Reliability, maintenance/upkeep costs?

Howdy Folks,

I am placing this post in each of the brand specific forums in order to hopefully reach more people within the microcosm of brand specific riders.

My current bike was purchased as a learner bike. It meets my needs well with the exception of highway cruising ability. If things go as planned, I intend to purchase a cruiser more suited to my overall needs sometime next year. As I will need to keep the overall cost of ownership as low as possible, my concern is for reliability, maintenance frequency, and the cost of upkeep. I have been told that I will need a bike with an engine displacement of at least 1300 cc; I would like the ability to pull a trailer/camper over long distances without overly taxing the engine.

Of the Suzuki(s) you folks own what issues have you had with reliability etc. that I should take into account when choosing my next bike?

Thanks in advance.

Jim

I ride an '03 Intruder 1500lc.
Reliability - fantastic
Maintenance - No Problems
Upkeep costs - Ok...let's discuss this one!

I'm going to have to throw in a lot of stuff under this category.
Tires - Suzuki puts on big tires. My Intruder has a 150 wide front tire and a 180 wide back tire. To give you a comparison...Harley's Ultra Classic uses a 150 for the rear tire! My tires, front and rear, had to be replaced with about 12K on them. The front tire had plenty of tread left but there were grooves worn on both sides of the center of the tire.
Fuel mileage - New models ( which are now called Boulevards) have fuel injection. Mine is carbed. Babying mine I'll get 36-38 mpg in town and 40 to 42 on the road traveling below 60 mph. Over 60 mph fuel mileage drops to 34-36
Keep in mind that a 1400 or 1500 is a big bike and weighs a LOT! Mine is just shy of 800 pounds wet.
Oils, filters, and virtually any accessories you'd want are readily available.

If you'd like to PM me, I can help with information about Suzuki Club contacts in your area.
CD

My ride is a 2007 C90T. I looked at a lot of big cruisers, and this one gave me everything I was looking for (touring package, fuel injection, shaft drive)without breaking the bank. I average between 42 to 45 mpg locally and 48+ on trips (backroads, mostly in 4th gear) on regular unleaded gas. A riding buddy of mine has the C90 (no windshield or bags) and he routinely gets 50+mpg locally. Note - with the difference in our weights and the extra equipment on my bike we figure my scoot is carrying about 100 lbs more than his. We have had our bikes a year or so and have had no mechanical issues, which seems to be the norm for both the C90 and the LC1500. My friend has owned most of the metric brands over the years and several Harleys as well. He says that the C90 is by far his favorite. I have only owned one other bike - a Yamaha 2 stroke, 35 years ago, so his experience and opinion made me feel good about my purchase of the Suzuki.

The C90 has air/oil cooling (no bother with changing antifreeze) and has hydraulic lifters (no valve adjusting). It is a big, comfy cruiser that fits that role perfectly... plenty of power for me (top speed is 105 mph) and drop dead gorgeous looks. Handles well for a big bike (low center of gravity - tank is under the seat), though a little awkward standing still because of the weight (695 lbs). Together my wife and I weigh over 450 lbs., but no problem for the big "bully". For those who want more, Suzuki just came out with the C109RT cruiser - looks very much like the C90T, but a 1800cc motor and lots more power. For those who want less, check out the C50.

Good luck on your research. There are a lot of really good choices out there, just a matter of personal preference. Let us know what you decide to buy.