Motorcycle Saddlebags For Suzuki Intruders

I'm going to stray just a bit here and talk for a moment not of Suzuki Intruders in particular, but of motorcycle saddlebags generally and for Suzuki Intruders.

Motorcycle Saddlebags

When your out and about riding through town on your Suzuki motorcycle (or any other brand, for that matter) sometimes it's nice to be able to stop at a store and pick up a few things to take home. Other times, like when you decide to take a long trip on your motorcycle, you need to be able to pack some personal effects to take with you. In a car, this is easy of course. On a motorcycle, not so much.

This is where saddlebags come into play.

For those of you who do not know, saddlebags resemble--and get their name from--the bags that the cowboys used to strap over their horses for the long trips. On a motorcycle, the mounting scheme is usually a bit different, but the overall idea remains largely the same.

Motorcycle saddlebags consist of two "bags" connected by a yoke. This whole setup is usually made of leather or a leatherlike material, though there are some manufacturers who use hard material, such as fiberglas or something similar, usually for the purpose of offering solid, waterproof construction. While hard saddlebags for motorcycles are okay in their place, in this post, I won't be delving into the hard saddlebags too much because they don't really fit well with the Suzuki Intruder motorcycle. An exception to this would be the big classic style cruiser of the Intruder LC1500 which works well in hard saddlebag, touring type setup.

Sometimes each of these bags contains pockets in addition to the main compartment, but usually it just one big compartent per side. Generally, a flap closes over the top of each one lengthwise and is secured by a snap on one end where the other end is sewn in. Another, larger, flap closes over this flap and is buckled into place by one, two, or three buckles.

The yoke is used to mount the saddlebags on the motorcycle, usually underneath the rear seat. This is simple enough, but you also need one other piece of equipment unless you want your saddlebags flying all over the place when you ride while getting beat up by the rear wheel. What is this extra piece of equipment? Glad you asked!

Saddlebag Supports

These are metal pieces shaped in a sort of a square "u." Each manufacturer has a specific method of attaching these so I can't go into too much detail. But generally, they either mount under the rear fender or between the fender and the fender rails. Once these are in place and you've got your yoke underneath the seat, all you have to do is tie or otherwise attach the saddlebags to this support. Now they won't sway and bounce all over the place when you ride.

Now that we know a little bit about these things and how to mount them, let's take a look the two main styles they come in.

1. Straight Saddlebags
   
2. Slanted Saddlebags
   

Straight Saddlebags

These hang straight down and resemble in profile a square. They offer a lot of usable room and work well on a monoshock style motorcycle or cruisers that have a lot of space between the rear shocks and the end of the fender. On a more compact motorcycle with exposed shocks the bottom front corner of these bags must overlap the shock thereby causing the front of them to pooch out. While functionally this may have little impact, aesthetically it is very tacky.

Slant Saddlebags

If you take the straight saddlebags and slant them backward, this is what you get. Instead of resembling a square they look more like a parallelogram. While they do not offer as much usable room as the straight saddlebags do, they are a great option for those cruisers with a compact back end and exposed shocks. The slanted style means that the saddlebag can actually sit behind the shock instead of on top of it, thus bringing it back into an acceptably aesthetic profile. On a monoshock "soft tail" style motorcycle, however, I think these might look a little out of place.

Which Style of Motorcycle Saddlebags Is Right For Your Intruder?

While I've seen each style used, I can say without a doubt that I think the slant saddlebags fit the bill here. They sit comfortable behind the shocks and help to fill out the thin, almost anemic look of the back end while still keeping with the sleek look of the chopper cruiser. For a quality set, I would look into Willie and Max saddlebags, sissy bar bags, and toolbags. I've always had great luck and pleasant experiences with Willie & Max.

So the next time you're out looking to add something new to your Suzuki Intruder, do yourself a favor and pick up some nice motorcycle saddlebags.

Suzuki Intruder Handlebars

A post about Suzuki Intruder Handlebars?

You bet!

You may be thinking to yourself, "Why is he posting about this? What's so siginificant about handlebars that they deserve their own page?" I'll you, there's plenty of significance there, as we will soon see.

Stock Suzuki Intruder Handlebars

If you're intersted in different styles of handlebars for your Intruder, than you don't really have to look any further than the past and present selection of stock handlebars. In fact, just off the top of my head, I can think of three different styles of which you can choose.

1. Drag Bars
2. Chopper Style Bars
3. Low and Wide Bars

I'll try to explain each version in a little more detail.

Drag Bars

I know you've seen this style before: The bar is either a straight or slightly bent piece of usually chromed pipe that extends out a short distance from the risers in a flat path. Generally, a different set of risers is needed when using this setup because most stock risers are too short and will cause the handgrips to hit the gas tank when turning fully.

Not many stock cruisers come with them, but sometimes you can get them as an option. I believe that unless it is a specialty or custom motorcycle then most riders would rather something a little less extreme and since the drag bars need high risers, most companies will only offer one choice. Also, like many things, styles fade in and out of fashion.

An example of a cruiser that offered drag bars as an option was the 1986 VS700 Intruder.


Ape Hanger Handlebars or Chopper Style Bars

These are my favorites and I believe it this style that suits the Suzuki Intruder best.

Ape hanger handlebars are the kinds of bars you see on all the old choppers in all the old chopper movies. You also see them on a lot of custom cruisers (including the Intruders) riding the roads these days, as well. They are tall and need no special risers--the stock ones will do just fine. Of course, if you get custom ape-hangers then you might need longer brake and clutch cables but that's a whole nother story!

Now, the stock Intruder ape hangers are not extreme like what you would see on many customs, but they do fit the chopper-esque profile of the motorcycle quite well. They can be positioned in several ways to afford a comfortable ride for most people.

This is the style that most all of the Intruders came with, including the Suzuki VS1400 and the Suzuki VS800 Intruder.

Classic Style Low and Wide Bars

Ah, my least favorite stock style. I will not dwell on these long as I feel they do not fit in line with a stock Intruder (though I have seen some nice customs that implement them well!). These are a relatively new addition to the Intruders and I believe is Suzuki's attempt at trying to appeal to the "classic" crowd.

A Handy Tip For Custom Handlebars

If you're looking for something a little different (or a lot!) then I suggest you take a look at the American made motorcycles. They have one-inch handlebars just like the Suzuki's do. And if you look up any Harley dealer, you'll find a very wide selection to choose from.

I know this only scratched the surface of Suzuki Intruder Handlebars, but I hope it gave you a good idea of what's on offer.

I Like Suzuki Intruders

Why do I like Suzuki Intruders? Let me count the ways.

1. Intruders are small but powerful
2. Intruders are excellent for defensive driving
3. Intruders have a styling all their own

Now, let me elaborate in a little bit of detail about each of these points, if you will. Of course you will, it's my site and that's why you're here, to see what's what about these motorcycles. Right? Then let's get to it.

Suzuki Intruders Are Small and Powerful

It does not matter whether you're talking the original VS700 or the mid sized motorcycle that eventually replaced it, the Suzuki VS800 Intruder. In fact, even the Suzuki VS 1400, which is nearly the same size as its mid-size little brothers but packs almost twice the engine, is still small but quite powerful. This holds true, in my experience, across the entire VS line.

Now, when you get into the classic style Intruder, the LC1500, even though it has a bigger motor than the 1400, and even though it is still classified as an Intruder by Suzuki, one would be hard pressed to call this behemoth a small motorcycle. Therefore, only those models that who fits the chopper profile are to be considered both small and powerful.

You may be thinking that there are a lot of cruiser motorcycles with engines in the same class as these, so what makes the Suzuki Intruders different?

I will tell you.

The difference between most of these cruisers is exactly what makes the Intruder so strong by comparison. While most of these other motorcycles are big and bulky with extraneous cosmetics to make them appear bigger and badder than what they are, the VS series, with its stripped down, lean and clean profile, is as light as can be.

How does this make a difference?

If you take two engines that are identical and put one of them on a motorcycle that weighs 400 pounds and the other one in a motorcycle that weighs 600 pounds, which one do you think will perform better? That's right, the one with less weight to carry.

You'll see why I like this setup in the next section.

Suzuki Intruders Are Excellent For Defensive Driving

Have you ever been riding in bumper to bumper traffic and had a car driver cut you off because they either did not see you (because they did not look) or they didn't care? Well, if you've been riding a motorcycle for longer than a week, I'm sure this has happened to you at least once.

I know first hand that it does not matter how big the motorcycle you're riding is, these car drivers still think they can push you around, and that's why you have to ride defensively. And what's the best kind of motorcycle to be on when you have swerve instantly away from a car?

A light, responsive one, of course.

And unless you want ride a plain jane street bike or a crotch rocket, then your choices are limited.

Good thing the Intruder gives you a lightweight cruiser with plenty of punch, perfect for evasive, nimble maneuvering in sleek, cruiser style packaging.

And speaking of style...

Suzuki Intruders Have a Style All Their Own

Boy, do they. I could go on and on here about how utterly awesome these rides are, but when it comes down to it, you've just got to see one in person to appreciate the true beauty and attitude it possesses. But since you can't put an actual live object on the internet, here's a photograph of this steel steed, just to whet your appetite.

And there you go, three reasons why I like Suzuki Intruders.

Suzuki Intruders

Welcome to Suzuki Intruder Resource. On this site, you will learn about several Suzuki Intruder motorcycles, such as the suzuki vs800 intruder, suzuki vs1400
, and the classic style Suzuki Intruder 1500. If there is something you would like to know about these motorcycles, then please do not hesitate to ask. In fact, always keep in mind that just because you do not find what you are looking for regarding these cruisers, it does not mean that I can not find it for you!



So please, have a look around and get to know the place. I hope you like what you see and enjoy yourself on Suzuki Intruder Resource.