Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S 2008 — Specifications

Twenty years of loyal service, and then it's gone. The SACS air-and-oil-cooled engine, inherited from the 1986 GSX-R 1100, had crossed decades under the hood of the Bandit without ever faltering. But Euro 3 regulations sounded the death knell for this mechanical relic from another era. The Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S thus arrives with a thoroughly overhauled inline four-cylinder, switched to liquid cooling and fed by electronic fuel injection. A change of philosophy for a motorcycle that had made conservatism a virtue.

On the numbers side, the engine gains 98 cc through a longer piston stroke, bringing displacement to 1255 cc. Power output settles at 98 horsepower at 7500 rpm, a reasonable rev range that betrays the machine's touring vocation. But it's above all the torque that does the talking: 107.9 Nm available from just 3700 rpm, enough to pick up speed without downshifting and devour highway miles on a whisper of throttle. The new six-speed gearbox contributes to this sense of mechanical completeness. This is far from a razor-sharp sportbike, and that's precisely the point. The top speed of the Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S reaches 230 km/h, an honest figure that confirms its grand touring positioning rather than any lap-time ambitions.

The rest of the motorcycle evolves sparingly. The tubular steel double-cradle frame retains its architecture, but the tubes gain diameter for a 10% increase in rigidity. The result on the scales: 250 kg wet weight, roughly ten kilograms more than the 1200. The 43 mm telescopic hydraulic fork and rear mono-shock get the job done without any particular brilliance. The braking system, entrusted to two 310 mm discs clamped by four-piston calipers up front and a 240 mm disc at the rear, proves adequate for the category without rivaling what a Kawasaki Z1000 or Yamaha FZ1 Fazer offered during the same period. ABS remains optional, a questionable choice on a touring bike of this caliber. The seat, adjustable to 790 or 810 mm, accommodates a wide range of body types, and the 19-liter tank promises decent range. For those wondering what the fuel consumption of the Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S is, expect between 5.5 and 7 liters per hundred kilometers depending on pace, a moderate appetite for a large four-cylinder.

What is the price of a new Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S? At launch, the bill came to 7,999 euros, a ferociously aggressive price against the competition. This is in fact the Bandit's historic strength: offering a performance-to-price ratio that's hard to beat. No TFT dashboard, no sophisticated electronics, no multi-adjustable suspension. Just a big torquey engine, a predictable chassis, and ergonomics built for long distances. Touring riders, those who rack up miles on weekends or head off on loaded holidays, will find in this machine a reliable companion with low maintenance demands. A2 license beginners will look elsewhere, as will track enthusiasts. The Bandit doesn't seek to dazzle — it seeks to endure.

This evolution toward liquid cooling and fuel injection marks the end of an era for Suzuki, that of the raw, characterful naturally aspirated engine. The GSF 1250 Bandit S gains in cleanliness and smoothness what it loses in raw charm. A reasonable compromise, befitting a motorcycle that never claimed to inspire dreams, but always knew how to make itself indispensable in a garage.