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More versatile than ever, the Bandit 1250S packs serious punch.
Suzuki's Bandits have always thrived on their high bang-for-the-buck quotient. Long a detuned version of the mighty GSX-R, the big Bandit (a 1200 in its previous guise) could be bought for a song, and then built to superbike specs with little more than a set of Gixxer camshafts and an aftermarket exhaust. As muscle machines go, it was the two-wheeled equivalent of the 5.0-litre Mustang. Of course, the price you paid for all those inexpensive wheelies was sometimes wishy-washy build quality, an oft-buzzy engine and lower build specs.
For 2007, Suzuki has managed to banish all three negatives while maintaining its strong price position. The 2007 Bandit 1250S, for instance, costs only $100 more than the outgoing model at $10,799, but now features an even larger 1,254 cc engine that is smooth as silk. Move up a mere $500 and you get the added safety of anti-lock brakes, still something of a (very worthwhile) novelty on motorcycles....