1991 Suzuki Bandit 400

[AlanDog]

I really have wondered why there is no decent selection of bikes between 25 and 100 HP (okay, sv650, I'll give you that). Have dreamed of the Honda 400cc sport bikes, but grey market bikes in california are tough (impossible?). So here was a bike that fit many of my criteria: cheap ($2000), relatively low miles (12k), relatively upright seating (for all day riding)... it's a 400cc inline 4 with 58HP. Not afraid of a 20 year old bike after fixing up the 81 cx500 successfully... I test rode it for about 10 minutes, definitely lots more power, the suspension is soft. The ergonomics are very similar to the pregen, maybe slightly more forward... The three bikes will only be until the cx500 buyer picks up his bike, and I will now put the ninja up for sale. Wish I could afford to keep it, but need to finance my upcoming track days. Hopefully the bandit will be safe without suspension mods...

[Alex]

Fun bike!

[rz3r0]

Nice, a Suzuki Bandit 400! Congrats man, ride safe as always!

[alex.s]

brrrrum! brrrummmmm!!!

[AlanDog]

The bike is great, just getting used to it. To my surprise, it has even less leg room than the ninjette. I didn't know that was possible. I thought more cc's = more legroom. I will have to look into a custom seat mod--it looks like it can be raised a couple inches without looking weird.

No major mechanical issues, but the CL post said 'previously owned by a mechanic'. I should have asked exactly what that means to them. Someone who works on their own bike = mechanic? Or an actual professional mechanic? The seller only had the bike a year and only put 1k miles (of 12k) on it.

It had many minor issues: clutch way too tight, chain was way too loose, and the rear brake pedal was way out of adjustment. Oh, and the 'upgraded' handlebars requires the master cylinder to fit behind fork crown with the brake lever pointed up (higher than the handlebar itself). Yeah, it takes a mechanic... I was in love with the idea of the bike; blinded by love, I didn't notice any of this on my inspection or test ride!

I do love the engine. Now you actually have to think about it before just pinning the throttle. And this is not *that* powerful of a bike. Feels like learning to ride all over again. I think it has stock gearing, but it does about 8000 rpm at an indicated 70 mph (which is maybe 65?). But this is an engine that loves to rev, for sure!

[alex.s]

honestly i think 400cc 4 stroke inline 4 is the best engine choice for a street motorcycle

[sharky nrk]

nice project, I have seen some really nice bandit 400 project bikes and please keep everyone updated on your work and track experiences with the bike. Not many people have and take care of those things.

[edxmon]

Oh man! I love how this looks! You might just have found me my next bike!

[Whiskey]

Aren't they pretty rare? I've heard parts are a bitch to find. There's also an SV400 again its rare & difficult to source parts for.

[Snake]

Great bike.

[AlanDog]

Day 8: strange sound coming home, sort of like a loose chain when I let off on the throttle. Searching the bandit forum, this is a sign of a cam tensioner problem which is apparently not uncommon. The cam chain can jump while starting the bike. Interesting.

Day 9 (today): Starting it up, the bike turns over and then I hear a thump as I release the starter button. Kinda like the chain jumped. Then the bike won't start and when turning it over it sounds like a "pant/pant/fart pant/pant/fart". Go back in the house, get on the computer, take the ninja 250 off craigslist.

I guess I bought another project bike.

[Alex]

I told myself I was not going to say it. But the other thing that the B400's are known for is being particularly finicky compared to the B600's and B1200's. Cheap enough and interesting enough to make a go at it, but might not ever be reliable enough to be someone's sole 2-wheeled escape.

[AlanDog]

Had to find this thread so I could whine a little. I feel like I've owned this bike a year--not because I've been riding it, but because I've taken the carbs off and put them back on about 20 times... man, you don't 'finicky' til you do a carb rebuild on these puppies. Just getting them not to leak fuel was a major accomplishment. The float height is set by a metal tab the thickness of an aluminum can. I mean, these carbs are mechanically simple, but I just spent the day trying to dial these in. I can't even get the bike to idle, let alone run correctly. Oh my ninja 250, how I miss you! : )

[AlanDog]

Only took 8 months to get these carbs working right. Now I'm an expert in something I'd rather not have any experience in.

Bike runs great, took it to Napa and back yesterday. Gettting used to the bike in corners, and it sure seems difficult to feather the throttle on this bike--like when you want to slow down just a tad in a turn, it's like an on-off switch. Are all higher HP bikes like this, or is this just me, or can I blame this bike? It did not feel very safe, but I was keeping a really reasonable pace.

Are fuel-injected bikes easier to modulate throttle on? Is it just that different bikes are different in this respect?

I'm sort of on the fence about this bike after the ride. Maybe sell my two bikes and get an SV650...

[Alex]

I think it varies by bike. In general, I've found more modern bikes have more predictable throttle response. Modern FI systems are getting pretty fool proof, turn throttle this much get this much power. Heck, my latest BMW had fly-by-wire throttle, where it really was a computer reading exactly how much throttle was requested, and then commanding the engine to perform exactly that way.

You've probably found this in your online and real-world searches already, but that Bandit 400 is well known for being a particularly finicky bike to keep running well.

[SMman]

I almost bought a new Bandit 400 back in 1991. I remember sitting on a red one and a black one. I was all set to buy until I spotted a leftover 1989 FZR400. I think the Bandit would have been a better bike to learn on but I loved that FZR.

A friend of mine ended up finding a new1994 Bandit 400 that sat in a crate for 5 years. He still rides it and loves the bike.

400cc 4cylinder bikes are much more popular in Japan and never did very well here unfortuantely. Enjoy your rare Bandit.

As for the SV650, I can recommend them. I owned a 1999 S model for 4 years and it was a great bike. I upgraded to a 2003 VFR800 to do some touring and the SV ended up going to the track.

[sharky nrk]

the higher HP bikes (also just bikes in a higher state of tune for the hp level really) will tend to have sharper responses, and can get a bit snatchy or twitchy. I don't think I have ever used the term unsafe though so its hard to say exactly what your feeling with the response.

Above comment about FI systems and response is accurate though. Really is a different beast with electronics metering in the power based so many different parameters. A well tuned set of carbs is not terrible but will never match the precision of modern FI systems.