2003 Suzuki Intruder VS800 start problems - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Wallbridge · 04-18-2006, 02:32 PM

Hi,

Since I bought my Intruder a year and a half ago (new), I've been having nothing but trouble with it.

At 2000 miles, the engine shut off on the freeway about four times, once during the dead of night. I took it to a Suzuki shop to have it fixed, and it took them three tries to finally fix it (they replaced the battery, which cost me $100, on top of them fixing the right fork seal four times over within a month. About $1000 of repairs, in the first 5000 miles alone).

After about 10,000 miles of riding around and keeping it tuned (every 3000 miles, I never miss a repair), I figured the bike had finally calmed down.

Now, all of a sudden, it won't start again.

In the morning, when it's about 50 degrees outside, I hit the starter switch and the engine starts to turn over for about three seconds. Then it stops, and this rapid clicking sounds whenever I hold down the starter switch. It's coming from directly below me, roughly where the battery is.

To top it all off, something's leaking. Small puddles of water appear when I try to start the bike, and seem to be dripping off of the battery holder underneath the bike.

With about ten total shutdowns, five refusals to start in the morning, eight trips to the shop, four broken fork seals and a front brake pad that constantly refuses to work past 100 miles, is this bike officially considered a lemon?

I would settle for getting it to work right now, so I can call this bike a wash and never buy from Suzuki again, if anybody could help me. I would really appreciate any advice.

Thank you,
Chris