Suzuki VL800 Intruder - Opinions?

Hi All,

I took my Bandit back to Brizzle (where I still spend one week in three
or four) a couple of weeks ago 'cos 1) car failed its MOT and I don't
use it often enough to justify the expense, 2) Dutch roads are no fun
with anything even vaguely resembling a sprots bike and, most
importantly in the context of this post, 3) there's no way my 6' 2"
missus with a fused-straight right knee is ever going to be able to go
pillion on it.

So, I've just been round the local bike showroom and am rather taken
with the 800 Intruder. With the flat footrest version, it looks a piece
of piss to extend that backwards a snidge and it's perfectly positioned
to get her foot on it behind mine.

But what's it like as a bike? Thoughts anyone?

Cheers,

 

#Let's start a war, start a nuclear war...

 

Oh, do we have to? I'm quite enjoying life atm

Cheers,

 

Rich Harding yik-yakked:

I've got the 1400, and I love mine. A couple of mates have had the
800's, and were really pleased with them. They did eventually go for
bigger engined models, but they both had theirs for about 3 years.

I'm certain a Mr DNC of this parish will reply to this at some point.

 

Do you really want a bike that sounds like Ann Summers sell it?

 

<VBG>

Tbh, if it sounds as nice as the 528i that it's sort of replacing - mmm,
Euro Car Parts exhausts; shame about the baffles - I don't mind.

Cheers,

 

Has your missus actually sat on the pillion seat? I recall a mate
telling me how cramped his SO found the pillion seat... (mind, this
was about 5 yrs ago, they may be roomier now...)
--
O
1 Black, shortly to undergo extensive surgery.
1 Red, undergoing lightweight surgery. -----
1 Blue, for Power-Ranger baiting. | o |
Numbers ... | o |
Stuff ... | ooo |
Life ... -----

 

It does look quite 'compact'; then again, so does her arse

I was actually going to source a pillion seat with a back, so may not
use the standard seat at all.

Cheers,

 

I got a back rest for Marina on the Marauder, a very worthwhile
investment...
--
O
1 Black, shortly to undergo extensive surgery.
1 Red, undergoing lightweight surgery. -----
1 Blue, for Power-Ranger baiting. | o |
Numbers ... | o |
Stuff ... | ooo |
Life ... -----

 

Quite. I love(d) my VS800, it's not fast, it doesn't stop quickly, it
doesn't handle particularly well, but it's a fun ride. It's bee TWA more
times than my Bindit did, and I had to replace one set of pegs because
they kept grinding out.

That said, I don't like the styling of the newer intruder/marauders etc.

--
Dnc

B1200 - gone ~|~ VS800 - borked
TS150 - squatting ~|~ V2300 - flat cap and rug

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

Doesnotcompute yik-yakked:

Bad form to hijack the thread and everything, but....

the Stage 1 kit on the 14 makes *such* a fucking difference. It was
quick off the mark anyway ( for a cruiser ) but with the full Stage 1,
it lifts the front end in 1st and 2nd right off the throttle.
Fan-fucking-tastic. My VS had 71bhp, newer ones have 60, and the Stage
1 gives an extra 10-15%.

DING. And the names? S83? **** sake, that's just turgid.

 

and they key words here are the last 3.



--
Dnc

B1200 - gone ~|~ VS800 - borked
TS150 - squatting ~|~ V2300 - flat cap and rug

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

Owen wrote:


IIRC proper Intruders had a backrest for the pillion as standard - see
http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/Intruder/VS1400-Intruder/1987_VS1400-Intruder_bk_450.jpg
as an almost example.

definitely.

--
Dnc

B1200 - gone ~|~ VS800 - borked
TS150 - squatting ~|~ V2300 - flat cap and rug

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003