Suzuki S83 Boulovard, good/bad whatdaya know?

**hush** · 8th December 2011, 22:22

Anyone on here riding an S83 Boulovard, good points bad points, looking for some sort of revue on this model.

**The Lone Rider** · 9th December 2011, 05:09

They are pretty good bikes.

Nothing spectacular, but nothing horrible either.

A little compact in overall length, in my opinion, but I am over 6 feet tall and 100kg so I like a bigger sized bike.

**wainui** · 11th December 2011, 06:38

I am 179cm an 90kgs and rode her 40000km
Bike fits me .easy to foot around,nimble for a cruiser great acceleration,can ride her all day love this bike.
Downside
small tank 167km range then switch to reserve.
little cramped after a couple of hours so have foot extension
Seat can be hard if riding long time so had it reshaped ,cheap fix.
can be a little light in twisties up front but you deal with it
ok for 2up no lack of power

regular maintainance no major isues.

S83 and vs1400 are same bike
they can be done up to be a beautifiul bike.
Check Intruder Alert

**Whisper** · 29th December 2011, 17:13

Mate has one....swears by it.....

**Dangsta** · 22nd July 2012, 17:20

Just bought one. Only my third bike but holy crap it's fast compared to the mid sized cruisers I'm used to. Handles fine and reasonably comfortable. I'll put some forward controls on her so I can stretch out a bit. The small tank is my only complaint but not a massive issue in a small country like nz.

**Robert Taylor** · 26th July 2012, 20:47

Originally Posted by Dangsta

Just bought one. Only my third bike but holy crap it's fast compared to the mid sized cruisers I'm used to. Handles fine and reasonably comfortable. I'll put some forward controls on her so I can stretch out a bit. The small tank is my only complaint but not a massive issue in a small country like nz.

Handles fine? What planet are you on?

**The Lone Rider** · 26th July 2012, 20:56

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Handles fine? What planet are you on?

One with a bike apparently. As opposed to someone with no bike.

**Virago** · 26th July 2012, 21:50

Around three years ago I looked at the S83 as a possible upgrade for the crusty old Virago, and took a new one for an extended test ride.

A nice ride on the open road, pretty good ergonomics for a short-arse.

I found it was a real bitch around town though. The fairly radical rake and long forks made it "flop" into corners - I had to hold the bars quite forcefully to prevent a full-lock flop into corners - a problem magnified by the fashionably stubby drag-bars.

On the subject of those bars, it placed the mirrors so close together that all I could see was my own shoulders. No amount of contortion would allow me see what was behind me.

I'm guessing that a change to wider and perhaps pulled back bars might have improved both issues, but I decided it wasn't for me.

**wainui** · 27th July 2012, 08:46

Originally Posted by The Lone Rider

One with a bike apparently. As opposed to someone with no bike.

**Robert Taylor** · 27th July 2012, 17:55

Originally Posted by The Lone Rider

One with a bike apparently. As opposed to someone with no bike.

Apologies, I didnt realise you had to own a motorcycle to be qualified to comment. The reality is though that likely Ive owned a good deal more bikes than you over the years and worked on a good deal more. But moreover its nice to be interested more in facts than emotion.

Like most cruisers, irrespective of brand (metric and non metric) such machines are pretty challenged on our bumpy roads and Virago highlighted some of the issues that he found. The forks are undersprung with way too much preload, there is little to no low speed compression damping but way too much high speed compression damping. Its a similiar issue in the rear as well. Chassis pitch control is poor as is ride quality and that also negatively impacts on the handling. These may be one of the better cruisers in that respect but its not something that Id ride on the road and put up with, it would have to be sorted.

**s8306** · 27th July 2012, 22:07

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Apologies, I didnt realise you had to own a motorcycle to be qualified to comment. The reality is though that likely Ive owned a good deal more bikes than you over the years and worked on a good deal more. But moreover its nice to be interested more in facts than emotion.

Like most cruisers, irrespective of brand (metric and non metric) such machines are pretty challenged on our bumpy roads and Virago highlighted some of the issues that he found. The forks are undersprung with way too much preload, there is little to no low speed compression damping but way too much high speed compression damping. Its a similiar issue in the rear as well. Chassis pitch control is poor as is ride quality and that also negatively impacts on the handling. These may be one of the better cruisers in that respect but its not something that Id ride on the road and put up with, it would have to be sorted.

Yep agree with that.Changed the front springs with progressive springs from the states,makes a big difference in the cornering,bike does'nt drift like it use to,changing the tires also helps,the bridgestones these bikes come out with are crap,went to Pirelli's which suit it nicely.Handlebars are a joke,to narrow,26 inches wide,stuff all leverage,have a set being made at the moment,32 inches wide which should improve things.These are nice bikes but can be made to be a lot better with a few upgrades.

**Robert Taylor** · 28th July 2012, 09:58

Originally Posted by s8306

Yep agree with that.Changed the front springs with progressive springs from the states,makes a big difference in the cornering,bike does'nt drift like it use to,changing the tires also helps,the bridgestones these bikes come out with are crap,went to Pirelli's which suit it nicely.Handlebars are a joke,to narrow,26 inches wide,stuff all leverage,have a set being made at the moment,32 inches wide which should improve things.These are nice bikes but can be made to be a lot better with a few upgrades.

Actually you would have got a hugely better result again in the front end if you had fitted linear wind springs in an appropriate rate for you, matched to a carefully selected oil level and Race Tech emulators. Only 50% of the problem is springing and progressive springs are an old school and less sophisticated way of ''fudging'' a result. 50% of the issue is in fact very poor hydraulic control, too little low speed compression damping, but also way too much high speed compression damping.................

**wysper** · 28th July 2012, 12:13

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Actually you would have got a hugely better result again in the front end if you had fitted linear wind springs in an appropriate rate for you, matched to a carefully selected oil level and Race Tech emulators. Only 50% of the problem is springing and progressive springs are an old school and less sophisticated way of ''fudging'' a result. 50% of the issue is in fact very poor hydraulic control, too little low speed compression damping, but also way too much high speed compression damping.................

Hi Robert,

Would that be the same advice for an 883? Is there a big price difference between doing progressives and Linear wind springs (which I have no idea what they even are!)?
I was thinking of doing progressives at the next service, but if there is a better option without spending ridiculous money I would be interested. I ride fairly slowly, not aggressively and prefer to cruise. (hence the cruiser LOL). Race tech's would be on the cards for a future date. I don't ride well enough to even consider Ohlins.

**s8306** · 28th July 2012, 15:10

Originally Posted by wysper

Hi Robert,

Would that be the same advice for an 883? Is there a big price difference between doing progressives and Linear wind springs (which I have no idea what they even are!)?
I was thinking of doing progressives at the next service, but if there is a better option without spending ridiculous money I would be interested. I ride fairly slowly, not aggressively and prefer to cruise. (hence the cruiser LOL). Race tech's would be on the cards for a future date. I don't ride well enough to even consider Ohlins.

The progressives i got were $77.00 american plus shipping.I'm like you,i dont ride fast or do anything that would warrant me spending more money to get a better ride.My wife rides an 04 1400 Intruder,same bike as the S83 but she has no upgrades on hers and the difference between the two is quite considerable.I could spend a bit more and get progressives for the rear but for now i'll just stick with what i've got.