Seat Height question

I'm thinking of getting a 1250S Bandit, but on a test ride found the leg length a bit cramped (I'm on a XT660 motard now). I really love my motard, but it needs another 1-3 cylinders and another cog in the gearbox - I really want something that is going to cruise easy on the freeway (my hand was numb for a week after a 1000km round trip). I know I could get a touring motard (KTM990SMT, even the Benelli TreK), but the bandit is some bike for the money (nearly half the money). The riding position is the only thing that I'm unsure about - the thing I love most about my bike.

I know that the seat height can be adjusted up/down by 20mm, and I asked the shop what position the saddle was in. They said 'up', but they weren't anywhere near sure (or really cared?!). Looking at it, there didn't seem to be much space between the seat and the chassis rail, leading me to think it was actually in the 'down' position.

The first picture is the same position as the test bike's seat (I couldn't squeeze my thumb between the seat and rail). In the second picture, the seat seems to be higher (there's definitely more gap there):



Am I right?

I can go back feeling more confident when I say "no it's not - I want to try it in the 'up' position, thanks".

Otherwise the bike was excellent - didn't feel anywhere near it's weight - and that engine is amazing.

Standard position from the factory is in the "Down" position, as per the manual.

Unless the shop changes it, (unlikely) the test bike would have been in the lower position as Tsim says. The first picture is also definitely in the lower position.

madmax wrote:Unless the shop changes it, (unlikely) the test bike would have been in the lower position as Tsim says. The first picture is also definitely in the lower position.

+1, the second pic is a little hard to see, as the pic was taken looking into the light. It does appear to be in the higher position tho. I find that I like my seat in the low position round town, but in the high position when I head out of town.
By the way, go to the intro page & let us know a bit about yourself

You could also have the seat altered to make it higher as well

That seat is in the low position. Even in the up it is only 25mm or so taller so might not help much.
By the way the no.6 bus called and wants its windscreen back

Simply putting an Airhawk and/or woolly seat cover will also raise the ride position and likely make it easier on the butt.

Ewok1958 wrote:Simply putting an Airhawk and/or woolly seat cover will also raise the ride position and likely make it easier on the butt.

Ditto, worked for me, but then, the seat is comfy without the airhawk too. May i ask how much they are asking for the bike?

SuzySuzuki wrote:

Ewok1958 wrote:Simply putting an Airhawk and/or woolly seat cover will also raise the ride position and likely make it easier on the butt.

Ditto, worked for me, but then, the seat is comfy without the airhawk too. May i ask how much they are asking for the bike?

It was a naked and I'm after the half-faired version, so I didn't engage the memory cells too hard - it was very recent (maybe a demo?) - all I remember is thinking "too much" for a secondhand bike.

So far I'm thinking either new (bargain) or 2008ish as they are an excellent price and haven't really changed since then - have they?

No change other than the full faired GSX in 2011ish

Would you be interested in my 2008 gsf1250 ABS bike, Suzy? She's going to be up for sale soon, at a bargain price of $9500, with only just over 4000kms on her. Long story short, she is too heavy for me, and I bought a lighter bike today.
I am 5'10" and i can sit on it with my feet comfortably flat on the ground.

What did you get for yourself SS?

I bit the bullet and traded in the Honda CB400 for a 2010 Triumph Street Triple, with an Arrow exhaust system. I have yet to give it a good clean over and put back on some of the original accessories, such as seat cowl, mirrors and radiator cowls, then ill put up some photos. Its wet weight is 182kg, compared to Suzy at 272kg wet...

SuzySuzuki wrote:I bit the bullet and traded in the Honda CB400 for a 2010 Triumph Street Triple, with an Arrow exhaust system. I have yet to give it a good clean over and put back on some of the original accessories, such as seat cowl, mirrors and radiator cowls, then ill put up some photos. Its wet weight is 182kg, compared to Suzy at 272kg wet...

Thats a huge difference

paul wrote:

SuzySuzuki wrote:I bit the bullet and traded in the Honda CB400 for a 2010 Triumph Street Triple, with an Arrow exhaust system. I have yet to give it a good clean over and put back on some of the original accessories, such as seat cowl, mirrors and radiator cowls, then ill put up some photos. Its wet weight is 182kg, compared to Suzy at 272kg wet...

Thats a huge difference

Dont you mean 245kg wet?
Still it is a big difference.

My mistake. Bikez.com shows Bandit as

Dry weight:

229.0 kg (504.9 pounds)

The triumph specs says

Dry weight:	167.0 kg (368.2 pounds)
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc:	189.0 kg (416.7 pounds)

But still 62kg! You should fine the Street Triple pretty nippy.

Sooooo, how is the seat adjusted up or down? I consulted the manual and it said to see the dealer!?? What gives there?

1wheeldrive wrote:Sooooo, how is the seat adjusted up or down? I consulted the manual and it said to see the dealer!?? What gives there?

http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=9058.0

When I bought mine the dealer told me all Australian delivered bandits are presented with the seat in the lower position. Is he right? I don't know but for mine he was.

paul wrote:

1wheeldrive wrote:Sooooo, how is the seat adjusted up or down? I consulted the manual and it said to see the dealer!?? What gives there?

http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=9058.0

Just looked over that link for curisoity sake, I think it's easier to remove the secondary butterflies than to change the seat height

madmax wrote:When I bought mine the dealer told me all Australian delivered bandits are presented with the seat in the lower position. Is he right? I don't know but for mine he was.

Mine was in the low position when I bought it 

barry_mcki wrote:

paul wrote:

1wheeldrive wrote:Sooooo, how is the seat adjusted up or down? I consulted the manual and it said to see the dealer!?? What gives there?

http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=9058.0

Just looked over that link for curisoity sake, I think it's easier to remove the secondary butterflies than to change the seat height

   Once you start , it's fairly self explanatory 

WOW, Thanks.

 So Suzuki employed some German engineers for this little project to over engineer something that could have been really simple.  

Yea my girl came with the seat in the lower position, does state in the owners manual that it's shipped in the lower position. I could do with it being a little lower but  Bloody ducks disease