Suzuki GSF 650 Bandit N 2012 — Specifications

Who still remembers the original round headlight, the one that defined the Bandit's silhouette from 1995 onwards? With this 2012 model year, Suzuki turns an aesthetic page on its Suzuki GSF 650 Bandit N. The headlight unit gives way to a more refined design, all curves, flanked by a revised dashboard that is not without echoes of the SVF Gladius styling. One can even detect a nod to what Yamaha was offering on its FZ6. The result is more modern, sharper, even if purists will miss the raw minimalism of the first generations.

On the mechanical side, no revolution under the casing. The 656 cc liquid-cooled inline-four delivers its 85 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 61.8 Nm of torque at 8,900 rpm. This engine had been renewed shortly before, so it made sense not to touch it. The cavalry is enough to push the whole package to 210 km/h flat out, which remains respectable for a machine of this size. The six-speed gearbox does its job without any particular brilliance, and chain final drive remains a classic choice, easy to maintain. This engine never claimed to set lap times on the track, but it knows how to be pleasant on the road, supple in the mid-range and quite willing when asked to climb up the revs.

The double-cradle steel frame, the 41 mm telescopic fork and the rear monoshock make up a package with no surprises but effective for everyday and road use. At 240 kg fully fueled, the Bandit 650 is no featherweight, and its seat perched at 770 mm makes it accessible to a wide range of riders. The 19-litre fuel tank allows decent range to cover kilometres without spending your life at the pump. Braking, with its two 310 mm discs squeezed by four-piston calipers at the front, gets the job done. ABS remained available as an option, a questionable choice in 2012 when the competition was starting to offer it as standard.

Speaking of the competition. If you're looking for the price of a 2009 Suzuki GSF 650 Bandit N in France or that of neighbouring model years, you'll notice that the Bandit has always played the rock-bottom price card. At the end of 2012, Suzuki struck hard by cutting the price from 6,199 to 5,549 euros, a sharp drop intended to revive sales against two formidable rivals: the Kawasaki ER-6, lively and light, and the Yamaha XJ6, versatile and well-bred. On the second-hand market, the question of the price of a 2007 or 2008 Suzuki GSF 650 Bandit N and S comes up often, and opinions on the 2008 Suzuki GSF 650 Bandit N and S converge on the same conclusion: it's a safe bet, reliable and cheap to run, even if it lacks the spice of its Japanese rivals. For those looking for the price of a 2010 Suzuki GSF 650 Bandit N in France, prices remain contained, making it a logical entry point into the mid-size segment.

The 2012 Bandit 650 is the Swiss Army knife of the pragmatic rider. Not the most exciting in the segment, not the lightest, not the best equipped. But an honest machine, with a proven engine, modest maintenance and a purchase price that leaves budget for gear. It's aimed at post-licence beginners who want a reliable roadster without breaking the bank, at urban riders looking for a go-anywhere bike for the week and weekend jaunts, and at thrifty tourers who prefer riding to showing off. Suzuki hasn't reinvented the recipe, just refreshed the packaging. Sometimes, that's enough.