Suzuki GSF 1200S Bandit

This amazing machine gave me a new love of biking.

I had a custom seat made as my lady did slide into me on braking and have applied much 'bling' to it purely because I love it so much.

No need for technical jargon, many a reviewer has the details you need.

I've rode it for 12month and have done over 5000miles in all weather with no problems whatsoever.

Apparently I'm meant to mention negatives...erm...not enough weekends in the year?

Buy one, you will love it too :)

Had my K1 Black 1200S for 6 months now. Always been a fan of Suzuki and this is my 4th. Bike came with the bits i wanted: Braided Hoses, Pyramid Rear Hugger, Scottoiler, Uprated rear shock and essential aftermarket Stainless exhaust Downpipes. I have since replaced the poor original screen for a taller one and also replaced the stock silencer for a Stainless Blue flame round race can and added a Pyramid fenda extenda.

The bike is a dream to ride, comfortable and has oodles of grunt. It is simple to maintain and cant think of another bike that ticks as many boxes. It is genuinely a do everything machine. I do appreciate that sport bikes will out handle it when the going gets really lairy but thats not personally what i bought the bike for. As others have said, I also get a very respectable 45+mpg on a run. Expensive oils and fancy tyres are wasted on the 12. Its a traditional big bore motorcycle with a heart of gold. Keep it simple, look after her and she'll work a treat..

Suzuki Bandit 1200s 2002. I passed my bike test 10 years ago but only used a Yamaha Majesty 125 to commute. I am 51 years old, weigh 13 stone 6 and I'm 5 foot 11. I have been longing for a bike for years. A friend recently allowed me to ride his HOrnet 600 which I enjoyed. At a recent bike meet it was suggested I try a Bandit 1200s. I got on it and loved it. I couldn't believe how smooth the throttle and gear change was and there is more than sufficient power to not be changing gear at every corner/incline.

My opninion after 4 months of ownership. Cheap to insure £128 fully comp (there were cheaper quotes). Approx 45 mpg, super smooth engine in a bike that feels very light for it's engine size. I looked at ZZR1100s, Blackbirds but they are too heavy and the riding position doesnt suit me, the Bandit is very comfortable. My bum aches after 2 hours so I'm going to buy an Airhawk as I just don't want to get off it. It's easy to move around the garage, fuel gauage is pretty accurate and it's immaculate. If you are thinking of one, try to ride a friend's or have a go of someone's at a biker meet, people often offer(make sure you are covered by insurance). I am someone who enjoys riding rather than tearing around but it is honestly no slouch, i'm not afraid to open it up fully and it is quick but confidence inspiring. It won't turn in as quick as the Hornet but it can still be ridden swiftly with little effort. I considered many Bikes:Fazers, Pans,ZZRs/Blackbirds ( for touring) but for weight/handling/economy/maintenance and pleasure to ride with low purchase and running cost for me it is perfect and a great all rounder. Give it a go you may be glad you did so.

James Nov 2010.

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.

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 cornering feels better. The saddle is hard but more comfortable than the original. I recently did 1400 km in 36 hours with no sore butt whatsoever. The fairing also wolks better, directing the wind over the helmet, rather than against it. Bandit 1200 is probably the bike that fulfills all my key requirements for the ideal motorbike.

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.

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.

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 scratches. I've put about 1000 miles on it in about 2 weeks of driving and I love it, my brother and other family bikers say I'll want a cruiser in a month but, I don't think so (as I pass them by).

This thing has plenty of power to pass and walk off from the VTX1800 or catch it if they are trying to leave you, as my brother tried to do. My wife is scared to ride it over 50mph probrably because she has'nt riden in a while as well.

The only bad points about this bike (if you can even call them bad points) that I would change are the high vibrations you get in the handle bars at highway speeds for a prolonged time and the front end dips more than I like when applying the front brake quickly.

I'm ready for more power and a 6th gear even though I have'nt been over 5500 RPM, I'd still like to have it.

These are really nice bikes but, not for someone young and stupid as a first bike due to the power that's at hand.

I would diffinetly recommend this bike to anyone looking at buying one that may be in the same predicament as I was, wanting to pay cash and not have any payments. The Bandit seems to be uncommon where I live in North Florida Panhandle area so, I guess I was lucky to find it.

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 bullet-proof.

A great bike that will out-last me. It is a superior successor to the legendary GS-1150E of the 1980's.

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!