The power-cruiser class of motorcycles is constantly in the attention of lovers of free travel, as it makes it possible to get sufficient power and at the same time the bike looks solid and stylish. One of the brightest representatives of such motorcycles is the Suzuki Boulevard c109r, successfully sold in the markets of many countries under the names Intruder M1800R and VZR 1800. You can buy the Suzuki Boulevard in two main versions “s” and “m”, differing in additional accessories, brake system and engine operation add-ons.
First impression
If you look at the photo of the 109th series of Suzuki bikes, it immediately becomes clear that its weight is large, but at the same time the power will please many. The bikes in this series have an impressive wheelbase, they confidently stay on the road, although inexperienced motorcycle enthusiasts may have problems with maneuverability, but this can be solved with constant practice. Reviews about the Suzuki Boulevard m109r are most often positive; it is designed for use by experienced motorcycle owners who know exactly what needs to be done to make the bike obedient. An important feature of this series is that you can set certain power limits, making driving safer.
Suzuki Intruder M1800R (VZR1800, Boulevard M109R)
There is still a virus of chopperism in me and it activates from time to time. I’m sitting here, thinking to myself: “I should take something for the season. Without hesitation, I would take a used GS in good condition to replace a stolen one, but it turns out to be a bit expensive. And those that we can afford look too tired. But you can try something alternative!” And then there is old age, inevitable, like the tide of the sea. In your fifth decade, your reaction weakens, your joints creak, and you increasingly want to roll rather than fly. This is where you start looking at choppers, cruisers and other bobbers.
It was at that moment that I saw the Suzuki Intruder and realized that if I ever owned a chopper, this would be it. Moreover, precisely , and not , and precisely R, and not . Perhaps even in a version with a racing stripe across the entire device.
I really like its appearance, and since for choppers appearance is the most important operational parameter, the matter can be considered resolved. However, innate paranoia forced me to delve into the thickets of the Internet to understand how this device is doing with such little things as comfort, reliability and technical equipment. If you ask me, a person far from the chopper topic, about the legends in this area, I will immediately name HD and Vulcan from Kawasaki. I admit that real chopperologists will not agree with me, nevertheless, for me personally, these two brands are the most recognizable. Of course, HD's leadership is undeniable, despite all the efforts of Japanese manufacturers. But for our life we still want something more suitable and, most importantly, cheaper. So we can’t do without the Japanese. You will say that they do not have a “soul” or whatever else you can call that special charm that Harleys exude even from photographs on the Internet. I will answer - some have. The Intruder family, in my opinion, was just one of many faceless families with the help of which the Japanese tried to bite off at least a piece of the Harley pie. This impression dissipated as soon as I saw the M1800R or, translated into American language, Boulevard M109R.
So, Intruder. The name means something like “one who intrudes,” a sort of uninvited guest. Invaded
entered the motor market back in 1985 and at that time was just one of many choppers - V2, water-cooled, 750 cc, 63 horsepower, one brake disc, chrome everywhere and a saddle quilted in the fashion of that time. Since then, the family has branched and expanded, there were even octams with 13 forces per 140 kilograms of dry weight, and, perhaps, the first success was Volusia, which had a completely classic appearance. Our hero entered the market in 2006.
So, appearance is, in my opinion, the main characteristic of a chopper/cruiser. And here the Suzuki designers distinguished themselves; in my opinion, the big Intruder is the most beautiful of its Japanese classmates. Yamaha's Road Star looks homemade, especially the headlight and passenger seat spoil the look. The Raider, which appeared on the market in 2008, is still from the same opera as Honda's Fury, but, in my opinion, much scarier. The Honda VTX 1800 looks better than the Yamaha, but everything is spoiled by the smudge of the passenger seat, ridiculous shock absorbers and unclear exhaust pipes. Whether it's our handsome man or not.
The device looks like a single unit. The line of the headlight through the tachometer on the steering wheel smoothly flows into the tank, the passenger seat is replaced with a lid and does not destroy the silhouette, the device looks fast even in static conditions. The detailing is also good - turbine wheels, excellent optics, chic bend of exhaust pipes, beautifully cut at the ends, wide 240 mm rear wheel. You can’t even tell that the motorcycle entered the market in 2006; it still looks futuristic.
He can also amuse my old megalomania. The fact is that the Intruder engine boasts a piston with a diameter of 112 millimeters - this is the largest piston among all internal combustion engines installed on land vehicles. It doesn't catch your eye, but it warms your soul.
Now let's see what foreign testers write about the M1800R.
The first article that I came across described the author’s rides with Kevin Schwantz, world champion in the royal class of MotoGP and owner of a racing school. The article contained the phrase “When was the last time Suzuki could boast of a cruiser that starts grinding the asphalt from the start, then catches traction and stands on its rear wheel?” To be honest, I was sure that no cruiser could stand on its rear wheel due to the peculiarities of weight distribution and relatively low specific power, so I considered the phrase a journalistic exaggeration. No such luck, he really stands up in the candle! It must be said that quite often the authors of articles considered the motorcycle as a cruiser for a retired sports biker. The dynamic parameters are really excellent (of course, with such and such characteristics), and the device in the corporate promotional photo against the backdrop of drag racing lights does not look alien.
In technical terms, the motorcycle is made without compromise. The 46mm inverted front fork provides more than enough rigidity even for such a heavy and powerful bike. The brakes with radial calipers are borrowed from the GSX-R, and they are also plenty to spare. The engine, despite its volume, runs very smoothly, vibrations are killed by balancer shafts and mounting to the frame through rubber cushions. Testers especially note the precise operation of the gearbox, with a smooth gear change accompanied by the correct chopper clatter.
The large Intruder also has disadvantages:
- Tru-bikers from motorcyclecruiser.com believe that it is better to admire a motorcycle from afar. If you get closer, many parts of the body kit will reveal their true – plastic – essence, which incredibly crushes the guys who grew up on no-silicon Harleys.
— the knob in first and second gear must be turned very smoothly, otherwise the device behaves nervously. It’s not surprising - the driveshaft, the injector, the huge volume of cylinders, it’s hard to expect anything else.
- either the passenger seat or the cover - you will have to decide in the garage. Pay for style, nothing can be done.
— the rear brake is rather weak by chopper standards. However, thanks to the compression of the huge cylinders, for effective braking it is often enough just to close the throttle.
— the suspension, with the only adjustment of the rear spring preload, is tuned rigidly, which has a beneficial effect on handling, but I suspect that on our asphalt we will have to forget about the softness of the ride.
— the clutch is a little tight, the handle is located far away, the hand in a traffic jam quickly goes numb even for a person with large palms.
- ergonomics are controversial - the saddle is uncomfortable for tall people, the footpegs are too far for short people.
So what happens? The Intruder is a beautiful motorcycle with enormous power, excellent handling, excellent brakes and no comfort. It’s not suitable for long-range travel, especially in the eastern direction, and this is the most interesting scenario for me now. Well, we’ll look further, but for those who are not drawn to either the track or Siberia, I advise you to take a closer look at the device.
Types and series of bikes
Just look at any professional review, and it becomes clear that after its release in 2005, this modification has undergone a minimum of changes, except for the Intruder M1800R2 model with a slightly modified exterior. Suzuki Boulevard c109r is produced in three variations:
- C - traditional American cruisers, equipped with a wide wheelbase and massive fenders. These are the C50, C90 and C109R models, equipped with a 32-digit electronic fuel injection system;
- S - choppers in which a narrow, large front wheel is installed, and the fork is strongly inclined. There are three modifications in this series - S40, S50 and S83;
- M – a series of power-cruisers, with a slightly fantastic design, but definitely attracting attention. These are models M50, M90 and M109.
In most cases, reviews of the Suzuki Boulevard m109r are only positive, since this model was originally developed for the US market, and this country has special requirements for the quality and reliability of motorcycles. At the European level, there are Intruder models similar to the Boulevard, but with volume in cubic centimeters rather than inches.
Review of the Suzuki Boulevard M109R (intruder M1800R) motorcycle
In short, there is no better chopper today than the Suzuki M109R , as for me... and considering that I use motorcycles primarily for moving around the city, I evaluate them solely for consumer reasons. From sports, I would choose 600 ku or 750 jixer - it’s the best for me in the city both in terms of balance and power. But when I saw this chopper, I started to think... I’ll probably have to discover this direction for myself too
