It’s been a hell of a week on the home front, but we shall overcome!! Sadly my motorcycle search has come to a bit of a halt as I realized I didn’t have an endless purse strings and really have little interest in making monthly payments on a motorcycle. With that in mind, I am seeking another Bandit.

Ya, ya, go ahead and laugh, as I know it’s laughable. For all the reasons I wanted another bike, that wasn’t a Bandit are the same reasons I can’t seem to part with a Bandit. Ya, I’d like lighter and more dirt worthy, but I can remedy some of the weight issue with soft bags over the hard locking bags. Also the older carbureted 1200 will still give me the power I obsess over, but it weighs about 30 lbs less then the fuel-injectd 1250. I believe some of the reason for the less weight is it’s air-cooled over water-cooled. As to dirt, well hell, I’ve taken the Bandit most everywhere and survived, not always without a few aches and pains, but hey that’s called rising to the challenge! 😉

So, I’m hitting Craigslist, looking for a new Bandito. I have not entirely ruled out the Versys, but I believe the 650 engine will be very limiting. The Triumph Street Triple, I will continue to lust over, but the price difference between the Bandit and the Triumph is huge and the difference between the two bikes are little.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this dilemma, if we call it that. Is there a bike I am overlooking, for power, durability and fun??? I await my riding peers thoughts…