Suzuki 2001 Bandit 600

[freediverGA]

Anyone have experience with this bike? The one with the full Front farring. As for a sport touring bike and the power when maintaining high highway speeds for long periods of time?

[Fastfil]

my wife has a 1996 Bandit 600. (Motor is the same in all models,basically cosmetics differences between the years.) She like the riding position, light weight and quick handling.

It has been bulletproof, reliable and has plenty of power for one -up use.

Looks good, sounds good and is waaay cheaper to insure than current 600 supersports. She won't even consider a 650 Strom to match my DL1000.

[rider1951]

Do you know what the gas mileage is like running around town?

[freediverGA]

I'm interested in mileage to. I just bought a 2001 that only had 650 miles and It's first bike so I haven't made it out of my apartment complex yet. I had my heart set on a V-strom but they both are just to big for my build but I felt really comfirtable when I first got on the 600. I know people rig them for touring and that's what I have in mind. I'm kinda worried how the engine will hold up over time with long drives at 70 to 80 MPH on the highway, will it have to work to hard to maintain these speeds? That's when I get balls to go that fast, that will take some time.

I really like this forum alot but now that I won't be a V-strom owner. I would do not want piss people off with none STROM questions. Anyone know of bandit forum perhaps?

FreediverGA OUT

[Mishadbull]

I curently have a 1997 Bandit 600 and I am 6'1" and weigh 200 lbs and the bandit has plenty of ooomph. The engine is built like an anvle and I have had no problems with this engine (my ex has one too and it has been flawless.) The forks are too soft and it runs too lean from the factory but those can be fixed easaly.

Check out:
Bandit Alley (http://pub12.ezboard.com/bbanditalleybbs) for a good message board
and Dale Walkers Hole Shot (http://www.holeshot.com/) for go fast bits and lots of good advice
also check out Maximum Suzuki (http://www.maximum-suzuki.com/)

Mike
{edit to add max suz}

[freediverGA]

Hey mike the guy I bought my bandit from only put 650 miles on it but it had been sitting for long period of time. It's a 2001 but he bought it March of 02 new. He never had time to ride so about a month a go he decide to sale it. He tried to start the bike but wouldn't turn over and in the process killed the battery! He took it to the shop and found out that the plugs were fouled and replaced the battery. I think they just got it to run and the regular 600mile service, that's it!.

well I brought it home and had some trouble when getting it warm up but once it warmed up it would run pretty good but today I couldn't get it to turn over at all. I hope it's nothing serious but I don't think it is. I think the carbs are gummed up still from sitting so long and the jets might be affected to. I also think it's running lean from the factory like you said. when you try I saw alot of reviews that said the same thing. I think I just need a Mech to take the time the really get the bike tuned up, carbs sinked up and that stuff that I know nothing about !!!

Any positive words so I don't loose a weeks worth of sleep?

[TPadden]

Do you know what the gas mileage is like running around town?

Over 20K on my 98 and the mileage was never less than 45 mpg. Great bike my son has it now - he rode it to Key West . He had 4 total hours on a motorcycle and the first day he did 700 miles. On the return he did a 1000+ mile day Tampa to home. Every stop I'd ask if he wanted to get a room and he'd answer why do you? Next we knew we were home!
':lol:'

[Mishadbull]

Bikes DONT like to sit for long periods of time I have found. My first bike was a 1991 Kawasaki Zephyr 550 which I got with less than 2000 miles on it in 2001. The bike had been in storage and when I started to use it often I had no end to the problems. Bad carbs, bad igniter, bad head gasket, lots of bad seals everywhere mater of fact. After I slowly and meticulously replaced/rebuilt all the bad parts the bike ran like a champ! 7000 miles later I sold it to a friend and she put an additional 6,000 miles before she sold it. I recently say it on the road and it was hauling @55 past me on the freeway.

SO: check the tank for corrosion, check the petcock filter for clogging (I think it has one on the 2k1, inside the tank) check the fuel filter, and as to the dying battery ask your mechanic to check for a parasitic drain (for any odd shorts to ground)

As for positive words, I have loved my bandits so much I have owned two and I almost just bought a third. I have a 1996 B6 a 1997 B6 and I was just lusting over a ~2k B12 but I am going on a long trip and I am going to send my bike on to the UK after and so I wanted a new bike and one I could take on fire roads so new V-Strom is in my future!

Don’t get discouraged as the b6 is one of the best bikes around they are mad popular in the UK and Europe, handle good, cheep to insure, are tough as nails, and are fast enough to get you arrested!

Mike


Lost in America (http://mishadbull.tripod.com/trip)

[TPadden]

Mike,

If you like the 600 and lust after the 1200 Bandit - you owe it to yourself to check out a Yam FZ1. In Ozark county 90% of the roads are unpaved and I've never had a problem with the FZ1 on fire roads.

I also love the V-Strom but if I had to choose one bike it would be the FZ1 - the V-Strom is my camping mule and I got it for a 6 week trip to Alaska this summer. For local roads paved or not I jump on the Fizzer 3 out of 4 times. :lol:

[Mishadbull]

Yeah I have drooled on the fizzer too but I realy cant afford the extra $$ for this bike and I am going to alaska too. my major route highpionts are LA-FL keys-Fairbanks AK-Toronto-NY-UK so this bike will be used for about 3-4 months of camping in the US and canada before I head to europe and spent a month or two camping/touring there. then I will be in the UK for the next 4-10 years and Ill be touring as often as I can, I already have a trip plan forming for Oktoberfest in Munchen this september-october :twisted:

Mike
Lost in America (http://mishadbull.tripod.com/trip)

[TPadden]

my major route highpionts are LA-FL keys-Fairbanks AK-Toronto-NY-UK so this bike will be used for about 3-4 months of camping in the US and canada before I head to europe and spent a month or two camping/touring there.
Mike
Lost in America (http://mishadbull.tripod.com/trip)

Mike,

I lived in Kailua for 7 years so I know about circling trips ..... but hope you aren't doing it in that order (recommend LA -Fairbanks -then the Keys). I've also done Europe (on a Moto Guzzi) and lived in London for 3 years; still have a sister living in Scotland.

Anyway I ride about 40K a year and hit Key West at least twice a year and also San Diego twice a year. My wife and I did the Alaska round trip on the Alaskan Hwy in 2000 on a BMW; camping all 30 days. Loved every minute of it .... but had plenty of Deep Woods OFF! :lol:

This summer I'm doing it with 2 friends and plan on the Cassier - Top O' the World hwys up and Alaskan Hwy back with POE from Great Falls Montana. Enjoy your trip sounds like a blast.

[Mishadbull]

I was thinking about the weather in AK and the north parts of the country in April. I start the first of April and was thinking about getting to AK around June to give it a little more time to defrost. I’ve got time on my side as I don’t have to be in the UK till September really so. . .

Mike

[TPadden]

I was thinking about the weather in AK and the north parts of the country in April. ..... I’ve got time on my side as I don’t have to be in the UK till September really so. . .

Mike

Yes - April is too early for Ak - plenty of favorite places to hit in the mean time - New Orleans is one.

UK in Sept can be a real treat. Last visit to my sisters I was told I was really lucky to hit such good weather - the rain wasn't horizontal :(

[freediverGA]

what can you do about tank corrsion and what does it kinda look like. I looked down in the tank with a flash light and could clearly see the reserve tube with screen filter and the taller one tube with the screen filter right next it. The surface of the tank that the gas was in contact with was like red color. I had the bike on the side stand and you could clearly tell that the it had been stored on the center stand. All the dry areas of the tank where like grey,white metal color. I'm kinda worried that the red surface I'm talk about might be corrosion. I hope to god not, I have enough trouble as it is!!! I'm already loosing sleep over this :?

FreediverGA OUT

[Mishadbull]

When I got around to looking in the tank of my zr with a good flashlight I found actual rust. Lots of it. on the sides and the bottom too, I think the fuel had water in it and was not helping the process. If the screen looks good and the tank has no visible rust then just keep an eye on it now and then and you should be OK.

Mike

[freediverGA]

well I was searching around on the net for info about gas corrosion and came across the webpage that had some really awesome tips to fully prepping your bike for storage. The guy had a few pics of what the fuel does if you don't use a fuel stablizier in the fuel stystem. This is a pic of a carb with the same junk I'm seeing in the tank kinda like aring around the tub thing. I'm draining the tank of the new gas and GUMOUT that I in the tank yesterday and take closer look at things in the tank. I'm also dropping the float boils on all the carbs and take a look in the carbs. I have a feeling I'm going to find signs of bad gas slug build up in the carbs to!

http://www.clarity.net/~adam/images/bike/inspect/websize/dirtycarb-side.jpg[/img]