1985 Suzuki Madura 1200

Howdy folks,

I just saw a listing for a 1985 Suzuki Madura 1200 on craigslist. The person is asking $2400. According to KBB that is about 800 to high.

Does anyone here have experience with this bike? I am looking for my first bike and may be able to sell our scooter to pay for it.

Thanks,

Jim

check NADA I have found KBB is all ways high

I tried looking on NADA for a price but it will not go back to 1985. Also I was looking more for information about the MC itself.

Another question, how did the links show up at the bottom of my post?

Jim

http://www.nadaguides.com/default.as...=AM&gtc=MC

U have to go to antique bikes and there was no link on your first post. Print that out and ask the sell what condition he thinks it is in I did that and got a 1990 750 katana for 1000 because it was sitting a year and was scraped up on one side they were asking 1600.

Thanks chuckyj95.

The links that show up when I look up my post are google ads. It is the first time that I have seen this.

I did not know about the antiques section on the NADA site, thanks for the info it will be a great help.

Jim

Afternoon TCMJim,

Probably not much help but I certainly do remember the Suzuki Madura 1200 when it first came out, as I was definitely interested at that time.





What specifically caught my attention was it was probably among the (?) first DOHC bikes out there to include automatic Hydraulic Valve Lash adjustment, rather then the more common use of Inverted Bucket Shims (ugh!) or Rocker Arm Adjustment Screws. This bike also had these very unusual 'flat-style' spokes on the wheels / rims - don't know if anyone else (?) ever did?!

Personally I liked the bike, but the market sure didn't so off it went. Too bad. Never the less I wouldn't be too inclined to pay an arm and a leg for one if found, because I just don't think they're that highly valued at this point in time (decent bike or not). I would recommend intensive negotiations on any one you might have your eye on. Nuff' said?! ;-)

LRG





Let’s Help Those Who Truly Can’t Help Themselves: Save a LIFE by making a donation to the STURGIS ANIMAL SHELTER at http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SD02.html Your Karma will thank you and so will the Critters! http://www.motorcycleforum.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

LowRiderGhost,

Thanks for the info. Sounds as though it was a good bike. I will have to see why the market did not support the bike. It looks like a nice machine.

It may be a little more than I can get right now but I hope to start working in a new clinic next month and have a few more things I can sell. I am hoping to purchase a bike in the next few months.

Do you remember hearing of any problems with this bike?

Thanks,

Jim

Hey Jim,

Again, just don't remember hearing any problems on the bike what so ever. It was as I understand it a styling issue... people just didn't take to it?! I dunno, looks okay to me, though admittedly it sure looks awfully close to the Honda Magna’s styling at the time?! But everyone loved the Magna series but not this one?! Go figure….? I'll guess and say the rear end styling probably put people off? Ironic that these days I add a Secondary Brake Light to any bike I own, right where the Madura had it. It may look stupid, but it sure helps keep the morons off my kiester!

Of course Spokes are all the rage again in the past few years (me, I hate em’ – adjusting em’, dealing with tubes and rim bands, etc.!) or least ways on Cruisers?! But I’m thinking back then Cast Alloy Wheels were considered In Vogue, but of course Suzuki went with Flat-Styled Spokes on this ride. Strange?! Though Suzuki dropped the Madura I’m pretty sure they hung onto the engine and just revived it for they’re later Cavalcade series?!

All I can say is I had very good luck with the couple past Suzuki’s I owned, and the company (like most Japanese companies at least) was very easy to deal with. My guess since Suzuki is (?) more or less #4 (of the Big Four) they tend to go for Sensationalism when they come out with a new Bike initially, then they tend to tone it down later IF it survives?! Certainly such was the case with ‘Juke-boxed-Styled’ 1973 GT750 and later ‘Spaceship-Styled’ RE5 Single-Rotary Engines they came out with. ;-)

LRG





Let’s Help Those Who Truly Can’t Help Themselves: Save a LIFE by making a donation to the STURGIS ANIMAL SHELTER at http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SD02.html Your Karma will thank you and so will the Critters! http://www.motorcycleforum.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

If the bike is in excellent condition and low mileage, it will probably keep its value and be worth that much. They've always had a reputation for being excellent bikes. He might be one of those guys who got a wild hair and thought he would like riding, but then got frightened and parked it after a few rides. Forget NADA and check the bike out before you rule it out. It might be well worth the money.

Howdy Folks,

Thanks for all of your responces and advice. Unfortunately the listing was removed from craigslist. I was really hoping to get a look at it. Oh, well. Back to the search.

Thanks again.

Jim