The Suzuki Bandit has been one of the most iconic sports tourers of all time. Since the first iteration was introduced in 1989, the Bandit’s semi-fairing has made it one of the most easily recognisable sports tourers in the market. For 2015, Suzuki has introduced many significant updates for the Bandit to keep it competitive in today’s cut-throat market of litre-class sports touring motorcycles.
Cosmetic changes to the new Bandit 1250S ABS include a revised semi-fairing which shows off the inline four engine, a new front cowl and redesigned radiator shrouds and winsdshield, which provides better wind protection for the rider. The instrument cluster adorns an old-school analogue tachometer which shares space with a modern digital panel. The engine, frame, swingarm and fork legs are all garnished in a glossy black, which give the motorcycle a dark look. It also gets an adjustable seat with 20mm of play to suit riders of different heights.
The Bandit 1250S ABS is powered by a 1,255cc four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine which has been tuned to deliver a wide spread of power across the rev range. The cylinders get a special coating to reduce friction and minimise power loss.
A new 32-bit ECU gets updated mappings to improve fuel economy without compromising on performance. The engine comes mated to a six-speed transmission, though power figures haven’t been revealed yet. Braking is taken care of by dual 310mm discs at the front and a 240mm disc in the rear, with ABS as a standard fitment.
The Suzuki Bandit 1250S ABS is expected to make an appearance at the 2014 EICMA in November, where we expect the rest of the details to be revealed. While the Bandit offers the best of both worlds, its popularity has slowly declined over the years due to the other more modern sports tourers in the market. With the new model however, it seems that the Bandit 1250S ABS is all set to rival the likes of Yamaha FZ1 and the Kawasaki Ninja 1000.
