Suzuki 400cc Bandit

foozball3000

foozball3000

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Is is worth while to buy one secondhand? Because for some unknown reason, they're very cheap... You can easily get one in a good condition for under 25k.
Any reason behind this?
 
maybe because they only work well once you have wound them up...

all the power lies right at the top of the rev range, so every example is likely to have been thrashed within and inch of its life.

i drove the 400 bandit "original" the gsx400x impulse, in the early 90's and there was just nothing below 8000rpm. a 50cc could outdrag you if you changed at 8000rpm.

p.s. if anybody knows of an impulse for sale pls contact me :-) or an nsr400
 
werner said:
maybe because they only work well once you have wound them up...

all the power lies right at the top of the rev range, so every example is likely to have been thrashed within and inch of its life.

i drove the 400 bandit "original" the gsx400x impulse, in the early 90's and there was just nothing below 8000rpm. a 50cc could outdrag you if you changed at 8000rpm.

p.s. if anybody knows of an impulse for sale pls contact me :-) or an nsr400
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Thanks. :)
Any suggestions on what else to look for? My brother and I need a bike, and we figured a 400cc is perfect as its small enough to ease through traffic and big enough to ride from PTA to JHB with ease...
 
foozball3000 said:
Thanks. :)
Any suggestions on what else to look for? My brother and I need a bike, and we figured a 400cc is perfect as its small enough to ease through traffic and big enough to ride from PTA to JHB with ease...
Click to expand...

the 400 will rattle your teeth out before you get onto the highway.

go find a nice s/h gs500e,,,simple twin, 4 stroke, powerful enough (50-60bhp) will get you to 180kmph if you really want to and they are cheap. no fairing on that though, so the wind will be a problem if you drive the cr@p out of it constantly, but 120km/h cruising will be fun and economical. small and light enough

all those hyperbikes and lookey-likeys with full fairing etc have an uncomfortable seating position for long rides, and most of them will develop a vibration through the handlebars within their lifetimes making your hands and fingers numb.
 
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I have had 3 of them and struggled with all 3 regarding the "Jets" in the carburators.

It's a fk'ng endless mission and I will never advise anyone to get one.... ok we'll I did when I sold mine :D Every time I hoped it will be better, but it hat the same problem every time.


R25K ?

No you can get them for around R 11k easy, buy a Junkmail mate ;)
If they are selling for R25k I will import a container full of them now O.O
 
Pitbull said:
I have had 3 of them and struggled with all 3 regarding the "Jets" in the carburators.

It's a fk'ng endless mission and I will never advise anyone to get one.... ok we'll I did when I sold mine :D Every time I hoped it will be better, but it hat the same problem every time.


R25K ?

No you can get them for around R 11k easy, buy a Junkmail mate ;)
If they are selling for R25k I will import a container full of them now O.O
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So, it's a no for the gs500e or the 400?
 
foozball3000 said:
Noted. :)
Now I know why they're cheap :D

I'll poke around some more and see what other bikes I can find. A BMW 650 would be niiiiiiiiiiiice... :D
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If your looking for a bike in the 25k - 30k range. Maybe an SV 650 ? Very nice bikes. Or maybe a CBR 400 RR (NC29)

All decent nice bikes. If I where you personally I would get an On/Off road. A scrambler that is roadworthy also. They are by far the most value for money.
 
I would agree with Pitbull, though I have never owned or driven a 400 Bandit I have not heard much good about them.
My brother worked for some years as a motorcycle mechanic, he maintains that the 400 Bandit apart from being unreliable is also one of the most underpowered 400cc bikes out there.

Not much clued on prices, but I'm pretty sure you could get an FZR for less than R25k .. I picked up my FZR750 for only R11k :D (I did have to spend about R3.5k getting it shipshape).
 
i think with regard to suggestions, the OP wanted the bandit because it is light through traffic etc.

so now that the bandit has been shot down, we should keep suggestions along those lines.
i dont think an fzr750 qualifies as a "great commuter bike" for in-town use, due to size/weight etc.

just mentioning....
 
werner said:
i dont think an fzr750 qualifies as a "great commuter bike" for in-town use, due to size/weight etc.
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Hmm.. I should perhaps have been a bit more clear.. I didn't mean to recommend the FZR750, was just mentioning mine to give a price..
As foozball3000 mentioned that he was looking for around a 400cc I actually had the FZR400 in mind.. :o

I do actually use mine as a regular commuter and don't really find it big or heavy..
My brother says the FZR is one of the more comfortable superbike series that he's driven - it's really not as cramped as more modern superbikes. :)

But I digress, you're right, any form of superbike (even the small ones) isn't really the right thing for casual or comfortable commuting.. :o


I've heard good things about the Honda Africa Twin .. it's a 750cc but not highly strung and also has off road capabilities. Apparently extremely reliable. I just have no idea what sort of prices they go for..
 
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