Motorcycle specifications SuzukiGSF 600 Bandit N et S 2004 Hold-up

the 600 Bandit is a real jackpot for Suzuki, making it one of the best-selling motorcycles on the market. For 2000, you don't change a winning team, you improve it. Although refined with a more modern look, the overall appearance doesn't change radically, except on the S version, where the attractive, slightly aggressive fork-head adds personality and highly effective protection. The new, streamlined frame houses the same oil-cooled 4-cylinder engine of the previous-generation GSX-R. It gains 4 bhp more than the old Bandit, and has been slightly reworked to provide more mid-range vitality.

test by Renald :

looking for a quiet ride? Or a little adrenalin? Look no further, the Bandit is here to satisfy your desires. It's very easy to handle, ideal for making progress without burning the midnight oil, and all for a very reasonable budget.

engine-wise, the bandit lives up to its name, delivering decent power, especially if you're just starting out. The 78 horsepower of its good old air/oil-cooled 4-cylinder engine will never cease to amaze you. Hollow at low revs due to its slight lack of torque (a small handicap cleverly remedied by Suzuki on the 2005 model), the Bandit shows its other face at 6,000rpm, when the thrust arrives and ends up stretching out quite hard until the red zone perched at 12,000rpm.

it's clear that speed isn't its vocation (even if it can tow you up to 220 Km/h with the original, 240 with a devil magnum), and the same goes for the arsouille. The Bandit's shock absorber is stiff and tends not to cope well with bumpy roads (even slightly), and cornering can be tricky with a lack of experience. As you can see, short rides and long trips will be more enjoyable, but a few modifications wouldn't go amiss. A windscreen or a fork head would be less tiring for the rider, especially on freeways where, after 120 km/h, it's hard to resist in an upright position. Vibrations can be felt at around 150 km/h, and the saddle is quite hard, so a comfort seat would not be a luxury - after 200 km, you and your passenger can't feel your buttocks any more. As for the brakes, they don't have much bite, but they brake very well, and without pulling too hard on the handle.

design-wise, the Bandit doesn't look aggressive or furious, but it does have the beauty of a traditional roadster. A small dose of chrome, an engine in the same tone, a fully painted frame and the good old round headlight at the front.

but if that's not enough for you, there's always the option of further embellishment, like this one. After all, one of the peculiarities of a roadster is that it's totally predisposed to tuning.
The instrument panel remains in the traditional spirit, with 2 analog meters for speed and engine rpm, a digital dial with 2 partial trips, a mileage totalizer and the time. The basic indicator lights are located in the middle of the dials (turn signals, neutral, full beam and oil sight glass).

as far as maintenance is concerned, it's best to do it yourself as much as possible, i.e. an oil change and filter every oil filter every 6,000 kms (do it yourself for 45 euros, compared with 140 euros for Suzuki), replace the spark plugs every 12,000 kms, change the air filter every 18,000 kms and adjust the valve clearances every 24,000 kms.

the Bandit remains a very good roadster, with a reputation not only for being puncture-proof, but also for being easy to drive.the Bandit is still a very good roadster that not only has a reputation for being puncture-proof, but is also one of the best bikes for beginners, with great riding pleasure, a decent budget and all at an unbeatable price.

M.B and Renald L.