I've been doing some shopping around looking for a bike to replace my cruiser, a VTX 1300S. I've owned the VTX for 3 years now and while a nice bike, the cruising style really just isn't for me. I've owned the VFR for 18 months now and it's been nothing but nice and I often felt like I was riding the cruiser just to keep the battery up, no real excitement about it. Now my way of thinking is if I'm gonna have two bikes I want each one to offer a different riding experience but also they gotta handle decently.
The VFR covers a lot of riding styles and I love the V4 but I also love the good 'ol inline four, the bigger the better. Long story short checked out a Suzuki dealer that had a '09 Bandit 1250 abs for 8k. Oddly, they had a new from the crate '08 BKing sitting a few feet away from the bandit.......for the same freaking price. The bandit's a nice bike but damn, the superior brakes, suspension, frame, and oh yeah the near 160rwhp made for a compelling argument to buy that big ugly bastard.
Ink's not dry yet but if all goes well I'll have one of these in the garage tommorrow living with the VFR.
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The King.bmp (900.05K) Number of downloads: 121
[image: View Post]Jmmymc750, on 06 January 2011 - 10:54 AM, said:
It's better looking than the Hyabusa (is that spelled right? Is it pronounced HI YAH! busa?)! Ride on!
Cheers!
It's "Hayabusa", but most people just say 'Busa and everyone knows what they're talking about! :biggrin:
I didn't like the looks of the B-King when they came out, but it's grown on me a bit. Still looks kind of cartoonish to me, esp. the exhaust cans. If I bought a BK, replacing those cans with a normal looking set would be my first mod.
Nothing questionable about the performance of that bike tho! :fing02:
I met a guy last summer with a solid black one that had carbon Two Bros exhaust and it looked sweet. Actually, I had to ask him what it was since it didn't have the hideous exhaust.
The B-King would be a hoot to ride with all that power!! The looks are certainly unique. If it was down to the B-King or the Bandit, and I already have a VFR, I would suggest the B-King since it is something very different from the VFR.
If had had no bike, I would get the Bandit since it is a great all around bike like the VFR.
1. This is one big chunky machine. Whether you love or hate the style, the execution is pretty much flawless. A very well finished bike, feels 1st class.
2. With the stock exhaust the bike sounds mild at idle, no clue is given as to what lies beneath. Crawling through a school zone revealed lash free, hiccup free running at slow speeds. Not being funny but really this thing is so incredibly docile that a newbie could ride it as long as they could restrain their right wrist. For me the seating position is spot on for this type of bike, excellent control while filtering in traffic yet comfortable at speed.
3. 109 mph - the bike is so well mannered at small throttle openings I thought WTF, did I accidently put the thing in B-mode (low power). No, the display clearly showed A mode hmm let me just crack the throttle a little bit......lord almighty the thing steamed up to 109 mph indicated with such smooth breathless ease all I could do was laugh and slow the hell down on my new bike with cold tires on cold damp pavement.
Congrats on the bike. I sat on one a while back and found the seat a bit too sloped for my liking and my knees bumped against the side fairings. Glad it fits you well.
Here are a few pics of the new bike. I guess my eyes have been permanently damaged by those insanely large exhaust because I enjoy the look. I thought my wife would hate it but she actually LIKES the exhaust, in fact she loves the bike as a whole. I naturally agree.....
This bike has remained in Suzuki's line in the European market and a quick run through the net revealed many sources for modifying the bike. Big riders are attracted to this bike and I found a source or two for peg lowering kits , bar risers, and tasteful windscreens. Sounds kinda like another bike I know.
I've ridden one; comfortable, smooth, and effortless power, stupid power, it-doesn't-feel-like-I'm-going-65-in-a-35-zone power. It's a little funny looking, but you can't see it from the cockpit.
![[image: Posted Image]](http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/photogallerys/yoshimura-suzuki-B-King-exhaust.jpg){kind=link}
![[image: Posted Image]](http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/photogallerys/yoshimura-suzuki-B-King-exhaust-1.jpg){kind=link}