Suzuki GSF650N Bandit

Suzuki GSF650N Bandit
Manufacturer	Suzuki
Also called	GSF 650 N Bandit
Production	2005 - 06
Class	Standard
Engine	Air/oil cooled, four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder.
Compression ratio	10.5:1
Top Speed	198.7 km/h / 123.5 mph
Ignition	Digital transistorized
Transmission	6 Speed
Frame	Double cradle
Suspension	Front: 41mm Telescopic fork, preload fully adjustable Rear: Link type, oil damped, mono-shock, spring pre-load 7-way adjustable, rebound damping 4-way adjustable
Brakes	Front: 2 x 290 mm Discs, 2 piston calipers Rear: Single 240 mm disc, 2 piston caliper
Front Tire	120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire	160/60 ZR17
Wheelbase	1440 mm / 56.7 in
Seat Height	770 - 790 mm / 30.3 - 31.1 in
Weight	201 kg / 443 lbs (dry),
Recommended Oil	Suzuki ECSTAR 10w40
Fuel Capacity	20 Liters / 5.3 US gal / 4.4 Imp gal
Manuals	Service Manual

It could reach a top speed of 198.7 km/h / 123.5 mph.

Engine

The engine was a Air/oil cooled cooled Air/oil cooled, four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder.. The engine featured a 10.5:1 compression ratio.

Chassis

It came with a 120/70 ZR17 front tire and a 160/60 ZR17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 2 x 290 mm Discs, 2 piston calipers in the front and a Single 240 mm disc, 2 piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a 41mm Telescopic fork, preload fully adjustable while the rear was equipped with a Link type, oil damped, mono-shock, spring pre-load 7-way adjustable, rebound damping 4-way adjustable. The GSF650N Bandit was fitted with a 20 Liters / 5.3 US gal / 4.4 Imp gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 201 kg / 443 lbs. The wheelbase was 1440 mm / 56.7 in long.

Photos

Overview

Suzuki GSF 650N Bandit

The new Suzuki GSF650 Bandit should continue the success story of the little Bandit. The improvements have made the new Suzuki GSF650 Bandit much more refined, easier to ride than ever and should appeal to a mass audience.

The Suzuki GSF650 Bandit's engine is all new, out with the carbs and in with the all-new fuel injection, and about time, it’s also now water-cooled. Peak power is up and there is great amount of torque. But it’s not all about power, the Suzuki GSF650 Bandit's engine is much smoother especially when cold. All new frame, which according to Suzuki is now 10% stiffer with larger diameter frame tubes. Suspension has been played around with on the Suzuki GSF650 Bandit, giving stiffer rear shock but slightly softer front end. The swingarm has also increased in length. OK, it’s not on par with a sports bike but the Suzuki GSF650 Bandit is more than enough for 99% of riders, very forgiving. For under £4500 you’re pretty much going to get what it says on the tin with the Suzuki GSF650 Bandit.  But you still get a digital clock, adjustable seat height and bars. Front and back suspension is adjustable for pre-load and if you go for the slightly more expensive S model Suzuki GSF650 Bandit you get ABS. Source MCN

Review:

First up the engine. Well, it's now black rather than silver, so 650 owners can now pretend their bike is a 1200 Bandit as this previously was the main visual difference. The 600 has also grown to 656cc with a bigger bore, has a new cylinder design with a low friction coating, some new pistons and a new cam shaft. Even peak power is the same as before at a claimed 76.9bhp, although torque is up to 43.3lb.ft from 39.8lb.ft.

That's the engine, now the chassis.The frame is stiffer with an extra brace and, while the wheelbase is unaltered, the rake is one degree more and trail increased by 9mm. The suspension components are basically the same, although the forks now have adjustable spring pre-load.

To make the bike more appealing to a wide range of riders the Bandit's seat can be raised by 20mm from 770mm to 790mm and the bars can go up 10mm. The tank is slightly narrower too, making it even easier for short-arses to reach the ground, and for the more cautious rider the Bandit now also comes with ABS as an optional extra.

Which leaves the styling. Despite the new Bandit looking virtually identical to the old one it has new clocks, a pointy mudguard and new-style seat. The faired one gets a new fairing and I think there was also something about new indicators and tail light, but by this point my attention was dwindling.

As you can tell this isn't exactly a radical new bike. It's not even much of a change from the old one, and that hasn't really changed for 10 years. So what's going on? Suzuki admit the Bandit is out of its league against the new breed of sporty, liquid-cooled, aluminum-framed middleweights. Instead, it's now targeted against bikes such as Honda's CBF600. The Bandit is now a budget bike aimed mainly at new riders. And it has to be ridden with this in mind because, quite frankly, a Z750, 600 Hornet or FZ6 could run rings around it. So the question should be, 'Is it much better than the old model and will it be any good as a cheap, reliable day-to-day bike?'

To be fair the Bandit isn't a bad bike at all, it's just not that inspiring if you are used to slightly sportier machinery, which most riders this bike is aimed at won't be.

To sit on the bike feels exactly the same as the old machine, with the new clocks and fork tops the only real clues that it's the new model. The seat is decently padded, bars at a comfortable distance and pegs positioned for comfort rather than ground clearance (something Suzuki had clocked as none of the bikes we rode had hero blobs fitted).

To go with the refined image the clocks have lost their tacky plasti-chrome look, and the speedo is now a digital display with sensible things like fuel gauge, clock and speed all there for your visual pleasure. Get it going and the first surprise is how good the fuel-injection is with none of the usual jerkiness or snatch that usually accompanies injectors. Hang on a second, there's a reason for this. The Bandit has carbs. I tell you, these carb things could really catch on because they are brilliant. It's a refreshing change to ride a bike once again with them fitted as they are so much better than injectors, even the current ones.

There's no snatch going from a closed to open throttle or vice versa, no jerkiness and all-in-all the fuelling is perfect. Damn those EU idiots and their emissions laws for killing carbs off! Although the smooth delivery could be down to the engine as well.

While the 656cc motor is definitely stronger than the old model it's still not very powerful, and that makes for a smooth ride. The main benefits of the extra bore are below 7000rpm where it feels much improved - nothing like as strong as the Z750 but close to the Fazer 600 and Hornet, and I reckon it's stronger than Honda's CBF600. Accelerate on the CBF600 and it feels like the engine is restricted as it strains to build speed, but there is nothing of this about the Bandit. You just get silky acceleration with a light clutch action and smooth, if noisy, gearbox.

As improvements go the engine is a step ahead of the old model, although experienced riders will find they start using the throttle like an on/off switch on fast stretches of road. By 9500rpm the power is all but gone though, and you get the 'flogging a dead horse' feeling.

Source: Jon Urry,

Make Model	Suzuki GSF 650N Bandit
Year	2005 - 06
Engine Type	Air/oil cooled, four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder.
Displacement	656cc / 40.0 cu in
Bore X Stroke	65.5 x 48.7 mm
Compression	10.5:1
Cooling System	Air/oil cooled
Induction	4 x Keihin CVR 32 carburetors
Ignition	Digital transistorized
Starting	Electric
Max Power	57.4 kW / 77 hp @ 10500 rpm
Max Torque	54 Nm / 5.5 kgf-m / 39.8 lb-ft @ 9500 rpm
Transmission	6 Speed
Final Drive	Chain
Frame	Double cradle
Front Suspension	41mm Telescopic fork, preload fully adjustable
Rear Suspension	Link type, oil damped, mono-shock, spring pre-load 7-way adjustable, rebound damping 4-way adjustable
Front Brakes	2 x 290 mm Discs, 2 piston calipers
Rear Brakes	Single 240 mm disc, 2 piston caliper
Front Tire	120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire	160/60 ZR17
Dimensions	Length: 2110 mm / 83.1 in Width: 770 mm / 30.3 in Height: 1090 mm / 42.9 in
Wheelbase	1440 mm / 56.7 in
Ground Clearance	130 mm / 5.1 in
Seat Height	770 - 790 mm / 30.3 - 31.1 in
Dry Weight	201 kg / 443 lbs
Fuel Capacity	20 Liters / 5.3 US gal / 4.4 Imp gal
Consumption Average	4.8 L/100 km / 20.9 km/l / 49.2 US mpg / 59.0 Imp mpg
Standing ¼ Mile	12.5 sec
Top Speed	198.7 km/h / 123.5 mph
Review	Visordown

External Links

• http://www.visordown.com