400 Bandit an import?

Are they only imports and if so would that be an issue re parts or
insurance please?

Would they be a reasonable step-up from a 251 MZ for a 19yr old girl
with 2 years bike riding experience and just on her second year on an
A2 licence.

Any other light, reliable, naked, cheap (to insure and buy), retro,
economical (to run and repair) machines come to mind (preferably 4/
and with electric start)?

Cheers, T i m

 

Which type? The original 400 Bandit was officially imported many years
ago, but sold very poorly and so some parts will be scrace. The one that
is a sleeved-down version of the current model is grey import only.

No insurance problems.

Well, yes, but there are many better choices.

Kawasaki 550 Zephyr, Yamaha XJ600S Diversion, Honda CB500 twin, Suzuki
GS500 twin.

 

Ok well either seems a no-goer for us in any case than (thanks).

Ok ...

Hmm, of that list I think the Honda might be the best bet but still
50kg over the MZ. Having said that I'm pretty sure she's be ok
actually manhandling it as she's pretty strong and not overly short
(for a gel). [1]

So, summat around late 90's do you think (to get in the sub 1k range)?

Are there any basic things that regularly fail on the Honda that are
expensive to replace?

Cheers, T i m

[1] She easily picked up the MZ when she stepped off it the other day.

 

Sounds about right,

No. Rock solid. The finish on the exhauist on early ones is a bit
shoddy, that's all. Beware ex-despatch hacks.

 

A 400 Superdream would probably fit the bill if you could find a good one.

Predictable answer:-
GS500 fitted with the 33bhp restrictors.
Light-ish, bloody reliable, naked, cheap and very economical.
If you get one with the aftermarket washers rather than the later OEM
carb slide restrictors they are a piece of piss to remove when the 2
years are up.

 

You can't because the big ends have gone on all of them ;-)

 

Ok ta.

I've just chatted to her on MSN (she's up in Scotland with her b/f
atm) and she seems to like the pics of the CB500 I've sent.

Its her potential move up there that's got me thinking of something
that she could run reliably and get serviced if needed (they'll be
able to do the basic stuff themselves). Also be more comfortable a
motorway speeds and two up (more than the MZ I mean).

I guess she would have to get it restricted etc.


Cheers, T i m

p.s. A mate has a clean 750 Nighthawk that could be available for
similar money. Would that also be ok or would the extra 250cc make it
that much more expensive to insure for a 19yr old do you think?

 

Pretty much the same, I reckon.

 

Or a proper GSF600N? They're cheap as chips, reliable and quite fun.

 

Absolutely

 

SV650 with restrictors then take them out in a year once the licence
becomes full power.

 

Naked and 2-up comfort at motorway speeds don't go hand in hand.

CB500S with half fairing would just about do the job, but when we've
hired one in Portugal, I found it very lacking 2-up.

So I'd say an XJ600S Diversion - the half faired version is what you're
looking for.

 

Well, it's a possible as I know she likes the looks and style of them,
it's just the insurance re their appeal > nickability?

They are a bit heavier than the CB500 and lighter than the 750.

Funnily one of her mates has one and might be going abroad sometime
soon and said she could have first refusal.

I'll check out some insurance later.

Cheers, T i m

 

Hmm, not bad weight but could be a bit more money than we had in mind.
Also is it a bit more 'sports' (riding position) than the likes of the
CB etc?

Cheers, T i m

 

I ran a GPZ500S for a while as a commuter hack - one of those would
fit the bill pretty well although its not naked....

Steve

 

Why does it have to be a retro naked bike? Surely something half faired
and modernish would be a better choice as a year round commuting tool
with a degree of comfort. Is this you choosing which bike she *needs*,
or a stipulation made by the girl-child on what type of bike she
*wants*?

 

Same applies to GS500s. I swopped Molly's engine when her's blew the
bottom end apart, and the bottom end of the replacement engine she
bought was just as bad.

 

Another top choice that comes with my personal recommendation. I bought
a damaged naked one that ended up replacing my Bandit once I'd rebuilt
it. I liked it so much I sold it... and bought a fully faired SV650
instead

 

Bandits aren't expensive in any respect, even insurance. And I don't
think they're that desirable to a tea leaf either - certainly not as
desirable as a sportsbike or a trailie...

 

The naked SV is very upright. They have conventional handlebars on yoke
mounted clamps, so you can always swop them for something higher if
needed.

A decent SV650N K4[1] onwards model will set you back anything from 800
quid upwards if you search around.

[1] N for naked, K4 for 2004 model. The 1999 to 2002 models have a
lowish seat height. The 2003 model (K3) has a seat height 40mm taller.
For 2004 they lowered the seat height to what it used to be. The K3 is
a bit of a hard one to find rear plastics and subframes for as they
were only made for less than a year.