Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer 
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the Horizons Unlimited logo on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
ll 5 DVDs with a custom printed slip case. "The series is 'free' because the tips and advice will save much more than you spend on buying the DVD's."
|
|||||||
| Suzuki Tech Suzuki Tech Forum - For Questions specific and of interest to Suzuki riders only. Questions comparing which bike is best etc go in the "Which Bike" forum. |
3Likes
 |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
14 May 2011
|
|||
|
|||
touring Europe : vfr800 or bandit 1200 for a girl??
Hi all, heres my dilemma. i got a 98 vfr 800 since 5 years now that have brought me around central Europe 3 times solo from Ireland where i live. Of course considering the type of bike especially the fearings, i was sticking on roads that were not too rough...I got this year the option to take to Norway and Sweden a Suzuki Bandit 1200 year 2000, a bike i am not very familiar with yet, but that had been suggested to me by a friend on the reason that the carburators + less sensors and computer dependant board would make my life easier on the road, in bad weather
 and ever changing temperatures  , as well as easier maintenance and cheeper/more available parts if needed. The other great point was to be able to explore less mainstream roads with a naked bike . Now heres the deal: should i swap or stick to the one i know? my travel is due end of july, any suggestion or comment would be greatly appreciated, may be some of you are touring on a Bandit 1200 and could tell me their pros and cons? Thank you very much for your time! Helene, from Galway, Ireland 
|
|
#2
14 May 2011
|
|||
|
|||
|
How tall are you? The big Bandit is quite a heavy machine, and although easy to handle considering its size, if it starts to tip over in very slow speeds, like in a parking lot, you may have trouble to keep it upright.
Carbs > < EFI is not a valid point here in my view, as both of these bikes are known to be just about as bulletproof as they get. It´s the quality of maintenance, that makes the difference. And EFI is nothing to be afraid of, people go around the world on EFI bikes these days and they work just fine (my experience is, that they are actually more trouble-free than carbs ever were). Just don´t forget the importance of maintenance, on any bike. Me, even though I´m a Suzuki man, I think I´d stick to the VFR, because it could be more fun on the (fantastic!) Norwegian mountain roads. I used to work at a mc-dealership, and then I rode quite a bit with the VFR800-00, and it is one of the most brilliantly balanced sporttourers I´ve ever ridden. The Bandit is fun, but it´s not really in the same league, if you rode them back-to-back, the Bandit´s handling feels just old. And some fairing is also good to have on a touring bike, the weather in Scandinavia in the summer can be just about anything. End of July you just MIGHT get some warm weather, though. Kathar6 likes this.
|
|
#3
14 May 2011
|
|||
|
|||
|
Agreed on sticking with the VFR - it's a better bike than the bandit (generally higher specification and probably lighter) and for me the fuel injection is a benefit not a downside. People like carbs because they think they can be fixed, fact is injection systems usually just don't need fixing - and they adapt to changing conditions, whilst carbs just struggle on! Plus the fact that you're familiar with the bike also makes it an easier option. A bandit is really no more suitable for bad roads than the viffer.
Kathar6 likes this.
__________________
brighton2expeditions
'02 Africa Twin (sold), GSX-R 1000 K5 (sold), '97 TL1000S, '08 DRZ400 SM/S, '92 CRM250
|
|
#4
15 May 2011
|
||||
|
||||
|
Hi I have the Bandit 1250, yes it is a wee bit heaver then the VFR, like already said depends how tall you are as well, epending on which Bandit 1200 will depend on Carb or FI (you can look it up at Banditmania run a Google for Banditmania),
The Lump is well know for being solid and lasting & road handling is well known read the MCN report if interested. The Bandit is a well know bike as is the VFR, I would suggest you take the bandit for a ride see what you think, ask your self do you need the bandit? why change from VFR when happy? The simple answer as stated already take her for a ride, to decide. Kathar6 likes this.
__________________
We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.
|
|
#5
17 May 2011
|
|||
|
|||
|
a big thank you
 Im very grateful you gave me some answers to think of. i actually tried the Bandit saturday morning for just about an hour, and though i liked it for its rough side, the balance is quite confusing after the vfr, as well as the breaks!! - duals breaks are REALLY a no brainer on the honda...-Its true im not the tall type -1,7m- neither built and i like the comfort of my vfr very much, i thought it could be a bit risky to change without lot of practice, but my first idea was to get a bit of a challenge there to play with when i got the option of changing bike. Your opinion about the Carburator dilemma is worth thinking of , thank you. also, I had to change the ECU that just "burned" 3 years ago due to a faulty regulator, and im now dreading any problem due to too much computerisation , electronics, sensors and such, it got me freaking out i guess... altogether, i think since i read your answers and testdrove the suz, i made up my mind : unless i discover a big trouble during the pre-travel maintenance - that is Now! - i will not spend part of my budget to buy a new horse this year. A big thank you for your inspiration! 
Last edited by Kathar6; 17 May 2011 at 04:09. Reason: adding info
|
|
| Tags |
| bandit 1200 , bike for women , touring scandinavia , vfr800 |
«
Previous Thread
|
Next Thread
»
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests) | |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
Linear Mode
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Looking for a Sports Touring or Off road Touring bike - Europe | dude6116 | TRAVEL Bikes for Sale / Wanted | 1 | 17 May 2011 04:21 |
| Suzuki Bandit 1200 | crack | Trip Transport | 6 | 21 Sep 2010 20:09 |
| bandit 1200 head | martync | Suzuki Tech | 5 | 25 Sep 2006 18:12 |
| 1 year RTW (Europe -> AUS), which Girl wants to join? | Germanbiker | Travellers Seeking Travellers | 2 | 23 May 2005 17:10 |
| Western Sahara on a 1200 Bandit | Chris Smith | Route Planning | 11 | 29 Aug 2002 20:57 |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:18.
