I've read a bunch of reviews and the specs but was wondering if anyone here has had any personal experience with one.
I really like the idea of this bike. But I have some concerns. I've been spoiled by the ease of use of the Sporty. How big of a hassle is dealing with a chain and valve adjustments and things that I don't have to worry about now?
It seems boring to me. It doesn't really get me excited but they are cheap, like you'd be hard pressed to find a more all around capable bike for the money cheap.
I know there are a few past bandit owners on here. Haven't thrown a leg over one myself. These bikes get overshadowed by newer stuff. I deal with the very minor annoyance of chains so I don't have to feel the sluggish and clunky gear changes of shaft drive. Valves are typically every 10-20k miles in my experience.
Buddy in highschool had a Bandit 400 and he loved it.
He weighed about 90lbs soaking wet so that might have had something to do with it.
In reply to Trans_Maro:
I honestly wouldn't mind a smaller displacement bike except for one thing, Texas. Every road outside of a town within 200 miles of me has a 75 mph speed limit and they are all arrow straight. It really is a terrible riding area, flat and straight, forever. The Sporty does it no problem, but I'm a bit big for the bike and it really has a terrible suspension and is pretty punishing at 75mph after a couple hours. I don't even get out and ride on the weekends anymore, just back and forth to work. For where I live I need something more comfortable and with longer legs.
If you like the concept but aren't particularly in love with the Bandit, the Yamaha FZ-1 and the Kawa ZRX1100/1200 are kind of along the same lines.
The Yamaha would be faster and sportier, and the Kawasaki is (IMHO) better looking and has retro appeal.
For extended high speed comfort and good handling, think about a Yamaha FJ.
They're cheap and reliable as gravity.
I'm not too sure about the 1250 liquid cooled Bandit, but I believe the engine to be s pretty slight evolutionary jump from the air/oil cooled 1200s. Those air/oil cooled bikes( Really, any GSXR/Katana/Bandit/RF 900/etc) are the SBC of the bike world. Easy screw type valve adjustments, parts everywhere, roomy, easy to work on engines. Kind of porkers compared to other newer Japanese bikes, but legendary for good reason. Oh yeah, everything fits every other bike in the same family(slight exaggeration). I believe GRMtech guy did some kind of Frankenstein Bandit thing.
A Scottoiler will remedy a lot of chain woes. I'd say any Bandit would be Q ship in comparison to a Sportster. Other choices mentioned above, more so.
Don't be afraid of shaft drive. Once you see the light you'll never look back.
In my garage right now are two Moto Guzzis, a Goldwing, two Honda CX and my wife's Honda Shadow.
Not sure where the clunky shift from shaft drive is coming from. My Hondas never need the clutch unless I'm leaving an intersection.
The Shadow is the only chain drive bike and the engine is in the frame the wrong way. Good thing I love my wife. 
Join us...
Excellent bike, the 1250.
SEADave wrote:
If you like the concept but aren't particularly in love with the Bandit, the Yamaha FZ-1 and the Kawa ZRX1100/1200 are kind of along the same lines.
The Yamaha would be faster and sportier, and the Kawasaki is (IMHO) better looking and has retro appeal.
Honestly, none of those give me a tingly feeling either. One of the things that I do like about the bandit is the half fairing. I don't want a full fairing bike, and I certainly don't want a naked bike. The frame mounted half fairing is a huge plus.
Other cool stuff with a half fairing you might want to look into
SV1000:
Superhawk:
Tuono:
1125R:
XB12R:
Of course I'm biased, my usual ride is an 1125CR, but I prefer V-twins in general and have been very happy with Buell. If you wanted a more cruiser type look I always thought the V-Max might be the ultimate Texas bike:
I have no experience with the Bandit, but I wouldn't be worried about one working fine for what you need... just worried that you'd get bored in a hurry 
I have no experience with the 1250, but I'd take a 1200 all day everyday and twice on Sunday. For the price point they are hard to beat.
Oh, I forgot one thing, Bandit 1200s don't have enough power, said no one, ever.
But just in case it's not enough for you, Mr Turbo has you covered.
I love my 1200s. It's amazing what you can do with this bike.
2-up? no problem what so ever.
Desire to power wheelie? yup in 1st and 2nd. Clutched wheelies will happen in 5th.
Touring? Through some luggage on and knock out comfortable 600 mile days.
I sat on a 1250S at COTA today. I was hoping that seeing one in person would give me some kind of spark. Felt comfortable enough, but, nothing. I sat on it, walked around it, looked at it from all the angles and just felt nothing for it.
I know if I get rid of the Sporty and get one I'll regret it immediately.
Surprisingly, the bike that did get me all tingly was this
Hey, a guy can dream can't he?
In reply to Nick (LUCAS) Comstock:
I've ridden one of those- you're right to be tingly 
I, too, have limited experience with the 1250, but I've had an '03 1200S for a couple years and it's brilliant! It does everything pretty great, is totally comfy, cruises over 100 all day, and aside from my being an idiot and flooding it, it has never gone wrong on its own. It has soooooooo much torque it's insane. It's great for commuting cuz you don't ever have to shift. You seriously could just leave it in 4th all day and it has enough torque to start from a stop in 4th.
And there are turbo and nitrous kits for it if that's not enough. Dale Walker's Holeshot Performance has a bajillion parts for all the Banditses. It's really a great bike. I keep thinking about swapping it for... I dunno, like anything, and I keep not being able to because it's just so great.
In reply to Lugnut:
On paper they seem like exactly what I'm looking for, in person they leave me cold. It may be different when I get a chance to ride one, but right now I'm not feeling it.
I'm vary leery of buying a used bike, any used bike, not just this model. I've known a couple people who had some very bad experiences. If I do decide to upgrade I would 95% be buying new. At this point I'm not looking for any kind of project. I definitely don't want the typical "Runs great, carbs need synced, tires are still legal, forks leak a little, it's in perfect condition" CL bikes.
The bike will be my only mode of transportation. I need it to be hammer reliable. That's why I'm wrestling with the idea of getting rid of the Sporty. Sure the suspension sucks, and the brakes suck, and I don't fit on it too well and all the other things. But it's an easy ownership experience. It always starts, it's simple, no valve adjustments ever, no chains replacements ever, no radiators or thermostats or fans to worry about. But I also know how good bikes can be. I also know that I could spend 10k on the Sporty and it would still be nowhere near as good as something I could go out and buy and never even need to think about upgrading anything on it.
Blah.
From your last paragraph, you need a wee-strom.
I know two guys who have them and they seem to be ultra reliable, very useful and completely boring.
An excellent commuter motorcycle.
In reply to Trans_Maro:
That is one I actually rode, and absolutely fell in love with it. It's got plenty power for me, it handles sweet and it's plenty comfortable. Certainly a contender. I even like the styling. I wonder how the small Versys compares.
mucho experience on the naked old GSXR bike.
Torque, torque torque. Uber reliable engine. There will be a rattle develop in the engine. It is the cam chain tensioner stuck between adjustment teeth. Easy fixes listed online.
The Big Bandits are anvils. GREAT muscle bike that are often overlooked because they aren't the latest trick thing but the thing that just continues work well over and over again.
Change oil, replace tires, be happy, don't get tickets.
No experience on the 1200 or 1250s, but I LOVE my Bandit 600. It's a great all 'rounder, sporty enough to be fun, comfortable enough to ride all day, and the ergos work great for me. Its been utterly reliable as well, aside from some wiring issues relating to the PO's (who is a good friend of mine) butchering of the headlight harness. I hear the bigger Bandits are more of the same, just with prodigious amounts of torque.
Just got an email about this today. This makes things more difficult.
In reply to Nick (LUCAS) Comstock:
To remind you of what you said earlier: I'm a bit big for the bike and it really has a terrible suspension and is pretty punishing at 75mph after a couple hours. I don't even get out and ride on the weekends anymore, just back and forth to work. For where I live I need something more comfortable and with longer legs.
You'd be making a sideways move and paying more money.
In reply to Trans_Maro:
Yes, Yes, I know.
After having a real grown up discussion with the spousal unit, we have reached the conclusion that it wouldn't be wise to make any kind of move on a new bike in our current situation.
As a compromise we have decided to allocate some money to addressing the biggest weaknesses of the sporty. New suspension components are on the way.
