Macho 1.8-litre Intruder combines classic cruiser styling with Suzuki V-twin power.
The 1800cc Intruder that Suzuki Motorcycle India has just rolled out is a massive bike. With dimensions similar to a A-star and a price tag in the range of a Toyota Corolla, Suzuki’s Intruder is another biggie to be offered to fanatics with ample money.
This gigantic motorcycle certainly has an authoritative presence. It comes with great, low-set headlights that grin under a chrome hat-like mantle and remains on at all times. Traditional turn indicators stick out front and rear, while a digital bar-type rev counter setup on tall stalks looks directly into a rider’s field of vision. A astonishing fact is that other basic instruments including the speedometer sit far below, across the bike’s fat tank, which means the rider’s eyes have to leave the road to take a look at them.
The Intruder comes with a smooth, broad, pulled-back chrome handlebar and attractive, retro-style tinted mirrors. The low-slung cruiser style saddle is wide and has a somewhat taller, still comfy pillion seat just behind. And the tail with its fixed dazzling red brake warning lamp looks chic.
The Intruder has 18-inch rims, with tyres as thick as 240/40 section at the rear. Under-over silencers snake out from the large, four-stroke, 1783cc power plant to add heaps of personality to the motorcycle. The Intruder’s engine bay is totally filled up by its colossal V-twin and liquid cooling system. With a climax power figure of 125bhp at 6200rpm, this big Suzuki excels in delivering all 16.3kgm of torque as low in the power band as 3200rpm. A blip of the Intruder’s throttle is akin to emptying a double-barrel shotgun. It’s the best part of this motorcycle, and the gruff roar of the Intruder’s exhaust rips through the air with magnificent effect. Its engine sounds and pulls with a thump similar to a big single at top speed, and a short stroke (90.5mm) dimension guarantees the revs rise with an enthusiasm contrasting most cruisers with their long-stroke nature.
The pillion needs to grab on really tight when the rider presses the pedal hard as a mallet of torque bangs in while drawing out the Intruder’s telescopic forks and push its power down through the low profile rear tyre to the road. It from time to time takes efforts to keep your feet from lifting off the pegs as the monster thunders its way down the road.
The Intruder feels most comfortable on long, straight highways and can glide here smoothly at speeds close to 130kph forever. Its cable-fed clutch works well with a good, progressive feel coming through the lever. But the Suzuki’s five-speed gearbox, often felt notchy during our ride. The shaft drive communicates a straight, motorized feel that needs getting used to for riders who are adjusted to chain drive motorcycles.
You would take time to get used to the Intruder’s riding position. Its footpegs and handlebars need the rider to stretch out, and the seat feels like it is set a little too far behind for comfort.
Ride quality is more taut than soft with straight line steadiness a strong point, thanks to the 1710mm wheelbase. But cornering is a task and the low-slung Intruder grazes its pegs just about too easily, before being pushed down into a bend. But being a cruiser bike, it’s made to cover long distances in style and in a stress-free way.
The Intruder stops with excellent poise and comes with dominant brakes, a pair of 310mm discs in front, and a single 275mm disc unit at rear, which pull it to a stop with a encouraging feel.
The large overhead camshaft-driven four-valve per cylinder engine delivers about 15kpl in terms of fuel economy.
Suzuki’s huge Intruder, is a special bike in India. But does that make it a reasonable bike for our market? It’s difficult to beat for people looking for a bike that’s attention grabbing, lets out the definitive exhaust note mankind can hear in India and with enough money to spend.