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ZZ800 · 07-03-2006, 10:02 PM

I'm new to the forum and wanted to say hello. I bought my fourth bike about a month ago, a 96' 800 Intruder. This thing looks sweet, nobody will listen when i tell them it's a 96'. Had only 6700 mile when i got ahold of it. Anyway is there anything i should know about this bike? It seems to be doin good so far but i would appriciate any advice you could offer.

Thanks
ZZ800

**Clint** · 07-03-2006, 10:05 PM

I don't believe it's 96 feet long either. Oh well, it's the internet and you can say what you like.

J/K! Welcome!

Mavman · 07-04-2006, 10:22 AM

With the year and mileage......GREAT FIND!

Then again, not everybody can ride 11,000 mi's in a month like Rickster nor Rowdy with almost 4500 in ten days. he he.

Can't help with your bike info.......but wanted to say HELLOOOOOOOO and welcome.

**Trapper** · 07-04-2006, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

I don't believe it's 96 feet long either. Oh well, it's the internet and you can say what you like.

J/K! Welcome!

Maybe it's a chopper. j/k

Don't mind RowdyRed, the misplaced apostrophe is one of his favorite digs.

Welcome to the forum. In case you didn't notice, we can be silly at times.

**Louis** · 07-04-2006, 02:16 PM

Welcome ZZ!

maddog20/20 · 07-04-2006, 03:26 PM

Welcome to the club. Ride safe!

robertc729 · 07-04-2006, 05:19 PM

ZZ800 · 07-05-2006, 02:10 AM

Hey thanks for all the welcomes!

leenmachine · 07-05-2006, 08:05 AM

DrBob · 07-05-2006, 08:54 AM

Welcome to the board!

You made a good choice with the Intruder 800. I bought a 1996 800 new, and it went 135,000+ miles before anything major broke. I replaced it with another 800, and put 42,000 miles on it in a little over a year without any problems at all. I ride my Harley most of the time, but took the old Intruder up to the North Carolina mountains last week and had a blast.

As for known issues, there are very few. Clean and tighten your battery connections once a year to prevent electrical problems, as the location of the battery causes it to vibrate more than on most bikes and the connections can get loose. As with any bike with a hydraulic clutch, change the clutch fluid every year or two, as the fluid brakes down over time. Stock Intruder front brakes tend to squeek, but you can change to aftermarket pads to solve the problem in about 3 minutes.
That's it. Everything else is pretty much bulletproof.

My recommended modifications for the bike are:

- replace the stock bridgestones when they wear out with metzeler ME 880s or Dunlop 404 (if they haven't been already) for better handling, a smoother ride, and loonger tire life.

- add some MC Enterprises highway pegs so you can stretch out

- swap on some ISO grips, which are a lot more confortable than the stock grips

- when the rear shocks wear out, put on some Progressive shocks. They handle and ride better, and cost less than the OEM ones

Kim · 07-05-2006, 12:26 PM

Congrats on your ride! I have a '95 Intruder 800 and I love it! Of course, it's my first and only bike so I have nothing to compare it with lol!

**intimid8er** · 07-05-2006, 01:29 PM

Only 29'3", but getting there!

S2Design · 07-05-2006, 01:51 PM

Again, the red X.

**intimid8er** · 07-05-2006, 01:57 PM

Damnit! What's up with that?

tigerdude77 · 07-05-2006, 04:16 PM

Good choice. I too have an Intruder (2003 vs800) and it's a pretty good bike in my opinion. I've only put about 3000 miles on it so far.

I agree with DrBob on his list of points, so you might want to follow that advice. I've been looking at that Dunlop tire (I like the tread design, and people I've talked to liked that tire's handling). Those squeaking brakes are a nuisance too, so I might have to switch those ealier than planned.

Good luck with your new ride, and be careful.

ZZ800 · 07-05-2006, 07:40 PM

Hey thanks for all the advise! I have noticed the squeeking brakes and it's about to drive me insane.

The previous owner had just put new avons front and rear just before I got ahold of it. I have heard that the Avons don't do well in the rain. Is that right? My dad rides a 1500 LC and he just switched to the Dunlops and he seems to be very impressed with them so far.

The bike has factory exhaust but the baffels have been removed. It's plenty loud but i don't really care for the tone. I have done some looking and found a few pairs of slip on's, but does anyone offer an exhaust that will bring the left side over to the right? Or am I stuck with the factory set up?

Thanks
ZZ

07-03-2006, 10:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
ZZ800 Newbie Joined: Jul 2006 Bike: 1996 vs800 Intruder Location: Missouri Posts: 8	New to the forum I'm new to the forum and wanted to say hello. I bought my fourth bike about a month ago, a 96' 800 Intruder. This thing looks sweet, nobody will listen when i tell them it's a 96'. Had only 6700 mile when i got ahold of it. Anyway is there anything i should know about this bike? It seems to be doin good so far but i would appriciate any advice you could offer. Thanks ZZ800

07-04-2006, 02:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	Welcome ZZ! __________________ Louis

07-05-2006, 08:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
leenmachine Fender Buffer Joined: May 2005 Bike: 05 C50 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 422	__________________ "Life is too short to be %%%%ty all the time!"

07-05-2006, 08:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
DrBob In The Zone Joined: May 2004 Bike: several Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 2,765	Welcome to the board! You made a good choice with the Intruder 800. I bought a 1996 800 new, and it went 135,000+ miles before anything major broke. I replaced it with another 800, and put 42,000 miles on it in a little over a year without any problems at all. I ride my Harley most of the time, but took the old Intruder up to the North Carolina mountains last week and had a blast. As for known issues, there are very few. Clean and tighten your battery connections once a year to prevent electrical problems, as the location of the battery causes it to vibrate more than on most bikes and the connections can get loose. As with any bike with a hydraulic clutch, change the clutch fluid every year or two, as the fluid brakes down over time. Stock Intruder front brakes tend to squeek, but you can change to aftermarket pads to solve the problem in about 3 minutes. That's it. Everything else is pretty much bulletproof. My recommended modifications for the bike are: - replace the stock bridgestones when they wear out with metzeler ME 880s or Dunlop 404 (if they haven't been already) for better handling, a smoother ride, and loonger tire life. - add some MC Enterprises highway pegs so you can stretch out - swap on some ISO grips, which are a lot more confortable than the stock grips - when the rear shocks wear out, put on some Progressive shocks. They handle and ride better, and cost less than the OEM ones __________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog!

07-05-2006, 12:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
Kim Seat Tester Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: S83 Location: Michigan Posts: 70	Congrats on your ride! I have a '95 Intruder 800 and I love it! Of course, it's my first and only bike so I have nothing to compare it with lol! __________________ If everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

07-04-2006, 03:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
maddog20/20 In Training Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: 06 Roadliner Location: Merced, Ca. Posts: 128	Welcome to the club. Ride safe!

07-04-2006, 05:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
robertc729 Forensic Bug Splatter Analyst Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: 05 Boulevard C50 LE, 06 S40 (wife's bike) Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 4,090

07-05-2006, 02:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
ZZ800 Newbie Joined: Jul 2006 Bike: 1996 vs800 Intruder Location: Missouri Posts: 8	Hey thanks for all the welcomes!

07-05-2006, 01:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
intimid8er It's A Conspiracy Joined: May 2005 Bike: '06 XB12X Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer Posts: 10,092	Only 29'3", but getting there! __________________ Song Pick of the Week 12/03 Booker T and the MG's - Green Onions Bonus for Buster The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight I had no idea 20% ABV beer could get me drunk so fast!

07-05-2006, 01:51 PM	#13 (permalink)
S2Design Member Investigator Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: '03 Santa Cruz Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,022	Again, the red X.

07-05-2006, 01:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
intimid8er It's A Conspiracy Joined: May 2005 Bike: '06 XB12X Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer Posts: 10,092	Damnit! What's up with that? __________________ Song Pick of the Week 12/03 Booker T and the MG's - Green Onions Bonus for Buster The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight I had no idea 20% ABV beer could get me drunk so fast!

07-05-2006, 04:16 PM	#15 (permalink)
tigerdude77 In Training Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: 2003 vs800 Intruder Location: B'ham, AL Posts: 121	Good choice. I too have an Intruder (2003 vs800) and it's a pretty good bike in my opinion. I've only put about 3000 miles on it so far. I agree with DrBob on his list of points, so you might want to follow that advice. I've been looking at that Dunlop tire (I like the tread design, and people I've talked to liked that tire's handling). Those squeaking brakes are a nuisance too, so I might have to switch those ealier than planned. Good luck with your new ride, and be careful.

07-05-2006, 07:40 PM	#16 (permalink)
ZZ800 Newbie Joined: Jul 2006 Bike: 1996 vs800 Intruder Location: Missouri Posts: 8	Hey thanks for all the advise! I have noticed the squeeking brakes and it's about to drive me insane. The previous owner had just put new avons front and rear just before I got ahold of it. I have heard that the Avons don't do well in the rain. Is that right? My dad rides a 1500 LC and he just switched to the Dunlops and he seems to be very impressed with them so far. The bike has factory exhaust but the baffels have been removed. It's plenty loud but i don't really care for the tone. I have done some looking and found a few pairs of slip on's, but does anyone offer an exhaust that will bring the left side over to the right? Or am I stuck with the factory set up? Thanks ZZ

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