Suzuki VL1500LC Intruder
Suzuki VL1500 | |
Manufacturer | |
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Also called | VL1500 Intruder Legendary Classic, VL 1500 Intruder Legendary Classic, VL1500LC Intruder, VL 1500 LC Intruder, VL1500 Intruder LC, VL 1500 Intruder LC, VL 1500 |
Production | 1998 - 01 |
Class | Cruiser |
Engine | Four stroke, 45° V-twin, SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder |
Compression ratio | 8.5:1 |
Ignition | Digital transistorized |
Spark Plug | NGK, DPR7EA-9 |
Battery | 12V, 14Ah |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Suspension | Front: 41mm Telescopic forks, coil spring, oil damped Rear: Monoshock link-type, oil damped, 5-way adjustable spring preload |
Brakes | Front: Single 300 mm disc, 2 piston caliper, double action Rear: Single 180 mm disc, 2 piston caliper, double action |
Front Tire | 150/80-16 Bridgestone G703 tubeless |
Rear Tire | 180/70-15 Bridgestone G702 tubeless |
Wheelbase | 1700 mm / 66.9 in |
Seat Height | 700 mm / 27.6 in |
Weight | 292 kg / 644 lbs (dry), |
Recommended Oil | Suzuki ECSTAR 10w40 |
Fuel Capacity | 15.5 Liters / 4.1 US gal / 3.4 Imp gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
EngineEdit
The engine was a Air/oil cooled cooled Four stroke, 45° V-twin, SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder. The engine featured a 8.5:1 compression ratio.
ChassisEdit
It came with a 150/80-16 Bridgestone G703 tubeless front tire and a 180/70-15 Bridgestone G702 tubeless rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Single 300 mm disc, 2 piston caliper, double action in the front and a Single 180 mm disc, 2 piston caliper, double action in the rear. The front suspension was a 41mm Telescopic forks, coil spring, oil damped while the rear was equipped with a Monoshock link-type, oil damped, 5-way adjustable spring preload. The VL1500LC Intruder was fitted with a 15.5 Liters / 4.1 US gal / 3.4 Imp gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 292 kg / 644 lbs. The wheelbase was 1700 mm / 66.9 in long.
PhotosEdit
OverviewEdit
Suzuki VL 1500LC Intruder
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 tire 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 liters tank isn't that generous for touring either.
Make Model | Suzuki VL 1500LC Intruder |
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Year | 1998 - 01 |
Engine Type | Four stroke, 45° V-twin, SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 1462 cc / 89.2 cu in |
Bore X Stroke | 96 x 101 mm |
Cooling System | Air/oil cooled |
Compression | 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 Tire | 150/80-16 Bridgestone G703 tubeless |
Rear Tire | 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 Liters / 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 |