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.

Unleashing the Suzuki VS1400

In 1987, due to increased demand from riders wanting more power (you can read a little bit about my beliefs as to why by clicking here: suzuki intruder vs700), Suzuki unveiled its new cruiser, the VS1400 Intruder.

With this new motorcycle, it was quite obvious that not only did the head honchos over in Japan listen to Intruder owners' cries for a bigger engine--they took it to heart. Indeed, two years (or three, depending on how you count them) after the first Intruder hit our shores, Suzuki introduced the second model in the Intruder line: the VS1400, effectively doubling the displacement of their maiden model's nearly seven-hundred cc's.

This was a good thing for several reasons.

Firstly, with a bigger Intruder, riders who liked the looks of the mid-size cruiser but did not feel that it was up to the task of handling an operator, a passenger, and a full load could now buy a "big twin" that had plenty of torque and horsepower to spare.

Secondly, now Suzuki had two motorcycles of similar style that sat neatly into two separate categories: mid-size and "big-bike." This worked well to their advantage as it allowed people to choose between a "'round-town bike" or a big highway motorcycle. Of course, both models being small, nimble, and powerful for their size, it really came down to a matter of preference as they were both suited well to most any kind of riding.

And thirdly, even though the 1400 was twice the Intruder of its forebear, it was nowhere near twice the price. This meant that it was a truly cheaper and powerfully viable alternative to the American "big boys." In other words, it was no longer just an eye-catching chopper-style cruiser wrapped around a small engine--this time around, it had the attitude to go with the look.

The 1400 shared many qualities with its smaller, though older, sibling. They both had 19" front wheels and 15" rear wheels; they were both shaft driven; they shared almost the same low-slung profile; and they both had v-twins with exhaust pipes that ran down each side of the motorcycle.

One major difference was that while the 700 was water cooled, the 1400 was not. This was a big plus for those riders who were skeptical of having a motorcycle with a radiator mounted in front of the engine. In fact, many of them felt that liquid cooling should be kept out the two-wheeled crowd altogether.

Now, while this new Intruder was not water cooled, it was not entirely air cooled, either. In place of the radiator was a smaller type of cooler: an oil cooler. This combination of air and cool oil worked well to keep the engine from over-heating. And while the fact remained that there was still a radiator of sorts mounted on the down frame it was nowhere near as offensive looking as a full size one.

While this big displacement motorcycle answered many riders' requests for more power, it was still not a "replacement" for the VS700, but rather a first entry into heavyweight territory. Those expecting a more reasonable replacement with a bit more oomph would have to wait another year, but for everyone else, the Suzuki Intruder VS1400 an unexpected gift of torque-y goodness.