apologies accepted.

For me, it's Ninja.

left overs to buy a cbr 250

My Vote would anyday go for the bandit, if pricing wise both would been similar but as of now its the ninja

Ninja, Ninja, Ninja!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ninja

Besides the other issues like cost ,looks,performance etc etc stuff."SERVICE IS THE KEY".Kawasaki anyday considering the awesome "SERVICE" backup by pbk.Treated like royalty(atleast in chennai,dunno abt pbk elsewhere).BTW it also includes tech support.

I feel we are actually comparing apples to oranges here. Among these two, I would vote for the Ninja 650R and the savings could translate in getting a hatchback or another small capacity bike. On another note, I love the big bike feel of the Bandit. It looks intimidating, though a little bland.

Interesting definition of Tourer

As a Canadian I find the definition of a Tourer here in India very interesting. In North America the 650 would not even remotely be considered as a Tourer. The Bandit is on the edge and so is the FZ1 and FZ6 as well, where as the Honda VFR and BMW's fall into sport tourer more officially. I do have an FZ6 with Givi luggage and its awesome. The reason the 650 isn't considered a good tourer is the riding position, 800km or more and 8 to 10 hours seat time on a sport bike with an agressive riding position over a week is not very easy on the back. Where as the FZ1, Bandit and all other sport bikes with a less aggressive riding position would be candidates. The other thing is that a lot of people in this thread mention that the bike should be able to handle rough roads, well that's a whole level and this is interesting to me as well because very rarely does anyone in North America choose a bike with alloy rims when they know they will be traveling other than paved roads 90% of the time. (We all may have a different definition of rough roads) There is a reason the big adventure bikes have spoked wheels, alloy rims can crack easily in a pothole and on a tubeless tire your finished and stranded. If the choice is only between the Bandit and the 650 and I was to be using it as a tourer then I'd take the Bandit easily. Although I'd take a Vstrom for touring over a Bandit any day.

Thumbs up for Bandit

Hey guys!! All are for Ninja650R but as far as i know that the twin 650R does not belong to the Ninja clan as the ZX 6 R Ninja is 4 in line producing bhp in excess of 100 with totque to match.
I'm all in for the Bandit for its torque at low rpm which makes it a very rider friendly bike n can go all day in top gear at low rpm n speed.Add to it the 4 in line sounds gr8 and works amazingly.
May be i'm being biased as i ride a cb1000r.

pillion riders

The Ninja is strictly a 1 seater for touring. The Bandit can comfortably accomodate 2 ppl for 300km/day. Married folks dont have the option of buying the Ninja
It isnt about 650 or 1000 - it is 1 or 2 seats. However, as someone said earlier...I ll take a VStrom650 anyday for touring!!!!

Bandit all the way, after riding the ZMA for a while, got addicted to low end torque.
&
Kinda strange, but this bike shockingly resembles Karizma.

Completely agree with you bikes like multistrada,R1200GS are meant for some serious touring.Ninja 650R are meant for long highway rides

Well I'd go for the ninja 650r if and only if they open the damn bookings again.

The silence is frustrating!

The Ninja 650 will do, waiting for it.

CHEERS,
G D

Bandit 1250 cc, inline 4 ,dangerous low-end torque if money is no problem then its a no brainer - Bandit's looks can be easily improved to a full grown tourer.