The Bandit. Oh, sorry - is this the wrong picture?

Many road tests have been written about this old beasty, but I actually had the pleasure (eh?) of owning one for a while.

At the time of purchase, I was the owner of a YZF750R, but this had been damaged whilst at the ‘96 TT through a very unfortunate accident at the bottom of Bray Hill when I was unceromonially run over by a rampaging Dave Black, so the bike was still undergoing repair when I was in need of a motorcycle as transport. All the reports I had read suggested the Bandit 1200 was the bit of kit to have if you wanted to enjoy motorcycling for motorcycling's sake and I thought this to be apt as age was creeping on and I wanted to slow down a bit (eh?)....oh, and lots of mega wheelies to boot. (See, you will read those bike magazines ...)

So, off I popped down to my local dealer and sure enough they had a nice brand new Dark Metallic Blue one there, (with my name all over it), so I bought it. Cheap too, it was only £4,500. Seemed like a bargain, certainly got a stonking engine in it. Oh, by the way I bought the unfaired one, as I was well ‘ard in them daze !! (haze?)

Anyway, I rode it home at a nice leisurely pace and it felt fine, bouncing along nicely with loads of torque, you could ride this thing anywhere in 5th all day long. I ran it in properly and had it serviced, then I garaged it and flew back to the Middle East, where I was working at the time.

I returned in March ‘97 and gave the Bandit a good old spring clean and got her ready for the summer. This was going to be fun, all this cruising around. A whole summer (as I was no longer an ex-pat), of flies in me teeth (sign of a happy biker) and looking very cool on my menacing street decimator. This beauty would take anything away from the lights and on one wheel too.

One Sunday soon after I returned I decided I’d give it a go out with the lads on their sports bikes, so I went out for a Sunday Bash with some of the lads from my local dealership. A few of them were a bit quick but trustworthy to be in a pack with. I also had an idea of where they were going to go and I had some knowledge of the roads. Off we went, blasting around at about 60. Fine, I can handle this, then we hit the quicker stuff. All those thoughts of enjoying motorcycling for motorcycling's sake went out the window rather sharpish. I wanted to be near the front, so I attempted this feat and seemed to be doing OK. When we arrived at Goodwood for brekkie I realised why I thought I was doing OK when Marcus quoted, “Tet, the reason I didn’t come past was because I was enjoying myself so much watching you try and hang on to that thing through the bends, that I would have ruined all my fun”. Admittedly, it had been hard work, but it had been fun and the power made up for a lot of the misgivings the rest of the bike had. However, I did remember those immortal words uttered by Marcus.

After having to spend a few weekends with this thing I started to notice that it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. I still wanted to ride faster than I thought I would, and the Bandit may be fun in a straight line and from a standing start, but round corners ? Fun it is, safe it ain’t !!

The frame bears more semblance to liquorice, or something that has a rather large hinge in the middle. The suspension reminded me of a child's pogo stick, all bounce and no damping. The engine was starting to develop a top end rattle at 2500 miles. I was starting to become unhappy with it!! Not such good value after all ?

A friend of mine had recently bought a Bandit himself too. He was one of the born agains and I had told him that this bike was a goodun for getting back into bikes, and yes, it is, but that’s about it. Fast Pete lived in Exeter and he suggested I pop down for Easter, as the roads down that were PUKKA!! So I did, I set off early one morning and after what seemed like an eternity I arrived at Exeter all aching and weary. The next day we went out and visited a few places, picking some good roads on the way. The Bandit seemed OK at this pace. We also visited Bridge, the motorcycle dealer in Exeter as they had just built new premises, but unfortunately were closed!! However, in the window, on a display stand, was a Honda VTR in YELLOW. Wow, that looked cool. The seed was sown.

The next day it was time for me to go home. I hopped onto my trusty, bendy and rattly steed and set off. I don’t know about you, but whenever I’m going home I like to get there quick. So I upped the pace and was averaging a good speed in places and enjoying the ride. The fuel gauge was getting low, so I thought I’d better fill up. I pulled over and got off the bike. CHRIST, I could hardly move !! I felt that if I tried to move my neck it would snap. I wasn’t happy, but I filled ‘er up and set off again, thinking that maybe I just needed to get used to it. By the time I got home, I was in sheer agony. It wasn’t pleasant.

The next day I went to my local dealer and bought a Yellow VTR Firestorm. I couldn’t stand it with that Bandit any longer.

If you have an unfaired Bandit and ride at speeds above 100 mph for long periods of time, you must be related to Arny. If you have one and want to enjoy it, keep your speeds to a paltry 70 or less. The wind rush and force on your upper body is nowhere as severe. Enjoy.