600 - 1200 cc whats better and why
Discussion
I'd suspect that, unless you're just going for speed and acceleration, a 1200 would be a more relaxed sort of ride, rather than thrashing a 600 through the gears and revs each time you want a spurt of speed.
For commuting, I'd go for the 1200 personally but I am a grumpy old git on an R1200GS.
Which bike are you considering?
For commuting, I'd go for the 1200 personally but I am a grumpy old git on an R1200GS.
Which bike are you considering?
I ride a zzr1200 and used to do 120 miles a day on the motorway and in london, I only do 75 miles a day now.
If you pick the right bike you'll get better fuel economy out of the bigger bike and in my opinion they are much easier to ride in traffic due to the low down torque and more upright riding position. The bigger engine will run at lower revs than a 600 and should last a lot longer as a result.
I've done 65,000 on my 2002 zzr, it still does between 45 and 55mpg, I change the brake pads every 8-10k and tyres last about 10-14k so is cheap motoring. Best of all when some racer on a 600 tries to show-off you've got the power if you want to, to leave them standing.
If you pick the right bike you'll get better fuel economy out of the bigger bike and in my opinion they are much easier to ride in traffic due to the low down torque and more upright riding position. The bigger engine will run at lower revs than a 600 and should last a lot longer as a result.
I've done 65,000 on my 2002 zzr, it still does between 45 and 55mpg, I change the brake pads every 8-10k and tyres last about 10-14k so is cheap motoring. Best of all when some racer on a 600 tries to show-off you've got the power if you want to, to leave them standing.
zzr said:
I ride a zzr1200 and used to do 120 miles a day on the motorway and in london, I only do 75 miles a day now.
If you pick the right bike you'll get better fuel economy out of the bigger bike and in my opinion they are much easier to ride in traffic due to the low down torque and more upright riding position. The bigger engine will run at lower revs than a 600 and should last a lot longer as a result.
I've done 65,000 on my 2002 zzr, it still does between 45 and 55mpg, I change the brake pads every 8-10k and tyres last about 10-14k so is cheap motoring. Best of all when some racer on a 600 tries to show-off you've got the power if you want to, to leave them standing.
lol i though my 19K 636 you high mileage
Do you mean bandit 600 vs 1200
or
any 600 v any 1200?
Regardless, the 1200 bandit would be ideal for the type of journey you mentioned. Much more relaxed, probably ticking over at 70mph. The only advantage that a 600 would have (thinking CBR-F) is a fairing!
...however, you can get the bandit half-faired...
...and get another 20-30hp out of it with little effort.
Edit: saw the post about the zzr1200; that would be a good choice, but the Bandit will be cheaper to buy.
>> Edited by texasjohn on Saturday 18th February 01:02
or
any 600 v any 1200?
Regardless, the 1200 bandit would be ideal for the type of journey you mentioned. Much more relaxed, probably ticking over at 70mph. The only advantage that a 600 would have (thinking CBR-F) is a fairing!
...however, you can get the bandit half-faired...
...and get another 20-30hp out of it with little effort.
Edit: saw the post about the zzr1200; that would be a good choice, but the Bandit will be cheaper to buy.
>> Edited by texasjohn on Saturday 18th February 01:02
Took my BMW K1200RS to over 65,000 miles with no engine problems at all. Averaged 49 MPG.
My BMW K1200S has done 14,500 miles in 7 months and is running better and better. Averaging 51MPG.
My ZXR400 did an engine every 20-25,000 miles. Averaged 45MPG.
The only disadvantage of big engined bikes is they weigh more, making them more difficult to manouver at low speeds.
My BMW K1200S has done 14,500 miles in 7 months and is running better and better. Averaging 51MPG.
My ZXR400 did an engine every 20-25,000 miles. Averaged 45MPG.
The only disadvantage of big engined bikes is they weigh more, making them more difficult to manouver at low speeds.
texasjohn said:
Do you mean bandit 600 vs 1200
or
any 600 v any 1200?
Regardless, the 1200 bandit would be ideal for the type of journey you mentioned. Much more relaxed, probably ticking over at 70mph. The only advantage that a 600 would have (thinking CBR-F) is a fairing!
...however, you can get the bandit half-faired...
...and get another 20-30hp out of it with little effort.
Edit: saw the post about the zzr1200; that would be a good choice, but the Bandit will be cheaper to buy.
>> Edited by texasjohn on Saturday 18th February 01:02
There's always the late model zzr1100, probably about the same price as a decent bandit.
600 vs. 1200 Bandit for 120 mile commute.
The 1200 will be more relaxed on anything other than congested town work. It will give the option of overtakes that the 600 wouldn’t manage and will have that bit more of an edge on the occasional traffic light grand prix. It will likely use slightly more fuel, but not so much as you would notice.
The 600 will be lighter and slightly smaller thus easier through congested town streets. It will happily do the distance and will still be faster than almost all other traffic on the road. The 600 will cost less on tyres, chains etc. in is likely to be slightly cheaper on insurance.
The 1200 engine will probably last longer but a looked after 600 should be happy to clock up a good few miles.
“You pays your money and you takes your choice.”
For me, if the comute was mostly clear road then the 1200 would be my choice. If most of the work was town or busy A road/motorway I think I'd go for the 600.
The 1200 will be more relaxed on anything other than congested town work. It will give the option of overtakes that the 600 wouldn’t manage and will have that bit more of an edge on the occasional traffic light grand prix. It will likely use slightly more fuel, but not so much as you would notice.
The 600 will be lighter and slightly smaller thus easier through congested town streets. It will happily do the distance and will still be faster than almost all other traffic on the road. The 600 will cost less on tyres, chains etc. in is likely to be slightly cheaper on insurance.
The 1200 engine will probably last longer but a looked after 600 should be happy to clock up a good few miles.
“You pays your money and you takes your choice.”
For me, if the comute was mostly clear road then the 1200 would be my choice. If most of the work was town or busy A road/motorway I think I'd go for the 600.
1200 - not that i've owned one.
My 600 goes everywhere and has just been tuned to a high level. Its reliable - its a honda, but i have more power and torque but have lost 15 - 20 miles from a tank in higher fuel rush.
It cruises at high revs, bigger bikes cruise at lower revs, are less tiring on the ears and require less gear changes.
Nuff said, and i dont have one.
My 600 goes everywhere and has just been tuned to a high level. Its reliable - its a honda, but i have more power and torque but have lost 15 - 20 miles from a tank in higher fuel rush.
It cruises at high revs, bigger bikes cruise at lower revs, are less tiring on the ears and require less gear changes.
Nuff said, and i dont have one.
TimF - I've owned both 600 and 1200 Bandits - both black and both faired. The 600 was my first proper bike (my first bike was a CG125, which doesn't count! 
), and although it was good, it wasn't GOOD good. The 1200 is.. As the other guys say, very easy to tune to get a good wodge of power out of it, and is as easy to ride as the 600 - snarled-up city traffic is no bother. Out of town it's a hoot, and Big Miles touring with a half-ton of rubbish strapped to the seat is easy... I did about 8,500 miles in 2 1/2 months in NZ on mine and it never missed a beat, and when I dumped the rubbish off my seat and played in the hills it was just fine.....
Before I had this Bandit 12, I'd only ever owned 600s - the difference IS worth it...
), and although it was good, it wasn't GOOD good. The 1200 is.. As the other guys say, very easy to tune to get a good wodge of power out of it, and is as easy to ride as the 600 - snarled-up city traffic is no bother. Out of town it's a hoot, and Big Miles touring with a half-ton of rubbish strapped to the seat is easy... I did about 8,500 miles in 2 1/2 months in NZ on mine and it never missed a beat, and when I dumped the rubbish off my seat and played in the hills it was just fine..... Before I had this Bandit 12, I'd only ever owned 600s - the difference IS worth it...
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