HONDA CBFIOOO AB5

lf there is a bike that fullq optimises cAlinder power-Plant as its base,

the Honda bike-building philosophg'
then the CBF1000 is it. Suitable for
all things to virtuallg all men, it's as
easg as it is effective. There's verg
little it falls short on, and not onlg is
clever retuning Iincluding changes
to the ports, cams and fuel-injection
sgstemJ has resulted in one ofthe
most remarkable engines I've ever
had the pleasure of samPling.

the Honda able to Perform a That sort of description is normallg

multitude of tasks, it can also do reserved for immenselg Powerful

virtuallg all them so impressivelg it's
almost impossible to fault.
I struggle to think just how mang
man-hours must have gone into
getting this bike as near-perfectlg
motors that can generate incredible
performance - and le1's face it there
are plentg of those to choose from
these dags. But in the case ofthe
CBE I use the word remarkable

finished and sorted as it is. 0nce
upon a time, the VFRB00 was
Honda's flagship all-rounder. As far
as l'm concerned, the CBF is in a
different league to the now outdated
a nd u nder-pa r V4.
The main advantage it has over
the VFR, and the best of the mang
features it can boast of its own, is its
wonderful engine. Usingthe 2006
Fireblade sportsbike's inline four
simplg because of its friendlg and
flexible nature that makes it so
outstandinglg comPetent, not to
mention so dead easg to use.
Evergthing about it is highlg
appropriate for road use. Whether that
road is a winding ten-foot wide
mountain pass, high-speed motorwav,
congested citg street, or anU other
tgpe of route gou can Possiblg
imagine, matters not. The near-perfect

manners of the 9BbhP motor make it Running a close second in the

keen and obedient to ang command
gou give it via the throttle. And again,
whether that's a sudden demand via a
ganked fulltwist of the wrist for lots of
extra horses, orjust a ting movement
of the butterflies to maintain a walking
pace is immaterial. Perfect fuelling
combined with a suPer-smooth
progressive power and torque build-up
means a swift and sophisticated stgle
of progress is constantlg available-
The Honda's six-sPeed gearbox
might be light and slick to use, but
choosing just the'correct' ratio or
awards is prettu much angthing else
about the bike reallg, though l'll settle
for the braking. The linked CBS/ABS
sgstem is simplg superb, and just Iike
the engine works imPressivelg in a
broad range of circumstances- lt does
the job of scrubbing off speed so well
it almost goes unnoticed. Quite apart
from the power the arrangement
possesses to haul uP the bike
smartlg, the Progressive and
predictable control it delivers makes
ang braking experience feel totallg
dependable. Given the weight of the

needing the right amount of rpm isn't bike, which when loaded can easilg

ever necessarV to achieve good exceed 300 kilos, not to mention the
strong drive. lt makes the job of riding speed il can so easilg get to, the fuss-
HONDA CBFlOOO ABS
the CBF so much easier, calmer and free and effective nature of the
more appealing. I esPeciallg brakes warrants plentg of praise. lt
WHEEIS/TYRES: ln{' l20l2l7 certainlg made me feel a iot more
-ENGIN! Reor: 1 60/ 60-17 appreciated it on unknown roads or
IYPE: 998cc, liquid-coled, 1 6-volve,
those with constantlg changing traffic safe and secure, especiallg whenever
dohc, in line four
conditions when speed requirements grip was reduced.
MAxMU; not;q rJgr,f ogooop.
Part ofthe reason for the brakes'
can be verg unpredictable. lfa corner
MAxrM_! M .ro-Ro_u_!i 7l :|ft :lh @ 9-{9qPT
turns out to be tighter than brilliance is the overall balance ofthe
slfP.-"d
.rnanltvtlsslottl anticipated and instant acceleration is bike. lt ensures efficiencg and helps
flNar_-onlv!1 :!:gil
needed to exit it cleanlg, or when a postpone the ABS being triggered too
cHAs,s!sfcoMPoN-ENT5
chance to get past slow-moving traffic often. lt's a real allg to the rider too.
FRAMF t::19$Yl9t :9,'lt9! :t"d:lYb'd :PiT
suddenlg presents itself, the CBFjust Good weight distribution makes the
5U5PENSION: Froni: 43mm inveried telescopic
executes the act in the most un- CBF easg to handle from walking pace
forks, no odiustment Reor: rising-rote monoshock,
troubled manner gou could ask of it. all the wag to its top speed. U-turns
odiusioble prelood ond rebound domping PERFORIVIANCE:

BRAKES: Front: twin 296mm discs with three
piston ABS/CBS colipers Reor: single 240mm
disc with three-piston ABS/CBS coliper
HAffiiine;-- -- Verg few engines can match the are particularlg simple and are helped
prompt get Polite wag the Honda bg the excellent steering lock- The
iRAaiffiirY'---
delivers its power lt deserves dominant riding position, aided bg the
niLuE ioi-xioNiY'
absolutelu full marks for its amazinglg leverage offered bg the wide bars,
versatile abilitg. mean the business of bossing the

56 www.mslmogozine.co.uk
 MSL I TESTED

brke around is nowhere near as

phgsical as something this big and
weightg should be. Neutral steering,
qualitg suspension and excellent
Michelin Pilot Road tgres complete the qt
more than capable handling package.
rffi
You can enjog the Honda all dag
*s"CFdeF
without Uour enthusiasm or phgsical
*.,-d
condition diminlshing. Guaranteed to
fit all bar phgsical freaks of nature, the
roomg riding position has that'just
right'feel to it. And if it's not quite to
gour exact tastes, then the adjustable
bars, seat and screen should bring
things more into line. Though it has to
be said, making those changes are got to be one of the most underrated character Whatever the reason, I

not five minute affairs.
Protection from the screen and
fairing is surprisinglg effective, even at
speed. And bg the time gou consider
the further thoughtful and useful
details like the grab rails, roomg
underseat storage and effective
mirrors, there's little choice but to
assess the CBF1000 as a highlg
competent and capable motorcgcle. lt's
bikes out there. I can't for the life of
me think whg it's not become a much
better seller. I'm confident that if
people actuallg tried it, theg'd instantlu
realise just how good it actua lg is and
develop a strong interest in ownership.
Magbe it's just because it's not the
most stglish and alluring bike on the
market. Magbe it's because it's a bit
too refined, civilised ano acl^.ing in
hope l've convinced gou of its sheer
brilliance even if that huge level of
c0mpetence is delivered in quite an
understated fashion. I honestlg think
it's one of Honda's verg best bikes
ever. And if I had a garage full of mg
favourite bikes, it's likelg to be the
one that clocked up the highest
mileage. Underrated certainlg
doesn't mean under-par in this case.

SUZUKI BANDIT IzsOGT

lf I was onlg allowed to use two
words to describe Suzuki's Bandit
1250GT, l'd immediatelg sag 'brilliant
value'. There are plentg of other good
things to sag about it, as well as a
few criticisms, but if gou want a
great return for gour moneg, then
of the standard SA version of the bike
bg adding full luggage, fairing lowers
and 6armin satellite navigation
sgstem. Raisingthe price bg less
than f1000 to a fraction under
f6655 to convert the roaster into a
well-equipped tourer makes the GT

the GT will not disappoint. nothing short of a bargain.

It's a verg relevant and welcome
qualitg in these dags of economic
uncertaintg.
Like the CBE the Bandit is a basic,
no-frills, no-nonsense sort of
molorcucle that multi-tasks well. As
'-!r:..-ii.
;,'1 -..l.ii9ii!r: l've'owned'one this gear as a long-
termer, I feel well qualified to assess
its versatilitg.
The GT is a Suzuki GB creation. The
importer decided to boost the appeal
Apart from the'extras' there's
plentg to shout about from a value
point of view.
Just like the Honda, the Suzuki's
engine is a big reason forthe Bandit's
attraction. lt's changed a great deal
from its earlg dags of powering the
original 1200cc big-bore Bandit of
1996, but is all the better for it. The
1250cc water-cooled unit has been
verg much designed with realworld in

wHi!!s/TYR!s: lpl|
255cc. liquid'cooled, I 6-volve,
1
$er
dohc, inline four DIMENSIONS/CAPACITY

lI*IlM"lrI PowiR: egbhP@ry0llPrn s-EAr HFIGHT: 7eol9l9r,n -i l+

lI+IlM-Y| roRauli 2e,6ft]b @
!70!pm wH!-ElBAsl: I
490Tm
rurllltlfsloNi silsnegd DRY wilGHIi ?.29'ks
Er|?
"nn.
llNArDBfvi:
cl,rAsl9lcoMPoNqNr_s
:hgll lulr canarlw;
PRtc!:
!e,lrtr:
€-69,59
M',ta,
"F"BlMl
SUSPENSION:
:l::ld:9 d:ybl"",:lsd!"
Fronf: 43mm ielescopic forks,
CONTACT: 0845 850 8800,

YYY:lY-'Y li-,s ! io :Yl'

:

odjustoble prelod Reor: rising-rote monoshock,

sdiy:lgiFlrld s$ fb.-,ld d:rpiig PERFORMANCET

.-- ****
-.-***--.
BRAKESI Fronl twin 3lOmm discs with four- xar.roLrNef- - --
piston ABS colipers Reor: single 235mm disc pnliiiiairrv'- .. -- -^*****
with twin-piston ABS coliper VAini ;oi Mofti;
.'.- -*****
7
www.mslmcgozine.co.uk 57
 TESTED I MSL
mind and Uou oniLl have to look at the
four-cglinder unit's torque figures for
evidence of that. Making a claimed
nigh-on B0ft-lb at just under 4000rpm
equates to a lovelg, strong low.rev
wave of strength that needs verg l;ttle
rider input to take advantage of- Just
like the CBI rewing the motor harder
or constantlu swapping gears to gain
speed is simplg not a requirement. lts
gutsu stgle is particularlg evident
when the bike is loaded with a pillion
and lots of luggage. And just like a
truck does, the Suzuki still drives hard
and unflustered whenever gou twist
the throttle. lt has the bonus of being
verg smooth too, with little vibration to
spoil its sophisticated feel. Nice
fuelling and a verg friendlg linear
build-up of power and torque
contribute to the 1250's excellent,
easg-going manners.
The onlg thing I raise in the wag of
personal criticism is thal the overall
gearing is quite high. As t is, it gives
low-rpm cruising advantages with
B0mph coming with jusr 4000rpm
on the rev counter. But I for one
would like to reduce the overall
gearing slightlg to give the Suzuki
even moTe pep, making overtaking
even less taxing and the engine even
more flexible than it is alreadg. lt's
just a thought.
Comparisons between the GT and
CBF are alwags likelg given the
similar make-up and price of the
bikes, and one issue of the pair in
particular turned out to be more
different than I'd expecred. Despite
verg similar chassis stats, with
weight and wheelbase figures being
especiallg close, the Suzuki feels
4:...;;:Ii
58 www.mslmogozine.co.uk
4.9 r.,#.-' t '
€fd; 9."'
n nq:.'
i .*
, '!
{
!ffi
appreciablg more lazg and heavg
than the Honda does. lts suspension
doesn't have quite the same level of
refinement either. I'd reason the
difference in agilitg could well be
down to the Bandit being fitted with
a 18O-section rear tgre, which could
well offer a much less rounded
profile than the CBF's relativelg
skinng 160-section rubber. lt makes
the Honda a bit easier and preferable
to manage on roads where direction
changes are constantlU required.
But straightwag I need to put the
'advantage'ofthe CBF in context.
Before testing the two bikes back
to back, l'd never had anU reason to
find the Suzuki's handling flawed in
ang wau. l've done 3500 miles on mg
long-termerthis gearand ridden it
along all sorts of different roads. I've
even done some laps of Mallorg Park
on it and in all cases pronounced the
Bandit'fh for purpose'. The or.lg thing
I changed on the bike to improve it
was fitting a pair of Bridgestone BT-
016 sports tgres. With these I could
explore more of the bike's
performance in greater safelg.
In doing that, the wag the Suzuki
steered, handled the bumps and
alwags allowed me to travel with
poise and securitg was worthg of
much praise. lt's just that after trging
the Honda, I didn't consider its
qualities in quite the same light.
However, for all its slightlg greater
refinement, the CBF still falls behind
the GT in some wags.
To start with the Bandit's brakes are
a little more powerfuland though not
quite as clever as the CBFs CBS/ABS
set-up, do still feel like theg can stop
gou a little more sharplg. And theg can
do so just as securelg thanks to the
Suzuki's excellent ABS. More
importantlg though, the Suzuki's value
is what helps it to oulscore the Honda
when all things are considered. Forjust
f1Z3 more, Uou get the GT's extras that
help it become significantlg more
versatile. Some of the additions are
worth more than others but the top
box and panniers are especiallg useful,
and the Garmin sat nav is something
l've grown to depend on so much that
all other bikes I ride without one seem
lesser machines. I'd sag the fairing
lowers don't do much other than
cheapen the look ofthe bike a little. But
when gou consider the f6655 cost of
the Suzuki and just how well it
performs, it's nothing short of an
economic marvel. To do as much as it
can for that price in standard trim
makes it a verg hard act to follow.
Like all other bikes on the market,
there are some shortcomings with the
Gl The finish isn't the strongest and
will need some regular,ight attention
to keep looking good. The pillion
accommodation is slightlg cramped
with the top box mounted as far
forward as it is. And while l'm talking
about it, the box can taint the handling
a little unless it's onlg lightlg loaded.
Bar those minor points though,
those two words 'brilliant value'are
the most appropriate ones to describe
the Bandit 1250GT. lt's not often bikes
come along and offer as much as this
one does, Vet take so little from gour
pocket for the privilege. lt's quite hard
to understandjust how Suzuki has
managed to keep the price so low. But
in this case, l'm happg to be ignorant
of the economical policg behind it. l'd
wager most other manufacturers
would charge around a f 1000 more
for such a competent all-rounder.
 MSL i TESTED

BMW FSOOGS
:' '!^/ GS, Gelande Strasse models
-:./e arguablg been the most famous
-'1he German brand's line-up for
::-ne gears. After ridingthe
: sag given enough time it stands a
:-ance of becoming the most
:-cularofthe lot.
-l^e middle-heavgweight fills a gap
-1 the off-road stuled categoru more
.^an nicelg, and will open the door to
-ang who've wanted such a blend of
Enter the FB00GS, which grants
those wishes perfectlg.
Because it's lighter and more
FB00GS, compact, it's a bike that most will
feel more comfortable with - I know
am. To be honest, it's slill a little on
the tall side thanks to its BB0mm
seat height, but there is a B50mm
option which should help shorties
like me. lf gou order it with the bike,
there'll be no extra cost.
useful ones fitted and l'll mention
their virtues in due course.
Firstlg though, iet's talk about the
main features that help the 800 to
i be held in such high esteem. Think of
it as an economg-sized GS with all
the useful hallmarks of the 1200,
but with extra practicalitv thanks to
it feeling more versatile and quite a
bit more neutral.
l've mentioned the weight and
on the dirt at the BMW Off-Road
Skills School, and have never felt
overawed or intimidated. lt has such
an easg, light and agile feel to it.
Out on the open road, mile-eating
comfort is instantlg and continuallg
obvious. The fairing and screen
might not look like theu're up to
much, but the protectio'l is quite
impressive and would definitelg
assist long dags in the seat. The

::wer and weight for some time. The It would be the onlg thing l'd size advantage alreadg but this is a main human contact patch has a

: gger GS models have been some of
:^e UK's verg best-selling bikes for
:-e last few gears. Ewan and Charleg
-ave certainlg helped with that. But
:^ough I could sing the virtues of the
-200GS until mV throat got sore, the
: aln and simple fact is it's too big
:^d unwieldg for some. I speak from
::rsonal experience when I sag that.
r1d though I can acluallg handle the
.3LL-seated heavgweight, there are
; ',vaUS times when lwish it was that
, i lighter and easg to shove around.
consider changing if I wanted to bug
the 800 [and believe me, it would be
one of the few new bikes l'd actuallU
think of spending mg hard-earned
on - if I wasn't such an
impoverished rider of courseJ. As a
package the BMW is so good
wouldn't reallg want to alter
angthing else. Actuallg, thal's a bit
of a lie given the huge range of
accessories that are available for
the bike as factorg or dealer-fit
options. 0ur press bike had a few
benefit that's constantlU apparent.
And that's the case at whatever
speed the spoked wheels are
spinning. Nice wide bars and the
generous distance between them
and the seat, along with a similarlg
I lengthq relationship between that
perch and the footrests, provides not
onlg a relaxed riding position but
dominant one which allows easg
masterg and control ofthe bike. I've
personallg ridden several B00GSs in
everg sort of road environment and
nice blend of plushness and support.
And with the suspension offering a
similar and valuable mlx 0f comfort
and control, few roads are going
cause the rider ang suffering.
The single rear shock gives a good
qualitg ride and is benefitted bg the
easilg reachable remote preload
a adjuster. Altering the rebound
damping is easLl thanks to good
access to the adjusting screw as
well. [Jp front the inverted forks
aren't adjustable and dive a little

ENGTN! wH!!!s/wn!s1 !:gl:?0,?9 ?l

wPE: 798cc,liquid-cooled,eight-volve, R29r.:1.501701t7 :
d:i:,ry:"!h!*:l DlMENSloNs/cAPAclTY ll''

{4}!MUM PowEni Qsblip o zloory1 slAI H-!lcHJ1 QQomm

#,"
I4IIMUM roRoui: 9]ftjb @ 525-0tpT wH!_EtBAsil 15781m

TRANsrrtlssloNl s-il:p..d DRY w!!GH-ri 195!S

F|NA! DRlvEi clgi" lu!! caPAcrrY: l9lill:l
cHAsllllcoMPoNlNrs PRfcli t6!e9
cYcLr PABTS CONTACT: 0800 325 600,
cHAsslsi J:!!.,:J::ldli: w.bmw-motrrod.co.uk
5USPENSION:Fronl 45mm inverted blescopic
forks, no odjushenl Rmr: monoshock,
gdi::dh sfhqg gld r!::ld d"lets PERFORMANCE:
^ .- '-' '-'-:
- -
BRAKES: Fronl: twin 300mm discs with HAN;ii#; ^-
-
iwin piston colipers Reor: single 265mm disc iiaCiitaum .; ; ;;:'
with single-piston coliper talui ioi MoNin ;. ;i j- ',1

www.mslmogozine.co.uk 59
TESTED i MSL
readilU under braking. But at least
theg feel far more natural than the
vague Telelever arrangement ofthe
bigger GS. As a mark of how much
feedback the 800's suspension
gives, I was more than happg and
confident to push things even when
the roads became tgpicallU greasg
and slipperg as theu can in winter.
Also helping to counter the
discomfort of the cooler months was
one ofthe sensible extras BMW had
opted to fit. Heated grips are a
godsend when the air temPerature
dips t0 the levels it does in Januarg,
which combined with the chill factor
must easilU reach minus 30'C. ABS
braking is another extra that had
been wiselg fitted. lt adds f 510 to the
cost ofthe GS's basic f6695 and is
more than worth the exlra expense.
The quite low-spec twin-piston sliding
calipers are far more effective and
powerful than I expected, and theg
have a good level of feel to let gou
know just where the grip limit of the
front Banle Wing tgre lies. Even so, it
onlg takes one mistake to exceed that
THE VERDICT:
PERFOR'VIANCE:
nAt.rDirNc;- - - ^"
PRACTICALITY:
Vaiuiion monii'-
Let me put mg views into context
straightawag bg saging these three
bikes are verg much the sort l'd
consider buging mgself. Well Past
the stage of needing glitz and
glamour in mg life, the real world
virtues that make them easg to ride
and live with struck a real chord with
me. I can't acluallU pick a favourite,
let alone a winner, as each of the trio
possesses it's own advantages.
In the case ofthe Suzuki its bonus
is its sheer good value. Allieo to its
common-sense design that offers
enough performance, practicalitu and
comfort, is a level of equipment to
make it a true all-rounder without
needing to spend a penng moTe. Even
as a long-distance tourer it's readg to
go from the moment gou wheel it off
the showroom floor. For what gou get
and what that allows gou to do, its
price off6655 is verg hard to believe,
Well done to Suzuki GB for having the
sense to create it in the first place.
Verg similar in terms of design and
performance is the trulg brillianl
60 w**.mslmogozine.co.uk
adhesion and gou'd be faced with a
damage billto make the Price of the
ABS look like a bargain.
Testing those brakes is the Power
and speed generated bg the twin
cglinder B00cc parallel twin engine.
ln keepingwith the rest of the bike it
performs well, but more to the Point
allows gou to samPle evergthing it
has on offer with ease. As qou'd
expecl from its configuration the
engine has a punchg and flexible feel
to it. lt responds well to the throttle
and though it's not bg anU means
perfect, it suits the role of an all-
rounder - which the B00GS verg
much is - more than well enough.
tt's best 10 keeP the twin at lower
rpm and ideallg just in its healthg
mid-range for best effect as over-
rewing it is a waste of time, even if
the throatg exhaust note does
encourage it. lt's taken most of the
qear for the bike's waiting list to
shrink enough to get one without
ang real delag, and I for one aren't
surprised. I think it's one ofthe verg
best bikes BMW has ever made.
**** @@@@
PERFORMANCE: **** PERFORMAN€E:
.BflX
***- -
HaNbuxe, mttoiir.rct---- '#*;-;
inacircerrrYt ***t* ;RAaiiAirY,---" ***e'"
.-t-t;-
vrrut roi moNiv, ***** tAiil i6i MoniY; f*tR
SUZUKI BANDIT I25OGT ./ **,4trFf FS*t}{Sg d
Honda CBF1000. lt's another bike just like the others here the 800 is there was ever a case of not judging
offering such a price-belging level of verg much a bike to respect and a bike bg its image then these are
performance, gou'd have to think it admire. lt shares their all-round classic examples. lt's essential to
would cost more than it actuallg does. abilitg and its fuel consumption is ride them to get a full imPression.
The CBF's versatilitg is verg especiallg impressive. And when gou do, gou'll be in no
impressive indeed. lt seems to be able One thing all three have in doubt about their numerous
to cope with ang task. Be it a 10-mile common is that theg are far more strengths and virtues. All three are
citg commute or a tour tewntg times capable and impressive than their verg underrated machines and don't
that long doesn't matter - the Honda image suggests theg might be. lf deserve to go unnoticed.
willadmirablg deal with matters.
Tgpicallg Honda, it's the most polished
of this trio, which mighl to some be its
onlg let-down. Despite being an
exceptional multi-purpose tool, the
CBF is so refined and understated it's
a bit short of appeal. Most rides on it
bring lots of praise for its abilitg, but
few of them are memorable.
The FB00GS is a different sort of
package to the Japanese bikes. For a
BMW it's actuallU quite cheap though
adding some of the large selection of
official accessories on offer easilg
raises the price. I personallg reallg
enloged.just how easg the GS is to
ride and rated its practicalitv. lt's not
a bike to get the heart racing, but