Old 1255cc -vs- new 779cc

[FickleBiker]

Anybody wanna talk some sense into me one way or the other?
2008 Bandit 1250 -vs- 2011 Yamaha FZ8

Before y'all launch into your opinion,
let it be universally agreed that mo' powa is betta!
There, that's outa the way, let's not revisit it.

I have a wonderful bagger, it's a Bandit 1250 with all the power mods, suspension mods, and a full set of hard bags. 41,000 miles of trouble-free miles, but it's a UJM, why would ya expect anything less.... (I also have a naked SV650 that is fun, Fun, FUN!)

I'm giving serious thought to considering the FZ8 in my garage rather than both the big bagger and little SV. I have yet to sit on a Fizzy 8, but I hope to find one today to sit on and study.
-- WHY? --
1) Because with SW Motech Quick Disconnect hardware, I can go from a canyon carving sexy little naked Fizzy, to a full-on touring machine w/hard bags in 30 seconds.
- and -
2) As I near 60 years old, and continue to lose weight via this recent diet, the Bandit has become increasingly bigger and heavier.... as my once 5' 2" frame @ 255 pounds is fast becoming 5' 1" and 200 pounds (with at least 40 more pounds yet to lose).

What do y'all think, is it just a new & different toy that I want,
or is my rationale valid for:
gaining more room in my little garage, saving money on registration/insurance, and getting into a bike that might be easier to mount/dismount/push around?

Why the FZ8?
I've concluded that I need the torque of an 800cc+- engine to keep me happy, I like naked, I like black & gold, I average over 24,000 miles a year (valve check intervals), the reviews say the gas tank/seat is narrow for those of us short of inseam, it likely will not weigh the same 610 pounds with my hard bags that the Bandit does, I wouldn't hafta pay the cover-charge for exotica considering my other motorcycle options.

(NOTE: If a little Street Triple R were available with the new Tiger engine, I mighta gone that route)

 

[planegray]

Stop being so fickle !!

(sorry, couldn't resist)


I know I sure miss my big ass k1200rs with it's big ass horsepower...... if you're going to buy one/ sell one, I'd get rid of the sv when you get the 800

 

[Biking Bhikshu]

Anybody wanna talk some sense into me

...

let it be universally agreed that mo' powa is betta!

...
If by "power" you mean "horsepower" well it's pretty clear the Bandit loses...but if you mean 'deliverable power' then you know, since you own one, how nicely the Bandit delivers all across the range.

Bandit 1250 with all the power mods, suspension mods, and a full set of hard bags. 41,000 miles of trouble-free miles

You've put a lot of money and riding miles on a bike that has given you zero problems. I'd ride that baby till she falls apart.

(I also have a naked SV650 that is fun, Fun, FUN!)

Sounds like you have everything a boy could want. Just imagine how much more fun that SV650 will be fun in another 40 pounds.
...

What do y'all think, is it just a new & different toy that I want,

^^ this
Also...the seat height on the FZ8 is an inch higher. If you're excited about losing weight just ride your SV650 more

 

[louemc]

There's no hope. You should buy the FZ8 and use it, then decide, what you want to do.

 

[FickleBiker]

Good points ALL....

Dammit Biking Bhikshu, the truth hurts.....
The little SV is a good machine, and when I drop yet another 40 lb's, WOW!
But the after-market suspension was set up to be capable on the track when I weighed 255 pounds, and wheelbase is not as comfortable on the open road or goat trails as the Bandit's.
--- And the Bandit's recently serviced suspension was also set up for my 255 pounds AND full lugguge.

Besides,
Who can argue with, "...ride that baby till she falls apart" (paid for & set up nicely)? And "deliverable power" of a detuned torque monster 1255cc down one tooth up front? All need be said is, Oh eM Gee!

planegray,
I don't plan to keep one bike and buy another..... if I did, the Bandit is the no brainer. But part of the rationale/justification/'excuse' was to reduce the cost of insurance, tires, registration, upkeep, and farkles.... to one bike in the tiny garage rather than two.

Oh..... and those of us who have had to live with the likes of a 24" inseam, it's not so much the measured seat height, as it is the seat width at it's narrowest, and ability of one's thighs to hang clear of the bike when reaching the tippie-toes to the ground. I won't know anything until I straddle the F Zed 8.
(The EXPEN$IVE BMW F800R, is the best bike with the narrowest/lowest/easiest seat to reach the ground from, AND BMW offers a low-seat option! But 800cc's with a cheap suspension, and dealerships that charge big bucks, not to overlook valve check intervals and questionable BMW quality and "craftsmanship" of late; I've already logged 60,000 mile$ on a Beemer, I'm just not that rich to do it again....)

 

[V4]

personally, i like the fz8 better than my fz1...

 

[Cereal KLR]

That had to be you parked next to me at the Dirtbag challenge right? Kudos on the weight reduction, you were stalward even when I showed up with burger/beer in hand.

I also like the 800 size after having an FZ6 and an R1. Please buy one and report.

 

[firstbuell]

R--E--N--T

[Dubbleju or whomever, locally]

then decide.......

 

[barlow]

...
You've put a lot of money and riding miles on a bike that has given you zero problems. I'd ride that baby till she falls apart.

^^ This. My bone stock GSF1200SK1 has 94k on the clock, and is starting to threaten to fall apart, probably owing to the cheap oil I use. Yours should last another 80k.

On second thought, fug it, get the FZ8.

 

[Pimpson]

personally, i like the fz8 better than my fz1...

Care to elaborate? I own an FZ6 and when/if I upgrade, it would probably be one of these 2 models. I'm curious why an FZ1 owner would go for the lower budget brakes/suspension/power of the FZ8. Styling?

 

[Hawaiirider]

1. Rent/borrow/ride the Fizzy8 first, until you do it's a complete mystery equation.

2. While simplifying the rolling stock inventory can have advantages - even aside from 2 reg & insurance bills, there's tires, +++ HOWEVER, I really DO like having multiple bikes - when one needs service I'm not bikeless -- I get a panic attacks when I don't have an operational moto at my disposal. Seriously, though, when something has to be ordered or theres some other unforseen delay I don't mind nearly as much when I have another scoot to ride.

 

[Roadstergal]

Buy the FZ8. I wouldn't mind getting one, but I'm not going to buy new... could you ride it very little before you sell it?

Oh, and I agree to sell the SV650 instead of the Bandit for it. The all-day-long riding, two-uppability, and wind protection of the Bandit is hard to beat.

 

[Triple Threat]

I didn't even know they made an 800, I only knew about the 600 & 1000 FZ's, sounds like a great bike, take one for a ride, read all the reviews and make a decision from there.

800cc sounds like a perfectly positioned bike, today 1000cc are way overboard for any sane person.

All the best,

Triple

 

[FickleBiker]

Hawaiirider,
It hasn't been often, but when I've had two bikes in the garage, life is GOOD..... for the very reasons you spoke of!

Cereal KLR,
Who woulda thunk a guy could find a T-shirt with his BARF screen name on it, or did ya find the t-shirt first? Yeah, that short fat white boy on the bike too big for me was..... me. That bike you were on..... too nice a bike to bugger up with salt at the Flats, but I knows how ya likes dem burgers, and you may win that bet with yer buddies on that bad boy!

Anyway...... if you haven't seen the Fizzy 8, you owe it to yourself to take a gander. I was jealous that Europe got the naked Fazer, but that we couldn't avail ourselves to one.... LOVELY bike! Well, the mini Fazer is naked, and we can get it here in the states.... and it's pretty sexy if you like naked bikes.

Gonna go pick up my buddy and look at an F'Zed 8 now, I'm told they have one on the other side of town. I'd love to ride one, but you know how UJM dealerships are..... no test rides available, "take it or leave it". Thanks a lot guys.....

By the way,
I have a little supply of new tires in my living room for the Bandit, and they're the same size that the FZ1 takes....(!)

 

[Factor5]

Street Triple R with the Tiger Cub engine does sound inticing.

 

[V4]

Care to elaborate? I own an FZ6 and when/if I upgrade, it would probably be one of these 2 models. I'm curious why an FZ1 owner would go for the lower budget brakes/suspension/power of the FZ8. Styling?

cuz the fz1 would need suspension mods just the same as the fz8...

brakes aren't that bad for street use at all...only saving grace is the adjustable levers on the fz1 but it stops about the same...

the fz1 may make more "power" but you gotta be in the high rpm to get there where the fz8 is better around town and on goat trails cuz it's powerband and can get on the throttle earlier...

as for the weight, it helps isolate the road and feels planted so i don't mind it at all...it feels lighter than it is, as does the fz1 so no fuss...it even feels lighter than the fz6r...

as for styling, mine was the euro nekkid FZ1....

 

[russ69]

...gaining more room in my little garage, saving money on registration/insurance, and getting into a bike that might be easier to mount/dismount/push around?...

I feel your pain but at just over 5 feet, most bikes are going to have your feet dangling in air. I think we all feel more comfortable when we have good footing but you just have to play the hand you are dealt. Is the 800 easier to push around the garage, not really. Once you get over about 320 pounds all bikes are starting to get heavy.
At any rate, at 60 years old you deserve to get the bike you want, no need to justify your purchase. If you want it, get it. There is no guarantee that your riding years will go on forever, although I hope they do, so no judgement is needed, you deserve to get whatever you want. All your choices are top notch, if you are ready for a change, go for it.

 

[FickleBiker]

Ooooh.... FZ8 is one sweeeet looking bike!

Tall in the saddle, and not as narrow where the seat meets the gas tank as the magazines make a deal of. But more importantly, when I press down on the seat, I can feel about 4" of seat pan back from the gas tank that will prohibit cutting the seat down right there.

Yeah, really nice looking machine. And those headers (!)..... makes ya wanna take 'em off brand new, have another SERIOUS job of chroming done to them, ceramic coat the interior, and install as handsome an after-market slip-on as can be found.

I could make it work, though I forgot to check how the preload was adjusted (it mighta been max'ed out ((but I doubt it)). But it's really really too bad that seat pan is so problematic for lowering the saddle.