Suzuki VL1500LC Intruder

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Suzuki VL1500
Manufacturer
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 [[:Category:Cruiser motorcycles|Cruiser]] [[Category:Cruiser motorcycles]]
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



Engine

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.

Chassis

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.

Photos

Suzuki VL1500 Suzuki VL1500 Suzuki VL1500 Suzuki VL1500

Overview

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
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

External Links