Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S 2012 — Specifications

Who still remembers the old SACS air-and-oil-cooled engine, that powerplant derived from the 1986 GSX-R 1100, which ran for over ten years in the belly of the Bandit? In 2007, Suzuki decided to turn the page. To clear the Euro 3 emissions hurdle, the GSF 1200 gave way to the Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S, fitted with an inline four-cylinder switched to liquid cooling and electronic fuel injection. A change in philosophy more than a simple displacement upgrade.

The heart of the machine now beats at 1255 cc, thanks to a longer piston stroke (79 x 64 mm). The numbers speak for themselves: 98 hp at 7500 rpm and, above all, 107.9 Nm of torque available from just 3700 rpm. It's this last point that defines the beast's temperament. No need to flog the engine to feel the thrust — the big four-cylinder fills in generously at mid-range and pulls with a consistency that reassures on A-roads and motorways alike. The 6-speed gearbox pairs well with this smooth-running engine, and the fresh air injection system coupled with the catalytic converter makes the whole package cleaner than before. What is the top speed of the Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S? The speedometer can climb to 230 km/h, placing it in the upper average of the sport-touring segment without pretending to play in sportbike territory.

The rest of the motorcycle, however, hasn't undergone the same revolution. The tubular steel double-cradle frame carries over the familiar architecture, even if the tubes have grown in diameter to offer 10% more rigidity. The 43 mm telehydraulic fork and rear monoshock do the job without any particular brilliance. It's honest, calibrated for sport-touring, but you won't find the precision of a Yamaha FZ1 Fazer or the dynamism of a Kawasaki Z1000 SX. The brakes, with their twin 310 mm discs and four-piston calipers up front, prove adequate without being bitey. ABS was still offered as an option on this 2012 model year — a questionable choice when the competition was already starting to make it standard.

The scales show 250 kg wet. That's not light, and the 10 kg gain over the previous generation makes itself felt during low-speed manoeuvres. The seat, adjustable to 790 or 810 mm, remains accessible to most rider builds. The 19-litre tank offers decent range for touring, even if the question comes up often: what is the fuel consumption of the Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S? Expect around 6 to 7 litres per hundred in mixed riding, a bit more in the city where the big engine is predictably thirstier.

What is the price of a new Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S? At 8599 euros in 2012, the Bandit played its trump card: the performance-to-price ratio. Hard to find a faired roadster of this displacement at such a competitive price. It's the motorcycle for the pragmatic rider — the one who wants a reliable, comfortable big-bore machine capable of eating up miles without complaint, and who isn't chasing the latest technology or the last gram of weight savings. Against a tamer Honda CBF 1000 or a sharper Kawasaki Z1000 SX, the Suzuki GSF 1250 Bandit S occupies a niche all its own: the no-nonsense tourer, solid and predictable. Not the kind to set forums ablaze, but the kind to build a lasting relationship with your motorcycle.