Black ‘n Blue: Suzuki Bandit 1200 Café Racer

Rebuilt Muscle Bike from Brittany’s RV Workshop…  

Few bikes have earned the cult following of the Suzuki Bandit 1200. In 1996, Suzuki took the air/oil-cooled engine from the GSX-R1100, punched up the capacity, stuck it into an old-school steel frame, and created a 100-bhp muscle bike for the masses. While the Bandit certainly wasn’t the most sophisticated bike on the market, it was tough, affordable, comfortable, versatile, and fast enough for all but the most speed-crazed rider.

“Three former motojournalists and one current automotive journalist we personally know own one, and owing to the rigors of the ‘profession’ none of them own much else.” –Motorcyclist, 2009

And few bikes lend themselves so well to customization. That big burly block of an engine can handle loads of horsepower, as many a tuner has demonstrated via forced induction and nitrous, and the Bandit itself is tough and minimalist enough to allow room for customization.

“A bike ripe for modification, loads of Bandits were altered, drag raced, stunted, crashed etc etc while an equal number were left standard and just enjoyed for what they were — a monster motor in a decent chassis with a bargain price tag.” –MCN

That’s where our new friend Damien from France’s RV Workshop comes in. Damien has been a motorcycle mechanic for a decade and a half, and five years ago he opened his own workshop in his home region of Brittany. He specializes in Triumph repairs and full conversions of many different marques and styles. When he sent us a portfolio of his past builds, we couldn’t help but find ourselves drawn to this black and blue Bandit.

Damien wanted to preserve the old-school lines and spirit of the Bandit to a degree, while transforming the old warhorse into a “neo-retro café racer” for his client. As is clear from the photographs, no bolt was left untouched.

Damien began by tearing the bike down to the frame. The tubular steel chassis of the Bandit usually remains a subtle underpinning of a Bandit build, but the blue paint really makes the frame tubing pop. The same goes for the tri-spoke mag wheels, which look particularly good wedged beneath inverted forks from an ’01 GSX-R1000 and a custom rear loop and subframe in the rear.

A bespoke battery tray and rear wheel arch follows the new lines of the frame and protects the cone filters from road spray, and the custom leather and alcantara saddle features blue stitching that matches the frame and wheels.

The engine got a full black respray, and the whole bike has been converted to LED lighting and modern instrumentation courtesy of brands like Highsider and Koso. Damien made sure the brakes got an upgrade with Nissin radial master cylinders and aero-grade braided lines. Meanwhile, the shorty exhaust is sure to project the full howling glory of the big four.

All in all, this aging muscle bike has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind custom that’s sure to turn heads wherever it goes.  Below is our full interview with Damien (translated from the original French), and credit goes to Les Studios de Brocéliande for the photography.

Bandit 1200 Custom: Builder Interview

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

My name is Damien. I’ve been a motorcycle mechanic in France (Brittany) for more than 15 years and always been passionate about mechanics. Five years ago I created the workshop “RV Workshop Motorcycles” to make motorcycles on demand for my customers.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

Suzuki 1200 Bandit from 1996.

• Why was this bike built?

I built this cafe racer on demand for a customer.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

What influenced me was the basic motorcycle, respecting a certain line — a little old school in the spirit of a neo-retro cafe racer, starting from the chassis and the original tank.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

• Complete disassembly of the motorcycle to paint the frame and rims blue.
• Complete engine painting.
• Adaptation of a complete front end off a GSX-R1000 from 2001
• Creation of a custom rear loop
• Creation of a battery tray and wheel arch that follows the lines of the rear loop
• Custom front mudguard support
• Creation of a custom wheel-hugger plate support
• Custom leather and alcantara upholstery with stitching that matches the color of the frame
• Tuning of the carburetors for the installation of air filter cones
• Conversion to full LED lighting and signaling and mini HIGHSIDER front + rear indicator,
• Installation of a KOSO digital meter
• Creation of a half exhaust line with short Leovince “lv10” silencer
• Passage to front / rear aviation hose and clutch
• Replacement of the master cylinders with Nissin radials — much more efficient than the original ones
• Bodywork repainted in gray metallic
• Alot of time spent on this build to push the details to the maximum

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

A lot of satisfaction in making this cafe racer, by getting around all the problems during its construction and especially the fact of creating something unique in the end. And the reaction of the customer when receiving his new custom bike.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

I am particularly proud of the manufacturing work on the rear loop and the battery box.

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

I would like to thank my colleague welder without whom all this manufacturing work would not have been possible, my client for proposing the project to me, the photographer Les Studios de Brocéliande for these photos, and all my partners and suppliers for parts and accessories: BIHR, Highsider, etc.

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Photography: Les Studios de Broceliande | @lesstudiosdebroceliande