Suzuki GSF600 Bandit Bike Overview
The Suzuki GSF600 Bandit was the first bike in its class: that of budget middleweight road bikes. It’s the ideal starter bike for anyone wanting to get used to a 600cc engine and with sleek looks, a great sound and a fast engine, you really can’t go wrong.
You don’t get anything fancy with the GSF600 Bandit but it does exactly what it says on the tin and is a reliable and viable option. It handles well, is smooth and practical and there are plenty of modifications which can be made if you find the chassis or the technology a little lacking with the price tag giving you plenty of cash to play with.
At first glance, the engine on the GSF600 Bandit appears to let the bike down being a four stroke DOHC and something which has been rapidly removed from more modern models but as an all-rounder it definitely holds its own especially for novices who are just beginning to get a handle on a larger engine. There’s no messing around with this engine and it does what it needs to with enough power and torque to get you going every day of the year.
This is a bike which offers value for money along with the reliability of the Suzuki name. As it is often the first bike learners head for it’s worth checking any used bikes properly but there are good bargains to be had. Ultimately if you are in the newbie category then a bike like this is going to be the perfect starting point no matter how many times it has been caned, or dropped, in the past.
Check out the Suzuki Bandit GSF600 in action…
Suzuki GSF600 Bandit Bike Spec
- Top speed129mph
- Weight204kg
- Average fuel consumption44mpg
- Capacity600cc
- Seat height805mm
- EngineAir cooled, four stroke, DOHC, 4v
Suzuki GSF600 Bandit Bike Insurance
Suzuki GSF600 Bandit Bike Gallery
Owner Reviews
Pros
The bike is a very good first big bike very comfortable to ride no cons at all
Cons
Nothing as far as I am concerned
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Comfy
Very well built
On a penny
The best
Very powerful
Very cheep to run depends how often I use it
Pros
The sounds and smell that you don't get with new bikes
Cons
Brakes and suspension but that's the joys of a older bike
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For a 20 year old bike it handles well feels light and can move
Never missed a beat
Sixteen pounds for a full thank that does 120 miles is not bad
20 years old and still has no problem even riding in all weather
Can be better but that is a future upgrade
Pros
Brilliant first bike. Looks good, sounds good and is fast. Would recommend it for a new rider any day. The best thing is the sound and the amount of modifications which can be made.
Cons
The bike does not like the rain
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The bike does not like the rain
Pros
It's my first proper bike and it's great, I have nothing to compare with but it accelerates like pooh of a stick
Cons
I would like it in blue
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I would like it in blue
Pros
Comfy, easy to ride and to work on, and just a nice character. Classic fun.
Cons
It's an old dog, so you can't teach it new tricks. It's just as it is.
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It's an old dog, so you can't teach it new tricks. It's just as it is.
Pros
Much more comfy than my previous sportsbike. Good bike for everyday yearly use & also people starting out riding 600cc bikes.
Cons
My next job, The brake pads&disc & some clocks as previous owner has broken them.
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It's a good all rounder only top heavy when paddling it about but good riding it.
Only owned since last November but so far it's been great! Didn't expect to like this kind of bike but gelling well now.
My next job, The brake pads&disc & some clocks as previous owner has broken them.
Got mine second hand so some things had been tampered with but nearly all rectified & looking much better.
Pretty spongy but that's because they need replacing soon along with new disc.
Pros
Everything about the bike is great,can't think of any cons about the bike. I love this bike and hope that I can ride it for many more years to come!
Cons
Nothing it's great
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Lovely smooth ride, when I got the bike first I found heavy at first but after riding it for a while I got used to it. I can now go into a corner with confidence knowing that I will come out of it with ease. Beautiful bike.
Plenty of power at low or high speed, always some there when you need it. I keep the oil and filter changed every 5000km. Performance is great.
Built very well, have had no problems so far, never broke down so far luckily enough (touch wood)
Brakes are great I keep them clean and change them when they need it. Tokico brake system, I have recently put new pads on front and back and changed the brake fluid. I have Bridgestone battlax tyres on and I find these tyres to excellent grip on all kinds of weather.
Pros
All round great bike with capabilities of keeping up with almost all bikes on the twisties and to go long distances at the same time. Great bike for touring and taking pillions. Great for taking a blast at the weekends and a lovely 4 cylinder sound to go with it. Brilliant bike for all riders and all types of riding. Great for long distances and fun, sporty rides around the alps in the summer. Good in the winter too. Would definitely recommend to new riders and people who want a bike for everything. Really good daily commuter and doesnt matter how many miles is on the clock, the bike will always last long and is reliable as hell.
Cons
There is not much to improve on the bandit but i would improve the stiffness of the front forks for more sporty and fast rides and the fuel efficiency, the bike also doesnt have a fuel gauge on my model of the bike which can be a little bit of an issue when you first get the bike.
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The bike is lovely and smooth to ride with its suspension and its riding position inspires confidence for all riders. Riders from first bike bike to experienced riders. The bike is on the heavy side as all bandits are and the suspension is slightly soft for more sporty riding but brilliant for all round rides. If you want a bike that can go long distance no problem and at the same time carve some twisties in the alps in sweden and italy like stelvio and the black forest too. Its also able to keep up with a few sportsbikes if the riders up to it and you can do it in comfort at the same time
Bike is plenty powerful enough even with the A2 legal 47bhp/35kw power restrictor on. With or without the restrictor the bike is has smooth power delivery and good amount of power across the rev range. You have enough power for a blast on the weekend and good amount to weave through mental amounts of traffic while filtering. It can keep up with most bikes on most roads but there is one downfall with the bike and its that it can use quite a bit of petrol. Great sounding bikes and ive heard a lot of people say they are some of the best sounding bikes on british roads.
The bike is a brilliant bike for most things such as parts and oil but the only downside of them is the fuel. They use quite a bit of it a week. I spend £20 – £40 a week depending what im doing and my weeks consist of riding to work everyday and the occasional country side blasts and some 100+ rides on motorways and dual carriageways. But other than that they are good on consumables and tires and dont cost much to run each year. Just the usual mot and insurance which depends on the rider and how they take care of the bike. The bikes tax is £57 a year which is a good price and only a one of payment.
The bike is built really well as most bandits are. Reliable, well made parts and bulletproof engine. I have had a few problems with my bike just as you would with any other bikes. The problems i have had with the bike has only been a chain and sprocket set which is wear and tear and the spark plug thread in the 2nd cylinder which was human error from the previous owner as the spark plug must of been tightened too much and stripped the threads but other than that just the usual wesr and tear and consumables.
Brakes are good enough for solo riders and blasting around twisties on your own and through the city centres of the uk but they are a little bit less effective with a pillion but that might just be my bike. But luckily there are a lot of aftermarket brakes you can buy for the bikes and other extras for performance.
Pros
It’s fun to ride handles great round our country lanes just enough power to keep you honest. Love it keep coming back to it as other bikes are good in certain aspects but my bandit is a good all rounder even if it’s old.
Cons
Fairing.
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Reliable goes everyday Pig to work on engine bolts especially
Pros
Best things: Loads of low down torque Handling Comfort Easy to maintain
Cons
The only thing i would improve is the rear shock, this can be quite spongy from time to time, other than that the bike gets full marks from me.
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As you twist the throttle from stand still the bandit 600 offers a smooth but pokey power delivery, bit like a de – tuned GSXR600 but with the same thrill factor due to its upright seating position. The bandit handles like a dream as she drops into bends with ease with minimal effort required. only thing i would improve is the peg ground clearance as if you drop too low it can scrape your boots.
The bike offers enough power delivery to get you excited, the performance is great especially twisty country roads. the sound of the engine is great and attractive to the ears.
I have 4 years no claims bonus and no accidents etc so clean insurance wise and it costs me around £12 a month, Fuel costs on a weekly basis with a full tank vary between £14 to £16 pounds but this will vary depending on your daily commute.
So far my Bandit has not broken down, so in terms of Build quality i will give the bike top marks, only issue i had with mine was due to the coils tracking, quick tip to overcome this issue, tie a plastic band round the coil that's causing the problem, it will then start on the button first time even on those cold mornings in winter. In terms of the chassis its very strong and tight which makes it fun to ride with a lightweight feel.
Brakes are very good in my opinion, they grip very well even in the wet.
Pros
Engine and paint
Cons
Could start better in the winter
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Light Weight snappy on the throttle but keeps you alert
Gsf 600 bottom end with a sw oil burner gsxr barrels valves and cams so it has bottom top and middles range
110 miles to a 20 litre tank 50 on oil every three months so cheap for a lot of fun
Doesn't like the wet but vasaline around the top of the spark plug caps keeps the rain out
Really sharp with gsxr brakes with breaded hoses stops on a penny
Pros
Cheap, cheerful easy to adjust and idiot-proof She just keeps on going….and going….and going
Cons
Electrical systems could have been fitted with higher quality connectors. rear hugger and longer front mudguard should have been part of original spec
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Don't need acres of power with sorted suspension and a chassis that will take the abuse offered up by english country roads. Also ready to flatten 600cc sportsbikes of the same era around cadwell owing to its reasonably good rider ergonomics and manoeuvrability.
A legend in it's own right the powerplant on this bike is a piece of automotive history with the endurance of a honda cub engine matched with the power of eighties sportbikes and the manners from the 21st century.
50-52 mpg one up and 45-50 two up is fairly standard for this size and style of machine. Takes popular tyre sizes and in the "touch wood" event of needing replacement parts there are a lot of donor bandits around keeping the prices down which means that mine will stay on the road for a while yet.
This mk1 bandit is a solid beast and as such offers few queries with build quality despite the aforesaid high mileage.
Twin up front single on the back, ride 'er right and it will stop sharper than you think. I would advise keeping an eye on the back brake however as it also doubles as a particularly capable collector of road grit and salt.