Aye Yi Yi Yi..... away on my Bandit (0)
Written: Jul 08 '02 (Updated Jul 08 '02)
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Pros: Light weight, comfortable, easy to ride
Cons: a little under powered, a slight shudder at highway speeds
The Bottom Line: An excellent first ride, but may be a let down after a VMAX or a Hayabusa.
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| LaFeet's Full Review: 2000 Suzuki BANDIT 600S |
After a long hiatus I managed to get back into the “Epinion” mode again. This time, I managed to get my hands on a few motorcycles in between work days.
The Suzuki Bandit 600 was introduced in the United States in 1996. This bike remained virtually the same model until the end of 1999. But the change from 1999 to 2000 has allowed Suzuki to make up for the lack of focus and attention to detail that they have so often displayed in the past. What we have today is a sexier, sportier Bandit in both appearance and reality.
The first outward change noticeable is the twin projector 51/60 watt headlamps — a first for Suzuki USA. The combination of these lamps provide an excellent and well lit low beam pattern while the high beam lamps combine to illuminate a wide path in front of the bike.
The new fairing (which is frame mounted) has strategically placed vents that reduce the turbulence in front of the rider. They also do an excellent job of minimizing wind pressure on your chest and helmet. And as most of you realize, this reduces fatigue as you do not have to fight to keep in place as the speed increases.
I was pleased to find step motor driven analog instruments keep inside the fairing. These reminded me of the Bandit’s relationship with it’s steroid built bigger brother, the Hayabusa. The meters are easily read day or night. Additionally, the 150 mph speedo, 12,000 rpm redline tach and indicator lamps are precisely set where they should be, just below the line of sight.
While the LCD odometer is easy to read it is not as easy to use. Twin trip meters and a clock are included in this display. Only one of the four can be displayed at a time, however, and it's a little difficult to actuate the shallow scrolling and reset buttons with gloves on.
The new gas tank and seat update the crispness of the style. But they also added 11 pounds of weight compared to the 1999 model. This is mainly do to a stronger frame and longer wheelbase. These latter two improvements help provide quicker steering and greater stability.
The Bandit's DOHC, 16-valve engine is essentially a Katana 600 with a different rocker arm valve actuation. The 2000 model has been tweeked a bit. The pistons have improved sealing and wrist-pin lubrication, and the rings are redesigned for less friction. Larger oil jets direct more lube under the pistons for better cooling. To aid in moving the oil the oil pump capacity was upped from 27 liters per minute to 32 (at 3,000 rpm).
To better provide the go-go juice / air combo, a quartet of Keihin 32mm CV carbs now carry a throttle position sensor and provide throttle positioning information to the igniter box. The igniter then digitally selects the optimum spark timing for the situation, maintaining separate timing maps for each cylinder for improved efficiency.
The air filter area is nearly 10 percent larger for higher oxygen input. To minimize the emissions of foul hydrocarbons a pulse secondary air injection has been added to introduce fresh air into the exhaust system. This helps the fuel continue burning after it leaves the combustion chambers.
I have found that the engine is not one for the colder climates. It requires full choke and many turns of the crankshaft when the temperature is below 50 degrees. When the engine comes to life (and it has never failed to do so), it races to over three thousand rpm. This high revving remains continuous until you cut back on the choke or the engine warms up. Either way, this is a little more stressful that I desire for the times of little oil circulation.
After warming the engine up I always find myself eager to get out on the road. The transmission is a beauty, neutral easy to find and clutch action is good for a cable-operated setup. First gear is low enough to get underway without much clutch slipping. There is enough pull to start off in second, but I enjoy the pull of the lower gears.
As one increase speed you note that this is not a large engine as higher rpms are required for highway speeds. Although the engine is rubber mounted, it develops a nagging vibration around 65 to 75 mph that can be felt in the seat and through the handgrips.
The suspension upgrades include a new seven way preloaded shock that is adjustable. And while the 41mm conventional fork is still the same, the damping rates have been upped to give the Bandit a sportier ride. The tires were changed also. Confident cornering ability is supplied by Bridgestone Battlax 120/60 ZR-17 and 160/60 ZR-17 radials on wider aluminum wheels. Even with the increased damping rates and other suspension tweeks, the Bandit's ride is still quite comfortable.
Although we found little lacking with the bike's brake performance in the past, new twin-piston Tokico calipers with larger bores and new pad material are among the enhancements found on the new Bandit. Stopping power at both ends is strong and easy to control, with no sign of fading.
This is a cozy bike to ride with a riding an upright riding position. And there is room for a friend too. The passenger is treated to a comfy cushion and nicely located foot pegs.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 4850
Condition: New
Model Year: 2000
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Epinions.com ID:
LaFeet
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Member: Paule Patterson
Location: Cushing, Ok
Reviews written: 314
Trusted by: 36 members
About Me:
Retired Submariner, ex Air-Force Brat, current radiation protection tech, hiding in urban Oklahoma
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