Harley Davidson’s done it. Yamaha’s done it. Suzuki needs to do it now too.
Big Dave has already revealed his admiration for Suzuki’s new power cruiser M109R in the current issue of Kiwi Rider, but I thought I should have a go too. I’ve only recently been able to “get” cruisers, probably because cruiser engines are now putting out HP figures that are in the respectable category. I know the difference between torque and horsepower, but the cruiser stuff I tried 15 years ago used to feel like a diesel to ride – that is the power arrived in short-lived “lumps”.
Now that I’ve ridden two variants of HD’s VRSC range and Yamaha’s MT-01, I’m perfectly willing to try all comers in the power cruiser range. I’m also quite impressed with the way these things handle now. The suspension actually goes up and down, and the steering only feels remote and floppy on the V-Rod at urban road speed limits. Open road and it works fine. The Street Rod and MT-01 are comparatively “normal” bikes in the Cruiser category, with steering that most non-Cruiser types would find familiar.
Pete at WMCC (crasherfromwayback on KB) keeps encouraging me to ride stuff that I wouldn’t normally consider, so it was relatively easy to extract the keys for the M109 from him. I’ve liked the looks of the M109 from the time I first saw pictures, even that much talked about headlight cowl, so I approached this rather large vehicle with quite a bit of positive anticipation. Rocking it up off the side stand was a piece of cake. It might weigh more than 300kg, but it carries it low. The Bar mounted instruments were just about in the perfect place while the tank mounted display needs a range of height adjustment to make it perfect for people under 6ft. The bars are bloody brilliant for a Cruiser, none of this tiller bar bullshit, but nice straight flat bars, widely spaced to give a decent amount of leverage. Big solid grips and switchgear complete the “manly” cockpit for the M109, thought the clutch lever could probably to with some range adjustment.
I always struggle to find the foot pegs on the first ride of a Cruiser, never quite reaching up and forward far enough to avoid a series of panicky bunny hops as I try to pull away from the kerb in that aggressively cool way that Cruiser riders seem to have down pat. My first gear change was straight into neutral too, the gear lever needing a firm prod to engage each ratio.
The first corner was brilliant. Contrary to expectation, the M109 responds to countersteering inputs precisely as you’d expect a “normal” bike to. I got no sense of the massive 240 section rear tyre slowing steering input down, in fact it was really stable, even when I nearly jumped out of the seat when I dragged first one heel, then the other through the first two direction changes I made.
From the Mt Victoria tunnel I went through some backroads to Kilbirnie shopping centre, determined to find any fault with the M109 in regards to what I consider acceptable handling in any motorcycle. I’m fairly certain I’ve never sat feet up and balanced and not moving for as long as I did on the M109R, waiting for a van to reverse out of a parking spot, as I have on any other motorcycle.
Hmmmm. The brakes are brilliant, the back brake in particular provided a huge amount of feel and stopping power, especially when compared to a “normal” bike with a front-end bias. It goes round corners at urban speeds like a “proper” bike. It accelerates like God himself has given you a kick in the arse. Bugger. Another Cruiser I like.
I continued on down to Lyall bay, scraping pegs and heels through the roundabouts on the beachfront road, along past the airport and into the twisties around the bays where I learned another cool trick. You can alter the ride height on the move! Accelerate, brake in a straight line, and then use the shaft effect to jack the rear up as you enter the corner. Progress got quicker and quicker from here on, the stable chassis, predictable handling, excellent brakes, and adjustable ride height, made extracting more than acceptable progress from the big giant hootie beast a very enjoyable prospect.
By the time I got to Miramar, I was almost ready to start hunting down the money to buy a second bike. Seriously. The pillion accommodation even looked like it would work.
I can see it now, cruising off into the sunset, bitch on the back, the sound of serious metric thunder helping to keep the concerns of the world at bay.
Sigh, I must be getting old or something.
However - Mr Suzuki - Where's my M109R powered Sports Cruiser, a la Yamaha's MT-01? I'm not suggesting that the engine is wasted in the M109, but by crikey, I'd like to be out thudding along on something with a bit more angle of dangle please, especially with THAT engine grabbing the horizon with its big meaty fists and dragging it closer. If HD can give us a Street Rod, surely Suzuki can give us an SV-109R.
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Seriously, that was a super write up. You haven't persuaded me to buy a cruiser but your elegant prose made me understand the attraction - well done mate, superbly written.
Originally Posted by Jim2
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