My new ride

[music man]

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago, it's a 1999 Suzuki VS800 Intruder, basically the same color as my GZ. The GZ looks right at home next to a bigger bike doesn't it.

[BusyWeb]

Hi, there...
It looks like just bigger brother of GZ250.
Looks really great.
Is it really 99 year?
Very clean looking condition.
Hoping that having some ride-report of it. :rawk:

[dannylightning]

awesome, i just picked up a 01 intruder volusia 800cc i got it about 3 days ago. 800cc is a huge step up. its like riding a rocket around town im sure youll enjoy riding that thing.

[Water Warrior 2]

Dang it, where do you guys find these next to new bikes ? When I was looking every used bike I looked at would been on a trailer just to get it home and in need of $1500 for parts and service to make it safe.

[dhgeyer]

Looks like you did great! Cool the way they match. Congratulations, and enjoy your new ride!

[music man]

Dang it, where do you guys find these next to new bikes ? When I was looking every used bike I looked at would been on a trailer just to get it home and in need of $1500 for parts and service to make it safe.


Well this one needed quite a bit of servicing, it had been sitting up for quite a while, so before i could really use it at all I had to drain/replace every fluid in it (of course I would have done that to a used bike that was only a year old too). I went ahead and replaced the spark plugs, air filters, and about to put a front tire on it. And even though you can't see them in the pics, it has a few small wear and tear type scratches and a small ding in the gas tank, but I got it cheap and considering pretty much everything but mounting a new tire I can or have done myself, all in all its not too bad.

So its not perfect, but I didn't pay perfect condition price for it either. When you are poor like me, you have to get the ones that need a little of this and a little of that.

[mrlmd1]

That's an older version of the S50 I recently got, and you will love it. It's light, fast, handles like the GZ, gets good gas mileage, and is very reliable. :2tup:

[dannylightning]

[quote="Water Warrior":34uy556i]Dang it, where do you guys find these next to new bikes ? When I was looking every used bike I looked at would been on a trailer just to get it home and in need of $1500 for parts and service to make it safe.


Well this one needed quite a bit of servicing, it had been sitting up for quite a while, so before i could really use it at all I had to drain/replace every fluid in it (of course I would have done that to a used bike that was only a year old too). I went ahead and replaced the spark plugs, air filters, and about to put a front tire on it. And even though you can't see them in the pics, it has a few small wear and tear type scratches and a small ding in the gas tank, but I got it cheap and considering pretty much everything but mounting a new tire I can or have done myself, all in all its not too bad.

So its not perfect, but I didn't pay perfect condition price for it either. When you are poor like me, you have to get the ones that need a little of this and a little of that.[/quote:34uy556i]

music man, i think i got lucky when i found my intruder. i did a lot of shopping around. just about any thing i found in really good condition was in the 5k+ price range or it was a good price but had a lot of miles on it witch i did not want. some people were selling bikes in not as good condition and less cc's for more than i paid for mine. keep shopping around my friend and a deal is bound to slap you in the face at some point and time. just got to have patients, luckily mine came along right away. i was gonna keep shopping around and save up my money till spring. but than the deal slapped me in the face.

Water warrior, how do you like your new ride so far. have you got to spend much time on it yet. im really happy for you man. getting off that gz and on to the intruder was a major thing for me. i think it was the best money i have ever spent. i still cant beleave i got a killer bike setting in my garage. i got up to about 80 on mine yesterday for about 30 seconds and it still had plenty of get up and go left in it. i think a 800 cc is a great way to go.

[VTXorcist]

I always liked those bikes. Something about the big painted chunk o' frame right below where the tank meets the forks looks just right for some reason. Not sure I've seen another bike with that.

[Water Warrior 2]

Danny, the "M" is actually Lynda's new ride. I am the favored farkle installer and oil change guy for the bike. I actually had to work up to riding it as I had modded the bike to fit Lynda as requested. A backrest and 2.5 inches more pullback on the bars made it a bit tight for my size. Also I am used to the Vstrom with a sit up and beg riding position which I like the most. The "M" will take to the highway like a champ and never a complaint. It is quite capable of munching miles all day long and actually does very well in the curves and sweepers at a quick pace.
Lynda has mentioned the "M" does not brake or stop as well as the GZ. The rear brake is only just there and the front disc should have been twinned for better stopping power. When I rode the "M" I was surprised at how well it did not work when compared to my Vstrom with 3 discs. Suzuki must be thinking riders will upgrade to a larger better braking cruiser in time. Yup, they dropped the ball on this one. Some of the direct competition for the "M" and "C" models are building 2 or 3 disc bikes that will stop very well. Not everyone wants a mega bike to ride. Overall the Suzuki mid sized cruisers do a good job and with a minimum of fuss or maintenance. Of course that can be said of almost any mid size these days and all you have to do is find the one that fits you best.
Your bike with minimum mileage but 8 years of time probably needs all fluids changed, a valve check, and new rubber if original. Go to Motorcycle-Journal Forums for all the skinny on your new bike. Their is a wealth of experience there from riders with all makes and models. You will find Easy and WW(me) to greet you.

Oh yah, we should probably invite Alan with his Strat. " Attention Alan, come join us there too. "

[mrlmd1]

And what about me? I'm over there too.
They've got sections for all the bikes. specific to them, as well as many generalized sites.

[Water Warrior 2]

And what about me? I'm over there too.
They've got sections for all the bikes. specific to them, as well as many generalized sites.


Oops, my bad. A sincere apology for missing you. But my excuse is old age and tired memory cells. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[mrlmd1]

In addition to those excuses, there's always the effects of years of booze.
Works for me.

[alanmcorcoran]

Oh yah, we should probably invite Alan with his Strat. " Attention Alan, come join us there too. "

Hadn't seen this. Thanks for invite. I've lurked on a few other sites, I think I'm a member of a Yahoo Strat group, but at the end of the day, this one is about all I ever really participate in, and only sporadically at that. I seem to get the info I need even though neither I nor a good percentage of the members are still riding a GZ.

I guess that is a credit to Dupo and Patrick.

[Water Warrior 2]

Alan, I always land here first too. Strange how that works. As for the Strat you can get some good info about the care and feeding of the big Yamaha from others who have made the leap from other bikes. Haven't actually looked at the Strat section of the M-J Forum very often but I am sure you will like it. The M-50 section helped in a super big way with riders of all makes/models offering sources and hints concerning farkles and mods. The same would apply with the Strat section.

[mrlmd1]

So WW, I saw that string of posts about the M50 shaft drive lube problem on there- very well documented and written up as how to repair. Did you do that yet or ask Suzuki to take apart Lynda's?

[mrlmd1]

Slight highjack - So WW, I saw that string of posts about the M50 shaft drive lube problem on there- very well documented and written up as how to repair. Did you do that yet or ask Suzuki to take apart Lynda's?

[Water Warrior 2]

We will be sitting tight and waiting for a while to see if Suzuki will do a recall or something of that nature. If not I will be taking care of it myself or take it in to a local Yamaha dealer with the writtem material about the problem. It all depends on my ambition and willingness to mess with the bike. The Yammer dealer is good to us and far better equiped to do what is necessary. We do not have a local Suzuki dealer or it would be done soonest no matter what the factory wants or decides. One would think the assembly line workers would speak up about not being required to lube a drive shaft system to prevent a breakdown. Suzuki is not making any points for being so lax with lubrication. Luckily it is a reasonably easy fix for anyone with tools and ambition.

[music man]

Sarris Requested an update on how I like the Vs800, since I have been off the air for a while, so to speak. I haven't gotten to put the seat time on it I would have liked to since I got it, due to a whole string of life's little pranks that it likes to play on ya (I am sure most of you on here know what I mean by that).

But anyways here goes, I love the power difference in this thing, it only weighs 100 pounds and some change more than the GZ and has an Sh@#load more power, I catch myself going 65-70 in town all the time, because I rode the GZ for so long, and on the GZ, if your going 65 you damn well know it, but not on this thing. I love the seating position on it too, very comfortable. The only thing ride wise to complain about is the PO put some really bulky aftermarket Grips on it, and they seem to make my hands cramp up, so I am gonna buy some replacements and see what happens with that.

Now onto the bad stuff, first of all, the battery is underneath the bike, and is like what you would imagine doing a self tooth extraction would be like trying to get it out, Ditto on the air filters, one is underneath the gas tank (it is actually the easiest one to extract) the other is up under the driver seat, and it is a real B@#ch to get out and back in, (I believe they changed this on the newer models but don't quote me on that), So note to anyone who is looking for a new bike and likes doing there own maintenance like me, you will probably want to stay away from this one, also no center stand (thanks again Suzuki).

So all and all it is a great bike, that I got dirt cheap, My only regret with buying it is that I gave up the GZ in the process :poorbaby: , if I had it to do over again I would have kept it, whats worse is I sold it to my nephew and I still have to see it from time to time (in poor shape I might add).

[mrlmd1]

Most of us don't realize how good we got it with the GZ as far as doing your own maintenance goes. With the S50 and the Ninja I have now, you have to remove 3 or 4 other body parts and engine parts to get to anything needing servicing, like air filters, carbs, plugs, valves. The GZ is so much easier to work on. Everything is reachable, visible, about the only extra thing you may have to do it remove the gas tank, which takes only a few minutes.
Fortunately both of these bikes, like the GZ, are "bulletproof" with proper maintenance (like routine oil changes) and need very little servicing down deep for everything else during their lifetimes. On the M-J forum, there is one member who had 2 VS800 Intruders, one presently with 75,000+ miles, the other with 139,000 miles which would still be going if it wasn't wrecked, so MM, the VS800 like the S50 is a wise choice.
We all get spoiled by the GZ on how easy the maintenance is when moving up to a bigger bike. Think AC even wants to tackle anything on the Strat?

[Sarris]

All the VS series air filters and batteries are like that. They're a bitch to get at.

The battery box actually descends fairly easily with the loosening of a couple screws. (If not too grody)

Also... one carb is a sidedraft and the other is a downdraft.

I loved my VS1400 (as you can tell from all I did to it)

And yeah. you should have kept the GeeZer. Mine even looks good next to the Glide.

My '96 was the last year for the 4 speed in the 1400 and I really liked the gear spacing. Is yours a 4 or 5 speed.

Give me a holler if you need any source info. PS; Love the color!!

:2tup:

[music man]

5 speed Sarris, and believe me, I think about the GZ everytime I go out to the Garage. And I meant since they changed over to The different model names (like the S-83 for example) for these bikes I believe they went to a different air filter configuration.

[Sarris]

So how you liking the new ride? Good, bad, indifferent? Riding assessment?

:??: :??: :??:

[Easy Rider]

, the VS800 like the S50 is a wise choice.


I tried looking up some parts for an M50 last week......and found that M50, S50, etc. are NOT real model numbers but just "names" apparently. So, isn't VS800 the "real" model number for an S50 ???
I asked DrBob about the M and think he said that it was a VL800......but wasn't really paying close attention.