Maintenance Questions re 2008 GSF1250

G'day Banditeers,
a little bit of advice re: maintenance issues if you please.

Identification: I purchased this bike second hand and it has 2 handbooks. One (that looks as if it came from the original dealer) describes it as a GSF 1250/S and the other describes it as a GSF 1250/A
Frame:JSICH1223001000042   Eng: W705127294.
I wonder which it is; S or A? Does it really make any difference when ordering service parts?

Second question: any preferences re make of brake pads? OEM or other? Where do you get yours?

Third question: air filter. Mine has a sticker saying it has a re usable K&N air filter. Is this possible as it appears to have a paper element. If so, is it cleaned with compressed air or is there another process?  What is the approximate service life of a K & N filter under normal riding conditions? The handbook indicates that the OEM filter should be changed every 18000kms. 

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Regards
Leon

I'm pretty sure that;

GSF1250S = (1/2) faired Bandit

GSF125A = Naked Bandit with ABS

if it were GSF1250SA it would have been the 1/2 faired bandit with ABS

I can't help you with the filter , because I use an OEM one , .... but if you type brake pads into the search box at the top of the home page , you will find heaps of info on the subject.

My OEM pads lasted around 40,000km, the 2 sets of aftermarked pads have only lasted to the next front tyre change.

I didn't notice any improvemnet in performance from the aftermarket ones

Interesting feedback. I'm on 45000kms and have recently replaced front pads with Hardy Ferodo.
I'm just about to replace the rear pads now.

Regarding Air Filter. I've always understood that paper elements are not cleanable. I haven't removed mine yet but was interested by the sticker that said it's a K&N filter that does not need replacing.

Thanks for the input so far. Everything adds to the table of knowledge.

LeonW wrote:Interesting feedback. I'm on 45000kms and have recently replaced front pads with Hardy Ferodo.
I'm just about to replace the rear pads now.

Regarding Air Filter. I've always understood that paper elements are not cleanable. I haven't removed mine yet but was interested by the sticker that said it's a K&N filter that does not need replacing.

Thanks for the input so far. Everything adds to the table of knowledge.

I'm at 69,000 and still have plenty left on the original rear pads.

Paper element air filters can be gentlt tapped with the dirty side down, then use gentle air to blow the dirt out.

I've done a bit more research on the K&N website. It appears that the filters are a cotton based material, therefore theoretically cleanable. They sell a cleaning product and filter oil which looks like the same as that used to clean pod filters.
Slowly it's all starting to make a bit of sense.

Regarding rear brake pad wear. I've not had this bike long (since 32,000kms) so previous owner/s may have been a bit harder on the rear brake than I am. I tend to drag the rear brake into corners a bit, but don't use it in an aggressive way. On the other hand, most of my riding is done 2 up with luggage. I'm always a bit more circumspect when I have the precious wife on board.
Cheers
Leon