[greatzippy]

I currently have a Yamaha Seca II XJ600 that I bought in October
( cheap ) for a starter Bike and am considering getting a new bike next season. I have been looking at the Suzuki V-storm 1000 as a first choice and the Bandit 1200 as a second choice so far. I am looking for others opinions on these two bikes in general and as a second bike from what I have now.

 

[87gsxrnut]

I would go with the B12. Good aftermarket. Tons of mods, upgrades etc. available for that bike. The motor has been around since 1986, so there is TONS of knowledge about that bike out there. Definitely the most bang-for-buck of any new bike IMO. BUT, the '00-'02 (I think) had some serious oil consumption problems. They are covered under warranty. Make sure that the warranty work has been done, ar else use that as a negotiating tool to get the price down.

The Bandit guys here will chime in about this I'm sure.

- Nut

 

[vstrombc]

bike choice

When I was upgrading, I also looked at the bandit 1200, but was a bit intimidated by the mid range power. Although, I never rode the 1200, coming off a DR650, I knew the B12 would be a monster. We have thousands of miles of backroads here in BC, so choosing the V-Strom 1000 was a no brainer. It may not whip a B12 on the dragstrip, but it would be close. The torque & handling makes it tons of fun on tight winding roads and when you see an intriguing backroad you can do more than wonder about it. The V-twin configuration gives the V-Strom a very narrow light feel & it is almost as flickable as my DR650 was. Although the B12 is similar in weight, it would likely feel wider & heavier due to the size of the 1200 4 banger

So if you are into comfort and touring capability & prefer fuel injection over carbs & you like to explore, the V-Strom should be your choice. There seems to be some good deals around on 2003 models. The orginal style windscreen on the 02 & 03 models work fine for me unless I'm going over 100mph. Reliability has been excellent and fuel economy is good usually around 50mpg (canadian gallon)

happy shopping
attached pic is Glacier Creek Road at approx 4000'(approach to Mt Baker - Washington State) may 2003

 

[greatzippy]

Well I know I'm going to be using the bike a lot once it gets warmer out again. So I do want something that I can ride for longer periods of time without killing my back or something. A few of the reasons I am looking at the Vstorm is that it's lighter then the Bandit and close to the weight of the bike I have now. Granted, according to the specs the storm is actually bigger then the Bandit.?.? I also know I'm going to be taking the bike to work and in the summer know I'm going to be sitting in bumper-2-bumper traffic on any given day. The storm is liquid cooled and from my understanding the liquid cooling is better then air cooling in a traffic situation. Anither reason is the storm is a bit less powerfull then the bandit which would probably be better for someone with a few month experience.
The storm is about $1500 more then the bandit but had more "bells & whistles" that jack the price up. That's the only difference I really see with these 2 bikes .... making hard to choose.

 

[greatzippy]

Well I know I'm going to be using the bike a lot once it gets warmer out again. So I do want something that I can ride for longer periods of time without killing my back or something. A few of the reasons I am looking at the Vstorm is that it's lighter then the Bandit and close to the weight of the bike I have now. Granted, according to the specs the storm is actually bigger then the Bandit.?.? I also know I'm going to be taking the bike to work and in the summer know I'm going to be sitting in bumper-2-bumper traffic on any given day. The storm is liquid cooled and from my understanding the liquid cooling is better then air cooling in a traffic situation. Anither reason is the storm is a bit less powerfull then the bandit which would probably be better for someone with a few month experience.
The storm is about $1500 more then the bandit but had more "bells & whistles" that jack the price up. That's the only difference I really see with these 2 bikes .... making hard to choose.

 

[vstrombc]

VS vs B12

The extra $1500 is a point to ponder all right but I believe the value is there. Here is why;

V-Strom BanditFrame: Aluminum Steel
fuel system dual stage FI 4 carbs
transmission 6 spd with O/D indicator 5 speed
luggage rack standard none
weight 456 485
wheelbase 60.4" 56.3"
tank capacity 5.8 ga 5.3 ga
width 34.1 30.1
ground clearance 6.5 " 5.1"
seat height 32.1" 31.1"
handguards standard none

The extra wheelbase of the VS keeps the wheelie factor easier to control and the 19" front wheel swallows potholes better than any 17" wheels. The handguards are really nice on cool or wet days and the decent size tank gives good range.

 

[vstrombc]

bandit 1200

 

[vstrombc]

looks like the layout didn't work right, but I'm sure you will get the idea.

It is also likely that the V-Strom will hold its value a bit better as it is a dual purpose bike.

 

[Clint]

Zippy, dude, you're scaring me. First, a B12 is NO BIKE for a rider with two months under his belt. You may feel like you've learned something, but you haven't. You've just reached that confidence that comes with familiarity.

Have you had any training at all? Rider courses? A modern 600 or 750 will blow your Seca away, and even that's almost too much for a new rider.

Secondly, I see you haven't done much research. It's V-Strom, not V-Storm.

I have no intention of insulting you, but you're attempting to run before walking, my man. Back 'er down a notch. You have no business riding a bike that you can loop with throttle alone. There's a lot to safe riding, and it starts with being realistic. Do some reading. I recommend David Hough's Proficient Motorcycling. Once you learn some tactics and the physics behind them, practice - on an approprate bike. Once you're out there on the freeway, it's too late to learn avoidance maneuvers. You're destined to be a statistic on the wrong end.

If you're interested in a Bandit 600 (still a very capable and enjoyable bike), check these folks out. And tell 'em Rowdy sent ya.

 

[Clint]

Re: bike choice

Although the B12 is similar in weight, it would likely feel wider & heavier due to the size of the 1200 4 banger

Keep in mind that any CBR or GSX or YZF also has an inline-four mounted transversely. No big woop. I came off of a Nighthawk 750 (same engine configuration), and the Bandit feels like a ballerina compared to the Honda. It's all about suspension quality, steering geometry, and setup.

As for the oil burning, it was '01 and '02 models in a specific range. See the oil buring thread at the site listed above.

 

[greatzippy]

V-Strom .... V-Storm .... what's the difference.?.? You know what they say;

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't
mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng
the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit
porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by
istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyway, I wasn't planning on getting a new bike anytime soon. I'm planning on shopping maybe end of next season or close to it. I want to get at least 1 full season out of the bike I have now ...... especially since I did pay for the thing. I'm just asking about new bikes soon cause I want an Idea of what to look for when I do shop. It's going to take a while for me to find another bike that I like and fits to me and my needs. I've sat on a lot of bike ...... all for about 15 seconds each cause I didn't like the feel or seating position of them. Once I find a bike I can sit on for more then that I'll consider it as a possible purchase.

Also, I've taken the MSF course already .... that's how I got my license to ride in the first place. And I figure if I get a new bike end of next season that will put me somewhere in the 10 or so months of riding experience ( not counting Jan, feb & mar ... to friggin cold ). I'm going to be taking the bike to work a lot in the summer so with the traffic in NJ I should get a lot of experience. If I can survive NJ rush hour for a few months I should be ready for just about anything :lol: And after that maybe I can find some good deals on "04" models !!!!

 

[greatzippy]

Almost forgot to ask this;

Now I know this is a Suzuki Board so bare with me OK ....

The bike I was looking at was a 2003 Kawasaki ZR-7S 750cc, nice seating position ..... I liked it. Someone told me that it would be more of a lateral move for me.

Now seeing that I have a 1994 Yamaha Seca II XJ600 how much more power would the 2003 Kawasaki ZR-7S 750cc put out??? I've been told that the Seca is about 75hp but I'm not sure if that's the HP that would hit the rear wheel or be tested on a DYNO. But that's what I'm basing my next buy off of. Does anybody know what kind of HP my bike really puts out??? Cause if its say around 50HP then any 100HP bike is to much for my next bike. The ZR-7S puts out around 78HP dyno tested .... that would be more of a better second bike for me wouldn't ya say.?.?

 

[Clint]

Well, it sounds like you're putting some thought into this, which is good.

What I'd suggest is that you concern yourself with handling and ergonomics more than horsepower. Trust me, it takes many thousands of miles before you'll know how lousy your skills are now. Just ask anyone who's been to the track (I haven't... yet). A skilled rider on a Ninja 250 can kick a newby's buttocks on any bike. Don't worry so much about the power. Find something that fits you and drives well.


I don't know the ZR7 at all, but it sounds like the right direction. Good riding.

 

[vstrombc]

Hey zippy,

according to motorcycle online the dyno rear wheel hp for a seca 600 (1995) is 51.9 with 36.9lb ft of torque. A v-Strom 1000 will feel a lot quicker with 90 hp & 64 lb ft. Even the V-Strom 650 should be ok with around 70 hp & 45 lb ft.

But don't let the big bikes intimidate you - I came off a dr650 with only 34 hp and I have no trouble handling the V-Strom. I control the bike - the bike doesn't control me. I drive in business at least 3 days/week in vancouver and have been driving for 31 years. I rode as a teen in the 70's on a 350 honda and got away from bikes for 20 yrs because I had the potential to be a nutty rider. When I got back into riding at the age of 40, I was ready to ride without being a menace.

In my opinion, the ZR-7 Kawasaki would be a great bike but you would likely find it a bit boring for highway trips or backroads. If you want the big bike like the V-Strom or Bandit - just get it. We all only have a limited time in our life to ride, so you might as well get what you want.

enough pholsophy for one night

 

[greatzippy]

what is the b in bhp??? I see a lot of ratings on bike saying things like [email protected] or something. Where does this b come in and what is it???

And What exactally is the "ps" stand for in this statement;

738 cc, Air cooled,8 valves, power 76ps, 5 gear

 

[vstrombc]

b stands for brake horsepower but I can't remember exactly what it means. It is the north american standard. PS is the german standard for hp and is slightly higher than hp.

I found a neat converter on the web called "foot rule" where you can convert almost anything. You may be able to find it with a google search.

Keep in mind though that hp measured at the crank is usually higher than the reading at the rear wheel. Manufacturers usually use crank hp for advertising while magazines use rear wheel hp for ttesting.

 

[greatzippy]

Does the BHP refer to the rear wheel or the crank case??

 

[Clint]

Brake horsepower is more commonly measured at the crankshaft, but it can also be at the wheel. It's basically a measure of work performed per time, so the point of measurement is not important to the use of the term. You'll usually see RWHP (rear wheel horsepower) when listing a figure measured on a dynomometer, and BHP when measured at the crankshaft.

 

[gsxrjeffro]

i would go for the v-strom...... more power and more versatile.....

 

[greatzippy]

according to motorcycle online the dyno rear wheel hp for a seca 600 (1995) is 51.9 with 36.9lb ft of torque. A v-Strom 1000 will feel a lot quicker with 90 hp & 64 lb ft. Even the V-Strom 650 should be ok with around 70 hp & 45 lb ft.

Hey everybody ... thanks for you help, it's really appreciated. Some of the things said in this post have put things into prespective a lot. But I've made up my mind on what bike I am going to look at come next season if I can afford to get a new one.

I had thought that my Seca was up around 75hp but from the fact that vstrombc located on the web it's only 52hp. This in mind I think any 100hp bike is to much for a second bike seeing I'm only going to have about 8-10 months riding experiance. However, The V-strom 650 with only 70hp and 45lb ft is, to me, by far a perfect secon bike in my case.

The reason ..... the 650 only has 18hp & 8lb ft more. Not a big increase but it's still an increase. Also, the dry weight of the Seca is about 443lbs and the V-srtom is rated at 417lbs. The seat hight on the V-strom is 1.1inch higher but the lighter weight will compensate for that. Plus with being lighter and having more power the 650 will move a lot quicker then the Seca.
Other reasons include the introduction to a FI liquid coolded bike with up-to-date technology. This will definatly help on those days sitting in traffic after work. Plus this bike will keep me in the lower insurance bracket at around $375 a year for full coverage.


Again, thanks for all you help is seperating fact from fiction and helping me on the right path to a good second bike.