How to Set Up a Suzuki Bandit 1250S for Touring
The Suzuki Bandit 1250 is ideal for touring. The motorcycle has several adjustable storage options for gear, and it can seat one or two riders. Motorcycle touring requires a simplistic approach and riders can only carry the bare necessities. The Bandit has a generous amount of storage capacity, but it is not capable of holding large quantities of gear in a safe manner. It is important to examine the gear you will require for the trip and cut out all of the extras that are not likely to be used.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Travel gear
- Saddle cases
- Crescent wrench
- Top case mounting bracket
- Allen wrench
- Top case
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine the gear requirements for your trip. You can carry clothing and minimal gear for short trips with pre-planned lodging, but long trips with camping require extra clothing, a sleeping bag, tent and camping gear.
-
2
Attach a Suzuki saddle box to each side of the motorcycle. Attach the boxes by mounting the bolts directly onto the frame plate. Tighten the nuts to secure the boxes. Suzuki manufactures saddle boxes specifically for the Bandit motorcycle. The boxes have a 35-liter capacity and are ideal for holding gear that can be stored in a compact space.
-
-
3
Attach a Suzuki top case to the back of the motorcycle. The top case sits on the back edge of the seat, but it does not prevent a second rider from sitting on the motorcycle. The storage case can be purchased with a padded backrest for the second rider. Attach the case bracket by inserting the bolts though the side rail and into the mounting holes on the motorcycle. Attach and tighten the nuts with a crescent wrench. Place the case on top of the bracket and use an Allen wrench to connect the two with the factory mounting screws.
-
4
Place all of your gear into the storage cases. Store the least-used items at the bottom of the cases and the most-used items close to the top. Use the top case for bulky items and store compact items in the side cases.
-
5
Store extra gear in a dry bag or backpack for long solo trips. Place the bag against the top carry case and secure it to the case with bungee cords. Cover the bag with a waterproof tarp to prevent damage to gear.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Adjust the storage configuration based on your needs. All of the cases are removable and can be adjusted based on the amount of gear being carried.
Balance the weight of your gear by distributing it between both side saddles. Test drive the bike at a slow speed to ensure the new configuration is comfortable before going on tour.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit motorcycle image by Goran Bogicevic from Fotolia.com
