Suzuki Bandit 1995-2004 (N&S)

Suzuki got this bike so right that everyone knows someone with one!

In 1995, the Suzuki Bandit hit the scene—a budget-friendly bike that delivered top-tier thrills with just a twist of the throttle. Despite its tough, moody name suggesting it might drain your wallet and stop you in your tracks, the truth was quite the opposite. There were three versions, GSF400 (not officially imported into the UK), GSF600 and the GSF1200.

Yes, it was a true parts-bin special: the engine came from the old GSX600F ‘Teapot.’ Not the fastest, but the air-oil cooled motor was dependable (with roots tracing back to the GSX-R750F) and delivered around 70–80 bhp and a top speed of 125 mph. The whole setup was held together by a tubular steel frame, with a hint of the GSX-R’s double-cradle design, painted to match the bike’s color. Sure, the suspension was pretty basic, with only rear rebound and preload adjustment, but it still offered plenty of fun on the road—arguably more than the naked Yamaha XJ600N Diversion.

It was a blast to ride, a bike where all the budget parts somehow added up to more than expected. Even better, it had the cool name “Bandit.” Thankfully, it didn’t mimic a black Trans-Am but instead was a sharp-looking, naked “Universal Japanese Motorcycle.” Back in the mid-1990s, when fairings were all the rage, this one stood out stripped bare. It wasn’t “classically” styled either, being a single-shock rather than a twin-shock machine. Development moved slowly because sales were booming—why fix what isn’t broken? Eventually, the Bandit lineup went head-to-head with the Honda FireBlade for sales supremacy. And yes, it became a true family: the half-faired S-model 600 arrived in 1996 for £4699, followed by the Bandit 1200 a year later (also in a half-faired version), with the naked B12 priced at just £5999.

As competition intensified, the Bandit was compelled to evolve. The original model, produced from 1995 to 1999, initially carried a price tag of £3,999, which rose to £4,499 in 1997/98 before dropping to £3,798 in 1999 as UK importers responded to the surge in parallel imports. In 2000, a new model was introduced, featuring a revised frame and altered styling on the half-faired version, although the engine remained largely unchanged. This iteration, which also saw a 3mm increase in wheelbase, was regarded as less visually appealing and seemed to have lost some of its former character. Priced at £4,649, it remained competitively positioned. Its successor, launched in 2005 as the Suzuki GSF650 Bandit, offered a larger, updated engine and refreshed styling, retailing at £4,239.

Prices? There’s something to suit every budget. Spares bikes can be found for a few hundred quid, while decent ones start at around a grand to £1500. We’ve even seen low-mileage models go for about £2800… It’s a classic, honestly.

Although some parts from a 600/1200 will fit a 400, they are actually quite a different bike.

While there may be a wide array of colours out there, however, the official Suzuki options were Red, Grey, Green, Black, Blue, Silver, Yellow, White/Blue, and Black/Silver.

As the saying goes, it’s not just the size that matters, but how you use that power—and in this respect, the larger Bandit shines, scoring higher across every performance metric. It’s not really about raw power, though; it’s about torque. Where the 600 huffs and buzzes, the 1200 simply growls and pulls away with ease. The bigger Bandit feels far more solid here, and it’s a welcome change to experience its relaxed punch after the 600’s frantic pace, which takes much more effort to keep in its sweet spot.

The 1200 is much easier to ride in every way, with more credibility and appeal thanks to its larger engine. While the 600 feels like a capable yet basic bike built to get you from A to B (with some style and excitement, to be fair), the 1200 offers far more. You can do a lot with it, and if you opt for the faired version, you can add some luggage, bring a passenger, and head off on a long journey, enjoying every moment along the way and at your destination. The less powerful 600 just doesn’t give off the same sense of versatility.

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