Suzuki GSF 1200S Bandit Reviews

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Suzuki GSF 1200S Bandit
4.2 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.2 out of 5

From 6 ratings and 14 reviews

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Average Ratings for Suzuki GSF 1200S Bandit

  • Build quality4.3 stars
  • Reliability4.8 stars
  • Value for Money4.7 stars
  • Reviewer Ratings4.7 stars
  • Overall Rating4.2 stars

14 Reviews For Suzuki GSF 1200S Bandit

  • Guest 7th Nov 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    This Bandit's a beast! Replaced the stock exhaust, re-jetted the carbs and put on some K&N air filters, this has added another 15-20 hp by my guess. Another guy who'd done the same mods said his dyno'd out at 127 hp.

    The seat's a little hard and you tend to slide forward when braking - especially passengers. The Bandit's somewhat buzzy at speed and you can't see what's in your rear view mirrors very well as everything's blurry. Also, the bike is a fairly heavy feeling in low speed turns. I might need to adjust the shocks as others here have suggested.

    Now for the good stuff: I'm 5'9"/165 pounds and the Bandit is comfortable for me to ride. I haven't put over 200 miles at a time on it, but it'll do that fairly well. The brakes are strong and responsive and haven't needed any work in 11,000 miles. Now, let's talk about power: The Bandit has a lot of power - in usable form. I can cruise around town in 5th gear with no problem. When I want to pass someone, there's no downshifting; I just blow by them from 60 feet back like they're motionless. I've had it up to 165 mph and it still had some left in it. This bike is very, very strong. I suspect it'll do 100 mph in under 5 secs. It's the best bike, and most exhilerating, I've ever owned.

  • Guest 29th May 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I've been riding all kinds of bikes for 32 years and I have owned 35 different bikes. Suzuki Bandit 1200 1997 is a fantastic bike! I made slight modifications: replaced the original exhaust with one that breathes freely and has a proper (louder) sound. I noticed that the power curve changed. Less lower torque now. I also dropped the riding position by carving 2 inches off the seat (remodelled the rear seat, too) and changing the handlebars to straight piece. I like sitting closer to road, the co ...

  • pVnuk1969 5th Apr 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    very comfortable, the 1200s bandit /2002 recently bought for $3500.00 usd., the name is an acurate description, the bike is very fast for a sport touring model and so quiet it sneaks away stealthily like a thief in the night. The Suzuki GSF 1200S Bandit is great value.

  • jski 2nd Jan 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    The Suzuki Bandit is a good package. Mild mannered when putting around and if you twist the throttle there is a surge of power from as low as 4000rpm.
    The bandit is in its element on the road. Not needing to chop and change gears (unless you want to) in the slower twisty sections i just leave it in third and that will pull!
    My friends TL1000r can still keep up, but its more of a sport bike and with all the simple performance mods available the Bandit is my pick.

  • seaotter 15th Jul 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I am 48 years old and the Suzuki Bandit is my first bike since I was 18 years old, which were Enduros (Dual Sports as they are called now).
    I looked at all the dealers around my area three times trying to find a bike that I liked and had enough power and something with a comfortabl enough seat for my wife ride also. I kept going back to the shop with the 2002 GFS1200S Bandit with full fairings and Youshi exhaust. The bike was sold to me at 5K out the door and under 5k miles and no dings or scrat ...

  • Terry J 14th May 2008

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    The Suzuki sit-up-and-beg riding position on the Bandit 1200 is very comfortable, especially compared to the positions found on most sportbikes. I am 190 lbs. and 5 ft 10. Excellent ride quality; very quick; gobs of torque for passing without down shifting. It is also a very fast sportbike. I like Suzuki inline-4's because valve adjustments are very easy; just a screw and jam nut- not bucket-and-shim found on other brands that require removing camshafts. Bike is very reliable, and the engine is ...

  • Oyster Bay 19th Apr 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I own a 1996 Suzuki Bandit 1200s. Highly recomend the bike. Removing stock muffler will increases power by 30hp. Replace the rear shock with a CBR600 Showa. For supreme handling just replace the rear tire from 17,180,70 to 17, 190,55. Change rear ride height by replacing the links and jack up the rear end of the bike. (The chain should just miss the top of the swingarm) I have not found a bike similar that I would replace the Bandit with!

  • Guest 8th Apr 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    Bought my Suzuki GSF 1200 in '05 with 1300 miles. It's a fairly unique bike, I get a lot of comments about "is it a sport bike, cruise bike, it looks like both"? Well it is. Very comfortable and will rip your arms out of the sockets when you ratchet the throttle. The performance with Dale Walkers (Holeshot) exhaust, stage 1 kit and timing advancer makes it perform and sound like a true sport bike.

  • Spike668 Rank: Corporal 14th Mar 2008

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I have owned 4 of these bikes (along with many others) and I have found the bandit to be exceptional, it is my bike of choice. Having been a motorcycle riding instructor I used them during that time, racking up substantial mileages (approx 38,000 miles every 18 months) and basically never had an issue. They start, run and go with the minimum of fuss, they are comfortable, handle more than well enough for street use and are comparatively cheap to insure - in short everything I want a road bike to ...

  • blackcowboy 9th Jan 2008

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    The Suzuki GSF 1200S Bandit is an amazing sports bike that isn't just for fun. It actually serves a purpose. The ride is comfortable enough to take it coast to coast. The look is slick enough to go cruising through town on the weekends. The power is enough to stay with just about any bike out there.

  • rocketman1 Rank: Lance Corporal 26th Jun 2007

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    The standard rear shock absorber is not up to much, change this for a GSXR/Busa shock (they bolt in) and the bike handles far better, change the exhausts and get the usual jets job done, cheap to do, & you get another 15hp, a must do to give the bike that edge.
    Hey if the bike came standard with with all this done bike it would still be cheaper than the opposition.
    Hey. A great all round grunter, that can easily lift the front wheel in the first 3 gears. Remember its not GSXR, so don't buy one ...

  • bikenut 24th May 2007

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I have just got back into riding and I did take a few bikes for a trial, like a Suzuki TL1000, Kawasaki Ninja 1200, Honda Fireblade and a couple of others and found the Bandit 1200's nicer to ride all round.
    The bike has an excellent power to weight ratio and good low down torque and also capable of 240k's plus.
    I am a novice rider but have found the Bandit easy to tip into sharp corners and power out a great feeling! Nice and nimble - does everything I need it to. Also, passing other vehicles ...

  • lew stew 2nd Feb 2006

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I've been riding for 16 years and am 57 years old. Had all types of bikes from sport to cruisers.
    With out a doubt the Suzuki GSF 1200S Bandit is the most all around fun bike I have ever owned. Power, comfort, handling all in a neat affordable package. Would buy again.

  • Alan Jensen Rank: Lance Corporal 27th Jan 2006

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Bought my 2002 model brand new so am the only owner. Have never experienced any significant problems with it. The bike is not high tech, no radiator or fuel injection. It does have a fairly large oil cooler, a good thing on an air cooled engine. It does everything you need in a big bore in line 4. Plenty of power that comes on line quickly in a predictable and linear way. Comfortable enough to drain a full tank of gas without any real pains. The seat is still in good shape. My Bandit has ...