A fast, good-handling cruiser with great looks
Written: Aug 18 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Reliability: |
 |
|
| Comfort: |
 |
|
| Handling And Control: |
|
|
| Quality and Craftsmanship: |
|
|
|
Pros: Hot-rod power, gorgeous looks, good handling, very reliable
Cons: Small tank
The Bottom Line: Light weight and tuned for power, the 800 Intruder is a hot rod among cruisers, a sharp-looking bike that is not only quick but practical and dependable.
|
|
|
| wilmilan's Full Review: 2000 Suzuki INTRUDER 800 |
Having owned more sporty bikes in the past, when I went shopping for a cruiser for daily use I didn’t want something big, heavy, and with the elephant-like handling of most cruisers. Instead I wanted something with cruiser styling but real power, light enough to be quick-handling, and with the low maintenance and dependability to be a practical everyday commuter. The only bike I found like that was the Intruder 800.
The Intruder 800 is a bit deceptive because though it looks like a chopper-styled cruiser, its engine and chassis take a very different approach from that of most cruisers. Whereas cruiser engines are typically tuned for relatively low horsepower (typically no more than 50 to 60 horsepower, even for big-inch cruisers), the 805cc motor in the Intruder is tuned for hard power, punching out 62 hp in stock tune, easily 70+ hp even with mild tweaks. Combined with its amazingly light frame (a sportbike-like 443 lbs dry vs. over 600 lbs for most cruisers), it means this is a bike with a strong power-to-weight ratio, and that means real punch and acceleration. In comparison tests of cruisers the Intruder is always the performance winner, easily outrunning other mid-size cruisers, most big-inch cruisers, and every Harley made (except the new V-Rod, the only real performance-oriented Harley).
In handling the Intruder 800 also differs from most other cruisers. Other cruisers I’ve ridden, such as the Yamaha V-Stars, are built low, wide, and heavy, so they are slow to turn and they drag the boards or pegs even at fairly mild lean angles. The Intruder, on the other hand, is quite light, so is much more snappy in turns, and it is relatively narrow, so it can be leaned much more aggressively.
This combination of strong power and good handling make it something of a hot rod among cruisers. It is not as much as a speed machine as the Honda 750cc V4 Magna, which is both a bit faster and better handling in most ways, and a bit smoother overall. But the Intruder’s lighter weight makes it easier to handle for smaller riders and its shaft drive and V-twin engine greatly reduce the regular maintenance required. The Intruder also has much more eye-catching looks, often drawing compliments even from non-riders, while the Magna, while a very well-engineered bike, is rather plain-looking.
The Intruder’s handling is likewise edged a bit by that of the Harley Sportster, but the Intruder easily runs away from any Sportster (883cc or 1200cc) in acceleration, and the Intruder’s much smoother engine makes it much more pleasant to ride than the Sportster with its paint-shaker engine.
The chopper-like steering geometry of the Intruder does take a bit of getting used to. Its laid-back rake angle means that to those more used to sporting bikes and standards the Intruder seems to “fall” into turns. But one quickly learns that the best technique with the Intruder is to add a bit more power earlier in the turn to “lift it” through the turn. It’s a very subtle technique that makes a remarkable difference in the Intruder’s feel and handling through turns.
The Intruder has a single front brake, but bear in mind that this is quite a light bike and the single disk is quite adequate to stop it from any speed. The drum rear brake is large and quite effective. One thing I like about the Intruder’s braking is its low and rearward seating position, which means that hard braking does not make me feel like I’m going to be pitched over the handlebars.
One thing I don’t like about the Intruder is its small gas tank. Mine gets very good fuel mileage (44 to 54 mpg, with 48 mpg typical in commuter use), but its 3.2-gallon tank (2.5 gallons before reserve) means that it will typically only go 120 miles or so before switching to reserve. While adequate for most purposes, it would be nice if it had enough fuel for at least 200 miles before reserve.
If you buy an Intruder for daily commuting or occasional touring there are some modifications you’ll likely want to make to make it more pleasant and/or practical:
- A windshield makes it much more pleasant to ride for extended stretches at highway speeds.
- Some add-on luggage, such as some roomy saddlebags, are a must for typical commuting or any kind of touring.
- Vibration-isolation grips and/or gloves help reduce the bit of buzziness that comes through the bars at highway speeds. While the Intruder engine is quite smooth and vibration is quite low, any kind of vibration can get to be annoying on extended stretches at speed. I’ve found that gel-like grips and gloves with gel inserts work quite well in this regard.
My Intruder also has performance-oriented aftermarket pipes that give it a wonderful deep-throated roar, this is something of a mixed blessing. It makes it a great-sounding bike, but on long stretches it can get to be a bit much. For extended rides I wear earplugs, and I’ve sometimes wondered if the stock pipes would not be a better all-around choice.
The only other modifications I’ve made to my bike are a brake-light modulator and an LED license-plate stoplight bar. Both really help catch the attention of other drivers when I apply the brakes. I’ve also injected both tire tubes with Ride-On puncture-sealing fluid, both to help avoid the blowouts that can happen with tube tires as well as to help prevent the cactus-thorn punctures that are very common in the desert area where I live.
Overall I’ve been quite pleased with the Intruder, very happy with its surprising performance, its striking good looks, and its reliability and low maintenance. Were I looking for another bike like this, the Intruder would still be my first choice. The only other bikes I might consider are the aforementioned Magna (which I’d likely not purchase for daily use because I hate to do frequent chain cleaning and maintenance), or a Kawasaki Vulcan 750. The Vulcan 750, unlike the other Vulcans in the line, is also a very good performing bike, and it is also designed for easy maintenance with hydraulic valves, shaft drive, tubeless tires, and a center stand that eases many maintenance chores. (A center stand is one feature I wish the Intruder had. An aftermarket center stand can be fitted, but it doesn’t come with one.) The main drawback of the Vulcan 750, at least to me, is that the seating position is not as comfortable, and though it’s not a bad-looking bike, it doesn’t have the eye-catching sharp looks of the Intruder.
All in all it’s hard to go wrong with the Intruder 800, a very visually appealing bike that is a strong performer, handles well, is reliable and easy to own, and though not the cheapest bike around, is still a very good value. If that’s the type of bike you want, you can hardly do better.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 4900
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1999
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
wilmilan
|
|
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 2 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.