Menus
The Alcatraz comes out of House of Correction
It has been just nine months since the new model of Suzuki Bandit 1200 was
got out; also nine months since his last test
long term.
And then, Suzuki released a limited series of this flagship model. A priori, a
tuning often consists of an aesthetic change, especially on the part of a
manufacturer, who cannot afford to have a new engine approved. Then,
that shouldn’t change anything. But the Alcatraz here has a high exhaust and a
flat curved handlebars. So, was I going to experience different sensations ?
The first difference is understood when starting up. With the pot
Nikko high position, the Bandit speaks in a hoarse and deep voice, coming from his
depths.
I take the beast in my hands, and straighten the bike from the position
crutched. It is still so heavy. Ah! The handlebars change the position of
driving, indeed: more forward, more support on the handles. And when driving ?
Well, to be honest, I took over a hundred miles to get used to it.
Me, who am used to the GT version, closer to the trail than to the roadster, this
new position does not encourage rest, especially for tired wrists. Good
The other side of the coin is that driving is transformed. The N, which is already more lively
that the S in normal times becomes here so manageable that I have thought several times
bring the handlebars to the stop. It never was of course but the Bandit is
even more playful as a result. And after the adjustment period – and the change in my
driving position and my habits of taking angles in the curves – everything is
returned to order.
The highway therefore opened its shoulder straps to me … The bike was once again able to
show what she had in the stomach and … in the exhaust. Hoarse and serious
slowed down, the Nikko is fully expressed around 5000 revs to become angry above
of 9000 turns. What a safe! And this auditory pleasure becomes apotheosis at the
deceleration: magic moment. What sound ! Still !
I then quickly appreciated the nose screen, especially in position
dab on the tank where it actually plays its role. I expected with the
screen, scoops and shoe to have a better penetration in the air. In
done, with this particularly windy weekend i found it to offer a catch
windward greater than normal; which made me quickly reduce the pace. In
fact, we must not dream. The ‘accessories’ in no way constitute a fairing.
This fact, together with the flat curved handlebars, explains why the motorcycle’s playground is
on departmental and small nationals. Forget about speeding! She
does not encourage it, even if by turning the handle, the motor never seems to reach its
limit: the power continues to arrive again and again, always. In fact, these are the
cervical and arms that cry "thanks" first.
His talent, the Alcatraz expresses it off the beaten track, on the virolos
and at the parade. Because it is beautiful this Alcatraz:
- metal parts, such as the rider and passenger footrest plates, or the
bar ends, are cut in the mass, - the stickers are embossed, very thick and finished (and super resistant),
- the high position exhaust with its Alcatraz embossing and aesthetically magnificent,
- the castors fixed to the frame and the motor are of exemplary quality,
- the shoe fits perfectly into the general line,
- the radiator scoop redraws the silhouette of the engine…
and icing on the cake, each model is individually numbered,
on a trigger guard located on the handlebar hanger. Could this be castle life for the Alcatraz
?
Certainly, especially if we add up the price of the parts, in francs, including tax:
- Cylinder head guards (engraved suzuki): 1075
- Cylinder head guards (engraved bandit): 1220
- Scoops: 2570
- Engine Guard for 1200: 2468
- Bar end (engraved Suzuki logo): 678
- Footrest plate (Suzuki logo shape): 2308
- Protective castors: 1075
- Windscreen: 2074
That is more than 13,450 francs for the main parts without counting the engravings (pots,
trigger guard) and the stickers that transform each motorcycle into a unique model, which
would approach the "real" cost price at nearly 17,000 francs. So at
60,990 francs, or only 7,000 francs more, the buyer makes a deal
certainly.
In conclusion, we can not fault the manufacturing. She is
perfect and we admire the attention to detail, whether on the pre-series model
tested or on models available in dealerships.
For Suzuki, it was an image operation. It is undeniably
a success. The tuning will delight lovers of limited series; the exhaust will delight
music lovers and the new driving position will delight big players who want
extreme maneuverability.
Certainly, with only 250 copies for the whole of France, it
shouldn’t be for everyone…
The Alcatraz in detail pictures | The Alcatraz in melody: enjoy the escapement
Related articles
-
60,000 km in Suzuki Bandit 600S model 1999 When we speak of Suzuki Bandit, we no longer speak of a motorcycle but of a phenomenon. Because at the time of…
-
Suzuki DL 650 VStrom motorcycle test
Small GT with a big heart The DL 650 is the little sister of the DL 1000: a V-shaped twin cylinder with 90 ° of 650 cm3. Born a year after her big sister…
-
Suzuki Bandit 650 N motorcycle test
Released for good behavior Appeared in 1995, the Bandit has continued to evolve, going from the first nasty roadster to a beefy roadster but leaving…
-
Japanese legend, successor to the GSX1100S Katana 4 cylinders in line, 999 cm3, 150 hp, 108 Nm, 215 kg full made, 13,699 euros The Katana is a very old…
-
Suzuki GSX-F 750 motorcycle test
The sporty Grand Touring version After the Bandit and the Inazuma, the GSX-F is the last Suzuki model to have benefited from the heritage of the Suzuki…
-
Suzuki GSX 1250 FA motorcycle test
The cheapest GT When you have a flagship model like the Bandit 1250, torquey, robust and proven…. we dream of turning it into a road. Suzuki did it with…
-
Suzuki GSX 1200 motorcycle test
The Inazuma does part of the Bandits family thanks to its engine, which is none other than the block of the 1200 Bandit. Released mid-99, this machine…
-
Suzuki 1200 Bandit N GSF motorcycle test
The year 2000 will have been a major year for the Bandit vintage: arrival of the 600 in February in concessions, presentation of the new 1200 in June in…
-
Suzuki 1200 Bandit S GSF faired motorcycle test
Streamlined Night Flight Riding on the success of the Bandit 1200 N roadster, Suzuki has completely revised the streamlined version to transform the test…
-
Suzuki Bandit 1250 N GSF motorcycle test
The Suzuki Bandit 1250 is the evolution of the Bandit 1200, the big historic roadster unveiled in 1995, having hit sales not only for its puncture-proof…