Bandit 600 owners

bandit197

Hi all. Ive just bought a 99 Bandit 600 in England for £1000 sterling. It was a great deal. Im waiting to get it shipped. Cant wait!
However since I bought it Ive been getting conflicting reports on the bikes handling characteristics. Some people have told me it can be a bit 'snappy' and have a tendancy to get light at the front. Can somebody clear this up for me please.
Would anybody recommend fitting a damper?

Idleater

bandit197 wrote:

Hi all. Ive just bought a 99 Bandit 600 in England for £1000 sterling. It was a great deal. Im waiting to get it shipped. Cant wait!
However since I bought it Ive been getting conflicting reports on the bikes handling characteristics. Some people have told me it can be a bit 'snappy' and have a tendancy to get light at the front. Can somebody clear this up for me please.
Would anybody recommend fitting a damper?

I have the SV 650, and can compare somewhat to what the charastics you mention relate to.

I think it is more the suspension which is "budget" but adequate for normal use.

once you start to push it, you will notice it dive a lot under braking and pop up easily when you put on the power.

I put a cartridge fork emulator in the front of mine and it is a completely different bike.

Bandits are great - you will have no problem with it, and parts are very easy to come by. Enjoy it.

L.

bandit197

Cheers for the info. Did you fit the emulator yourself?

arybvtcw0eolkf

Handling on the Bandit is pretty poor in my opinion. But for a 600 its also a pretty slow bike so you probably won't be tying it up in knots.

I've never experienced the front of a Bandit going light on me, even giving it alot of welly the front wheel should stand planted, onless your extremly light. You will not wheelie the Bandit off the gas. Clutch it in first, give it lots of gas and dump the clutch, a truely horrible way to wheelie a bike but the only way I could ever wheelie the Bandit. Forget trying that in second, and since first is very low and its just a huge snap even a practiced rider will find it difficult to select 2nd on the wheelie.

With a full tank the Bandit becomes very top heavy, you'll notice this most when your stopped at traffic lights and the bike is wobbling at stand still!.

Plus points on the Bandit is the availablity of after market parts, and they sound good with the right exhaust.

Oh, if your doing any motorway driving you'll need a fairing otherwise your in for a rough ride.

Idleater

bandit197 wrote:

Cheers for the info. Did you fit the emulator yourself?

I did.

Undo preload adjuster, Calipers off, Front wheel off, loosen triple clamp 1, remove spring + spacer from fork, remove stanchion, pour oil out into container, make sure all oil and sludge is out (takes 15 - 30 minutes), stanchion back in, cartridge in, new spring in, spacer, tighten clamps, add measured oil, preload adjuster...

Repeat for fork 2.

nedned

i have a bandit 96.there a good bike for the price.i put a 120 tyre on the front.the one used on the 1200.and it felt a hole lot better.not that it was bad in the first place.put a 4 stage dynojet on it.and your smoking.but don't mention tappets to me.18 bolts later.grrrrrrrrrrrrr.and check your sprocket carrier bearing.this goes if its not greased regularly.unless its a sealed type-27,000 and i had to get mine replaced.


later..................

bandit197

Cheers for the help lads. Cant wait to get her on the road now, lets hope the weather dries up a touch