I've been riding a 1995 for the past 15 yrs, the best bike I've ever owned, trouble free, practically indestructible, the most I've spent on it in one go was 300euros for rectifier regulator,it sits in my kitchen as I write this.
Some thoughts on the VS1400, from someone who owned one. I had a 1994, which is a bit different than this 1997 shown here. Before 1995, the 1400 intruders had more power, and they only had four speeds. My 1994 was ridiculous. Once I put in new clutch springs, (You WILL need new clutch springs, the stock ones are very weak) it would pull the front wheel up like a sportbike. It wouldn't stop or turn like a sportbike, however. Interesting bit of trivia - the cylinders are spaced at 45 degrees, as mentioned in the video, but the crankpins are also spaced at 45 degrees. It's not one pin like a harley, there's two of them. So the bike sounds more like a 90 degree engine. Lets talk about carburetors, and having to fix it on the side of the road. The 1400 Intruder has two carburetors. One is a down draft, the other is a side draft, and they are nowhere near each other. One is between the cylinders, under the fuel tank, the other one is under the seat. They built the Intruder by hanging the rear carb in midair, and bolting the rest of the bike to it. Trying to get those two carbs to play nice with each other is an exercise in patience. Not mentioned in the video, is that somewhere along the line at Suzuki, one of the engineers drank a quart of wood alcohol and decided that the best place for the battery is under the swingarm. You can see the box at about 3:42, it's a black metal box in front of the back tire, between the exhaust pipes. You remove it by disconnecting the cables, removing the two 10mm bolts in the bottom of the battery box, and dropping it out of the bottom. Or, more likely, it will just fall out into the road when riding, because the metal around the bolt holes get fatigued, cracks, and the door falls open. When you're riding your intruder, if you hear metal scraping on the ground, STOP. Lastly, keep an eye on those fuel lines. If they start to leak, they will drip down the left side of the bike (Where the fuel pump is located) and onto the hot exhaust and the battery, and you will get called Ghost Rider at work for showing up on a burning motorcycle. This tends to destroy the ignition box, which like many components on this bike, was just shoved somewhere - in this case on the bottom of the seat. To remove the seat, you open up the compartment shown in the video, and remove the 10mm bolt in the bottom. Then you have to unplug the ignition box, because it's literally bolted to the bottom of the seat. I rode mine for years. I had to tinker with it about once a month to get it to stay running (Mostly the carburetors, they wouldn't stay adjusted) but when it was running, it was a vastly entertaining bike to ride. Guys on 1200 sportsters hated it, because there was no contest. They'd get blown away by a 20 year old Suzuki.
Haha, you are absolutely right! I've had my -87 Intruder for 4 years now and it's such a low maintenance bike. Mine is customized to look more like a bobber, looks way better than original. It has shorter rear springs, wide & straight handlebar, straight pipes, wider fuel tank and a custom seat without sissybar. The battery is a real nuisance to replace, especially with the lower rear suspension. I ended up rebuilding the whole "cradle" where it lies just to avoid the battery falling under my rear wheel mid-ride. :D
I also had an Intruder, the smaller 700cc version. Purchased it new in 1988. I think it was like $3200 before financing ect. Rode that bike everyday for 2 1/2 years till it was paid off. I sold it shortly after to buy a bigger bike. Only thing I ever did was change the oil and plugs. Never gave me one problem. Great bike. I currently ride a CVO Road King but still have fond memories of that long gone Suzuki.
I also had the 700 intruder, i think it was an '86 which i bought in '90 with 2000 miles on it - in So Cal. Perfect shape. Anyway rode it to college thru downtown LA traffic, plenty of other places and never a problem. Put a good 20,000 miles on it over 4 yrs or so. Easy to maneuver, easy parking, good looking, the whole shebang. Sold it at decent price in the end. Good times.
Had a 1400 Intruder some years ago (a 5 speed). That engine is a torque monster that is bullet proof. It had the flat drag bars on it. I loved that bike.
I could not care less about horsepower. It's torque that you use on the street. Many of the torque est bikes have lower horsepower, such as Harley big twins. That's what makes them so fun to ride.
I absolutely love the cruiser style of this era- fat rear, skinny front, stepped seats with backrest, bobbed/ ducktail rear fender, forward controls and buckhorn/ mini ape hangers.
That is the second bike I owned, except for the forward controls! Got so many comments on the color scheme. One day on run with Bikers Against Child Abuse, somebody asked the youngster which bike he’d pick to own. He picked my ‘97 Intruder, “It’s a classic!” . I paid $2,000 for mine and the guy next to me had just spent ten times that on his Harley’s custom flame paint and chrome. It was truly a great bike. Sold it to help out my daughter when she got married. No regrets, until today (sorta).😉 I sincerely enjoy your videos, but seeing this caught me off guard in a nostalgic groovy way. Be Blest!
I have a 87 and 91 1400 intruder. The 4 speeds. I love them they never break down. I took my 87 across Canada the other summer it was awesome. Minus the tiny gas tank.
my 1987 - over 91000 miles; NEVER been in the engine, just a couple of stators over the years, a clutch pack and a set swingarm bearings. 74 HP off the showroom. - I think from 97 forward- Suzuki went 5 speed and about 61 hp. The drop in HP I'm sure was EPA related.
@@lynskyrd Yea they say the re tune was for increased fuel economy on the highway. But my 87 has more jam than my, 91. Definitely bullet proof bikes though.
I actually just bought my first bike just a month ago, and it's the 99 Suzuki Intruder 1400. An AMAZING bike. I've have literally never rode a bike before and I can comfortably ride it. Of course still getting used to it for only having it a month, buts she's awesome. Very comfortable.
Nathaniel Collins I’m a beginner rider (rode dirt bikes if that counts for anything) and I’m looking at an Intruder 1400 as my first bike. Seeing you as someone with a similar situation, I’d like to ask if the bike is a good fit and if it’s an acceptable “first bike.” Thanks!
@@buckeye392 honestly, I would say yes. I myself never rode anything, even dirt bikes, so I was starting from scratch. They are a little on the heavy side, upwards of 560lbs, but very comfortable. It took me a few to get used to the weight, especially at lower speeds, but after riding for a few more weeks and getting more road time in, the weight doesn't bother me. You'll notice she'll want to hold herself up very easily. I went with the bigger bike, because she would be an everyday driver of mine, and plan on eventually doing some traveling on it. I don't know if it's the PERFECT beginner bike, as I'm biased on the Intruder, but I would say she has been a very acceptable first bike for myself, and would definitely recommend them for other riders.
Nathaniel Collins Sounds good. Thanks for the input and the fast response, as it surely helps me in my decision. Glad you enjoy yours and it sounds right for me so I’ll see if I can get my hands on one!
Nice man! After years of MX i got my license and searching a bike to built a kind of bobber style bike to match my mustang (pretty rare in the netherlands) Hows the power of the 1400?
They are decent bikes for 80s-90s muscle. The 1400 was 20cc bigger than Harley's biggest at the time (1360cc 1340cc.) You're right. They are relatively easy to work on. I was "blessed enough" to get one in a trade for my old straight 6 C280. Since then I have personally replaced the stator, rectifier, air filters, brake pads, hardwired rectifier, clutch springs, pegs, gear shift lever, stator cover, battery, bulbs the whole way around, shocks, air pilot screw n gasket, cleaned the carbs and flushed the tank.. They don't get great MPG. Mine has increased to around 38. I've since removed the backseat, side rail/pass foot peg and backrest. Relocated new rear turn signals filed the burr off the inside of the risers and rolled those horns forward. I've also ditched both stock seats for a springer. Wobbly at times isn't it bro? Great for around town or maybe at most a 20-30 mile run on an interstate. Great pub crawler. A blast on back roads. That 85lbft of torque sure puts ya back in that seat don't it?!?!? Lol I've had mine a year. Put 10k miles on it in 9 months. It's not one to press the envelope in the corner. Yet it started every time on the first try all through winter and got me to and from work. Without fail. Never touched the choke. And as far as that idle on yours, it probably needs a carb synch or service. Mine backfires like a machine gun for the first mile or two. Lol... One of these days I'll either balance them myself or force myself to pay someone to (YUCK!!). Enjoy it while ya got it brother. I'm stuck with mine. Lol It's my first street legal bike.
Thanks for the review, brought back a lot of memories. My dad bought one of these brand new back in 1998 and I have very fond memories of being taken to school in the mornings on the back of my dad's intruder 1400 and being the kid with the cool dad. It was those rides to school that led me to my current love of motorcycles today.
Got my '02 Intruder when it had 4500 miles. I love it. Great cruiser. Good power, comfortable, and super reliable. Get one now while they're plentiful and cheap.
This bike is amazing, I had one of those. Burgundy and cream colors. It's ideal for cruising at highway speed otherwise it will start woobeling. Fun and very reliable, it will never let you down. Only serious problem is that if used in the traffic for too long the clutch Will start to fade to the point will be useless so, Stop the bike, let it cool down for a while and then continue your journey.
1997 Intruder 1400 was my first real bike. Same colors as this one. We opened up the exhaust and put some cajun mojo in the carbs. It really woke up the motor! Could pull the front wheel off the ground in 2nd gear, and smoked EVERY HD it came up against. I pissed off a lot of bikers with that bike! Should have never sold it.
I own a 2001, I would really say its "simplistic" for a motorcycle, in fact the VS1400 can be a very tricky bike to tune and work on, it has 2 completely different carburators, different float settings, different jet sizes and they are seperated by 2 cables both high and low speed cables that you must "sync" properly to get the bike to run right, things are in very tight spaces to get to, its not one the easier bikes to work on, but a great bike nonetheless
I traded my '01 1400 last year on a new Goldwing. I wanted something better suited for long distance trips, otherwise I'd still have it. In 17 years the only money I put into it was for tires, brake pads, and fork seals. Very reliable bike!
I had 2 VS1400's. A 1994 and a 2003. The '94 was a 4 speed. Both were great bikes and I loved riding them. Only problem I had and it was with both of them, the clutch had to be bled every spring. When the weather got down sub-zero, the seals would get hard and let air into the system....both of them did it every spring on first start! Awesome bikes. Well worth a look!
Thank you, sir. I've been losing pressure after a while, usually after getting really hot. Was thinking of replacing the whole system just to be done with it, but I'll just keep bleeding it every so often. This bike hates traffic almost as much as me.
Best bike I ever had. This year I bought a Harley cause I was curious how it was and thought I would sell the Intruder. Boy, was I wrong. After a few weeks of riding the Harley FXDWG I just missed the Intruder. The Intruder crushes the HD in every department = More fun to ride, better performance in acceleration and throttle response, more comfortable to sit on, and way more reliable. 2 times the engine on the HD just shut down. And you have to off and on switch and ignite and it starts again. Dangerous and annoying. bye bye HD, it was fun while it lasted
I got mine about 8 months ago... Love it... It handles good... The brakes are strong on mine so is the motor...always starts no matter how cold it is..
I had a 1989 1400 intruder that was red, that I bought brand new for $3500 dollars. I rode that bike every where and ended up selling it with 65,000 miles and it never missed a beat. Even did a 1000 mile day on it riding from Delaware to Florida. The stock seat did suck however, hard as a brick, but fixed that with a Mustang seat. Miss that bike lot of fond memories.
I drive a 1400 Intruder 4 Speed restricted to 48 HP and the thing still is fast af. I GPS measured my 0-60 time and the best I got was 4.4 seconds with popping the clutch at full throttle and power shifting into 2nd lol
Older bikes rock. I've said in a few messages that I have a '88 Suzuki GSX1100F that has 114,000 km on the odometer, ... at least I was told that when I bought it a few months back. Since the odometer only goes up to 5 digits in kilometers for all I know it could be 214,000. I just know the bike's fun and pulls like a freight train. Styling wise I'd take my old Katana over any of these new bikes today, .. but as they say, "different strokes for different folks". God bless brother and keep up the good videos.
Bought a Blue 1992 Electra Glide Sport this year and I love it. SRK has a video of a red one that made me decide I need to pull the trigger on that bike. Carbureted 90's bikes is where its at
I’ve got a 2001 myself. Wasn’t fond of it in the beginning, but I’ve been putting stuff on it here lately and I’m liking it more and more. Pretty good bike in all honesty
I picked up one of these (2003 with 7000 miles) about the time this vid was made for $5.00 (not a typo . . .ok . . .I bought it from a friend.). Its the first bike I’ve owned in some time. Love it. Looks great. Rides great. Feels great.
Mine's a '95. 1400. 4 speed. One of the best looking production bikes ever. Bought used, removed the windshield, back seat, bar pad/tool box, license plate mount/tail light mount, and set the plate n light up under the back fender. I would move the pegs, shifting lever and brake lever back farther, but it will require so much fabbing, and I haven't found the time yet. Doing a burnout can break the "differential". Mine didn't, but did slip a gear...Bang! Lucky something didn't break. They're a factory built, refined chopper.
analog will still work when for example an EMP bomb goes off, but all that fancy digital stuff will be dead in the water. New bikes will stall yet my '95 Ninja will keep on truckin'. xD
Thanks again Shaun. Lovely looking bike. I’m spending some time, on my 67th birthday (just saying 😁) catching up with all the SRK/BaB videos I’ve not seen yet seen. God Bless. Regards, Bob M. South Wales
I've got a '88 Katana 1100 and from the vehicle history a seller has to provide you in Ontario, Canada I saw I'm the 7th or 8th owner. It's a still a great bike regardless of the high km on it. This bikes going to be 32 years old soon, so it goes to show the quality Suzuki put into these machines.
I've got one of these I bought brand new off the showroom floor back in 2002. It has been a fantastic bike, very little maintenance and up keep needed. A buddy of mine used to own a 2000 model and recently rode mine and commented that they (Suzuki) must have changed the front suspension, because my bike has a much better feel than his did. He said his would sometimes bottom out and when he took it to a dealer to have it looked at, they said there was nothing wrong with it, and had commented that it had something to do with that particular set up. I've talked to some other owners in the past about the torque and power and they have said the same thing I've read on here about the 4 speed having even greater power than mine. I have to tell you, on the lower end the torque will definitely through you back and if your not prepared for it, it will surprise you. I'll admit on the top end it isn't as punchy, but I hit 105mph pretty easily, and I felt as if it could have just kept going. There's plenty of power. As for corning, I really haven't had any problems. I once got into a corner and a little later down the road, my buddy caught up with me and told me he saw sparks. When I pulled over to see what the problem was, I found that I had scrapped a brace on my drag pipes. These are Cruiser Magic II strait pipes not the factory fatties, so that is a pretty tight turn. I also have forward controls, so no scraping of the pegs, but it was close, so when people say they don't corner well, I have to disagree. Once you get comfortable with the feel of these bikes I think they handle very good for a "mid-weight" cruiser. I love this thing, it's fun, comfortable, reliable, and looks good.
Had two of these bikes back in the 90's early 2000's. If you are over 5.9 you will need forward controls. I'm 6.1 and I could rest elbows on my knees while holding handle bars. Front brake is soft, you learn to grab the grips at the end to be able to two finger brake lever. Rejett the carbs and open up the exhaust to make these bikes mean. They like to torque slide when making a sharp turn especially when accelerating from a stop, "shaft driven".
I've got a 98....I had the 04, wrecked it, got the 98. Im so happy with the styling and the look . And, it's THE most dependable bike i've ever owned outside the Vstrom...which is also Suzuki....and no chain to screw with! lol
Rode three suzukis between 1997 and 2017: 97 800, 05 1600, 09 sv650 250k miles total. Xlnt scoots. The 800 and 650 required valve adjustments, but not the 1600 👍. Each reliable and fun. Awesome memories.
I have a 1995 intruder 1400, 4 speed, and while the paint is showing its age, i love the bike. I like the mid mounted factory pegs, especially for in town and the back roads. I also think the hydraulic clutch is way better than cable clutches. The only real thing thats annoying is if you have to do carb work, as the front one is up under the tank and the rear is behind the cylinder. However, it is nice that you can do a lot with minimal tools. I put together a tool kit, still fits in the back rest. It has four box wrenches, a small 1/4" drive ratchet with some sockets, screw driver bits with adapter for the socket, spark plug tool, small needle nose pliers, zip ties, and fuses. As a test, the last time i cleaned the carbs i pulled the seats, tank, side coves, air boxes, carbs, and disassembled the carbs, with just that tool kit.
Had a VS1400 some years ago. Liked it. Loved the motor. Stock suspension wasn’t for a heavy rider and passenger. Brakes could be little better. That bar the foot pegs are mounted to touches down first when you lean too far, and there is NO give in that at all (jarring). I loved the styling, kind of like a Super Glide and Sportster had a baby. Loved the torque. The paint scheme on that particular bike is beautiful. Miss mine just a little.
I have a 2002 800cc I jumped from a ninja 300 to this bike. It scared me shitless the first time I went around a corner and caught on the bar you are talking about.
I bought my 1997 Suzuki Marauder off the showroom floor instead of a big old Intruder. I went in to look at a 1994 Kawasaki LTD 454, and test-rode that bike. The dealer talked me into trying out the Marauder, though, and it was all over. Over the past 24 years, I've done a variety of mods to it, including a Stage 3 upgrade, and every time I have someone telling me to trade it in on something newer with fuel injection, ABS, etc., I just can't do it. The '90s bikes will always be my jam, the Vulcans, the Stars, the Viragos, the Intruders and especially my beloved old Deerslayer (Yes, we hit a deer together, and lived to tell the tale).
My 1997 Suzuki Intruder 1400 is at 57540 miles. It's hard to believe that someone just didn't ride that bike, because you're right this bike was the king of the 90s bikes.
I just bought one of these. Mine is a 2001 in blue and grey with 31000 miles on it. Got it for just under $2k. I really dig it. It’s my first bike...I thought it would be intimidating to ride but it’s quite manageable n it’s the right size for my stature. Mine has bags and a windscreen. I plan to remove the windscreen tho...make the bike looks like a CHP bike lol
I own the nicest custom intruder. Battery is still good after eleven years , l checked the spark plugs the first time after 10 years , they had the perfect color lets say light brown . Oil change is done each two years .l'm completly happy with this bike
i bought a 97 Marauder brand new. im still riding it. engine is modeked after the vs 800. i was able to build a big fat belt drive for it because it had a chain. shaft is the only thing i dislike about the vs. it lifts when u accelerate .i like the other. but engines are bulletproof.
The prez of a club I belonged to had one of these in silver & cream. That thing was a beast. Most of the time he rode quite sedately but when he decided to open it up, no-one could catch him. I tried once & ran out of nerve at 110 mph. My bike was sketchy at that kind of speed but his was rock solid & he could've kept it up all day.
I had one of the first 1400s in England 1987, same bars, lovely bikes. Currently have 2 x 1400s an '84 Honda Shadow VT700 & '86 Honda Shadow VT1100, all look similar with the same exhaust configuration.
I love fully analog and mechanical bikes, no electronic gadgets. They are much more reliable because of it. I ride a 1995 ZX6R Ninja and its fully analog down to the gauges and lovin' it! ^^
A friend of mine had one of those in the mid-90's, and it was a nice bike. The power was very good, plenty of acceleration. I had a Suzuki DR350 at the time, so of course I thought his Intruder was super fast! Lol
It was no slouch in the 90's. I bought mine new in '95. The 4spds are quick.....I've seen the stock bike with good pipes do the 1/4 in the high 12s. Lots of crotch rockets could kill it then, but not other cruisers. I've done long trips with it, but it can be brutal. The bike is a visceral experience, not a loaded-up Softail. Hard twisties and the footpegs will hit the road, try to pivot the bike and give you some moments of 'fun'. Everybody tries to soup it up but the intakes are just too small for more top end. Quick to 90mph though and done a little after 100mph. The Swedes love this bike and have done interesting mods, including enlarging the intake ports, different carbs, etc. But you're staying away from the original bike that way.
Wish I could post a pic. I have a 1988 intruder in MINT condition. Has alot of extra chrome. Leather saddle bags. Original black paint without a scratch or dent. Looks like it just came off the show room floor
andybenjamin81 I had a 1988 750 Intruder, loved that bike. I now have a 95 800 Intruder that I found 3 years ago in a garage with 1860 miles on it. I got it for $500 and it looks brand new. It now has 19,000 miles on it!
andybenjamin81 I will not part with mine, I love that bike. I bought a 98 Honda Valkrye 1500 a couple weeks ago and it has only served to make me appreciate my Intruder even more for the great qualities it has. Light, nimble, quick and a shitload of fun to ride.
andybenjamin81 That’s precisely why I bought the Valkrye, something big enough to take my wife on rides. The Intruder is a bit too small for two people to ride comfortably for any extended period of time. The Valkrye is big and has a great passenger seat and tons of power. We did a 120 mile ride today and she was quite comfortable the whole time. It’s a heavy bike and that’s going to take some time to get used to, but it is a fantastic bike. To my surprise, the Intruder and the Valkrye share neatly the exact same riding possession . So I was right at home immediately on the Valkrye, like it was an old friend. You can find them at a very reasonable prices. I was looking for a Goldwing and happened across the Valkrye, so glad I bought it!
Shawn, big tip, those 1400 came from the factory with a big cork in the air flow hence the very popular term back then for this bike was "uncorking" and done correctly made a HUGE difference in engine performance. From stop light to stop light those things were quick. Yes I owned one and loved it. Another big tip is using a 1" shorter set of rear shocks from Progressive Suspension totatlly transformed the look (for the better). BTW the big Virago was an 1100 not 1400. Yes I owned one of those too.:) Is there a way I can send you a couple pics of those 2 bikes?
@@chuckfalls9827 I'd like to know how to "uncork" my 1400. Never heard that term. But hten again, I've had my 1400 for 7 years and have only seen 1 more 1400 around here. Saw a couple of 800's and that's it. H'ville AL
one of my 1400's put 100,000 miles on it.....trouble free....batteries, oil changes brake pads tires.....I use car tires on rear.....from 8000 miles on metzler to 41,000 miles on car tire.
I started out on the Yamaha virago when I was 16. I've seen the progressions of riders trending away from cruiser bikes to sport bikes, AKA crotch rockets, but I never fell for the trend. And I'm glad to see it finally coming back to authentic motorcycling, Now I ride a 2019 Harley Heritage 114. It is my fourth Harley-Davidson after years of owning Yamahas, Suzukis and Hondas. No matter what bike you ride, if you're a true enthusiast, all roads inevitably lead to a cruiser and the comfort and enjoyment of true motorcycle touring and riding. No cool points are lost on a road that will inevitably lead to the American roots and culture of Harley-Davidson ownership. And no matter what anyone says or rides, Harley-Davidson is the pot of gold everyone wishes to find at the end of the riding rainbow
Ive had one for a few years and sits been faultless with plenty of miles put on it. It looks big but is easy to ride and goes pretty well for the weight. Cruising down the highway I had a drag with a Harley dyna and left it for dirt.
It gives me some serious nostalgia.. both the bike AND the area. I just moved from East Hempfield back in June to come to Arizona.. it's surreal to see you cruising around my old stomping grounds. :) When you turned across from that Turkey Hill I was thinking about the Black Knight Inn and if they still have their outdoor patio open for beer/lunch. :) My brother had one of those 1400's back in the day too..
Let me say as my first bike the 1400 intruder is beautifully elegant. Unexpectedly heavy but surprisingly manageable with some sense and beautiful power. Isn’t gunna win you any land speed records or 0-60 pulls but they’re fun to ride the stock buck horn bars make for an very nimble bike when you learn them for being 600lbs stripped with a full tank but damn are they fun. Doesn’t stop on a dime but will throw you back if you’re light enough I’m 5’10 160lbs and even neglecting the poor thing it runs smooth buzzes like a angry hornet and bites on the throttle like a Crocodile but stops like a yak. Slow turns even after all my riding isn’t fun but you come through a turn with just the right heat and it’s perfect. Neighbors have a 2020 big block Harley and keeps up well I’ll about 85 so not the worst but I enjoy my solo slow tourqy rides. :)
you are wrong, the exhaust system of the two cylinders is not separated, it connects with a pipe in front of the battery box. As for the intruder, it's a great bike, I've been using it for less than 9 years, it's a great piece of good oldschool Japanese technology
I have a Honda Fury & love it. These stile cruisers are so fun. Not bad for short road trips but there not made for long ones. Every one has there liking. For me I,m there right with you my friend.
Decided to watch your review after learning about an old intruder that's coming up at auction here shortly, been sitting for a couple years ..14,000 miles, but looks to be in really great shape.... Anyway, I decided to comment because I totally dig your intro with the Bible verse and all.. nice
'94 Magna here! Got her with 5500 one owner miles for $1500 in May 2020! Garaged and looks brand new. Felt like I stole it. I kept an eye on the rearview the whole way home expecting the police to roll up on me! 🤣
@@nadrojfan The only reason you WEREN'T arrested for stealing that bike is because they just fried up a fresh batch of Krispy Kremes and it was an emergency roll code for that. Lucky you. Love the third gen, I've owned all three including an 88 Super.
I have a 98 Suzuki V1500LC that I use for long rides. Got rid of those crap indicators long ago and just use Bullets now. Great bike. My other bike is a mildly customed 84 FXST 4 speed with a stroked motor. Its my BarHopper :)
What best 80 inline mine Yamaha Maxim 750 1982 paid $900 7000 miles now 48000 only problem ever had replaced jets it my extra bike I have taught many people to ride with this wonderful MOTORCYCLE
I had a 2007 model -pretty much exactly the same but it had flat bars. Talk about a hotrod! Whole lot of engine on not much bike. I considered it quick. I could power slide that thing up out of curves. Fun, fun, fun!
I just came into ownership of one of these as of yesterday. Took it out for a cruise tonight and it was terrific! But brakes are very much non-existent. So I definitely need to do some servicing on them tomorrow. But this video is very helpful in helping me to further get comfortable with the motorcycle. At first I was very much lacking confidence, because I was going from a VS 800 to a VS 1400. -(A fairly big jump. Lol
I bought a 2004 Suzuki 1500LC but looks just like the 1998. I bought it because it was the last year of the carburetor, And I can do anything I want to to the bike.
I cut my teeth on an '87 Indtruder back in the 90's. The Intruder line never changed much from year to year and you could fix them with a hammer like you said (other than syncing the carbs). I'm confident that my old Intruder is probably still out there putting a smile on someones face.
I've been riding a 1995 for the past 15 yrs, the best bike I've ever owned, trouble free, practically indestructible, the most I've spent on it in one go was 300euros for rectifier regulator,it sits in my kitchen as I write this.
How many miles do you have on it?
I was going to ask the same, how many more miles??
Never had that clutch problem?
I have the 2002 Suzuki intruder vs800 with a little over 38,000 miles on it! It’s a reliable and great bike that’s still going strong.
Some thoughts on the VS1400, from someone who owned one. I had a 1994, which is a bit different than this 1997 shown here. Before 1995, the 1400 intruders had more power, and they only had four speeds. My 1994 was ridiculous. Once I put in new clutch springs, (You WILL need new clutch springs, the stock ones are very weak) it would pull the front wheel up like a sportbike. It wouldn't stop or turn like a sportbike, however. Interesting bit of trivia - the cylinders are spaced at 45 degrees, as mentioned in the video, but the crankpins are also spaced at 45 degrees. It's not one pin like a harley, there's two of them. So the bike sounds more like a 90 degree engine.
Lets talk about carburetors, and having to fix it on the side of the road. The 1400 Intruder has two carburetors. One is a down draft, the other is a side draft, and they are nowhere near each other. One is between the cylinders, under the fuel tank, the other one is under the seat. They built the Intruder by hanging the rear carb in midair, and bolting the rest of the bike to it. Trying to get those two carbs to play nice with each other is an exercise in patience.
Not mentioned in the video, is that somewhere along the line at Suzuki, one of the engineers drank a quart of wood alcohol and decided that the best place for the battery is under the swingarm. You can see the box at about 3:42, it's a black metal box in front of the back tire, between the exhaust pipes. You remove it by disconnecting the cables, removing the two 10mm bolts in the bottom of the battery box, and dropping it out of the bottom. Or, more likely, it will just fall out into the road when riding, because the metal around the bolt holes get fatigued, cracks, and the door falls open. When you're riding your intruder, if you hear metal scraping on the ground, STOP.
Lastly, keep an eye on those fuel lines. If they start to leak, they will drip down the left side of the bike (Where the fuel pump is located) and onto the hot exhaust and the battery, and you will get called Ghost Rider at work for showing up on a burning motorcycle. This tends to destroy the ignition box, which like many components on this bike, was just shoved somewhere - in this case on the bottom of the seat. To remove the seat, you open up the compartment shown in the video, and remove the 10mm bolt in the bottom. Then you have to unplug the ignition box, because it's literally bolted to the bottom of the seat.
I rode mine for years. I had to tinker with it about once a month to get it to stay running (Mostly the carburetors, they wouldn't stay adjusted) but when it was running, it was a vastly entertaining bike to ride. Guys on 1200 sportsters hated it, because there was no contest. They'd get blown away by a 20 year old Suzuki.
Oddman1980 man you’re so spot on....... had mine for a while now.
Haha, you are absolutely right! I've had my -87 Intruder for 4 years now and it's such a low maintenance bike. Mine is customized to look more like a bobber, looks way better than original. It has shorter rear springs, wide & straight handlebar, straight pipes, wider fuel tank and a custom seat without sissybar. The battery is a real nuisance to replace, especially with the lower rear suspension. I ended up rebuilding the whole "cradle" where it lies just to avoid the battery falling under my rear wheel mid-ride. :D
Great info thanks for posting
I also had an Intruder, the smaller 700cc version. Purchased it new in 1988. I think it was like $3200 before financing ect. Rode that bike everyday for 2 1/2 years till it was paid off. I sold it shortly after to buy a bigger bike. Only thing I ever did was change the oil and plugs. Never gave me one problem. Great bike. I currently ride a CVO Road King but still have fond memories of that long gone Suzuki.
I also had the 700 intruder, i think it was an '86 which i bought in '90 with 2000 miles on it - in So Cal. Perfect shape. Anyway rode it to college thru downtown LA traffic, plenty of other places and never a problem. Put a good 20,000 miles on it over 4 yrs or so. Easy to maneuver, easy parking, good looking, the whole shebang. Sold it at decent price in the end. Good times.
I've literally just bought an '87. Picking it up tomorrow 👍
@@ttxela Thats awesome. Enjoy !
Had a 1400 Intruder some years ago (a 5 speed). That engine is a torque monster that is bullet proof. It had the flat drag bars on it. I loved that bike.
Yea,,the first 1400s were 4 speed transmission. 60 hp is plenty on a light bike..
@@michaeljoesmith3977 not to mention that 85ftlbs of torque... 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I could not care less about horsepower. It's torque that you use on the street. Many of the torque est bikes have lower horsepower, such as Harley big twins. That's what makes them so fun to ride.
No lie, I have a 2006 s83 and man I never knew it only had so much hp. This thing feels so torquie. Love and sittin at 58k miles
I absolutely love the cruiser style of this era- fat rear, skinny front, stepped seats with backrest, bobbed/ ducktail rear fender, forward controls and buckhorn/ mini ape hangers.
That is the second bike I owned, except for the forward controls! Got so many comments on the color scheme. One day on run with Bikers Against Child Abuse, somebody asked the youngster which bike he’d pick to own. He picked my ‘97 Intruder, “It’s a classic!” . I paid $2,000 for mine and the guy next to me had just spent ten times that on his Harley’s custom flame paint and chrome. It was truly a great bike. Sold it to help out my daughter when she got married. No regrets, until today (sorta).😉
I sincerely enjoy your videos, but seeing this caught me off guard in a nostalgic groovy way. Be Blest!
The good news is, decent ones still go for 2 grand. So there's still hope for ya. 😎👍
I have a 87 and 91 1400 intruder. The 4 speeds. I love them they never break down. I took my 87 across Canada the other summer it was awesome. Minus the tiny gas tank.
Life of Curtis lol I feel you on the tank, and I have the late model.
my 1987 - over 91000 miles; NEVER been in the engine, just a couple of stators over the years, a clutch pack and a set swingarm bearings. 74 HP off the showroom. - I think from 97 forward- Suzuki went 5 speed and about 61 hp. The drop in HP I'm sure was EPA related.
@@lynskyrd Yea they say the re tune was for increased fuel economy on the highway. But my 87 has more jam than my, 91. Definitely bullet proof bikes though.
I actually just bought my first bike just a month ago, and it's the 99 Suzuki Intruder 1400. An AMAZING bike. I've have literally never rode a bike before and I can comfortably ride it.
Of course still getting used to it for only having it a month, buts she's awesome. Very comfortable.
Nathaniel Collins I’m a beginner rider (rode dirt bikes if that counts for anything) and I’m looking at an Intruder 1400 as my first bike. Seeing you as someone with a similar situation, I’d like to ask if the bike is a good fit and if it’s an acceptable “first bike.” Thanks!
@@buckeye392 honestly, I would say yes. I myself never rode anything, even dirt bikes, so I was starting from scratch. They are a little on the heavy side, upwards of 560lbs, but very comfortable.
It took me a few to get used to the weight, especially at lower speeds, but after riding for a few more weeks and getting more road time in, the weight doesn't bother me. You'll notice she'll want to hold herself up very easily.
I went with the bigger bike, because she would be an everyday driver of mine, and plan on eventually doing some traveling on it.
I don't know if it's the PERFECT beginner bike, as I'm biased on the Intruder, but I would say she has been a very acceptable first bike for myself, and would definitely recommend them for other riders.
Nathaniel Collins Sounds good. Thanks for the input and the fast response, as it surely helps me in my decision. Glad you enjoy yours and it sounds right for me so I’ll see if I can get my hands on one!
Nice man!
After years of MX i got my license and searching a bike to built a kind of bobber style bike to match my mustang
(pretty rare in the netherlands)
Hows the power of the 1400?
They are decent bikes for 80s-90s muscle. The 1400 was 20cc bigger than Harley's biggest at the time (1360cc 1340cc.)
You're right. They are relatively easy to work on. I was "blessed enough" to get one in a trade for my old straight 6 C280.
Since then I have personally replaced the stator, rectifier, air filters, brake pads, hardwired rectifier, clutch springs, pegs, gear shift lever, stator cover, battery, bulbs the whole way around, shocks, air pilot screw n gasket, cleaned the carbs and flushed the tank..
They don't get great MPG. Mine has increased to around 38. I've since removed the backseat, side rail/pass foot peg and backrest. Relocated new rear turn signals filed the burr off the inside of the risers and rolled those horns forward. I've also ditched both stock seats for a springer.
Wobbly at times isn't it bro? Great for around town or maybe at most a 20-30 mile run on an interstate. Great pub crawler. A blast on back roads. That 85lbft of torque sure puts ya back in that seat don't it?!?!? Lol
I've had mine a year. Put 10k miles on it in 9 months. It's not one to press the envelope in the corner. Yet it started every time on the first try all through winter and got me to and from work. Without fail. Never touched the choke.
And as far as that idle on yours, it probably needs a carb synch or service. Mine backfires like a machine gun for the first mile or two. Lol... One of these days I'll either balance them myself or force myself to pay someone to (YUCK!!).
Enjoy it while ya got it brother. I'm stuck with mine. Lol
It's my first street legal bike.
I doubt if you have yours dialed in correctly....they easily give 42-45mpg on the hwy. The carbs have to be synced exactly like the FSM tells you to.
Thanks for the review, brought back a lot of memories. My dad bought one of these brand new back in 1998 and I have very fond memories of being taken to school in the mornings on the back of my dad's intruder 1400 and being the kid with the cool dad. It was those rides to school that led me to my current love of motorcycles today.
Got my '02 Intruder when it had 4500 miles. I love it. Great cruiser. Good power, comfortable, and super reliable. Get one now while they're plentiful and cheap.
This bike is amazing, I had one of those. Burgundy and cream colors. It's ideal for cruising at highway speed otherwise it will start woobeling. Fun and very reliable, it will never let you down. Only serious problem is that if used in the traffic for too long the clutch Will start to fade to the point will be useless so, Stop the bike, let it cool down for a while and then continue your journey.
Love the Intruders. The 1400 was the largest produced V-Twin when it was introduced in 1985.
introduced the 1400 in 1987 actually
I had one years ago and all of my Harley friends racing me doing 4th gear roll on at 50 and I killed them every time. Awesome trouble free bike.
That's like saying my lion ate your baby pig. Not much of an accomplishment... But if you like it then good.
1997 Intruder 1400 was my first real bike. Same colors as this one. We opened up the exhaust and put some cajun mojo in the carbs. It really woke up the motor! Could pull the front wheel off the ground in 2nd gear, and smoked EVERY HD it came up against. I pissed off a lot of bikers with that bike! Should have never sold it.
Have a ‘92 and love it. Still running strong
ME TOO HAVE 92 1400 BEAST RUNS STRONG AND SMOOTH, A REAL THRILL....JON
I love my Suzuki s83 😍
My 0-60 is closer to 3½ to 4 seconds. And my bike is pushing closer to 70 HP. I learned to ride on my 06 s83😎
I own a 2001, I would really say its "simplistic" for a motorcycle, in fact the VS1400 can be a very tricky bike to tune and work on, it has 2 completely different carburators, different float settings, different jet sizes and they are seperated by 2 cables both high and low speed cables that you must "sync" properly to get the bike to run right, things are in very tight spaces to get to, its not one the easier bikes to work on, but a great bike nonetheless
I traded my '01 1400 last year on a new Goldwing. I wanted something better suited for long distance trips, otherwise I'd still have it. In 17 years the only money I put into it was for tires, brake pads, and fork seals. Very reliable bike!
I had 2 VS1400's. A 1994 and a 2003. The '94 was a 4 speed. Both were great bikes and I loved riding them. Only problem I had and it was with both of them, the clutch had to be bled every spring. When the weather got down sub-zero, the seals would get hard and let air into the system....both of them did it every spring on first start! Awesome bikes. Well worth a look!
Thank you, sir. I've been losing pressure after a while, usually after getting really hot. Was thinking of replacing the whole system just to be done with it, but I'll just keep bleeding it every so often. This bike hates traffic almost as much as me.
Best bike I ever had. This year I bought a Harley cause I was curious how it was and thought I would sell the Intruder.
Boy, was I wrong. After a few weeks of riding the Harley FXDWG I just missed the Intruder. The Intruder crushes the HD in every department =
More fun to ride, better performance in acceleration and throttle response, more comfortable to sit on, and way more reliable. 2 times the engine on the HD just shut down.
And you have to off and on switch and ignite and it starts again. Dangerous and annoying. bye bye HD, it was fun while it lasted
I got mine about 8 months ago... Love it... It handles good... The brakes are strong on mine so is the motor...always starts no matter how cold it is..
I had a 1989 1400 intruder that was red, that I bought brand new for $3500 dollars. I rode that bike every where and ended up selling it with 65,000 miles and it never missed a beat. Even did a 1000 mile day on it riding from Delaware to Florida. The stock seat did suck however, hard as a brick, but fixed that with a Mustang seat. Miss that bike lot of fond memories.
I drive a 1400 Intruder 4 Speed restricted to 48 HP and the thing still is fast af. I GPS measured my 0-60 time and the best I got was 4.4 seconds with popping the clutch at full throttle and power shifting into 2nd lol
Older bikes rock. I've said in a few messages that I have a '88 Suzuki GSX1100F that has 114,000 km on the odometer, ... at least I was told that when I bought it a few months back. Since the odometer only goes up to 5 digits in kilometers for all I know it could be 214,000. I just know the bike's fun and pulls like a freight train.
Styling wise I'd take my old Katana over any of these new bikes today, .. but as they say, "different strokes for different folks".
God bless brother and keep up the good videos.
Bought a Blue 1992 Electra Glide Sport this year and I love it. SRK has a video of a red one that made me decide I need to pull the trigger on that bike. Carbureted 90's bikes is where its at
I’ve got a 2001 myself. Wasn’t fond of it in the beginning, but I’ve been putting stuff on it here lately and I’m liking it more and more. Pretty good bike in all honesty
I picked up one of these (2003 with 7000 miles) about the time this vid was made for $5.00 (not a typo . . .ok . . .I bought it from a friend.). Its the first bike I’ve owned in some time. Love it. Looks great. Rides great. Feels great.
Mine's a '95. 1400. 4 speed. One of the best looking production bikes ever. Bought used, removed the windshield, back seat,
bar pad/tool box, license plate mount/tail light mount, and set the plate n light up under the back fender. I would move the pegs, shifting lever and brake lever back farther, but it will require so much fabbing, and I haven't found the time yet.
Doing a burnout can break the "differential". Mine didn't, but did slip a gear...Bang! Lucky something didn't break. They're a factory built, refined chopper.
Riding for decades and my current 2001 VS800GL Intruder is my favorite.
Excellent bike
There is something to be said about analog anything in a digital age.
analog will still work when for example an EMP bomb goes off, but all that fancy digital stuff will be dead in the water. New bikes will stall yet my '95 Ninja will keep on truckin'. xD
@@ItsShane79 ah the ninja of the 90's ... they had a magic about them in those years, they still are my favorite to this day, the 600 in particular
@@ItsShane79 you're a moron. your 95 ninja has a CDI, it is not emp resistant.
@@DieselRamcharger this... you need to to back to the early 80s or late 70s to get a bike that doesn't have a computer in it
f digital speedometers.
Buddy I have 1992 intruder 800 first edition direct drive and i love it so much .every time its a eye catcher . Great bikes
Thanks again Shaun. Lovely looking bike. I’m spending some time, on my 67th birthday (just saying 😁) catching up with all the SRK/BaB videos I’ve not seen yet seen. God Bless. Regards, Bob M. South Wales
You are wrong about them not being fast, they most certainly are.
Great bikes. Mine had the buckhorns but swapped to drag bars, made the handling far better
I have a 1982 Suzuki gs 1100 gl and a 1997 Suzuki bandit 1200s with abs LOVE THEM BOTH !
I've got a '88 Katana 1100 and from the vehicle history a seller has to provide you in Ontario, Canada I saw I'm the 7th or 8th owner. It's a still a great bike regardless of the high km on it. This bikes going to be 32 years old soon, so it goes to show the quality Suzuki put into these machines.
I have been riding my 92 800 for almost a year and I absolutely love it. Its my favorite bike.
bro you are the reason why i bought intruder 1400 1996.. tnx for that 🤘
this was when suzuki really made their mark in the v twin cruiser scene.
I've got one of these I bought brand new off the showroom floor back in 2002. It has been a fantastic bike, very little maintenance and up keep needed. A buddy of mine used to own a 2000 model and recently rode mine and commented that they (Suzuki) must have changed the front suspension, because my bike has a much better feel than his did. He said his would sometimes bottom out and when he took it to a dealer to have it looked at, they said there was nothing wrong with it, and had commented that it had something to do with that particular set up.
I've talked to some other owners in the past about the torque and power and they have said the same thing I've read on here about the 4 speed having even greater power than mine. I have to tell you, on the lower end the torque will definitely through you back and if your not prepared for it, it will surprise you. I'll admit on the top end it isn't as punchy, but I hit 105mph pretty easily, and I felt as if it could have just kept going. There's plenty of power. As for corning, I really haven't had any problems. I once got into a corner and a little later down the road, my buddy caught up with me and told me he saw sparks. When I pulled over to see what the problem was, I found that I had scrapped a brace on my drag pipes. These are Cruiser Magic II strait pipes not the factory fatties, so that is a pretty tight turn. I also have forward controls, so no scraping of the pegs, but it was close, so when people say they don't corner well, I have to disagree. Once you get comfortable with the feel of these bikes I think they handle very good for a "mid-weight" cruiser. I love this thing, it's fun, comfortable, reliable, and looks good.
Had two of these bikes back in the 90's early 2000's. If you are over 5.9 you will need forward controls. I'm 6.1 and I could rest elbows on my knees while holding handle bars. Front brake is soft, you learn to grab the grips at the end to be able to two finger brake lever. Rejett the carbs and open up the exhaust to make these bikes mean. They like to torque slide when making a sharp turn especially when accelerating from a stop, "shaft driven".
My first 2 bikes were vs800gl (intruder). Loved them
I've got a 98....I had the 04, wrecked it, got the 98. Im so happy with the styling and the look . And, it's THE most dependable bike i've ever owned outside the Vstrom...which is also Suzuki....and no chain to screw with! lol
Rode three suzukis between 1997 and 2017: 97 800, 05 1600, 09 sv650
250k miles total. Xlnt scoots. The 800 and 650 required valve adjustments, but not the 1600 👍. Each reliable and fun. Awesome memories.
I have a 1995 intruder 1400, 4 speed, and while the paint is showing its age, i love the bike. I like the mid mounted factory pegs, especially for in town and the back roads. I also think the hydraulic clutch is way better than cable clutches. The only real thing thats annoying is if you have to do carb work, as the front one is up under the tank and the rear is behind the cylinder. However, it is nice that you can do a lot with minimal tools. I put together a tool kit, still fits in the back rest. It has four box wrenches, a small 1/4" drive ratchet with some sockets, screw driver bits with adapter for the socket, spark plug tool, small needle nose pliers, zip ties, and fuses. As a test, the last time i cleaned the carbs i pulled the seats, tank, side coves, air boxes, carbs, and disassembled the carbs, with just that tool kit.
And the front air filter under the tank, awkward but a great bike, I have the same.
Had a VS1400 some years ago. Liked it. Loved the motor. Stock suspension wasn’t for a heavy rider and passenger. Brakes could be little better. That bar the foot pegs are mounted to touches down first when you lean too far, and there is NO give in that at all (jarring). I loved the styling, kind of like a Super Glide and Sportster had a baby. Loved the torque. The paint scheme on that particular bike is beautiful. Miss mine just a little.
I have a 2002 800cc I jumped from a ninja 300 to this bike. It scared me shitless the first time I went around a corner and caught on the bar you are talking about.
Love this! I have an 800... and honestly, I haven't hear of much difference between the two!!!
Yours is water cooled and half the displacement. The 1400 is oil/air cooled
@@seanbutler2291 I had an 800 for years and loved it, but always liked the look of the 1400s much better due to there being no radiator.
I bought my 1997 Suzuki Marauder off the showroom floor instead of a big old Intruder. I went in to look at a 1994 Kawasaki LTD 454, and test-rode that bike. The dealer talked me into trying out the Marauder, though, and it was all over. Over the past 24 years, I've done a variety of mods to it, including a Stage 3 upgrade, and every time I have someone telling me to trade it in on something newer with fuel injection, ABS, etc., I just can't do it. The '90s bikes will always be my jam, the Vulcans, the Stars, the Viragos, the Intruders and especially my beloved old Deerslayer (Yes, we hit a deer together, and lived to tell the tale).
My 1997 Suzuki Intruder 1400 is at 57540 miles. It's hard to believe that someone just didn't ride that bike, because you're right this bike was the king of the 90s bikes.
I just bought one of these. Mine is a 2001 in blue and grey with 31000 miles on it. Got it for just under $2k. I really dig it. It’s my first bike...I thought it would be intimidating to ride but it’s quite manageable n it’s the right size for my stature. Mine has bags and a windscreen. I plan to remove the windscreen tho...make the bike looks like a CHP bike lol
I own the nicest custom intruder. Battery is still good after eleven years , l checked the spark plugs the first time after 10 years , they had the perfect color lets say light brown . Oil change is done each two years .l'm completly happy with this bike
i bought a 97 Marauder brand new. im still riding it. engine is modeked after the vs 800. i was able to build a big fat belt drive for it because it had a chain. shaft is the only thing i dislike about the vs. it lifts when u accelerate .i like the other. but engines are bulletproof.
The prez of a club I belonged to had one of these in silver & cream. That thing was a beast. Most of the time he rode quite sedately but when he decided to open it up, no-one could catch him. I tried once & ran out of nerve at 110 mph. My bike was sketchy at that kind of speed but his was rock solid & he could've kept it up all day.
My buddy had one until a couple years ago. Got stolen. He loved it for riding route 6 northern PA.
I had one of the first 1400s in England 1987, same bars, lovely bikes. Currently have 2 x 1400s an '84 Honda Shadow VT700 & '86 Honda Shadow VT1100, all look similar with the same exhaust configuration.
counting down the days before I finely get a bike. it's been 3 year.and i will buy it from you
I love fully analog and mechanical bikes, no electronic gadgets. They are much more reliable because of it. I ride a 1995 ZX6R Ninja and its fully analog down to the gauges and lovin' it! ^^
I gotta '94 Suzuki Intruder 1400 & I luv him💪😀✌️
I own two motorcycles, a 95 Suzuki Intruder VS800 and a 98 Honda Valkrye 1500. Love the 90’s bikes. Both my bikes have buckhorn handlebars by the way.
A friend of mine had one of those in the mid-90's, and it was a nice bike. The power was very good, plenty of acceleration. I had a Suzuki DR350 at the time, so of course I thought his Intruder was super fast! Lol
It was no slouch in the 90's. I bought mine new in '95. The 4spds are quick.....I've seen the stock bike with good pipes do the 1/4 in the high 12s. Lots of crotch rockets could kill it then, but not other cruisers. I've done long trips with it, but it can be brutal. The bike is a visceral experience, not a loaded-up Softail. Hard twisties and the footpegs will hit the road, try to pivot the bike and give you some moments of 'fun'.
Everybody tries to soup it up but the intakes are just too small for more top end. Quick to 90mph though and done a little after 100mph. The Swedes love this bike and have done interesting mods, including enlarging the intake ports, different carbs, etc. But you're staying away from the original bike that way.
Wish I could post a pic. I have a 1988 intruder in MINT condition. Has alot of extra chrome. Leather saddle bags. Original black paint without a scratch or dent. Looks like it just came off the show room floor
andybenjamin81 I had a 1988 750 Intruder, loved that bike. I now have a 95 800 Intruder that I found 3 years ago in a garage with 1860 miles on it. I got it for $500 and it looks brand new. It now has 19,000 miles on it!
@@afterburner2869 that's bad ass!! I dont think I could part with mine
andybenjamin81 I will not part with mine, I love that bike. I bought a 98 Honda Valkrye 1500 a couple weeks ago and it has only served to make me appreciate my Intruder even more for the great qualities it has. Light, nimble, quick and a shitload of fun to ride.
I'm actually looking to get a valkyrie for me and the wife. She thinks the intruder is not very comfortable
andybenjamin81 That’s precisely why I bought the Valkrye, something big enough to take my wife on rides. The Intruder is a bit too small for two people to ride comfortably for any extended period of time. The Valkrye is big and has a great passenger seat and tons of power. We did a 120 mile ride today and she was quite comfortable the whole time. It’s a heavy bike and that’s going to take some time to get used to, but it is a fantastic bike. To my surprise, the Intruder and the Valkrye share neatly the exact same riding possession . So I was right at home immediately on the Valkrye, like it was an old friend. You can find them at a very reasonable prices. I was looking for a Goldwing and happened across the Valkrye, so glad I bought it!
Shawn, big tip, those 1400 came from the factory with a big cork in the air flow hence the very popular term back then for this bike was "uncorking" and done correctly made a HUGE difference in engine performance. From stop light to stop light those things were quick. Yes I owned one and loved it. Another big tip is using a 1" shorter set of rear shocks from Progressive Suspension totatlly transformed the look (for the better). BTW the big Virago was an 1100 not 1400. Yes I owned one of those too.:) Is there a way I can send you a couple pics of those 2 bikes?
I, too, "uncorked" a 1400. It was just a different bike afterwards. Night & day difference.
@@chuckfalls9827 I've just bought a '94 1400 intruder, what is uncorking and how does one go about it ?
@@chuckfalls9827 How did you specifically uncork the 1400, jetting, free flow air filters?
@@chuckfalls9827 I'd like to know how to "uncork" my 1400. Never heard that term. But hten again, I've had my 1400 for 7 years and have only seen 1 more 1400 around here. Saw a couple of 800's and that's it. H'ville AL
Can you explain about what and how to “uncork” the Airflow?
one of my 1400's put 100,000 miles on it.....trouble free....batteries, oil changes brake pads tires.....I use car tires on rear.....from 8000 miles on metzler to 41,000 miles on car tire.
My dad had a intruder 1400 and it wasn’t the fastest but I had so many memories… really nice bikes
I started out on the Yamaha virago when I was 16. I've seen the progressions of riders trending away from cruiser bikes to sport bikes, AKA crotch rockets, but I never fell for the trend. And I'm glad to see it finally coming back to authentic motorcycling,
Now I ride a 2019 Harley Heritage 114. It is my fourth Harley-Davidson after years of owning Yamahas, Suzukis and Hondas.
No matter what bike you ride, if you're a true enthusiast, all roads inevitably lead to a cruiser and the comfort and enjoyment of true motorcycle touring and riding.
No cool points are lost on a road that will inevitably lead to the American roots and culture of Harley-Davidson ownership.
And no matter what anyone says or rides, Harley-Davidson is the pot of gold everyone wishes to find at the end of the riding rainbow
Scott lol ok pal
Ive had one for a few years and sits been faultless with plenty of miles put on it. It looks big but is easy to ride and goes pretty well for the weight. Cruising down the highway I had a drag with a Harley dyna and left it for dirt.
I have a 2001 1400 intruder and i love it.
I had an 800 and a 1500. The 800 was quick and nimble the 1500 was a highway hog. Both fun in different ways. Rode the 1500 all over the lower states.
Easy to work on until you need to service the carbs.
It gives me some serious nostalgia.. both the bike AND the area. I just moved from East Hempfield back in June to come to Arizona.. it's surreal to see you cruising around my old stomping grounds. :) When you turned across from that Turkey Hill I was thinking about the Black Knight Inn and if they still have their outdoor patio open for beer/lunch. :) My brother had one of those 1400's back in the day too..
Let me say as my first bike the 1400 intruder is beautifully elegant. Unexpectedly heavy but surprisingly manageable with some sense and beautiful power. Isn’t gunna win you any land speed records or 0-60 pulls but they’re fun to ride the stock buck horn bars make for an very nimble bike when you learn them for being 600lbs stripped with a full tank but damn are they fun. Doesn’t stop on a dime but will throw you back if you’re light enough I’m 5’10 160lbs and even neglecting the poor thing it runs smooth buzzes like a angry hornet and bites on the throttle like a Crocodile but stops like a yak. Slow turns even after all my riding isn’t fun but you come through a turn with just the right heat and it’s perfect. Neighbors have a 2020 big block Harley and keeps up well I’ll about 85 so not the worst but I enjoy my solo slow tourqy rides. :)
you are wrong, the exhaust system of the two cylinders is not separated, it connects with a pipe in front of the battery box. As for the intruder, it's a great bike, I've been using it for less than 9 years, it's a great piece of good oldschool Japanese technology
First bike I ever road on was my uncles 800 intruder, I thought the 1400 was a beast!
I have a Honda Fury & love it. These stile cruisers are so fun. Not bad for short road trips but there not made for long ones. Every one has there liking. For me I,m there right with you my friend.
Yamaha had their versions of this bike. I liked the look of the Suzuki engine better.
Decided to watch your review after learning about an old intruder that's coming up at auction here shortly, been sitting for a couple years ..14,000 miles, but looks to be in really great shape.... Anyway, I decided to comment because I totally dig your intro with the Bible verse and all.. nice
If I remember correctly, it was called the Schwarzenegger of motorcycles in the day.
I passed because it was pretty small as I’m not a small man.
Great looking bike! I'll just keep rolling on my 96 V4 Magna baby!
Amen. Just got my 02 ( but it's truly identical) I adore it.
'94 Magna here! Got her with 5500 one owner miles for $1500 in May 2020! Garaged and looks brand new. Felt like I stole it. I kept an eye on the rearview the whole way home expecting the police to roll up on me! 🤣
@@nadrojfan The only reason you WEREN'T arrested for stealing that bike is because they just fried up a fresh batch of Krispy Kremes and it was an emergency roll code for that. Lucky you. Love the third gen, I've owned all three including an 88 Super.
Being from the 80s when I think of a motorcycle my mind pictures these bikes
I own a 1996 , 4 speed . I've put many miles on it , shes treated me good
I have a 98 Suzuki V1500LC that I use for long rides. Got rid of those crap indicators long ago and just use Bullets now. Great bike. My other bike is a mildly customed 84 FXST 4 speed with a stroked motor. Its my BarHopper :)
Got the Intruder vs800 with Apehangers. Nice, really nice bike imo!
I used to drool when these were brand new, they were so easy to handle for their weight!
What best 80 inline mine Yamaha Maxim 750 1982 paid $900 7000 miles now 48000 only problem ever had replaced jets it my extra bike I have taught many people to ride with this wonderful MOTORCYCLE
I had a 2007 model -pretty much exactly the same but it had flat bars. Talk about a hotrod! Whole lot of engine on not much bike. I considered it quick. I could power slide that thing up out of curves. Fun, fun, fun!
I just came into ownership of one of these as of yesterday. Took it out for a cruise tonight and it was terrific! But brakes are very much non-existent. So I definitely need to do some servicing on them tomorrow. But this video is very helpful in helping me to further get comfortable with the motorcycle. At first I was very much lacking confidence, because I was going from a VS 800 to a VS 1400. -(A fairly big jump. Lol
I know I'm super late. I just bought a 2003 intruder 1400. I love it
I pull 86 HP with my own home build straight pipes, air box mods, and nonethenol fuel.......great ride.
Thank you for this video, this is my dream bike
Edit: its 2023 and I now have a 1996!
I bought a 2004 Suzuki 1500LC but looks just like the 1998. I bought it because it was the last year of the carburetor, And I can do anything I want to to the bike.
I have a 94 4sp and a 02 5speed love the 1400s, changed my handle bars and exhaust on the 02 trying to bob out my 94
I strongly prefer the older bikes. I have a 1982 suzuki gs300l and a 1986 honda nighthawk 450. They needed work, but they ride really good now.
I just bought a 93 vs1400 for 500 cleaned the tank and carbs fired right up
I owned an 800 a 1400 intruder and a boulevard s83. Which is the 1400 intruder basically.. Great bikes.
Just picked up a 1999 suzuki intruder vs800! Love it!
I cut my teeth on an '87 Indtruder back in the 90's. The Intruder line never changed much from year to year and you could fix them with a hammer like you said (other than syncing the carbs). I'm confident that my old Intruder is probably still out there putting a smile on someones face.
I know my ex is!
I just bought a 1997 Honda shadow 1100 American special edition 2 thousand dollars setting in my dining room love it
I dont know dude but i legit like watch your intro 4-5 times....its just simply awesome.....😂