Midwesterner needing help.

[bettsasascb]

I live in Indy so no stuff on their bad year. I have a bad back(retired disability) so I sold my Victory and got killed and a year later thinking about a cheap bike. People have told me a Suzuki Bandit will have a good riding position. I have a chance to buy a 98' with new rubber, room on the chain bolt, looks nice for $2200 with 25,000miles on it. This is my price range to see if I can ride longer than 20 minutes without having to OD on my meds. We have a little longer riding season out here but I need info from people who have bought a used bike this type before. I have been lucky enough or stupid enough to have always bought new. Thanks and I hope I can manuver around this site.

[TIMMYDUCK]

600 or 1200 ?

[nhbubba]

No idea wtf this has to do with New England. But I'll bite.

I sold my Bandit 1200, partly because of the ergos. Bit too aggressive for me. IMO the bars need risers. I never bothered to buy some, so I can't say that solves it for sure. But my wrists were always bugging me.

Also stay away from the nekid version. (Not a problem with a '98, I know.) Mine was nekid and it was hell on the highway. Having some plastic in front of you to take that wind-blast is worth it.

Also, the saddle isn't the best. And the suspension gives you what you paid for.

Engine is pretty damned nice though. Gobs of power.

FWIW, I ride a Suzuki V-Strom now. 2x as comfortable and 50x easier to roll on the 'slab with that windscreen in front of you.

[Garandman]

The big Bandit forum is supposed to be maximum-suzuki.com.

The V-Strom or other adventure touring bikes will have an upright riding posture. So will a KLR650 or DR650.

[bettsasascb]

Thanks for the info. How tall are you, did you have to bend over to reach the bars? Indy is hosting the Superbowl and lots of Pats fans in town, make sense? I grew up til 11 in Nashua and Yaz was my man. I am older.

[nhbubba]

I am 5'11"... 6' on a good day.
Yes, there was a slight lean to the bars. Theoretically risers would help, but like I said, I never tried. Kinda kick myself for that some days, seems like a cheap-ish fix.

Check out this website: http://cycle-ergo.com/

[Garandman]

Thanks for the info. How tall are you, did you have to bend over to reach the bars? Indy is hosting the Superbowl and lots of Pats fans in town, make sense? I grew up til 11 in Nashua and Yaz was my man. I am older.

cycle-ergo.com.

Don't forget that on many bikes you can add a seat up to 2" taller, and many large riders modify Buell footpegs to lower them. I put them on my SV: they lower the pegs about 3/4"

[bettsasascb]

1200S, 1998 $2100. Have a real bad back and I have read this has a straight up riding position. Never been on a forum this deal is complicated to a novice.

[SVRACER01]

even if its not a straight up riding position, its probably pretty close. nothing that cant be easily fixed with different handlebars.
have you thought about a dual sport. thats about as upright as it gets. not to mention they dont weigh much so if you have to push it around it wont put you in traction

[SVRACER01]

.... so I sold my Victory and got killed

soooo....youre posting from the dead? *insert scary ghost noise*



sorry, couldnt resist

[nhbubba]

If you're looking for upright ergos with some wind, these pseudo adventure bikes like the 'strom is the way to go in my opinion. As said, my 'strom is far more comfortable than the Bandit was. They even made a 1000cc version for a while if you are hung up on displacement.

You won't find a '98 though. They didn't make 'em back then.

[bettsasascb]

Great site. Thanks

[TheIglu]

A Bandit with a different set of $60 handlebars and you should be fairly upright.

[bettsasascb]

How much would you guys pay out there for a bike like I am interested in? I have read nada,kbb just can't find many for sale to get any extra input. Appreciate the bar idea, I had 3 sets on my Victory before I was happy.

[nhbubba]

I wouldn't pay for it; I don't want a Bandit anymore.

Seriously though; NADA, KBB, whatever. All are probably better than us throwing out numbers. Especially without us.. you know.. seeing it.

[bettsasascb]

Did you get the reference to the Superbowl on my original post? The Pats have kept the Colts out of the playoffs a few times that is all. Many Giants fans as you can imagine in Indy for the game. You guys have a helmet law? I know I could look it up, is ABATE involved in the MSF out there for courses?

[mzdagrl]

You guys have a helmet law?

NH - under 18
MA - yes
ME - under 18 and when operating with a learner's permit or within one year of getting a license
RI - under 21
CT - under 18

Source: http://www.bikersrights.com/states/

[bettsasascb]

That site maximum-suzuki is awesome. I never knew all this was out there it is incrdible, they even break down their forums to bandits/katana's etc have a fact page with pictures of different size bolts on the bike. They then have a techical forum just for bandits. Thank you very much.