![]() ![]() The twin shocks at the rear have limited travel, again to give that low stance, but the ride is adequate, although it can jar and ‘bottom out’ over pot holds. Though ‘kicked out’ the front forks are beefy, inverted items for added rigidity and with a smaller 16-inch front wheel it steers reasonably well. The M800, however, is a better handling example than most. Many hot rods, as a result, aren’t the most nimble machines and can also suffer from a lack of ground clearance. The Suzuki Intruder Owners' Club is a great place to start.īeing a hot rod means the Suzuki Intruder M800 has more kicked out forks than a conventional cruiser, a fatter rear tyre and a long and low wheelbase – all to enhance stability and give the long and low stance that makes these drag bike style machines great performers in a straight line away from traffic lights and suchlike. Once you've read this review and our owners' reviews, you may want to join an online community to meet likeminded people. If the cosmetics are good (and the M800’s chrome and paint are as good as any), you like the style and experience and don’t mind the badge you’re unlikely to be disappointed. In the UK, these latter version survived longest until being finally killed off by emissions laws in 2012 and are considered among the best ‘non-American’ examples of the hot rod breed thanks to their clean styling, proven, grunty performance, decent (for a cruiser) handling, reliability and durability and, best of all, impressive value.Īlthough the smaller of Suzuki’s two versions the M800 is still a substantial bike with more than sufficient performance its handling and braking are among the best of any bikes of this type and age there’s virtually no mechanical or cosmetic issues and it can be a great value used buy.Īlthough now aging compared to other classes such as sports or adventure bikes, the M800’s hot rod style hasn’t dated at all and its performance is still competitive. The shaft-drive V-twin engines were produced in mid-range 750/800 capacities and big bore 1400/1500/1600cc variants and from the late 1990s these powered three different styles of cruiser – the chopper style VS Intruder, the fat-wheeled, ‘50s retro style VL Intruder C (which in the US was also called the Volusia) and the more hot rod style VZ Marauder, which, to add further confusion, was in the UK called the M800 or M1600 Intruder. Related: Luke Wilkins on bikes pt4 - Suzuki Intruder M800.It’s also very easy to maintain and so long as you have it regularly serviced you can expect this bike to keep on going.Suzuki’s Intruder family of V-twin cruisers dates back to the mid-1980s and are generally well regarded as solid, nicely finished, dependable and affordable Japanese interpretations of the breed, alongside Yamaha’s Viragos and Honda’s Shadows. There are plenty of extras you can add to make the bike your own and they are reliable rides as you might expect from a bike carrying the Suzuki name. Perhaps the main selling point of the VL1500 is the price these bikes are cheap to buy new and even cheaper to pick up second hand. That said, it’s a sleek looking bike and will certainly draw the eye. Perhaps for the odd journey to and from the town centre you’d find the engine more than adequate but it is by no means a quick bike. It is a fairly torquey ride and makes a wonderful sound which will satisfy some but don’t expect to be able to overtake on a motorway with any level of ease. Unfortunately for the Suzuki VL1500 the engine doesn’t seem quite as capable as it should and considering that Suzuki do make more powerful engines, it would have made sense to install one in this bike. It’s also a pretty nippy bike despite its vast size and handles itself well weaving in and out of traffic. This might be, in part, due to the competent suspension which helps this giant of a machine to tackle even the bumpiest surface with ease. The VL1500 Intruder is a pretty hefty bike weighing in at 296kg yet it is a surprisingly comfortable ride once you get it going. World Superbike Championship: 400 up for Ducati.Dream start for Jack Bell and the Devitt Vanoni Flat Track Team!.BSB 2023: Irwin and Ducati seize control.Things to do in the Isle of Man when you’re at the TT.Electric Motorbikes: The Future of Bikes is Electric.2019 Aprilia RSV4 Tuono 1100 Factory vs 2019 Yamaha MT-10 SP. ![]() Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle vs Triumph Street Scrambler.BMW R1250 GS vs KTM 1290 Super Adventure S.Motorcycle insurance modifications explained: Accessory or modification?.What you need to know about motorbike insurance.Personal accident with helmet and leathers.
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