.

Suzuki VL 1500LC 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 32o
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.