Suzuki GSX1250 FA (2010 - present)

David B
Reviewed: 26 November 2012

Bandit 1250 GT ( essentially same bike with diff fairing) - an excellent all rounder.

Have done 10000 fault free miles over the last year including 2 trips to France fully loaded with pillion and camping gear.The bike was more than capable fully loaded. 85 mph on the motorways with plenty of extra for faster overtakes made long distances easy.Very stable fully loaded at speed.Managed about 50 mpg (well better than the 38 oft quoted)

A little cramped 2 up ( but never a problem). Not so happy on poorer surfaces.Quite a hefty bike at slow speeds

Cheap practical all rounder

mark44
Reviewed: 22 July 2012

Comfortable, competent, powerful, and cheap.

Low and mid range power.
ABS.
Lower body wind protection.
Price
Styling.
Plenty of storage with optional bags.

Nervous front end. Tires?
Wind protection for head and shoulders.
Pillion peg height.
No "miles to empty" indicator.

I now have 1,600 miles on my 2011 GSX1250FA which I bought new as a non current model a month or so ago. Right after break-in, I took it to the mountains in Colorado, USA and rode spectacularly curved roads for three days straight.

First, the good parts. This is a great motor. Don't let the lowish horsepower rating fool you. It pulls nicely from way down low to the midrange where most of us live anyway. It is very smooth and refined. You really have to reference the tach and gear position indicator regularly to see what gear you are in because of the smoothness. It doesn't have the top end whoosh of many of its competitors, but I was traveling with a Ninja 1000, a Multistrada, and a Concours 14 and nobody was running away from me. One of my traveling companions remarked over the radio, "I can't believe how fast that Suzuki is." Nuff said.

The transmission is typical Suzuki. Slick, slick, slick. Lots of clutchless shifting with a dip of the throttle. Moderate clutch pull when you so have to use it. Not a problem. This tranny is a joy.

The seating position is comfortable for me, but I'm not a very tall guy at 5' 9". Seat height is adjustable.

Wind protection for the head is pretty bad. Get a Madstad Shield like I did before my trip and the bike is transformed.

It displayed a nervous front end during all those carving turns. Everybody says the stock tires are to blame. I look forward to replacing them. I'm about to buy a fork brace for it.

Suzi rocks.

mr raptor
Reviewed: 21 June 2011

A great ride

for a big bike it handles very well great in corners 1 or 2 up loads of power great on long distance rides comfy seats

can be a bit thirsty if you cain it for a while standard screen bit too low paint job very dull just block colours the silver looks terribe

a great all round bike for a fun day out to a long tour this bike offers it all its not the fastest but it delivers power and speed so smooth best bike i have had to date and with a bubbles screen its even better