Bandit 600s. Spools and other bling?

M

mcgnuggitt

New member
Hey,

I'm still pretty new to biking, having riden a 1978 CB400 for 4 years around town. I'm now more serious and bought a 2002 Bandit 6000s (GSF600s), with more legs and power.
Its in great shape and really doesn't NEED anything :D, but I WANT to doll it up.

I've been looking for swingarm and fork spools, but I can only seem to find swingarm (8mm) spools.

Are there any Bandit K1-K3 owners out there that know if you can put spools on a GSF600s?

And while you're at it, what other mods have you added?

I've already added the PL522 Givi side mount and e21 cases
On my "to-do" over the next year are: flush mount LED turn signals, Integrated rear brake/turn, rear LED truns and fender eliminator, Givi engine guard, Zero Gravity ST screen. (If I sneak them in slowly, the wife wont notice...I hope) :cool:
 
Look for front axle sliders instead of "fork spools" and you'll probably find them easier.

Pick up a digital flasher relay from Royal Distributing and get that installed before you do your LED signals. You'll thank me for it later.

-Jamie M.
 
What would have happened if I coupled the LED flush mounts to the factory relay? I appreciate the heads up tho, and will take your advice.
 
Very cool! That was my first bike (2004 Bandit 600S).

If you splice in LED turn signals as-is, the signals will flash too quickly (as if the light is burnt out). There's a way to modify the flasher itself to disable this - I remember there were instructions on an SV site.

I kept the stock turn signals because they were also decent tipover crash guards :). Also, sometimes the LED signals aren't very bright - I ebay'd some flush mount front signals that were really dim. There's an incandescent front flush mount turn signal (I've seen it on ebay) that seems to work much better.

Personally, I don't see the point in spools if the bike has a centrestand? (Which Bandits have stock.) But that's up to you.

Mods I did to my bike:

  • Custom seat - the stock one's OK but the custom one was much better, but for time/effort I should've just bought a Corbin;
  • MRA VarioTouring screen - worked really well and reduced wind blasting;
  • Cleaned headlight housing, installed headlight relay and HID's - huge improvement, the stock lights suck. Even the re-wiring and cleaning the housing would help a lot (on the 'S' model);
  • Stainless Brake Lines, along with a fluid purge and caliper rebuild - These really improved braking, although it's hard to say if it was the fluid and seals or the lines. Either way, the stock lines are rubber and have an 8-10 year service period.
  • Holeshot Jet Kit - helped, woke up the low RPM throttle response from 4-6k;
  • Bought Pilot Road 3 tires when the stock Bridgestones wore out - they were good on the bike, had good grip and didn't show much wear in 3000 kms;
  • Grip Heaters, Throttle Rocker, Rim Tape - good on any bike.

I wish I'd done an exhaust because I thought the bike sounded like a lawnmower at low RPMs. Also, the stock suspension is very soft. People bolt on Hayabusa rear shocks and progressive fork springs, which seem to help.

Overall it's a nice bike and does a lot well. I was able to ride with guys on faster bikes and do well in the corners, and it took me on some long rides (1600 kms over 3 days, 700 kms in a day). It's also a good bike for taking passengers, my wife was quite comfortable on the back.

I enjoyed mine, but it had some engine problems (user-induced :s) so I sold it off cheap. I now own a VFR, which is great. I prefer my new bike and would say it's overall better, but you'd have to be riding pretty hard (and very illegally) on the road to show the performance difference.

Although, I have to say, the Bandit 1200 is the exact same size and only 20 lbs heavier... I always wished I could've had one instead.
 
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