Bandit 650 to GSX-R600 or CBR600RR?

[RC Fan]

Hello!

I took my MSF last May. In mid July, I bought a '07 Bandit 650S, and put over 1200kms on it last summer. After much deliberation, I have decided I would like to have a lighter bike. Would trading the Bandit for a GSX-R600 or a CBR600RR be too much of a stretch?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[inspiron]

Hi Cathy,

Why, may I ask, do you think that the bike's weight is an issue?

The move from a Bandit 650S to a GSX-R 600 is a huge one. Sure, the GSX-R weighs about 100 lbs less than the Bandit, but it also has a totally different riding position, offers much less in terms of comfort, and a totally different throttle response.

Both the GSX-R and CBR-RR are racing bikes - no frills, lightweight, high-reving speed machines. The Bandit is a sport-touring bike, designed for longer, more comfortable rides.

Once the bike is moving, it doesn't matter if the bike weighs 350 lbs (a GSX-R) or 675 lbs (Honda ST 1300). The only time you notice the weight is when the bike is stopped. And if everything is setup correctly for you, you shouldn't even notice it there. If you can't flat-foot when at a signal, then the Bandit may be too tall for you. In this case, you'll be holding up a lot of weight at every signal. In this case, see about getting the suspension or your seat lowered...

[RC Fan]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Hi Cathy,

Why, may I ask, do you think that the bike's weight is an issue?

The move from a Bandit 650S to a GSX-R 600 is a huge one. Sure, the GSX-R weighs about 100 lbs less than the Bandit, but it also has a totally different riding position, offers much less in terms of comfort, and a totally different throttle response.

Both the GSX-R and CBR-RR are racing bikes - no frills, lightweight, high-reving speed machines. The Bandit is a sport-touring bike, designed for longer, more comfortable rides.

Once the bike is moving, it doesn't matter if the bike weighs 350 lbs (a GSX-R) or 675 lbs (Honda ST 1300). The only time you notice the weight is when the bike is stopped. And if everything is setup correctly for you, you shouldn't even notice it there. If you can't flat-foot when at a signal, then the Bandit may be too tall for you. In this case, you'll be holding up a lot of weight at every signal. In this case, see about getting the suspension or your seat lowered...

You certainly may ask. I am 5'5 and have already lowered the bike via swapping out the dogbones. I find moving the bike around the garage nerve wracking, as well as slow speed stuff like pulling up to the gas pumps, etc. I can't put the bike on the centrestand myself, and because it has been lowered it does not sit well on the sidestand, so I am reluctant to leave it unattended at work, etc. I don't do any two-up riding, and mainly want a fun bike to drive to work, and to take short rides on. I won't be doing any large trips, just the odd pleasure cruise for an hour or two. I am not stuck on the bikes mentioned, but would like something light, powerful and fun.

[Clint]

You're certainly still a new rider, Cathy. 1200km in half a year isn't much at all, but if you take a sensible approach, you could make it work. I'd either deal with the sidestand problem or look at other lightweight alternatives, though. A racebike just isn't a great idea. I'm sure our resident expert petite rider Kay will have some ideas for you as well.

[RC Fan]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

You're certainly still a new rider, Cathy. 1200km in half a year isn't much at all, but if you take a sensible approach, you could make it work. I'd either deal with the sidestand problem or look at other lightweight alternatives, though. A racebike just isn't a great idea. I'm sure our resident expert petite rider Kay will have some ideas for you as well.

Yes, I am definitely still a newbie. I am also interested in an SV650S or an FZ6. Can you suggest a lightweight alternative?

[themeatmanlandry]

Originally Posted by RC Fan

Yes, I am definitely still a newbie. I am also interested in an SV650S or an FZ6. Can you suggest a lightweight alternative?

If you're thinking about one of those bikes, you may as well keep the Bandit. They're all going to be pretty much similar (SV650 is a v-twin ) to a newer rider.

I say keep the 650 for 10K miles or more, then start looking at something lighter/more powerful.

Bandits are pretty damned good all-around bikes. I have one. It's ugly, but I love to ride it.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by RC Fan

Can you suggest a lightweight alternative?

You'd have to get away from sportbikes and even sporty standards, to something like a supermoto or dualsport single. There's also the new Triumph Street Triple, at 367 lbs. I get the impression that sportbike styling is important to you, though. Am I wrong?

[RC Fan]

Originally Posted by themeatmanlandry

If you're thinking about one of those bikes, you may as well keep the Bandit. They're all going to be pretty much similar (SV650 is a v-twin ) to a newer rider.

I say keep the 650 for 10K miles or more, then start looking at something lighter/more powerful.

Bandits are pretty damned good all-around bikes. I have one. It's ugly, but I love to ride it.

Yeah, lots of people seem to love the v-twins and diss the I4's, but I am rather fond of the I4. I like my Bandit, but it is waay too heavy, to the point of being intimidating. I'd like something more manageable.

[RC Fan]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

You'd have to get away from sportbikes and even sporty standards, to something like a supermoto or dualsport single. There's also the new Triumph Street Triple, at 367 lbs. I get the impression that sportbike styling is important to you, though. Am I wrong?

The styling of the Street Triple is too funky for me. Also, there isn't a Triumph dealer here. (We are fairly limited in our local selection of bike dealers with only Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha. Our Kawasaki deal is sketchy.)If I liked the totally naked bikes I would have bought an SV650. I have thought about a dual sport, particularly the DR650, but the thing is too tall, and I don't want to sacrifice the highway capability I currenty have in the Bandit.

You are right that the stying is important to me, but not to others. In other words, I don't want an attention-seeking bike.

[kay]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

You're certainly still a new rider, Cathy. 1200km in half a year isn't much at all, but if you take a sensible approach, you could make it work. I'd either deal with the sidestand problem or look at other lightweight alternatives, though. A racebike just isn't a great idea. I'm sure our resident expert petite rider Kay will have some ideas for you as well.

Yeah, I still haven't met anybody smaller than myself (I'm 4'10").

I agree that going to an "R" bike just because they are lighter will be a bad judgement. They are light, but a different animal as well.
Also, even if they are light, it will be nerve wrecking to steer them in your garage since full fairing bikes can cost you a lot more if you drop them and scratch/break the fairing.

I still keep my Kawasaki 750 which is a standard bike that weighs about 485 lbs which is a lot more than my "R" bikes but it's certainly a lot milder and easier to ride. So I for regular street rides or for motorcycle schools, I still ride my Kawi a lot.

The "R" bikes are more for my track rides or track riding schools.

So unless you are looking to go into more sports riding, your current bike will be a much better choice. It'll also be better to gain more experience on that one as you can learn the basics of bike maneuvers much better too.

The "R" bikes will be lighter to maneuver in your garage, but much harder to maneuver on the streets if you're not too good at turning etc. They are not designed with easy street riding as their priority, but to be fast on tracks/races.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by RC Fan

In other words, I don't want an attention-seeking bike.

LOL! Attention from whom? A woman on a racebike is about the most attention-grabbing thing I can imagine on the street.

Seriously, if you're shopping for fashion, you won't get much from my advice. The Gixxer may be your only option, unless you look at the new Ninja 250 or the Hyosungs.

[kay]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

LOL! Attention from whom? A woman on a racebike is about the most attention-grabbing thing I can imagine on the street.

Yes true....

And if you're not a good rider...and you have an "R" bike...that's even MORE attention getting and embarrassing....in my opinion.

[RC Fan]

Originally Posted by kay

Yeah, I still haven't met anybody smaller than myself (I'm 4'10").

I agree that going to an "R" bike just because they are lighter will be a bad judgement. They are light, but a different animal as well.
Also, even if they are light, it will be nerve wrecking to steer them in your garage since full fairing bikes can cost you a lot more if you drop them and scratch/break the fairing.

I still keep my Kawasaki 750 which is a standard bike that weighs about 485 lbs which is a lot more than my "R" bikes but it's certainly a lot milder and easier to ride. So I for regular street rides or for motorcycle schools, I still ride my Kawi a lot.

The "R" bikes are more for my track rides or track riding schools.

So unless you are looking to go into more sports riding, your current bike will be a much better choice. It'll also be better to gain more experience on that one as you can learn the basics of bike maneuvers much better too.

The "R" bikes will be lighter to maneuver in your garage, but much harder to maneuver on the streets if you're not too good at turning etc. They are not designed with easy street riding as their priority, but to be fast on tracks/races.

I am referring to walking the bike in the garage, not riding it in. I would think less weight would be preferable in that situation, would it not?

When you say your other bike is easier to ride, what specifically do you mean? When you say the Gixxer is harder to turn on the streets, is that because they turn quicker? How is the engine at low rpms? Is it somewhat well-behaved until the higher rpm's Sorry for all the questions, but it helps to hear from another chick.

[RC Fan]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Seriously, if you're shopping for fashion, you won't get much from my advice. The Gixxer may be your only option, unless you look at the new Ninja 250 or the Hyosungs.

No, I am not looking for fashion. I am looking for a light, powerful, fun bike. I'd certainly welcome other bike suggestions.

[kay]

Originally Posted by RC Fan

I am referring to walking the bike in the garage, not riding it in. I would think less weight would be preferable in that situation, would it not?

Yes I understood that.
Yes, less weight does make it easier to move bikes in your garage. But with full fairing, you can easily scratch it too, and if you did drop your bike, full fairing bikes will cost you more because of the fairing. Naked bikes will be less damaged.

Originally Posted by RC Fan

When you say your other bike is easier to ride, what specifically do you mean? When you say the Gixxer is harder to turn on the streets, is that because they turn quicker? How is the engine at low rpms? Is it somewhat well-behaved until the higher rpm's Sorry for all the questions, but it helps to hear from another chick.

"R" rated bikes have less turn angle with the handle bars. So it won't turn corners like you can with your naked bike. You have to maintain traction and turn the bike without relying on turning your handle bars much.

Fortunately Gixxers can move quite smoothly with low rpms but also have a tendency to tuck in (and hence suddenly drop) if you try to turn it at low rpms too. So throttle control to maintain traction and using your rear brake to control speed will become very important.

But it's also important to keep in mind that these bikes were not made to be "an easy bike to move in a garage". You don't want to pay the extra price to do this and it won't do the bike justice if you bought the bike for that purpose.

Naked bikes are much better to learn the basics of motorcycle riding and you can learn much quicker too. I was even riding my naked Kawi on tracks so they do fairly well at speeds you never thought they could handle. I bought my "R" rated bikes because I was getting into a speed and riding style (on tracks, that is) that was beyond what my Kawi was designed to do and my bike shop people warned me that I either buy an "R" rated bike or stop riding on tracks. Otherwise, it was getting too dangerous as my Kawi was not designed to be ridden for sports riding.

I did, however, sell a HD Sportster (1200) earlier as it was way too heavy for me to maneuver. It weighed about 620lbs. But my Kawi with 484 lbs is manageable even with my size. I am, like I said earlier, 4'10" and weigh about 98-99 lbs so I'm really not a big rider at all.

BTW, the pic with my profile shows me riding my naked Kawi on a track ride.

[RC Fan]

Originally Posted by kay

I did, however, sell a HD Sportster (1200) earlier as it was way too heavy for me to maneuver. It weighed about 620lbs. But my Kawi with 484 lbs is manageable even with my size. I am, like I said earlier, 4'10" and weigh about 98-99 lbs so I'm really not a big rider at all.

Thanks, I really do appreciate the advice.

I will most likely be selling the bike as I feel it is too heavy. I just don't know what I will get yet.

[kay]

Let me just add one more thing which I should have mentioned earlier.

The reason why I mentioned "handle bar angle" is because, typically, people who are rather new at riding will depend a lot on turning the handle bars to turn. So it will be better to ride sports bikes once you've learned to counter steer or turn without relying on turning the handle bars which you can learn on any other bike. Then you won't find turning on sports bikes too much of a problem.

If you searched under counter steering here, you will find loads of information.

I am sorry I can't give you any alternative bike names for a lighter naked bike as I only know this Kawi and the Sportster which was too heavy even for me. But I just wanted to suggest not going to sports bikes as that would be a big mistake.

[wookie]

Ever thought about this ?



2008 Ninja 250R, dry weight: 333 lb, easily 100lb+ lighter than the Bandit

Seat Height: 30.7 in, about the same as a lowered Bandit ?

[Mavi]

If you really want to have a sportier bike, get an SV650 with fairings, they're called SV650s for 1999-2007 and SV650SF for 2008+. I'm assuming you want a "fast looking" bike since your choices were the 600cc R bikes. An SV650 will weigh about ~80lbs less than your Bandit 650 with only ~5 less HP with similar seat height. You could even put handlebars on the S for a more upright riding position. Another alternative would be a kawasaki 650r, though I've never rode one I hear they're just as good as an SV.

Really I think you should keep the Bandit for a few more thousand miles before upgrading. For the types of riding you described the Bandit650 (Short trips and commuting) is the perfect choice. It's always possible to go a tooth or two up on the rear sprocket to make the bike feel faster.

I am 5'3" and I've never been able to flatfoot any of my bikes. You will get to the point to where you will become confident in handling your bike with only one leg on the ground.

Just remember that you will spend more time actually riding the bike(at least I hope you will) than maneuvering it around the garage. As said before, once the bike gets going the weight is easier to manage.

[RC Fan]

Originally Posted by wookie

Ever thought about this ?

2008 Ninja 250R, dry weight: 333 lb, easily 100lb+ lighter than the Bandit

Seat Height: 30.7 in, about the same as a lowered Bandit ?

It is a nice looking bike, I just can't see going from a 650 to a 250, that is all.