Suzuki Canada has just announced a Bandit 1250 variant – the Canadian Special Edition.
The 1250SE comes with fairing lowers and saddlebags as standard, as well as ABS. An optional tail trunk is available for those that find it difficult to ‘pack light’.
MSRP for the 2008 Bandit 1250 SE is $11,999.00
This string just goes on and on. The pricing difference between US and Canadian models now looks more honest, due to the exchange rate between the two currencies having returned to “normal” ie, C$1.20 = US$1.00 Parity lasted ohh! 2 months? When will this model arrive in Australia, who would know.
I think that the bike looks fantastic with the lower fairing and the panniers, would be a far better bike than the 2008 st1300 pile of garbage that i did buy, when can we hope to see them in australia ???
A few weeks ago I had a sit on this bike, and I was a little disappointed at the height of the windscreen, I would prefer something a little higher for touring. As for chain lube it’s a breeze if you have a centre stand and an airosol of chainlube. I prefer chainwax rather than grease much less mess, admittadly you need to apply wax more often, but it’s easy.
I just purchased a new 2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250 sea ( Canadian Model).
I have owned a Harley, ( six Months) three Valkyries ( incredible bikes but thirsty) 07 Yamaha FJr ( great bike). What sold me on the bandit, was it had the classic looks of a street bike, but with the addition of the lower faring and hard bags, a tourer. Very hard to find one of these in Canada, there was one blue one left in the sea model, I actually wanted the S model, but it was not available. If there is one thing I could change, that would be the chain as oppossed to shaft. Hopefully I can get used to chain main.
Guys, Why nor buy the bike here,add the goodies from a discount dealer
and have it for less?
So this discussion beg’s the question of what’s involved in buying a bike in the states, and then personaly importing it.
Erm… there IS no comparable US model. We’d have to build on from kit, whereas you lot get it preassembled. Sure, that doesn’t make up for the taxes, but the package price is much better than buying the items separately, and having them factory assembled implies better fit and finish.
Another item we havn’t taken into account, is the higher operating costs for business in Canada. This being due to higher taxation, and you know who carries the cost of that. The consumer!
BTW, I think this new version of the Bandit is a great deal relative to other sport-touring bikes available in Canada (VFR, Sprint ST, etc). I just find it hard to believe that so little can be done about Canadian vs. US pricing on vehicles (according to the dealers and manufacturers). Last week’s CMG article on this topic was a good one. I can understand the cost of business being greater in Canada…but $2500 per bike? Seriously.
It will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens with Canadian pricing in the months to follow.
Good discussion.
The American $ has fallen relative to the Yen. Why, then, is Suzuki USA able to offer the Bandit for such a low price relative to that in Canada? I’ve heard the “volume difference/customer base” argument as well. I find it hard to believe that this explains the $2,500 price difference. :sigh
Exchange rates are a strange “animal”. Often a manufacturer will be happy with a lower profit margin, so as to retain market share in a crucial market. And of course the c$ hasn’t changed much against the yen. Rather the us$ has dropped against most currency’s.
The equivalent model in the USA only costs $10,200 USD ($9,650 CAD)! Thanks, Suzuki Canada.
I guess we should reseve judgement untill we see it in the “flesh”.
Yeah, I have to agree – the lower fairing doesn’t look great. Maybe I’ll change my mind when I see it in person, but in the photo it kinda looks like a cheap 3rd part bolt-on. Still, nice bike and a pretty good value. It’ll be on my shopping list.
Good value but the fairing add-ons just don’t look right.
Sign me up! It looks like a good deal.