My work mate is selling his old Naked Bandit 1200.
I’ll be buying it as a cheap fun bike for weekend blats.
The bike has been Stage2’d and has had the clutch strengthened (common prob with the 1200)
15,000 miles on the clock.
Has anyone owned one?
Any insights?
Thanks.
my friend ownes one he ses it has all the power he could want only downside its thirsty
I expected some thirst, but I often read the 1200 is better with fuel than the Bandit 600 (if you dont thrash it)
http://www.suzukiownersclub.co.uk/showthread.php/23413-BANDIT-600-VERSUS-1200-COSTS
wot he said above, very thirsty.
cant fault em really yes i too had the clutch prob just splipped a heavy duty diaphram spring in was ok, i dint like the clutch was too sensitive too at the lever so i ground a bit off the bit that pushes resevoir from lever, gave it a little play.
looked after they will go for yrs
i prefer 1s that have not been tampered with so at least you know where you are settings etc.
anymore advice you need/want hop over to oldskoolsuzuki.info
old school cheap wheelie machine
Indeed. More attractive when owners commonly say it has enough torque to pull tree stumps out the ground.
Thanks Choprocker!
I had a 99 Bandit 1200 and could get 45mpg when taking it easy. The engine is derived from the old school GSXR1100 with different cams for more mid range so it’s more usable on the road.
The end result is a torque laden fun bike which will wheelie with ease and make good progress at low revs.
Heavy on consumables like chain and sprockets and rear tyres but ultra reliable and will easily pass 100,000 miles with some basic maintenance.
Highly recommended…would I have another? you bet!
When i brought my Busa i was going to sell my old B12 but it’s such a great fun bike i couldn’t be without it.
On the other hand, I owned a tidy B12 for a year. Didn’t get on with it at all. The handling is old skool. You have to grab it by the balls and muscle it in the vague direction you want it to go. Nice motor and great gearbox though. I just found it a bit dull. Which is odd as it made waaay more power than the bike it replaced. Even the accidental wheelies were a bit tedious.
The finish is appaling too. I know it’s ‘budget’, but still. I cleaned mine regularly and it still fell apart before my eyes. Sold it before it turned into a lump of alka zeltser.
Still go one in the back of the garage somewhere. 
Thirsty old beast
Great fun to ride
loads of torque
I must did it out one day.
http://londonbikers.com/forums/423173//back-on-the-road-with-a-bandit-1200?PageIndex=4
I’d have another one, I miss this one, can’t seem to find the most recent pics before I sold it, 
