I’ve just discovered my bandit 600 is returning shite fuel consumption @ 32mpg! No smell of leaks when its left standing, no smoke out the back if it smells rich then not enough to notice when riding.
I have noticed the odd vibration and a teeny bit of a hunt at idle and when it does need switching to reserve not all the carbs run out of fuel at the same time, it’ll go a fair way on less than 4 cylinders! So I plan to check the valve clearances, check the float bowls for crud and re-sync the carbs this weekend and see if it makes a difference. Can’t say if its down on power as I’ve not had the bike long so no idea what feels “normal”.
The manual quotes 44mpg but I was wondering if anyone had any real world estimates for a sensible target on a 1st gen Bandit 600?
When I used to use it for commuting (25 miles daily, stop-start riding) then I could get to about 120 miles before having to flick over to reserve. Riding at speed on the lanes I get a lot more.
Probably all the short trips you do. The GPZ and the CBR swallow a lot more juice if I only use(d) them for work and back.
Sync carbs to see if that cures the lumpy idle. Then compression test before worrying about valve gaps.
Then check for brake drag. Might need to remove the calipers and clean up the pistons and sliders. Did that on mine last weekend and they feel so much better again. Speaking of which can I borrow your DTI gauge over the weekend? Need to work out if I have one or two warped discs.
Yep, I was going to ask actually if I could borrow your carb synchroniser too. So maybe we should have a garage party Staturday. It was a suggestion in the manual that valve clearances should be done before the carbs are balanced. Avsco MOT man mentioned that Bandits (he has 2 of his own) are prone to sticky rear calipers which require fastidious cleaning apparently (plus it had sat for a while when I bought it). I’ve a new air filter that came with the bike, fuel filter is something I want to check too as its been sitting.
I get less when riding into London on my Bandit 600n.
Still get about 120 to the tank though so happy with that. Still selling her though, not allowed to keep two bikes when I get my new one (new to me that is).
:w00t:I get about 60 to a tank on my bandit 1200. :hehe: Been meaning to do the work mentioned above (valves, sync carbs) but just haven’t got round to it yet. OP, let me know if it makes a difference, might convince me to do it quicker that way! 
Interesting to read this as it seems folks get less than I did. I’ve just got rid of my Bandit 600S (Y or 2000 model) that I had for 3 years and used to commute into London (about 17 miles each way down the A40). I would fill up at between 150-160 miles with 160 miles generally being the point that I had to flick the tap to reserve.
Touring Germany last summer there was one stint I’d clocked up 180 miles and still hadn’t flicked into reserve.
Now I’ve upgraded to a 1000cc I’m still getting over the fact that I can only do 100 miles before the fuel gauge starts flashing 
Makes up for it in other ways though!
Also check your fuel lines for leaks. Just found that the O rings on my fuel connectors were letting a little bit of fuel out… might explain a loss of 4mpg - but I think that is due to how I ride though… 
