Fairings are for the weak (Suzuki Bandit GSF600)

Member Name: Micric

Product:	Suzuki Bandit GSF600
Date:	29/11/02 (6542 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A huge power to weight ratio, fairly good fuel economy, excellent torque curve

Disadvantages: Top heavy, Grab strap no solid bars, Not to brilliant two up

When I first climbed aboard this beast my heart was pumping ten to the dozen.

I had just got my license and had borrowed it for the weekend to decide whether or not to buy it off a co-worker. It was a "P" reg GSF600N. The problem I faced was that the ride back was a good home was a good 50miles during rush hour. Now to my opinion

After the taller bike that I have ridden before it was less of a jump to get on this bike. First glance it has the raw muscle bike look with very little in the way of and light panels and no fairing.

I'm not sure whether the bike is meant to come with a large cage around the engine but I am glad that it is there with the amount of times it has spent on its side. This is not through poor road handling but because of its imence weight on a small section of pavement it has left hole in solid concrete. I have a feeling this is down to either bad workmanship when laying the ground or the small surface area of the foot stand.

Upon climbing on the bike has a very strange feeling about itself. It seems to feel more top heavy and needs very little persuasion to lean too far. When on the move though it seems slightly unstable at extreme low speeds, by this I mean less then 5mph, but does feel very stable at higher speeds.

The engine is a four stroke four cylinder which produces a lot of torque at around 8,000 - 10,000 RPM. The positioning of the four carburettors does however make it very difficult to get to the idle adjustment knob in the centre.

This bike has more raw power in second gear then is really necessary. I keep finding myself in second gear doing 70mph and even the odd wheelie getting up to that speed. The drawback however is that the lack of fairing produces a lot of wind resistance against your body. This makes it a cling for dear life at anything over 120mph, not that I?ve done that.

I would say that its uses for short trips to uni and back
m

ake it ideal for the area but the comfort make long trips seem effortless. I have found though that the fuel tank does not leave a lot at the reserve. I could do 200Km a tank and the res would get me another 5 maybe 10 at a push.

Pillion. Wow that is not something I would like to do to often on this bike. The model I have has a small grab strap between the main rider and pillion an nothing else to hold onto. This bike is probably best for those who like being close to one another. I have heard however that the later models went to bar behind and either side and then to a solid bar behind.

In all it is a very versatile bike when it comes to commuting but not quite so happy with the fuel economy.

Cosidering this was bourght for £1000 it was well worth the money. saying that though I lost a follower not to long ago and it cost me almost the same again for the repairs. Ouch !!


***Fresh News***
My bike is awaiting a shop to check my bike is still in good enough condition to be ridden. It had a collision with a car side on. The bike took a small amount of damage to the handle bars and the plate covering the cylinders has a piece taken out over the first cylinder. :-(

Both car and bike are a right off. What comes next??

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