Suzy 400 Intruder

[baffa]

So ive never ridden cruisers.
Main ride up til recently has been a CBR900RR, and ive splashed out on a CBR1000RR Repsol, which I love, but needed to find a buyer for the 900. A guy offered a trade on a 97 Intruder, which would give me something for the gf to learn to ride on.

After riding sports bikes for so long, cruisers feel fecking wierd. this thing has Harley Z bars and a 21 inch front wheel, but it makes me laugh everytime I ride it. I'll always prefer sports bikes, but im finally understanding the apeal of the cruiser. (Yes yes I know its only a puttu 400cc, but once the gf has her full, who knows?)
Does anyone regularly commute on cruisers here? Im commuting on a CBR1000 atm, surely a cruiser cant be much more impractical than that?

Also is there anything to be aware of on the Intruder? Its only done about 27000km, and is shaft drive, so seems like itll be pretty easy to maintain, but Im not used to cruisers, so apart from keeping all the chrome clean and dry, any tips or things to watch out for on these bikes?

[caseye]

ride the wheels off it, you won't kill it.Otherwise maintenance is same as any other, fluids, plugs, filters and ride.
Sounds like it has a bit of character, wife is riding an 89 NV 400 Custom Nonda, now that's a classy cruiser.

[baffa]

By the way what would you run in terms of tyre pressures on this thing? The front has a 21 inch 90 90 fitted.

Cheers

[caseye]

Well, at the risk of invoking the wrath of the many armchair nexperts I'd run 30 pound to start and see where she goes.

[ruaphu]

Does anyone regularly commute on cruisers here? Im commuting on a CBR1000 atm, surely a cruiser cant be much more impractical than that?


Hey, Yep I commute most days on a cruiser. Used to use a GSX1200Y, a CBR 750 before that, both were great, but got uncomfortable after a while. Finally got a Suzuki VL 1500 due to knee issues, loved it. Staged three jet kit, K & N filter and great Cobra exhausts to suit. Was a great bike to commute, tour, pillion, general riding etc, comfortable way to go and had a blast at the same time with the extra power and noise.

Traded it today for another cruiser, a 2005 Kawasaki 2000cc Vulcan cruiser all kitted out, feckin fab to commute on with all that torque, will be even better touring around.

Cruisers are all about torque, makes for easy riding, awesome two up and ya can bling them out with all sorts of stuff from great accessory web sites, cruiser customizing .com etc

Cheers

[Bren]

Traded it today for another cruiser, a 2005 Kawasaki 2000cc Vulcan cruiser all kitted out, feckin fab to commute on with all that torque, will be even better touring around.

Cruisers are all about torque, makes for easy riding, awesome two up and ya can bling them out with all sorts of stuff from great accessory web sites, cruiser customizing .com etc

Cheers

Love them Vulcans....though mine is only 1500 of them little cubed beasties....yeah cruisin is cruisin...nothin like it in the world...it aint how fast ya get there, its HOW ya love the ride that counts!

[ruaphu]

Love them Vulcans....though mine is only 1500 of them little cubed beasties....yeah cruisin is cruisin...nothin like it in the world...it aint how fast ya get there, its HOW ya love the ride that counts!

Your so right there Bren.

[baffa]

Starting to understand that a little more. Went for a ride with no destination in mind today, which hasnt happened for awhile. Problem is, now im tempted to flick the 400 and get the 1400, or at least find a way to rip the baffles out so the 400 stops sounding like a lawn mower.