Naked Motorcycles
1989Suzuki Bandit 400
31 fields on record
The 1989 Suzuki Bandit 400 is a naked four-cylinder 400 with a 398cc liquid-cooled engine making 38 Nm. It weighs 172 kg dry.
- Capacity
- 398.0 ccm
- Engine
- In-line four, four-stroke
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Dry weight
- 172.0 kg
- Seat height
- Not on record
Know it? Add it → - Power
- 59.0 HP (43.4 kW) @ 12000 RPM
How it rides
Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested- Best for
- It is best suited as a lightweight, revvy naked bike for commuting, learning, and enjoying twisty roads without intimidating power.
- Built for
- The in-line four with DOHC and carburetted fueling gives a smooth, high-revving character that rewards spinning the engine rather than relying on torque.
- Not ideal for
- This is not the right choice for riders seeking serious highway touring comfort, passenger-friendly ergonomics, or genuine off-road capability.
Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.
Reliability & safety
Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaintsBike Reliability
How the score works →27
out of 100Below average
The Suzuki Bandit 400 passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 74.6% of the time, 6.2 points below expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 27% of models.
Bikes first registered in 1989 have 83 tests, too few for their own score, so this covers every year.
74.6%Passed first time
16.1%Failed outright
9.4%Fixed during test
26,000Typical miles
853Tests
Pass rate by miles ridden
All years of this model.
Score by year first registered
25
39
22
199119921994
Against its rivals · ranks 5 of 6
| # | Model (all years) | Score | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Enfield 350 Bullet | 75 Good | 8,617 |
| 2 | Honda XBR 500 | 65 Good | 9,052 |
| 3 | Yamaha SR 500 | 40 Average | 722 |
| 4 | Kawasaki EL250 | 29 Below average | 904 |
| 5 | Suzuki Bandit 400 | 27 Below average | 853 |
| 6 | Suzuki GS 500 E | 23 Below average | 5,550 |
Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.
From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.
Engine
- Capacity
- 398.0 ccm
- Power
- 59.0 HP (43.4 kW) @ 12000 RPM
- Torque
- 38.0 Nm (3.9 kgf-m) @ 10500 RPM
- Engine type
- In-line four, four-stroke
- Power/weight ratio
- 0.3430 HP/kg (dry)
- Compression
- 11.8:1
- Cooling system
- Liquid
- Fuel system
- Carburettor
- Starting
- Electric
- Ignition
- Transistorized
Transmission
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Transmission type
- Manual
- Final drive
- Chain
Dimensions & weight
- Wheelbase
- 1430 mm
- Overall length
- 2055 mm
- Overall width
- 705 mm
- Overall height
- 1060 mm
- Dry weight
- 172.0 kg
- Wet weight
- 184.0 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 16.00 litres
- Seat height
- Not on record - add it
Chassis & suspension
- Front suspension
- 41mm Kayaba, telescopic, coil spring, oil-damped
- Rear suspension
- Preload adjustable Kayaba monoshock
- Front wheel travel
- 120 mm
- Rear wheel travel
- 120 mm
Brakes & wheels
- Front brakes
- Single 310mm disc, 2 piston caliper
- Front brakes diameter
- 310 mm
- Rear brakes
- Single 260mm disc, 2 piston caliper
- Rear brakes diameter
- 260 mm
- Front tyre
- 110/70-17
- Rear tyre
- 150/70-17
Specs last verified against published sources: .
Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What changed, year to year
Differences highlighted| Specification | 1989 | 1992 | 1994 | 1995 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 398 cc | 398 cc | 398 cc | 398 cc | 398 cc |
| Dry weight | 172 kg | — | — | — | 172 kg |
| Fuel capacity | 16 L | 16 L | 16 L | 16 L | 16 L |
| Bike Reliability ⓘ | Too few tests | 39 Below average | 22 Below average | Too few tests | Too few tests |
Illustrative - generated automatically by diffing the year records already on file, not a manufacturer-published changelog.
Rider Reviews
Common questions
What is the engine size of the Suzuki Bandit 400?
The 1989 Suzuki Bandit 400 has a Capacity of 398.0 ccm (24.29 cubic inches).
What engine power does the Suzuki Bandit 400 have?
The 1989 Suzuki Bandit 400 has a Power of 59.0 HP (43.4 kW) @ 12000 RPM.
How many gears does the Suzuki Bandit 400 have?
The 1989 Suzuki Bandit 400 has a Gearbox of 6-speed.
What is the torque of the Suzuki Bandit 400?
The 1989 Suzuki Bandit 400 has a Torque of 38.0 Nm (3.9 kgf-m or 28.0 ft.lbs) @ 10500 RPM.
How much does the Suzuki Bandit 400 weigh?
The 1989 Suzuki Bandit 400 has a Dry weight of 172.0 kg (379.2 pounds).
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