanks for the warm welcome 
Well i currently ride a Bandit 6 and now looking for something with more torque and I can't decide whether I should go for  Bandit 1200 or gsx 1400.

Now I know it's probably bias towards gsx on here but can anyone on here  who's had both bikes give pro's and cons for both.I have read plenty about both and my head says one thing and heart says other.
Cheers.

[KiwiCol]

Yup, absolutely.  Just wait a mo,   here they come . . .

[Andre]

Easy: Test ride both

[KiwiCol]

@froudy

[Tony Nitrous]

I have both.
For me neither is a "better" bike, they are different and 1 may suit you more than the other.

The 14 has more torque, feels more planted / stable, has classic Old Skool looks, and less common. A great lazy bike / tourer but still useable day to day.

The 12 has a more basic feel, easier to find more horsepower being GSXR based, carbs, cams, big bores, "dot" heads, pipes etc performance upgrades are much more common.
The 12 used to be the stunt riders choice, heaps of spares, easy to wheelie etc. a brilliant bike to clown about on that gives a lot of feedback to the rider.

The 12 is just big boys Meccano. The oilcooled lump large and small is often interchangeable and has been used in a wide range of bikes worldwide.

The 14 suffers slightly from being a physically wider motor that is a stand alone model, not used in anything else, and not sold in the huge US market that often generates spares and knowledge.

Both suffer from Suzuki's standard build quality. No major fails, but overall build quality is avarage but not great.

Both are old but provent designs now, both are great bikes, just a little different.
IMO there isn't a better one, just one that's better for an individual.

[Del]

What Tony said 

[seth]

Both have advantages and disadvantages as said best give them both a run and see.
My wife had a 1200 bandit and she said the weight on the 14 was much lower down so easier to manouver it.
Both ride great so good luck

[Kiwifruit]

If you have a missus that intends to ride  on the back of the bike, the 1400 has plenty of room......and does'nt wheelie.

[VladTepes]

Doesn't wheelie?  I can if you want it to.


As usual our resident Suzuki collector @Tony Nitrous is the voice of reason.

(Though he rides them, so perhaps accumulator is a better word than collector.)

A mate has a Bandit 1200 and he wishes he'd got the 1250 (being that it's fuel injected rather than carbs). He still enjoys it though.

For my own point of view, when I was looking for a bike there were a few things that swung me the way of the 1400.

- Looks great, classic muscle bike appeal
- LOTS of torque, 6 speed gearbox, oil cooled, fuel injected
- pretty comfortable, esp good for pillions.
- heaps of space under seat for gear.

The previous owner had spent some serious $ on an Akro system etc and stupidly decided to sell the bike, eh @Bov    (He bought a Honda, but it's OK he's better now and back on a 1400)

I can't decide whether I should go for  Bandit 1200 or gsx 1400.
my head says one thing and heart says other.

What does your HEART say?

[Kiwifruit]

@VladTepes
Never wheelies with the bride on the back......Ever !!

[zorba]

Thanks for all the great replies especially form Tony N.Heart says GSX for looks alone great looking bike,then there's the better seat which is more comfortable and has better storage,also tank has a better range.Head says Bandit ,loads about to buy and cheaper,plenty of spares ,lighter bike although I aint a twig so shouldn't make much difference and carbs that can be fixed, haven't got a clue about injection.
I suppose as been said test ride both.
Thanks again 

[Tony Nitrous]

My current 12. Its was faired but I fixed that.



My 14. Was a crashed bike, now a work in progress.



I think I paid $2650 for the Bandit and $2500 for the 14.
The 14 now owes me $2625 all up. 
I prefer to buy crashed bikes or projects.

[Tony Nitrous]

A previous 12.
Renthals, jacked up foot pegs, carbon can, GSXR coil spring clutch, GSXR cams, it ad an ignition advancer but I pulled that out when I fitted the 60hp Holley / NOS kit (battery in the tail, solenoids and fuel pump in the battery box, 2.5lb bottle). 

All the mods were done to a brand new bike. The dealer was a bit surprised when it went back for its first service.



I ran it at the drags, but to be honest it was better for show-boating and wheelies all down the strip than actual times. Renthals, engine mods and nitrous didn't really suit the stock wheelbase. Was better on the street than the strip.

My Nitrous 12, big bore Kat and GSXR1100 at an Avon Park "Run what ya brung" (it was handy having a fiancé and a lodger who both rode)

[froudy]

I currently own both bikes @zorba and have done for a good few years now.
My GSX1400 is my commuter bike/work horse and the Bandit is my sunny day, go out and play bike. I always thought the Bandit was a heavy bike until I rode the GSX1400..Not any longer. It feels like a lightweight sports bike up to the 1400. Both bikes do exactly what I want them to do though..And that is put a big smile on my face when I ride them.
If you want fuel economy then the Mk1 Bandit is a thirsty bike when ridden in anger..I get far better mileage from the 1400 even when I thrash it on the motorway!


Basically what Tony said in his post above sums both bikes up

[zorba]

That's a nice looking Bandit you got there Froudy, makes the Gsx look ugly.