Suzuki GSF 600S Bandit
Introduced a year after the unfaired Bandit 600, the Bandit'S' extended the practical use of the Bandit significantly by the simple expedient of fitting a frame-mounted half-fairing. Suddenly, what had been a bike best kept in town or on twisty back roads had an additional long-distance touring dimension.
Much of the 'S' was identical to the base bike. The engine is a variation of the GSX600Fs powerplant, a 16-valve inline-four oil-cooled design which produces 58kW (78bhp) in this application. The long-running GSX engine is both reliable and economical, although the dated nature of the design shows in its performance compared to more modern liquid-cooled engines such as Yamaha's Fazer or Honda's Hornet 600. This original 1996 Bandit'S' had a rather anonymous square headlight fairing, and many riders preferred the styling of the naked bike. But the fairing improved comfort and weather protection at motorway crusing speeds, making the Bandit'S' a useful budget tourer.
A model update in 2000 had a new, twin projector headlight fairing, and the new frame and engine modifications of the unfaired bike. The revamped fairing gave more modern styling, better wind protection and improved aerodynamics. Engine changes include new carburettors with TPS throttle position sensors, linked to a more advanced ignition system, and with a different exhaust design, giving the engine an extra 3kW (4bhp) in the mid-range. But peak power remained the same at 58kW (78bhp), some way off the class standard of nearer 67kW (90bhp) in 2000.
Chassis modifications were similarly understated - a new frame design lowered the seat height, the brakes were slightly modified and the fuel capacity increased to 20 litres (4.4 gaT). The Bandit remained a popular choice after 2000, but stiff opposition from Honda's Hornet'S' and Yamaha's Fazer badly affected sales. |
