The restyled 2010-model Suzuki Bandit 1250 will not be coming to the UK, according to Suzuki GB
The restyled 2010 motorcycle was revealed back in September with a new headlight, tail light, seat unit, instruments and silencer shape.
The tubular steel frame, basic suspension and the 1255cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine are all unchanged compared to the 2009.
But Suzuki GB’s Luke Plummer told MCN: “We won’t be selling the new model in the UK – I’m not sure of the reason, but we’ll still be selling the old model here.”
The fully-faired Suzuki GSX1250FA will be coming to the UK however – based on the same running gear as Suzuki’s Bandit 1250SA, the GSX adds a full fairing with a sportier appearance and more weather protection.
There’s a list of accessories including Garmin satellite navigation, panniers, a top box and other parts to turn it in to a sensibly-priced tourer/all-rounder.
Well hears hoping they sorted the seat out on the new one.
Ian had to get a gell seat for his & considering that its a GT the seat was soooooo painful to do any real distance on.
With the old factory fitted seat I could only do a couple of hours pilly with him, with the gell its a lot better & we toured France without any issues at all.
BJ - probably - not enough margin in them or something
SV - Not good on a GT. Have fitted a gel seat to my ST.
The original was fine for a couple of years then seemed to compress, but the gel is a huge improvement
Rob, from brand new the seat on the GT was AWFUL ! after a while your behind felt like it was someone elses, after aa few hours youe WISHED it was someone elses... nasty nasty thing !
That's why you buy Honda Rob!
Three years and 45,000 miles and my seat has only recently started to compress down. I think if I still have my CB in another year I may have to consider a new seat, but not until then.
Can't decide though on a gel insert or not. A number of the top seat upholsterers don't recommend them advising instead on the use of good quality foam, with different densities for different areas.
It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has just a seat.
I regard that as a bad move by Suzuki and as Rob said, it's a bit odd that the head of Suzuki GB doesn't even know why. As far as I'm aware the Bandit has always been a steady seller and, unlike some rivals, Suzuki got the fuelling for the 1250 right first time. I also think the fully faired GSX version is a good idea.
With regard to comfort, I've had a 1200S for over 7 years and 72,000 miles and undertaken some long trips on it solo and more recently with a passenger. I've found the standard seat to be as comfortable as a purpose built tourer and I'm not particularly well padded in that region of my anatomy! It's still the best bike I've ever owned and while my recently acquired ZX-9R is a brilliant sports bike with which I am very pleased, it doesn't match the Bandit as an accomplished all-rounder. A test ride on a 1250 SA when they first came out showed me that it was similar to the 1200 but more so.
And as for Hondas, just ask Moonstone what she thinks of the Firestorm for comfort... or lack of.
I've been on the same Bandit that Shell has and can vouch it was very uncomfortable. At first I thought it was because I was completely new to riding pillion and it was me that was the cause of my discomfort but it would seem the seat did not help.
However when I had another ride on it earlier this year with the gel seat, I didn't find it much of an improvement and a 85 mile round trip saw me very pleased to be getting off. I know Stella was also pillying on the same gel seat around the same time and didn't find it all that comfortable either so it would seem these gel seats need breaking in. Is that the case?
Cata (or should that be Lin ) - aren't you being a little unfair, you can't compare a VTR to a Bandit in any way, let alone comfort!
I love this gentle ribbing that goes on between those that are fiercely loyal to their fave manufacturers.
"gentle ribbing"oooh, there's more to it than that
(The o/e Triumph seat was fine for the 1st 2 years (about 20k miles), but it definately deteriorated)
Maybe the pie count was too high in those years.
I had a Firestorm for nine years and although nowhere near as comfy as the CB (obviously, I've done over 700 miles in a day and felt ok), it isn't as bad as you'd immediately presume.
Although mine was the model with the smaller tank and so I had to generally get off every hundred miles just to fill up which gave the legs a stretch.
However, it has to be said, it ain't a bike to go pillion on for any distance. Not at all lol! But as Roachy says, comparing the pillion comfort of something like a Bandit with something like a VTR is hardly fair lol. How many people enjoyed doing long distance pillion riding on the back of Suzuki's TL I wonder??
Now a Hayabusa would be a different story. Oooh .. Hayabusa ..
I am not sure if a gell seat needs 'breaking in' the same as a foam one, I found that it worked for me right from day 1 after it was fitted, mind you I could do a few hundred miles on the old one before I needed to stretch my legs & let the blood flow back into my rear
Jackie, I would gladly parcel up Ians old seat for you, its never going to see the sight of the Bandit again.
The
fully-faired Suzuki GSX1250FA will be coming to the UK however – based
on the same running gear as Suzuki’s Bandit 1250SA, the GSX adds a full
fairing with a sportier appearance and more weather protection.
I personally cannot wait to have a ride on one of these...I have recently ridden the 1200 bandit (which is the same weight as the 600!) and I found it so so easy to ride. It was really comfortable...easy to handle...and I did have one lined up...but it fell through...SHAME!..
I would love to own one in the near future...I love my Suzuki and I know how comfortable she is on the back and riding her myself..
I forgot that for the SA Bandits, Suzuki replaced the one-piece dual seat with two separate ones. So, BC, if you get yourself a Bandit, go for the older 1200 K models. But then I'm biased.
From what Moonstone said to me, (and I hope she doesn't mind me referring to her) the Falco is more comfortable to pillion than the Firestorm and my ZX-9R is more comfortable than the Falco. My 1200SK Bandit, is more comfortable still. So, while it may be unfair to compare the Firestorm with the Bandit in this respect, it doesn't compare favourably with the two sports bikes mentioned.
Depends on who you ask Jax lol ... fitted my ass OK just couldn't do all day on it like I can on the gell.
Wondering what the seat on my SV will be like ... mind you like you I am no stick & I have the 'ahem' assets to spend all day on a bike seat
***although admittedly ... not as much assets as you ***thinking dern good job we are friends lmao ****
Shell Lady didnt realise you has studied my erm ......... assets or is that just u cant miss it when behind me lol .................. and ur assets are in a different place to mine
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