SuzukiSavage.com /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Thinking about an Intruder /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1406511474 Message started by Greg on 07/27/14 at 18:37:54

Title: Thinking about an Intruder Post by Greg on 07/27/14 at 18:37:54 I am considering a VS800/S50 or VS1400/S83. Does anyone have any experience with them? Aside from the handlebars and seat, is there a big difference between the old and new? Does the water cooled 800 perform similar to the air/oil cooled and heavier 1400?

Title: Re: Thinking about an Intruder Post by Serowbot on 07/27/14 at 23:00:10 Just what I know... Both are very Jap chopper in character... ... but different in technology... The 800 is water cooled, more revvy less torque... feels like a Honda... refined,  but lacking character...  it is complex... 2 PIA air filters... hard to reach battery... not fun to work on... The 1400, I know only from reputation... but it is powerful... by several degrees of more... I thought about the 1400 myself... but weighting the pluses and minuses... I can't justify the added weight, cost, and complexity,... over my Savage... Either is a magnitude much more than just a step from a Savage... the 800 in complexity, the 1400 in power... JMHO... and I've never even ridden a 1400... I'd take a Sportster over an Intruder 800... same power, better resale,  better quality,and simpler... I'd take the 1400 over a bigger Harley... Honestly,... I'd take Triumph over any of them... ;D...

Title: Re: Thinking about an Intruder Post by WD on 07/28/14 at 00:31:17 Have a VS800 rotting away behind the motorhome. 2 nearly invisible (and impossible to synch) carburetors that retail for over $600 each. Need to change an air filter, you nearly have to pull the engine to gain access. One minor glitch will kill power to the fuel pump (yep, it has to run an electric pump, very poor design), starter and coils. Finding said glitch is a crap shoot, the bike has close to 1/8 mile of angel hair pasta fine wiring. Buy a nice C50 or C50T. Fuel infested, but with a much higher quality fuel pump, brain box, water pump. Considerably more reliable. Easier to service. 1000x more comfortable than the cartoon cruisers that led to it. Honda killed off the first generation cartoon Shadows and Magnas for a reason... Suzuki and Kawasaki finally got smart and dropped their knockoff versions a few years ago. VS800 is a good shock and front end donor, nothing more. Horrid in any other respect.

Title: Re: Thinking about an Intruder Post by Greg on 07/28/14 at 04:30:20 Thanks guys. I'm actually leaning towards the 1400. I've never really cared for water-cooled technology on a motorcycle. The problem is, is they are about twice the money. I prefer the styling of the intruder over the standard cruiser. I'm not familiar with any other bike looks that way. Truthfully, I would just like to get a bigger bike for the highway that has a styling I want, is more comfortable than the Savage, and it while traveling at 70 miles an hour and I twist the throttle to avoid someone it actually moves.

Title: Re: Thinking about an Intruder Post by WD on 07/28/14 at 08:09:07 First generation (early to mid 1980s) Honda Shadow V twins, Honda Magna and Spirit V fours, Kawasaki VN700/750, Kawasaki EN500, Suzuki VS700/750/800/1400, Yamaha Virago XV250/535/700/750/900/1000/1100. All cartoon cruisers from J.A. Pan Inc's less than stellar early experiments with trying to bring British (Brough and Vincent) or American style bikes to market. All  miserable failures other than they led to the development of Kawi VN800/1500, Suzuki C50/C90, Yamaha Star series, and Honda VT1100 ACE. The early versions are as cramped, if not more cramped, than our cute little toy 652cc thumpers.

Title: Re: Thinking about an Intruder Post by Demin on 07/29/14 at 18:54:26 I got rid of the one I had.Traded it for a Savage.Couldn't get comfortable on it.Pegs are waaayyy to close to the seat,same with the rider's position.Just couldn't make it as cool as the Savages I've done.

Title: Re: Thinking about an Intruder Post by WD on 07/29/14 at 23:04:57 I always got funny looks when I borrowed Lisa's 800 Intruder. At 6'2" 240#, I was on the pillion to get enough leg and arm room to control the bike w/o massive cramps in my hips and shoulders. And her bike has 10" rise bars. She wants a C50T. Good prices on low mileage clean used ones around here. Wish I could say the same for Kawasaki VN800As...

Title: Re: Thinking about an Intruder Post by PerrydaSavage on 07/30/14 at 02:52:28 I (very) briefly owned a 2006 S50 Boulevard ... did not the Bike at all ... totally void of character and the battery compartment had to have been designed by the lowest paid Engineer in Suzuki's design department ... what a frustrating PITA!! The Honda VT750DC/C2/C2B/RS, etc. are better choices, if not as fast as the VS800 ... so is Kawi's VN900C Vulcan ...

Title: Re: Thinking about an Intruder Post by Greg on 07/30/14 at 04:10:20 Thanks for the additional insight.

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