Suzuki VL1500 LC Intruder

Make Model	Suzuki VL 1500LC Intruder
Year	1998 - 01
Engine	Four stroke, 45° V-twin, SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder
Capacity	1462 cc / 89.2 cu in
Bore x Stroke	96 x 101 mm
Cooling System	Air/oil cooled
Compression Ratio	8.5:1
Induction	2 x Mikuni BDSRS6 carburetors
Ignition	Digital transistorized
Spark Plug	NGK, DPR7EA-9
Starting	Electric
Battery	12V, 14Ah
Max Power	49.5 kW / 67 hp @ 4.800 rpm
Max Torque	114 Nm / 11.6 kgf-m / 84ft lb @ 2.300 rpm
Transmission	5 Speed
Final Drive	Shaft
Front Suspension	41mm Telescopic forks, coil spring, oil damped
Front Wheel Travel	130 mm / 5.1 in
Rear Suspension	Monoshock link-type, oil damped, 5-way adjustable spring preload
Rear Wheel Travel	117 mm / 4.6 in
Front Brakes	Single 300 mm disc, 2 piston caliper, double action
Rear Brakes	Single 180 mm disc, 2 piston caliper, double action
Front Wheel	Cast 3.50 x 16
Rear Wheel	Cast 5.00 x 15
Front Tyre	150/80-16 Bridgestone G703 tubeless
Rear Tyre	180/70-15 Bridgestone G702 tubeless
Rake	32^o
Trail	137.9 mm / 5.43 in
Dimensions	Length 2525 mm / 99.4 in Width 965 mm / 38.0 in Height 1165 mm / 45.9 in
Wheelbase	1700 mm / 66.9 in
Seat Height	700 mm / 27.6 in
Dry Weight	292 kg / 644 lbs
Fuel Capacity	15.5 Litres / 4.1 US gal / 3.4 Imp gal
Average Consumption	6.5 L/100 km / 15.3 km/l / 36 US mpg / 43 Imp mpg
Standing ¼ Mile	15.0 sec / 138 km/h / 85.7 mph
Review	MCN

The VL1500 is a massive custom-styled cruiser. Dominated by a huge air/oil cooled V-twin engine, the Intruder is designed for relaxed highway cruising and round-town posing. The engine, with a maximum torque figure of 84ft lb at 2300rpm, is the epitome of the large-capacity, slow-rewing engine, although a six-valve design and a front-mounted oil-cooler lend a degree of sophistication.

Unusually, the Intruder uses a five speed gearbox: the broad spread of torque makes more ratios superfluous. Drive to the wide 180-section rear tyre is by clean, maintenance-free shaft drive, and a hidden rear suspension system gives the Intruder the styling of a 'hardtail' custom bike.

Although the Suzuki VL1500 Intruder shares a basic engine design with the Suzuki VL1400 Intruder, the two bikes have very different chassis. The Suzuki VL1500 Intruder is long, low and wide, very similar to Kawasaki's Vulcan 1500 in terms of power, overall feel and ride quality.

Considering its vast bulk the Suzuki VL1500 Intruder handles OK, but the slow steering is ponderous and it needs a certain knack to successfully guide the Intruder through traffic jams. The Suzuki VL1500 Intruder's suspension is really soft so the overall ride is very comfortable.

The Suzuki VL1500 Intruder's mere 67bhp isn't much when there's 296kgs dry (that's 651lbs!) to push onwards and the clunky gearbox doesn't win the Suzuki VL1500 Intruder many admirers either. It's a torquey lump, making its peak lunge at just 2300rpm, but still feels underpowered.

The finish is better than the average Suzuki, but the Suzuki VL1500 Intruder needs plenty of TLC to keep its chrome bits shiny. One decent British winter will almost destroy the underside of the Suzuki VL1500 Intruder, so buy an Optimate and stick it in the garage until May.

The 1998-2001 model Suzuki VL1500 Intruders have just one front disc, which isn't really enough. The Suzuki VL1500 Intruder hasn't many extras on it, the pillion perch looks like a bit of an afterthought and there's no grabrail. A 15.5 litres tank isn't that generous for touring either.

Suzuki VL 1500LC Intruder