Okay, so, about that Suzuki Bandit 1200 from ’98, let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a journey. I picked up this bike a while back, thinking it’d be a fun project. It wasn’t in the best shape, to say the least. I don’t know about you, but there’s something about these older bikes that just gets me, you know?
First thing I did was give it a good once-over. Checked the usual suspects: engine, brakes, tires. The engine, surprisingly, seemed decent. It’s that air/oil-cooled one, a bit old school but tough as nails. I heard they can hit around 140 mph, which is wild. Mine probably couldn’t, not in its state, but still, that’s some serious power. I think they have around 97 horsepower or something like that.
- Started with the basics: oil change, new spark plugs. Nothing fancy.
- Then I moved on to the fuel system. I replaced the old fuel lines and cleaned out the tank. It was full of gunk!
- Tackled the carbs next. They were a mess, all gummed up. It took me a couple of days, but I managed to get them all cleaned up and synced. That was a win.
Brakes were next on the list. The old pads were completely shot, so I put in some new ones. I also bled the brake lines, just to be safe. These bikes are supposed to be real roadsters, so you gotta make sure they can stop, right?
Tried to start it up after all that, and guess what? It fired up! It was rough, but it was running. I let it idle for a while, just to make sure everything was flowing properly.
Next Steps
It’s still a work in progress. I need to sort out the electricals, they’re a bit wonky. And the exhaust needs some love. I saw some used parts online, might grab those. Oh, and the seat needs reupholstering. But hey, it’s getting there. I took it for a short ride around the block the other day, and man, it felt good to have it moving under its own power.
I’m no expert, just a guy who likes tinkering with bikes. This Bandit 1200, it’s a classic. Not as fancy as the new stuff, maybe, but it’s got character. And it’s fun bringing it back to life, one step at a time. Can’t wait to get it really humming along. It’s going to be sweet when it’s done.
