A Suzuki Bandit 1250S for RTW?
 

Question 1:

Calling the experienced ones. I'm planning to head on a RTW trip next year and I'm planning to do it on my Bandit 1250S. Do you think its a sensible option? Im from India and i dont have many options. My other option is either a Royal Enfield Bullet 500 (single cyl) or a Hero Honda Kariza (225cc single cyl).

As far as i have researched, the bandit is a very reliable machine and can handle roads with aplomb and do a bit of dirt as well.

Question 2:

If i do take the Bandit, what tyres should i go for? I need something that will last me a while. Any good medium or hard compound tyres. Recommendations please.

Given your other options, I'd take the Bandit.

Sorry, can't help with tires.

What are your tyre sizes? I'm lucky, the Bonneville shares sizes with some so-called "Adventure" machines. Heidenau do a good range. I'm finding anything with a block tread that could roughly described as knobbly makes a difference to a road bike on a loose surface. Wear wise they seem very similar to the semi-slicks we get for road use.

Go for it and enjoy yourself,

Andy

1) Bandit will do just fine. The bullet has done it have not seen a hero do it but do not see why it can not. On a side note the 1250 is much more bike than you will need in most parts of the world.

2) Metzeler Marathon be my pick for a longer lasting. Drop the psi a good bit off road, pump them back off for higher speeds.

A Suzuki Bandit 1250S for RTW?
 

I think a Suzuki Bandit 1250S for RTW trip would be great and agree with all the previous comments about weight vs highway riding. Tough bike.

bandit
 

I had one and I loved it , great bike very reliable and very fast , the clearance is as good as a Vstrom and you can get them with plastic pannier or some metal one . the maintenance was very spaced , my only concern will to find good back tire and not speeding all the time.

A 1250 Bandit is quite capable of a RTW no doubt about it. Not my first choice but bearing in mind it's been done on a 49cc Puch Maxi the Bandit's a fine choice.

I'd certainly rate the Bandit above a Royal Enfield Bullet for RTW. Not only is the Bandit a more modern bike, it's powerful, torquey, comfortable, reliable and has a bulletproof engine. Spares are easy to source too.

RE Bullet's have their followers but personally I think they are way too delicate, unreliable and underpowered.

The Bandit has the raw power to get you and your kit almost anywhere - just stay off any hard core trails and try to stick to metalled roads (tarmac).

RTW has even been completed on an Yamaha R1 sports bike (probably the last on my list of bike choices).

Enjoy and above all - Stay Safe.

:scooter:

I´d say the clearance is as BAD...:rofl:

And that brings up a good point: You´re gonna need to figure out some sort of a bashplate to it, otherwise you´re sooner or later gonna destroy something very expensive near the oil sump.

Bashplates are widely available for Vstroms and similar bikes, but I think you might struggle to find one ready to fit a Bandit, which is a streetbike. But its probably not a tough job to modify or even make one, if youre handy.

For example, on the roads between Turkey and India, there are lots and lots of big speed humps especially when entering towns, and they aren´t necessarily marked properly. Very hard to spot them in time sometimes. I also managed to drop the front wheel into an open sewer hole with no lid in Pakistan! A tough bashplate really saved the day back then!

1200
 

you maybe able to build some skid plar that will be connected to the bottom of the frame but they will also lower the bike clearance a bit. ,if you do raise the back you should gain some clearance , smaller dog bone will help to do so.
Hey Pecha what do you mean by bad clearance on Vstroom doh they only scratch the speed bump and anything higher than 5 inches :(

Mate I have the Bandit 1250 too, my main suggestion is Ensure your coolant is correct & I have a rad cover, on her just to stop the chances of any sharp/big stones puncture the radiator, not common but never know.

I agree with the DLbiten re tiers I use Metzeler's anyway, someone asked what size you need they are
Front 120/702R17 Rear 180/552r17 both 36psi solo 42 pillion
I pers also added a power socket ciggie lighter type under my seat, so if a power sorse is needed got it (mobile etc)

BTW I just did a round trip of 330 miles on 2 tanks of fuel.
I did 165 Miles u to the resevour marker on the clocks flashing, then topped it up this was carrying 2 up & enough stuff for the week end. probably get 170 out of both as not a true reading with a 2nd person on the back.
these where mostly Motorway (70 to 80 mph) then some B (30 to 50mph) roads in East Sussex, and about 30 min of town work.

hope that might be of use.

I really don't understand the need for a bike to have good ground clearance. I travel on a Suzuki Burgman 650 - probably a bike with the least ground clearance - and I ride in all sorts of conditions including across the Australian deserts where people tell me I'm crazy.

Yes, the bodywork gets hung up on occasion but it isn't really that big a deal - you can always push it out with maybe a few scratches to the bottom of the bike, that's all. As for bashplates, I've yet to own a bike with one. :cool4:

Attachment 4684

Not sure how a Burgman is covered from beneath (your experiences suggest it´s not too bad!!)... but a V-Strom, or a Bandit, or more or less any streetbike, has a lot of things to break against the ground in that region. So I definitely wouldn´t go on a long trip without a bashplate. Much easier to get one, than fix what you can break without it.

Yesterday I had a very quick blast down the A249 on my mates old P reg Bandit 1200. I was astonished with the way it pulled all the way upto 120mph. I was genuinely surprised to find it so torquey. I found the replacement seat very comfortable and when sat on the thing it didn't feel like it was a big bike at all. Well impressed. :thumbup1:

The bike I rode had 23,000 miles on the clock and was aqcuired for only £400! My mate's spent a further £300 or so and the bike is now a trusted winter hack come stand-by tourer. My mate loves the thing and rides it more often than his other trusty steeds (a lovely low milage and mint Triumph Tiger 955, Honda XR650, Honda CBR900 Fireblade and a CMR250 Green laner).

I presume the more recent 1250 Bandit is even more sorted & powerful?