PEOPLE ride motorbikes for many different reasons. For some, speed is the be all and end all; for others image has the upper hand. Comparing an Enfield Bullet to Yamaha's R6 is like comparing a Porsche 911 to a Smart convertible - the only thing that binds the two together is the amount of wheels.

Finding that most elusive of motorbikes, the one that suits everyone, is like looking for the holy grail, but with the new Suzuki Bandit GSF 1250S I think you come pretty close.

It seems that the Bandit has been around forever, but the guys at Suzuki have not rested on their laurels and left the Bandit stuck in the 1980s - new EU legislation made sure of that anyway - and the newest model is definitely a bike for the 21st century. Once upon a time, the Bandit had a reputation as a bit of a hooligan bike, but nowadays you are more likely to see one whizzing through the rush-hour traffic or loaded up for a long-distance haul.

And there is one simple reason for this - it is really, really easy to ride. The Bandit will sit patiently in the traffic at low revs and yet still has enough power to pull you out of trouble with the tiniest twist of the throttle. It also has the capability of sitting steady on the motorway for long journeys, more like a sports/tourer than anything else, comfortably eating up the miles without the slightest glitch. The half fairing on the S model allows for huge mileage at high speeds, relatively unaffected by the wind blast.

The Bandit's 1250cc liquid cooled engine and fuel-injection system make this always reliable bike even more so. The newest model now includes a sixth gear you were always looking for on the old model and the chassis, too, is entirely new although its heritage is undeniably Bandit through and through.

You'd never know that this bike weighs in at 226kg, as its mid-range torque allows super smooth handling on the back roads as well as smooth acceleration out of those long A-road bends.

Above all else, the Bandit looks good. OK, so it lacks the day-glo "come and see what I've got" liveries of its race-rep cousins, but its clean-cut image suits me down to the ground.

The Bandit is a commuter bike, a city bike or a weekend cruiser - whatever you want it to be. And best of all, at just £5,500 (check price) it's one of the most affordable in the showroom. Does it really get any better than that?

The Suzuki Bandit GSF 1250S was kindly loaned by Fowlers Motorcycles of Bath Road, Bristol.

OUR STEER ON THE SUZUKI GSF 1250S

Price: £5,549 with ABS (Check price)

Engine: 1,255cc, in-line four-cylinder

Power: 96bhp at 7,500rpm

Torque: 79ft lb at 3,700rpm

Transmission: six-speed

Weight: 226 kg

Fuel capacity: 19 litres

Top speed: 145mph

Seat height: 810mm