Hello from Adelaide, South Australia

Hi All,

I am returning to Suzuki ownership after a long absence. My last Suzi was a GS1000S and I wish I had never sold it.
I also once owned a stove-hot GT750 waterbottle that would still be quicker than my new (to me) 2008 1250 Bandit, but that's another story.
Oro Sombrero (Gold Hat) had it's first hit-out today - go see references to the "Badges, we don't need no stinkin' badges" line in classic movie 'The Treasure of Sierre Madre' and you'll get the reference to Gold Hat.....
Went for a 160km (100 mile) run with our club and all went very well. Hills running with everything from 35kmk to 100+ kmh corners. Just stick it in 5th gear and ride on the throttle. Beautiful.

If I was on my '96 Guzzi 1100 Sport I would be rowing the box like a crazy man, and I doubt I would have covered the distance to quickly. And the Suzuki used a lot less fuel to boot!

Oro Sombrero shares garage space with the Three Amigos (74 750S Guzzi, 84 Le Mans Guzzi and aforementioned 1100 Sport) and a '77 Laverda Jota under restoration, and is expectantly waiting for the '83 Laverda RGS coming her early next month from Queensland.

This is a lot of bike for the money - mine has 6000 kms (3600mi) on the clock and is in immaculate condition.
MIne is the naked bike version and is a deep burgundy in colour.
Running original Dunlop on the front and a new Pirelli on the rear.
The only identified deficiency to date is the lack of good damping in the front end. Other than that it steers better than the Guzzi at low speed, and is stable at highway speeds, and stops well. The rear brake is a bit dead compared with the Guzzi, but as this is to be my daily ride/commute bike, it's just about ideal.
I think a set of cartridge emulators and new springs for the front, and a Yoshi can for the exhaust and it should just about be A OK.

My name is Dave by the way and I am 56 and have been riding since I was 14.

Welcome Dave. You have a nice stable.

The B1250 is a bit soft at the front but it still works for most people.
Any can is better than the original. A few of us run Beowulf's.

welcome to the forum Dave...................Grumpy

2wheelsagain wrote:Welcome Dave. You have a nice stable.

The B1250 is a bit soft at the front but it still works for most people.
Any can is better than the original. A few of us run Beowulf's.

Hey Grumpy, yeah its a nice stable but I am fast running out of room. The 1100 Sport may have to go, as the riding position is getting problematic for an old bastard like me.
I have not seen the Beowulfs - have seen Yoshi slip-ons for about $360 from BikeGearWarehouse.
Had a look on the Beowulf site and total cost of 235 quid (incl a ridiculous 80 quid for postage) puts it on a par with the Yoshi for price. Anyone tried the garden variety short Yoshi's???

So Dave you had a GS1000s, I had a GS1000EC .You had a GT 750 waterbottle ,yes i had one of those .You still have a Guzzi ,i still have an
Aprilia ,owned buy the same group .You now have a naked Bandit ,yes i have one of those.The only differance i can see is yours
is burgandy and mine is apparenty Pink. Welcome along.

Rabid_Canine wrote:Anyone tried the garden variety short Yoshi's???

G'day and Welcome mate. What is a garden variety short Yoshi?

Reardo wrote:

Rabid_Canine wrote:Anyone tried the garden variety short Yoshi's???

G'day and Welcome mate. What is a garden variety short Yoshi?

The standard R77 (??) aftermarket Yoshimura slip-on.....
There are 2 lengths, 14" and 18"" (??).

gus wrote:
So Dave you had a GS1000s, I had a GS1000EC .You had a GT 750 waterbottle ,yes i had one of those .You still have a Guzzi ,i still have an
Aprilia ,owned buy the same group .You now have a naked Bandit ,yes i have one of those.The only differance i can see is yours
is burgandy and mine is apparenty Pink. Welcome along.

Clearly, Gus, you have impeccable taste...
Which Aprilia?? I rode a 750 GT recently, but the throttle was way too sensitive for me in sport mode.
The Bandit's is my first Fuel Inj bike, and the fuelling is way more responsive than any carby bike I have ever ridden - chalk and cheese.

Rabid_Canine wrote:

Reardo wrote:

Rabid_Canine wrote:Anyone tried the garden variety short Yoshi's???

G'day and Welcome mate. What is a garden variety short Yoshi?

The standard R77 (??) aftermarket Yoshimura slip-on.....
There are 2 lengths, 14" and 18"" (??).

There's a 14" & 12" R77, no 18" on the Yoshi site click here.
Be careful when buying new, they always list the longer can for the Bandit. I've got a Yoshi 18.5" TRS I gave a 2" chop.

Hi Dave what bit od Adelaide u from?

Hey Big Al.
I am in the Modbury Area.
I work in the city and commute on the Bandit.

My error, Gus, re 14 and 18, it is 14" and 12".
Personally, I think the shorter cans look better. The standard can on the bandit is huge, and I imagine its quite heavy compared to Yoshis and the like.
On the Guzzi 1100 the cans were opened out and are consequently much lighter and with the cat converter replaced by a Mistral crossover it sounds like a beast.
I'd like the bandit to sound like that.......

I took a Lazer can off my Tuono which was LOOOUUUD.I put it on the Bandit and it was quiet.
This can is 14"

gus wrote:I took a Lazer can off my Tuono which was LOOOUUUD.I put it on the Bandit and it was quiet.
This can is 14"

Hey now, wait a minute, that looks like my bike........

gus wrote:I took a Lazer can off my Tuono which was LOOOUUUD.I put it on the Bandit and it was quiet.
This can is 14"

Maybe you need to look at Reado's guide "How to gut a cat"

Welcome to the site.

I have been tempted ,but LOOOUD can get annoying.

Hi ya,

Welcome Blakeview here, GSX650F only mod is a nice and bright L plate...