Sitting here off sick and pondering whether a 1200 would be that much better than my 600 (1998).
What d’ya reckon?
Unless you’re funds-limited, why not the 1250. If you’re going to change might as well go the whole hog!
Begs a new question really, is the 1250 that much better than the 1200.
Also kinda like the extra retro type chrome work on the older ones
Go for it! I had a 600 years ago and have always wondered what the 1200’s like - might get one next - although people say it got softer after original 95-99 bike the Bandit 12 has always been considered a stonking bike - they are easy and cheap to maintain (doing the valve clearances is a doddle e.g. screw type adjusters rather than fiddly shims) - there are very few bikes on the market that can touch it for the wonga/bhp/fun ratio.
Go for the 1250 if you feel comfortable spending the extra cash - although it hasn’t changed much in appearance the chassis and engine (now water cooled) are all new - and the bike is a lot more up to date as a result.
Not long had the 600 and doubt the gf will let me change yet but you never know, I like to ponder and to work out what I want in advance. I can look around then.
The only thing that might put me off is the extra weight.
If you get the 1200 in the same colour as your current 600 she won’t twig that you’ve bought a new bike 
it’s difficult to tell a 12 from a 6 as they look identical apart from a fatter rear tyre and a slightly different swing arm - which I doubt she’s gonna notice! 
(I think the engine’s black on the 12 too unlike the 600’s silver colour - but that’s just a detail).
Godd thinking but I’d be too excited not to talk about it:)
I’d go for the 1200 over the 1250, TBH, but then I love the oldskool oil cooled motors.
The 1200 is a better beast than the 600 - especially so once you fit a loud can and get it breathing.
As standard it’s in a fairly low state of tune, knocking out around 100 horses with a fair bit of grunt - these motors can easily achieve decent power with minimal outlay, and with a bit more cash can make big power.
Me too - my larger than usual grins after coming back from a ride would give the game away! 
Now I know I’m a bit gullible and shouldn’t believe any MCN review, but the owners comments are pretty reliable, albeit you need to ride and decide for yourself (as always).
Here’s one owner’s quote though - “I had a 2002 1200 before and compared to the new 1250 it was a saggy old bagpuss.”
I had a chance to buy a bandit 1200 S, low milage, good nick, but 300 quid more and no alarm, so figured more insurance. went with a cbf 600 that always left me wondering what if. got rid of that after about six weeks for a firestorm. If not now, then later, you’ll want the extra power.
Yeah, mate of mine said that if I started with a 600 (only passed my test a few weeks ago) I’d want something bigger real soon.
Huh and I though you were gonna make a club of outlaws…
m8 if yer only new to bikes stick with the 600 for a while spesh over the winter months, think about this when weather is better.
the 600 and 1200 lumps are totally different due to the torque, pulling away etc is far easier on a 1200 and if you give it too much welly like you prob have to on a 600 ya gonna lose it.
- you’ll sell your 600 easier in the sprong.
Be patient young Skywalker!
Got to agree, I kept my 600 bandit purely for bad weather and winter…perfect…slow and boring in the summer months but I had me R1 and a zx10r to blow out the cobwebs when needed…
Sounds wise.
Would like maybe to keep the 600 as a hack and then get something else to play on next summer, just a case of geting the gf to let me have two bikes.
There are so many nice bikes to choose from it makes it so difficult, and I’m not a wealthy man.
the crap weather we are having etc and prob some snow etc to come, you know it makes sence.
Yes, 0 B 1.
I think that large capacity bikes are a lot of fun and the extra power can be useful - but if we’re being honest I think that a decent performing 600cc road/sports bike provides more than enough power and top end for the majority of us - 1000cc bikes are often as much about kudos/image as they are about usable performance. And a lot of talented/experienced riders are faster on a GSXR 750 than they are on the thousand because the larger bikes extra power can be more of a liability than an asset.
On the other hand - if you are going to tour europe then the effortless power and high top ends of 1000cc+ bikes like blackbirds/hayabusas and the big kwaks are ideal.
Saying that I am a total hypocrite - as I’m looking for a 1200 bandit/Fazer 1000 to replace my SV1000 - when a 600 would do the job (commuting and fun) just as well! 
I’d keep the 600, it teaches you to use gears and ride properly, also it is normally a tad harder to get into trouble… I started off on a 1200 as my first bike and have always had bikes with 100bhp or more. Suits my style of riding, riding waves of torque…