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VS800 Intruder/S50 Boulevard
&
VS1400 Intruder/S83 Boulevard
Comparison
The
following is my impression of the 2001 VS800 Intruder & the 2001 VS1400
Intruder.
As Many know Suzuki rebadged their cruiser line in 2005 to Boulevard with Cubic
Inch designations.
The VS800 Intruder is now an S50 while the VS1400 Intruder
is now an S83
Seats
on the S50 & S83
Boulevards are NOT as comfortable as on the VS
Series Intruder
I
started riding in 2001 on a 2001 VS800 Intruder and over the next 54 weeks proceeded
to accumulate
30,700km or 19076 miles. While many complain about the stock seat, I found it
to be rather
comfortable. The gas tank while small always managed to get 50mpg and a range
of 150 miles.
My
VS1400 was also a 2001 model, purchased in June of 2002 and I accumulated 45,000km
or 27963 miles
by the time I put it away in October of 2004. Again many complain about the
stock seat and I had no issues.
This motorcycle also seemed to get 50mpg for me with a range of 150 miles.
The
brakes on the VS Intruders are notorious for squeeking or squeeling and it's
true on both models. I
managed 18,000km of the VS800 front brakes before having to replace the first
set. The rear drum brake
was never replaced and I can only assume the front replacement pads would have
lasted as long as the
originals. The VS1400 has a disc brake setup on both the front & rear wheels.
The original pads on the
VS1400 lasted 10,000km for me and were replaced by EBC pads on both ends. The
replacement front pads
lasted me 20,000km and the rears lasted 30,000km. When I traded my 1400 in 2004
it was on it's
3rd set of front pads which would need replacement soon & the 3rd set on
the rear just replaced.
It's my opinion that the brakes on the VS1400 are better than
the brakes on the VS800
I
took long trips on both bikes, so those who say the VS Intruders are not made
for travel know not
of what they speak!!! Taking passengers wasn't an issue either as both could
perform this task well.
The bigger motor in the VS1400/S83, does make it
easier when taking a passenger
It's my opinion that the VS1400 has an advantage when
taking a passenger over the VS800
The
VS800 is aprox 100lbs lighter than it's bigger sibling the VS1400. This lighter
weight and better power to
weight ratio allows the VS800 to get off the line quickly. Magazines have performed
tests and the VS800
typically wins the 1/4 mile sprint against any and all, up to most 1500cc cruisers,
including the VS1400.
This little feat is a bit of a sore spot for VS1400 Intruder
owners who like to refer to the VS800 as a
"gurlie" bike. I'll still say I get off the line quicker on the VS800
than I ever did, on the VS1400.
You have to ask yourself, if I should be a better rider when I started in 2001
on the VS800, or when
I traded the 1400 in 2004 & why I still can't get off the line as quickly
on the bigger machine.
It's my opinion the VS800 is more flickable than the VS1400
and a better solo ride
Stock tires are universally reviled and
many will recommend Avon Venom X or Metzler ME800 as
quality replacements. I know I was amazed at the difference in handling on my
VS1400 when I
installed Avon Venom X tires at the 23,000km mark. When I traded the bike at
45,000km there
was still life left on the Venoms which had 22,000km at that point. The Venoms
handled great
on all road surfaces, dry pavement & torrential rain included.
Avon has replaced the Venom tires with a new model named the Cobra
The battery on the VS Intruders can be a PITA
to service since it's located in front of the rear tire.
You have to drop a floorplate to drop the battery and it helps if the rear of
the bike is raised a
little bit. The Intruders both use dual carbs and dual air boxes, which means
to service the front
filter the gas tank has to be removed!!!.
Updated March 31st 2021
..........Specs.
...........................................VS800/S50
........................................VS1400/S83 |
|||
Standard
warranty |
12
mos., unlimited miles |
12
mos., unlimited miles |
|
Service
interval |
7500
miles |
7500
miles |
|
Engine
& Drivetrain |
|||
Motor | 45-degree
tandem V-twin |
45-degree
tandem V-twin |
|
Displacement | 805cc/50ci |
1360cc/83ci |
|
Bore X Stroke |
83mm x 74.4mm |
94mm
x 98mm |
|
Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 |
9.3:1 |
|
Carburetion | 2
X 26mm Mikuni CV |
2
X 36mm Mikuni CV |
|
Lubrication | wet
sump |
wet
sump |
|
Capacaity |
3.5 qt. w spin-on filter |
5.3
qt. w spin-on-filter |
|
Min. fuel grade | 87
octane |
87
octane |
|
Transmission: | Wet
multiplate clutch |
Wet
multiplate clutch |
|
Gears | 5
speeds |
***4/5
speeds*** |
|
Cooling | Liquid |
Air/Oil |
|
Final drive | shaft,
3.2:1 |
Shaft,
2.666:1 |
|
CHASSIS
|
|||
Wet weight | 477
lb. |
572
lb |
|
Bias | 52%
rear wheel |
||
GVWR | 950
lb. |
1035
lb |
|
Wheelbase |
61.4 in. |
63.8
in. |
|
Overall length | 88.8
in. |
91.9
in. |
|
Rake/trail |
33.25 degrees / 5.71" |
36
degress / 6.54" |
|
Seat height |
27.6 in. |
27.75
in. |
|
Wheel Front 92-99 | wire-spoke; 21 x 2.15 |
wire-spoke,
19 x 2.15 |
|
Wheel Rear Inclusive | wire-spoke
15 x 3.00 rear |
wire-spoke
15 x 4.00 rear |
|
Wheel Front 00-06 | 19
X 2.00 |
wire-spoke,
19 x 2.15 |
|
Tires Front 92-99 | 80/90/21 |
110/90-19 |
|
Tires Front 00-06 | 100/90/19 |
110/90-19 |
|
Tires Rear Inclusive | 140/90/15 |
170/80-15
|
|
Front brake |
Dbl-action caliper 11.6" disc |
Dbl-action
caliper 11.6" disc |
|
Rear brake | drum,
rod-operated |
Dbl-action
caliper 11.0" disc |
|
Front suspension | 39mm
stanchions 5.1" travel |
41mm
stanchions, 6.3" travel |
|
Rear suspension | dual
dampers: 3.5" travel adjustment for preload |
dual
dampers: 4.1" travel adjustable for preload |
|
Fuel capacity | 3.2
gal. (.8 gal. reserve) |
3.4
gal. (.8 gal. reserve) |
|
Inseam equivalent |
31.5 in. |
||
ELECTRICAL
& INSTRUMENTATION |
|||
Charging output | 252
watts |
300
watts |
|
Battery | 12v:
16AH |
12v,
14AH |
|
Lighting Front | 55/60-watt
5.7-in. headlight |
55/60-watt
5.7-in. headlight signal/running light |
|
Lighting Rear | Brake/Running
1 bulb signals |
Brake/Running
1 bulb signals |
|
Hazards S83 | 4
Way |
4
Way |
|
Speedometer | odometer
& tripmeter |
odometer
& tripmeter |
|
Warning lights | neutral,
high beam, signals coolant temperature, oil pressure |
high
beam, turn signals, neutral, oil pressure |
|
|
|||
Fuel mileage | 37-50
mpg, 44.6 mpg avg. |
39-46
mpg, 42.6 mpg avg. |
|
Average range | 143
miles |
145
miles |
|
RPM at 60 mph | 5th
gear: 4080 |
top
gear: 3100 |
|
Quarter-mile | 13.31
sec. 97.2 mph |
13.71
sec. @ 93.2 mph |
|
top-gear accel. |
200yds from 50 mph terminal speed: 84.8 mph |
200yds
from 50 mph terminal speed: 82.2 mph |
|
HP | 53hp
@ 6500rpm |
60hp
@ 5000rpm, |
|
Torque |
The
VS800/S50 was originally available as a 700cc
or 750cc
1985 thru 1988 models had Cast Wheels as an option.
Commonly called Snowflake Rims
1989 thru 1999 models had a 21" front wheel
*** 1987 - 1996 VS1400
Intruders 4 speed ***
*** 1997 - 2004 VS1400 2005
- 2009 S83 5spd***
AFAIK
Europe got the 5 Speed Transmission in 1992
AFAIK
Canada got the 5 Speed
Transmission in 1994
Opinions above are
mine & mine alone
While I strive to have accurate information
it is possible there may be errors
There
is a lot of useful information on this site, but errors are possible
All Images/external links open in New Tab
Helpful
answers are $1.00 each
dumb looks are still FREE
These Tips come from many people,
on the various
motorcycle forums I frequent.
I Am Not Responsible For Use/Misuse Of These Tips &
Tricks
Use @ Your Discretion
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©
2002-------> Intruder Alert.Ca |
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