2003 LC 1500 Advice ??? - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

manimal · 10-29-2005, 06:36 PM

I've owned (2) 1400 intruders since 93. I just lost my last one in the Katrina flood in the New Orleans area. I found a 2003 1500 LC with only 10 miles, that's right TEN miles, for a fair price. Any negetive traits I might want to know about? Any engine, electical, transmission or brake problems worth noting? Any info would be appreciated. Also any info on unplugging/tweaking it for optimum power. Of course pipes, jet kit, what about breathing - K&N maybe?
Thanks, Manimal

blackie1491 · 10-29-2005, 07:47 PM

stp1971 should be able to help, I think he is off to a wedding now. Should be back in a day. Just don't follow any of his advise on women.

moccasin · 10-29-2005, 11:18 PM

Quite a different animal than your fawteenhunnids were, so get ready for a "sludge shock" effect. The LC is a much larger, heavier machine with taller gears and only a measeley handful of CCs more than your other bikes, so it AIN'T gonna scoot like they did. Its a big 'ol laid back cruiser, and that's what it does best.

If you want to monkey with it, get in touch with Half Crazy (Larry) over on the www.lcriders.com site, or catch his link from www.moccsplace.com HC is the guru of performance tinkering with the LC, and he knows what NOT to do as well as what works best for YOU.

We often refer to the LC as the Best Kept Secret in the Cruiser business. It has enjoyed lousy press in the magazines, and has remained almost invisible to the journalists, simply because Suzuki doesn't pad their pockets like some of the other boys do.

A great bike at a great price. There are better bikes, but they come at higher prices, so if you want the most bang for your buck, its hard to beat the big L-ounge C-hair Intruder!!

10 miles? Somebody just THOUGHT they had to have a bike! HAHA!!

IntruderCruiser · 10-30-2005, 12:28 AM

and really, its no slouch either --- yes its heavy, but the 1500 gets up and moves

lumpy · 10-30-2005, 10:23 PM

I cannot think of any negative traits or problems you should know about. Earlier models had noisy brakes and wore prematurely, but have since been replaced with excellent 2 piston calipers. A lot of bike for the $$. Mine averages 45 mpg at high alititudes. With 68 horsepower, 84 ft lbs torque and tall gears, it's not blazingly fast, but a lot of fun.

stp1971 · 10-31-2005, 11:23 AM

I love my 1500!!!!! GREAT BIKE!!!! Comfortable, handles very respectfully for a bike of it's size. Yes I have had it leaned over far enough to scrape the floorboards. It has giddy up and go. Now it is not a M95 or a Hammer or a Meanstreak. But once it gets moving and it gets in it's zone it will scoot. If you want a redlight runner this is not the bike for you. If you want to ride the countryside in comfort and take longer road trips then this is the bike for you.

Classic looks of the FatBoys without the reliability and price issues the FatBoys have.

As Moccasin stated,, it does have higher gears so it cruises at highway speeds fairly comfortably. This hampers its off the line performance but it will get you out of the way if you need it. From what I have seen the 5th gear is almost comparable to some of the bikes with the 6th gear trannies. I am not over revving the bike at 80 mph and it cruises at that speed without even thinking twice about it. My personal preferance is about 70-75 mph where I like to ride at.

Only drawbacks I have noticed with mine is the deceleration wobble that it has but I have learned to live with it and it is only really noticable if you are decelerating with a one hand light grip. Both hands on the wheel you will not even notice it. Hopefully with new tires next season I hear it will be greatly diminished. Some people have complained of charging problems but I have not had any problems with mine. After sitting for a couple of weeks I can go right out there and fire it up. But check out Mikes website he has a wealth of knowledge on there.

I did a stage 1 re-jet, added a K&N, and a set of Hard Krome pipes and I lost alot of my gas mileage. So keep that in mind also. But before I did that I was getting an average of 40-41 mixed riding and about 45-46 on the highway. Now I average about 35-36 mixed and 40-41 highway.

If the price is right then it might be a great deal. I paid about $9200.00 otd taxes, tag, and all for my "LC" off the showroom floor. I bought my 2004 this past March 2005.

sonic rider · 02-24-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manimal

I've owned (2) 1400 intruders since 93. I just lost my last one in the Katrina flood in the New Orleans area. I found a 2003 1500 LC with only 10 miles, that's right TEN miles, for a fair price. Any negetive traits I might want to know about? Any engine, electical, transmission or brake problems worth noting? Any info would be appreciated. Also any info on unplugging/tweaking it for optimum power. Of course pipes, jet kit, what about breathing - K&N maybe?
Thanks, Manimal

i ride the 01 1500 and if you change pipes and jet kit, you need to plug off the air pump.( pair control valve ) some jet kits don't mention this. if you re-jet, don't let them talk you into using the needles that come with the kit. the needles that come wih the jet kits are not made as smooth as the stock needles. ( i found out the hard way ) wore the needle seats out. then the dealer will tell you that you have to buy new carbs, as they can not rebuild them. if you get to this point contact MOTORCYCLECARBS.COMM they have a kit to replace the needle seats ( JET NOZZLES ) been there -done that. and my next bike wiil probably be anothe 1500. the 05 and newer has fuel injection. hope this helps, ride safe

sonic rider

TFee3 · 02-24-2008, 11:49 PM

I just bought a new C90T, and it's no slouch! You're going to love your 1500. The only thing I can remember is that the older ones had a fuel tank problem with a recall. You might want to check on it.

I just discovered that there are almost as many Suzuki riders here as in the LC1500/C90 forum!!! Gee I feel so at home!

wildwolf · 02-25-2008, 10:10 AM

Wow, talk about bringing a thread back from the dead.

tricker · 02-25-2008, 10:22 AM

holy zombie thread.....

10-29-2005, 06:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
manimal Newbie Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: 2003 LC1500 Location: New Orleans Posts: 5	2003 LC 1500 Advice ??? I've owned (2) 1400 intruders since 93. I just lost my last one in the Katrina flood in the New Orleans area. I found a 2003 1500 LC with only 10 miles, that's right TEN miles, for a fair price. Any negetive traits I might want to know about? Any engine, electical, transmission or brake problems worth noting? Any info would be appreciated. Also any info on unplugging/tweaking it for optimum power. Of course pipes, jet kit, what about breathing - K&N maybe? Thanks, Manimal

10-29-2005, 11:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
moccasin Where Am I ? Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 47	Quite a different animal than your fawteenhunnids were, so get ready for a "sludge shock" effect. The LC is a much larger, heavier machine with taller gears and only a measeley handful of CCs more than your other bikes, so it AIN'T gonna scoot like they did. Its a big 'ol laid back cruiser, and that's what it does best. If you want to monkey with it, get in touch with Half Crazy (Larry) over on the www.lcriders.com site, or catch his link from www.moccsplace.com HC is the guru of performance tinkering with the LC, and he knows what NOT to do as well as what works best for YOU. We often refer to the LC as the Best Kept Secret in the Cruiser business. It has enjoyed lousy press in the magazines, and has remained almost invisible to the journalists, simply because Suzuki doesn't pad their pockets like some of the other boys do. A great bike at a great price. There are better bikes, but they come at higher prices, so if you want the most bang for your buck, its hard to beat the big L-ounge C-hair Intruder!! 10 miles? Somebody just THOUGHT they had to have a bike! HAHA!! __________________ Mocc's Place Snake Mail Intruder Stuff ~ Tech Stuff ~ Pair Valve Removal Kits Polish the Bell

10-31-2005, 11:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,833	I love my 1500!!!!! GREAT BIKE!!!! Comfortable, handles very respectfully for a bike of it's size. Yes I have had it leaned over far enough to scrape the floorboards. It has giddy up and go. Now it is not a M95 or a Hammer or a Meanstreak. But once it gets moving and it gets in it's zone it will scoot. If you want a redlight runner this is not the bike for you. If you want to ride the countryside in comfort and take longer road trips then this is the bike for you. Classic looks of the FatBoys without the reliability and price issues the FatBoys have. As Moccasin stated,, it does have higher gears so it cruises at highway speeds fairly comfortably. This hampers its off the line performance but it will get you out of the way if you need it. From what I have seen the 5th gear is almost comparable to some of the bikes with the 6th gear trannies. I am not over revving the bike at 80 mph and it cruises at that speed without even thinking twice about it. My personal preferance is about 70-75 mph where I like to ride at. Only drawbacks I have noticed with mine is the deceleration wobble that it has but I have learned to live with it and it is only really noticable if you are decelerating with a one hand light grip. Both hands on the wheel you will not even notice it. Hopefully with new tires next season I hear it will be greatly diminished. Some people have complained of charging problems but I have not had any problems with mine. After sitting for a couple of weeks I can go right out there and fire it up. But check out Mikes website he has a wealth of knowledge on there. I did a stage 1 re-jet, added a K&N, and a set of Hard Krome pipes and I lost alot of my gas mileage. So keep that in mind also. But before I did that I was getting an average of 40-41 mixed riding and about 45-46 on the highway. Now I average about 35-36 mixed and 40-41 highway. If the price is right then it might be a great deal. I paid about $9200.00 otd taxes, tag, and all for my "LC" off the showroom floor. I bought my 2004 this past March 2005. __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

02-25-2008, 10:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
wildwolf Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Jan 2006 Bike: 1999 vs800 intruder Location: Delta Junction, AK Posts: 705	Wow, talk about bringing a thread back from the dead. __________________

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10-29-2005, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,333	stp1971 should be able to help, I think he is off to a wedding now. Should be back in a day. Just don't follow any of his advise on women.

10-30-2005, 12:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
IntruderCruiser TurtleWax Taster Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: 2003 Intruder 1500 Posts: 585	and really, its no slouch either --- yes its heavy, but the 1500 gets up and moves

10-30-2005, 10:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
lumpy Newbie Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: 03 Suzuki Intruder LC1500, 84 Yamaha Venture 1200, 71 Triumph Daytona 500, 74 Norton Commando 850 Location: Northglenn, Colorado Posts: 2	I cannot think of any negative traits or problems you should know about. Earlier models had noisy brakes and wore prematurely, but have since been replaced with excellent 2 piston calipers. A lot of bike for the $$. Mine averages 45 mpg at high alititudes. With 68 horsepower, 84 ft lbs torque and tall gears, it's not blazingly fast, but a lot of fun.

02-24-2008, 11:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
TFee3 Clunked into first gear Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: '07 C90T Location: Gravois Mills MO Posts: 200	I just bought a new C90T, and it's no slouch! You're going to love your 1500. The only thing I can remember is that the older ones had a fuel tank problem with a recall. You might want to check on it. I just discovered that there are almost as many Suzuki riders here as in the LC1500/C90 forum!!! Gee I feel so at home!

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