Should have bought a Harley...

Well, my first bike is a Suzuki Intruder 800.

1. Not big enough. Hey, it was my first bike, how was I to know?

2. Front brakes have squealed since day 2. Dealership will not work on them. What exactly was that extended warranty for?

3. Speedo cable broke week 4. Dealership will not replace it. What exactly was that extended warranty for?

4. There are about ZERO freaking accessories for this bike. Man, had I known that, I would have never bought it. HELLO!! I would like a high rise sissy bar please! And a few seat choices! And some decent passenger footboards. And some decent highway pegs!

5. I feel like I was born to ride, I put 900 miles on it in 5 weeks. Jeez, I love the feeling! Now, trying to make this one last until I can trade it in. I hope I can make it! But, believe me, I will NEVER buy another Suzuki.

[Uncle Bob]

Did you buy it new ?

Most be hundreds of places that sell acc for it I'll check and let you know.

Think problem might not be with Suzuki but rather your dealer.

Would like to have more details please.

BTW welcome to the site.

[Pepe LePew]

Absolutely sounds like the dealer to me. I just wouldn't buy from that one again. All the Intruder's are good bikes. Get those couple of things fixed and you'll have a good bike.

Dennis

Love the bike. Wish I had the foresight to buy the 1400.

Brand new, 2003, less than 2 miles on it. Now I am at 960.

I know it is the dealership, but how can I combat that, when I am at their mercy to fix it? The only other one in this area is 40 miles, and when I spoke to them on the phone, they basically said to go jump in the lake.

Accessories: I have surfed the net extensively, searched everywhere from JC Whitney to manufacturers catalogs. I have seen maybe 5% of the accessories that are available for other bikes. I am really seeking a tall sissy bar and some better pegs for passenger, and perhaps some nice hiway pegs for me. I am contemplating having the sissy bar fabricated, but would really like to just find a bolt on. I mean tall here, like a throwback 70's chopper look. I have seen ZERO of this in any catalog.

Thanks for looking.

[Uncle Bob]

For pegs Kuryakin has about the best selection.

http://www.kuryakyn.com/prodlist.asp...mp;cn=Footpegs

As for the extra tall sissy bar well I've had no luck, guess it isn't a high demand product.

[Pepe LePew]

Originally Posted by intruder newbie

Love the bike. Wish I had the foresight to buy the 1400.

Brand new, 2003, less than 2 miles on it. Now I am at 960.

I know it is the dealership, but how can I combat that, when I am at their mercy to fix it? The only other one in this area is 40 miles, and when I spoke to them on the phone, they basically said to go jump in the lake.

Accessories: I have surfed the net extensively, searched everywhere from JC Whitney to manufacturers catalogs. I have seen maybe 5% of the accessories that are available for other bikes. I am really seeking a tall sissy bar and some better pegs for passenger, and perhaps some nice hiway pegs for me. I am contemplating having the sissy bar fabricated, but would really like to just find a bolt on. I mean tall here, like a throwback 70's chopper look. I have seen ZERO of this in any catalog.

Thanks for looking.

Sounds like our local dealer. Your not from East Tennessee are you?

Dennis

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by intruder newbie

Love the bike. Wish I had the foresight to buy the 1400.

Brand new, 2003, less than 2 miles on it. Now I am at 960.

Brand new, extended warranty hasn't even kicked in yet. No reason your speedo cable shouldn't be replaced no charge. I would definitily contact Suzuki customer service about this. As for your brakes, this might be normal.

There is a break in procedure for new brake pads that some people follow. When new they still have a little glaze to them from the manufacturing process, what I suggest you do is to go out to a nice quiet road where you can speed up at least to 50mph and then do some rapid decelarations using only front brake, take it easy for first slow then brake more aggressively in subsequent decelarations ( I use decelaration rather than stop because the brakes will get hot doing this and it would be better not to come to a full stop and create heat related problems such as warping the front disk ).

This will also give you more confidence in the bikes braking ability.

I just bought the Intruder 800 about a month ago. My second bike! I bought the GS250 first last year right after I did the MSF course.

I absolutely love the Intruder. I tried on a whole lotta bikes and this one fit me perfectly. The thin body thats geared for women is the one I got. The wide body didn't fit me.

My front brakes squeal also. I have about 1,600 miles on the bike and they still squeal. I didn't take it in, I figured it was a breaking in thing. I don't know, maybe I should have them checked out. But I'm going to do what you suggest first Bob.

BTW - Hi everyone, new to this forum, glad I found it. I'm sure I will have questions as this adventure continues!

I am from SE Arizona. I have been around bikes for many years, rode a little many years ago, and just decided to get into it again last year with the rest of my baby-boomer comrades!! (I'm 49)

I screwed up tho, instead of getting a used cheap bike to start off with, I bought a brand new GS250 and outgrew it in a month!! I kept it for several months tho and traded it in on the Intruder800 loosing my butt financially, but hey, I haven't done that in 25 years, so thats pretty good!!

The only complaint I have had so far with the bike is that I purchased saddlebags with the 250 and they don't transfer to the Intruder, gotta have bolt on's for Intruder, mine were sling-over.

But other than that I have been having a ball with this bike!! My BF has a Harley Low Rider 1400, and I keep right up with him all the time.

I did my first long trip overnighter last weekend and it was fabulous!! I can't wait to do more more more more more!!

(ps - I can't stand my dealership here, they stink! I knew that before buying from them! whatcha gonna do? I live in the boonies, gotta drive a long way to get to the big city!)

[Uncle Bob]

Of course what I described is a break in procedure, I don't know if the results will be the same with over a thousand miles. Might have to take off the pads and scuff them up with a sander.

Shouldn't have a prob with sling overs, just get a saddle bag support bracket to keep them from going into your wheels.

BF has a Harley, suggest you ride in front so as not to hit oil spots.

Just kidding I love Harley's, but the most experienced rider should be in back so as not to set a pace the the newer rider can't handle. Also allows for constructive critisism of riders abilities.

Welcome to the site.

BF has a Harley, suggest you ride in front so as not to hit oil spots

Ha ha ha ha!! I gotta tell him that one!! It's not like he does not get his digs in with my beautiful bike!! He deserves a few!!

I am the more experienced one! He just started riding in January of this year, I have been riding since summer 2002!!

We trade off and on blazing the trail. Except when he can't keep up with his SLOWER Harley!, then I of course have to blaze. (I love his Harley too, beautiful, but beats me to death!)

Thanks for the welcome.

(is my html working, cuz it says its off, but I turned it on in profile)

The Suzuki catalog is sparse in accessories for the 800, but do not despair.
I have a Memphis Fats tall windshield, Suzuki crash bar-to which I have mounted Kuryikan "mini wings" riding pegs. I also have the Suzuki, ne Mustang gel seat-a must have item! i also have Willie and Max short slants, with mounting brackets. I have JC Whitney passenger grab rail, Suzuki backrest- and small luggage rack from the catalog. The best item I have installed is a Pro-Tac removaable drivers padded backrest-only $115.
See pro-tac.net This makes long rides bearable, with the pegs. My bike pics are on the Intgruder Alert website-see Main and go to August 9th for VS 800 pics under kenv267.
ken

<profanity flame edited by JohnScott>

allprts.eq.edu.au banned and reported.
203.10.121.82 banned.

I HAVE A 1500 I JUST GOT 2MO AGO YOUR RIGHT SUZUKI STINKS FOR PARTS HERE IS APLACE THAT HAS ALL YOU NEED FOR YOUR BIKE J + p CYCLES WWW.JPCYCLES.COM OR 1 800 318 6847 GOOD LUCK

[Poosey]

You guys and gals ever tried

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/common...jsp?Store=Main

I have gotten alot of things here for my old GS 1100G.

Sorry to hear about your dealer woes. Guess I'm lucky and live in an area where there are many dealers to choose from (Phoenix, AZ). I had 4 dealers bidding for my buisness. Talked them down $2,800 on my brand new 2003 1400 Intruder. Here is yet another place that has some extras for the Intruder.
http://www.seegercycle.com/cgi-bin/p...b_bike.cgi?3.2
Best of luck.

BF has a Harley, suggest you ride in front so as not to hit oil spots


That is great!!! I will make sure to tell that one to my hubby and his Harley Heritage..

Julie[/quote]

[Old_Intruder]

I have an old 1990 VS750, which I purchased a year ago and even that it is better than ten years old I love it. I have only charged the battery once other than that just oil changes and gas...
I love this bike it is loud, a V twin and very dependable

"O" and I will put it up against a Harley 883 any day.
My next bike will be another Intruder 1400 or 1500.
No pun intended we all ride together this is America after all a melting pot.
Ride happy live long.
A.J.

lets be nice kidie kidies

[Keith1500]

Sorry to hear about your dislike for your new bike. I've learned over the years that for the most part you need to learn your bike inside and out and do a lot of the work yourself. I also just got a new bike (used...but new to me) and had a similar experience with my dealer. No help whatsoever after you've taken possession. In the long run it is ok since I was forced to get the manual and take the bike apart myself and fix the problem. Not what I wanted to do 10 days after my purchase of my 1500 and in a parking garage no less. The same thing happens though with any bike sooner or later. Dealers are out to sell, not to fix. I've owned just about every non-harley at one time or another and don't blame the brand...blame the dealers. Shoot, my first motorcycle was a 250cc from Sears (yes they made motorcycles a few years ago) and I had to learn to fix it too (craftsman warranties weren't around yet). Good luck.
PS. Actually I did have a harley once, it was a moped made by harley...had to tear it apart to fix it once or twice too.

Sounds like you might need a lawyer to have a discussion with the dealer. That gets things done remarkably fast.

The good news is that you didn't buy the Harley. In addition to falling apart, it'd be leaking oil as well.

Too bad you didn't get the Volusia. I had an '02 and loved it. There were more 3rd party accessories than I had time to read the catalogs for.