I'm waiting for the '09 V to see the new colors. I'm also interested in the '09 Bandit. They are about 100 lbs heavier, but are torque monsters. My last bike was an '04 FZ1 and I'm afraid I'll miss the HP if I get the V. I'm in Calif, so I can't ride a V to see what it's like. Any thoughts? Here's a speed run of a slightly modified 1250. CLICK (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v682/tmr1085/?action=view&current=Ban1250SpeedRun.flv)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v682/tmr1085/Yosh.jpg

The Bandit sure is a nice bike! I rode one a few months before I bought my Versys. I rides nice, but the riding position was just a little too leaned over for me, Great torque, though.

Have you visited these guys?

http://www.twtex.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=94

Yep, I'm a member. Good site. Thanks.

I sold mine to get the Versys.

I bet the V's wheelie manners are a lot better, look at that big ol 1200CC motor right up behind the front wheel. :)

Tommy, I came off a modded and geared down 2001 FZ1. The V will for sure feel like a real *****cat at first. IMHO the Versys is more comfortable, better handling and way fun to ride. The only place I wish I were on the FZ1 is when I'm motoring down the highway at way too fast speeds. Everywhere else, the V is A-OK. Yeah, it's got a lot less power, but it's quick and it's a blast to ride, and it comes down from wheelies much more gently than an FZ1. :) I don't have any regrets switching to a Versys. I'm 6'2" and find the leg room much better on the V, I used to cramp up a lot on the FZ1.

Here's how I see it....if you live close to twisties, get the Versys, if you live in the desert or an area with no turns and ride 80+mph for long stretches, maybe the big bikes would be better.

That speed run looks as though it was run in the Antelope Valley (my birthplace) somewhere. Do you know where it was run?

Versys is similiar except the speedo stops around 115 in stead of 168 or so, heh heh. :)

Couldn't wait for the V, so I got a new ABS Bandit. Me likey. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v682/tmr1085/P1000723.jpg

Very sharp!

Right on !!! looks sweet , nothing like a new toy :) no matter what it is . I have always had a eye for the bandit .

I was thinking about getting a Versys to replace my FZ1, but I ended up getting a Bandit too. I got a great deal on a new leftover '07 Bandit. However, I still might end up with a Versys in the garage. The Versys is on the top of my wife's list to replace her Ninja 250.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4944/img1141dc6.th.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1141dc6.jpg)http://img337.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php) http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1643/img1145dl1.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1145dl1.jpg)http://img524.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php) http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/4857/img1142dl8.th.jpg (http://img385.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1142dl8.jpg)http://img385.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Great looking bike!

I think your wife will love the Versys!

I think I'll love it, too. (I'm Mrs. CheesyRider.)

Well then! Welcome aboard!! Nice ninja...

I keep thinking of trading my Speed triple for a Bandit 1250s with the hard bags and ST options,its a really nice bike thats a great sport-touring machine.

My regular riding buddy, Trevor owned the Bandit 1250s - liked it a lot except for the seat. He's got a broken tail bone that was aggravated by the seat. Even had the seat remolded and it didn't help. He let it go after owning the bike for 8 months and traded it in for an ATV.

Recently, he decided he wanted to return to motorcycling but with something less powerful and less intimidating. He bought a 30 year old Suzuki 425 GSe and turned it into a café racer. $800 for the bike, and about $300 for the parts - he's rocking. I think he's having more fun than what I saw him have with the Bandit. The leaned forward position on the Suzuki with the drag bars and the flat seat take the pressure off of his tail bone.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2957408613_79d512aa0b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2958241650_fac9b3aff6.jpg

Glad he found a bike he can ride. Nice mods, great bargain, & I'll bet its a helluva lot of fun!

Great looking bike!

I think your wife will love the Versys!

I think she will too. She just put a deposit down on a green one today! We'll be picking it up when the snow melts away.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g304/Bear_on_a_bicycle/thumb.gif

I'm Mrs. CheesyRider. :yeahsmile: Can't wait to pick up the V and take it home!!

When looking at a replacement for my GSA 1150, I narrowed down my choices to the Versys, Bandit 1250 and the BMW 800 GSA. I discounted the BMW for cost reasons. I found a sweet Bandit owned by a machinist with 1600 miles. After test riding it I decided it wasn't for me. He had it tuned to perfection, there was no mapping hick-up anywhere to be found, but the thing just had way more power than I'd ever need. I had test ridden a Versys and found it's power totally adequate, even 2 up. The 1250 just feels like trouble waiting to happen. I used to race a 350 hp rally car, and modern sport bikes just scare me... I can see the fun though. Where else can you get GT3 acceleration for $7000.

Regards,
Wardo