All Tests – An over-the-counter show bike – Used SUZUKI

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An over-the-counter show bike

All Tests - An over-the-counter show bike - Used SUZUKI

Not so long ago, such machines appeared alongside dream creatures, under the Florida sun, in trade magazines. With the Suzuki 1800 VZ-R Intruder, does the dream come true? Test.

Not so long ago, such machines were displayed alongside dream creatures, under the Florida sun, in trade magazines.. With the Suzuki 1800 VZ-R Intruder, does the dream come true? Test.

Revered or hated, the big Suzuki custom does not leave you indifferent … When stationary, the impression of being in the presence of a truly extraordinary motorcycle is not just … an impression, precisely !

At first glance, the bike does not deny its flashy appearance (shy to abstain) and the many chrome reinforce the "flambe" side. The headlight cowling recalls that of the Italian scooter "Rumi" from the 1950s. Associated with the inverted fork and the 310mm double brake disc, it contributes to the aggressive side of the bike.

From the oversized handlebars to the brake and clutch levers, the controls seem made to last: it’s tough !

The chrome tachometer, positioned above the handlebars in the extension of the headlight cowling, acts as a windshield. It is displayed by liquid crystal bars in ascending order up to 7500 rpm. New nod to the past, it recalls the boost pressure indicator of the 1985 Kawa 750 turbo.

On the other hand, the meter graduated up to 240 km / h, with its orange needle, is placed Harley style on the tank. Nice, but the opposite would have been more judicious because in order to control your speed you have to lower your eyes and you no longer look ahead … Too bad, when you know that a fraction of a second of inattention is enough to find yourself facing a situation unforeseen.

The driver’s seat is comfortable and its fairly low seat contributes to the fluidity of the whole, especially when the rear backrest replaces the passenger seat. This, once in place, considerably heavier the whole. Really, showing off is really a solitary pleasure !

The two nicely designed exhausts around the engine disappoint a bit at the rear and passengers will be careful not to descend on the right side to avoid hot contact). A symmetrical arrangement on each side would not have refined the whole ?

Aesthetically the engine is successful, with its chrome once again omnipresent. Despite the water cooling, the fins are present on the large V-twin and its chrome and massive casings here reinforce the return to basics. We therefore have to do with a motorcycle engine on which the engineers have been able to combine mechanics and aesthetics..

The huge rear tire already present on another comparable monster, the Triumph Rocket 3, makes it possible to definitively classify (if we still doubt it) the Intruder in the category of vehicles of character..

Contact: the key is inserted into the switch placed on the left side of the engine, near the side cover. We turn a quarter of a turn and the counter needle, like a windshield wiper, points to the number 240 and goes back down to zero again.

Pressure on the starter when disengaging: the two large pistons 112 mm in diameter (the largest of the current production) snort. The noise is related to the rest: imposing. By engaging the first, the motorcycle jumps as if the animal had not yet been completely tamed…

The first meters confirm the announced torque of 16 Nm: the bike tows indefinitely, the rumbling is accentuated and the gear changes are linked around 4000 revolutions.

At this rate, the road passes serenely while the noise and the driving position plunge the driver back into a remake of Easy Rider. Arms outstretched, legs forward, it feels like it! Even Harley bikers watch and don’t hesitate to wave !

In Paris, passers-by turn around, attracted by the noise and the look. The seductive power of this Suzuki seems to be wreaking havoc: from the group of kids hastily pulling out their cell phones to immortalize the beast, to the sixty-year-old giving a thumbs-up sign, the VZ-R joins the closed club of motorcycles not like others…

On the road, the behavior is very healthy despite the 315 kilos of the machine. Gone are the days of big, uncontrollable customs: it slows down, it holds up and it’s comfortable.

Only the sound of the footrests scraping the asphalt at each angled bend reminds you of the limits and acts as a safeguard. Also watch out for shoe heels: after a certain number of kilometers, the cowboy effect is guaranteed !

As on the Triumph Rocket 3, the box does not seem to be the standard of the bike. Any change of report a little fast results in a dry click worthy of the old BM. It is true that this one has a lot to do to pass the 106 horsepower to the rear wheel, but we would like a gearbox a little less "truck".

The gimbal, which is equally in demand, seems to be fulfilling its task honorably. Considering the high torque, the enormous rear tire in 240 cannot claim a long life expectancy, especially if the driving is a little sporty..

With each muscular acceleration on the angle, the rear tire slips slightly while clinging to the road. The on-the-fly downshift sessions do not spare him more, quite the contrary. The wheel rolls and the tire collects the engine brake, leaving its rubber on the asphalt. At around 250 euros, the price of the precious accessory will encourage you to drive more calmly….

The engine is pleasant at all speeds and has a nice extension up to 7,500 rpm. Beyond that, a breaker cuts off the ignition: at this precise moment, the counter needle indicates more than 210 km / h.

But the fun does not lie in sporty driving, because this bike is not designed for that. The progress compared to the first customs is indisputable: once launched, it surprises with its ease of driving. Lovers of hyper sports, go your way: the weight and geometry of the whole do not allow you to play the Rossi !

But it is true that we tend to always ask for more, given the quality of the components mounted on the machine, such as the 310 mm brake discs with radial caliper and the imposing inverted fork..

On the consumption side, the 20-liter tank can cover approximately 230 km. When the reserve indicator light comes on, approximately 4 liters remain. During our test, consumption did not drop below 8 l / 100 km.

Among the big nasty competing customs, the Rocket 3 is exceptional for the power of its 2300 cc engine, but the Suzuki 1800 Intruder seems much more pleasant on a daily basis. Less heavy and less "monstrous", the VZ-R is more usable and requires less energy from its handlebars.

In addition, the Suzuki’s twin cylinder allows you to have fun even at low revs. The twin bumps, rumbles, without being reluctant to flirt with the red zone if the urge is felt. While with the Rocket, only one desire dominates: put gas all the time, in order to take advantage of the power of the demonic dragster that distils this cathedral of steel and aluminum that is the British 3 cylinders..

Riding the Intruder, we rediscover sensations sometimes forgotten and each rotation of the throttle triggers, in a flash, a thunderous rumble. Be careful, love at first sight is really not far away !

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