2006 Suzuki Intruder VL800 10.000km Review

In May 2019 I bought this motorcycle, and since then I've ridden 10.000km+ on it (right now somewhere between 12.000km and 14.000km). Since there are little to no long-term reviews of this motorcycle, I decided to make one.
Video / Audio Gear:
GoPro Hero 9 | www.amazon.nl/...
GoPro Hero 9 Media Mod | www.amazon.com...
Purple Panda Microphone | www.amazon.com...
Sandisk Extreme 64GB MicroSD | www.amazon.com...
Davinci Resolve | www.blackmagic...
Clothing:
HJC RPHA 70 Matt Black | www.amazon.com...
REV'IT Ignition 3 Jacket | www.amazon.com...
Grand Canyon Body Protector | www.grandcanyo...
DIFI Madison Aerotex Pants | www.motoport.n...
Modeka Goby Dry | www.amazon.nl/...
Bering Java | www.amazon.nl/...
Dane Fyre | www.motoport.n...
Combat Boots | stockhouse.nl/...
Accessories:
RAM Mounts X-grip | www.amazon.com...
RAM Mounts UN10 Tether | www.amazon.com...
RAM Mounts Double Socket Arm | www.amazon.com...
RAM Handlebar U-Bolt Base | www.amazon.com...
Oxford Premium Heated Grips Cruiser V2 | www.amazon.com...
Export: 60FPS | MPEG | MPEG4 | 1080p |

[@buffalodebill1976]

Having saddled the Intruder VL800 / C800 K9 (2009 - 2020, did some 70k km) and now saddling a 2003-model one, I somewhat disagree with your cons: 1. I never really missed the 6th gear, as the (rather) short gear translated the engine power to a comfortable ride quite well. Just kick in the 5th (starting with some 50 kmph), and you have smooth and strong acceleration up until some 140 kmph, and the engine still does not scream. Ideal for city, local roads, but quite sufficient for highways, too. 2. All those plastic parts were there to make the bike less heavy, meaning you would get more power and more mileage from the same engine (here, also, carburetor vs FI is a factor). For comparison, my carburetor-operated 2003 model has 17 liter fuel tank, but my mileage is slightly lower than with my previous 2009 FI-operated model (by some 30+ km). Also the comfortable top speed is slightly lower (by some 5 kmph). 3. I never had any complaints about the stock seat on the 2009 model, but admittedly, the one on the 2003 model is slightly different and a hair less comfortable. Not a big deal for me, though. I guess comfort level of seating is always a matter of personal preference. 4. The oil change frequency never bothered me - changing it is a matter of 15 minutes anyway. More, that 6k km frequency is the recommended one, but in case of "emergency" or just being lazy, you can safely switch to / delay for a 10k km interval(-s). 5. Weird.. Both my bikes had electronic fuel gauges. BTW the 2009 model had also a selected gear indicator on its display, which the 2003 model lacks (not a big deal for me). LbnL I made a few longer trips to & through Austrian and Slovenian Alps, with fully packed saddle bags (22l each), a backpack (55l) and a GF in the rear seat. No windshield. I had zero issues, very little to no discomfort even after a full day of riding.. I'm really not sure there's many other bikes I could say the same about - and that IMHO is a testimony to overall greatess of this little beast. Ride hard & ride safe 🙂

[@Peacemaker00008]

Great review 👌 Thank you 👍

[@caridinaintruder4218]

@@Peacemaker00008 You're welcome ^.^ .

[@bresalibera7169]

Just bought a 2011 Intruder 800c. It will be my first bike. Hope I got the right choice. I sat on it and found it really comfortable. Looking forward to driving it on our panoramic roads. Greetings from Lake Iseo, Northern Italy.

[@caridinaintruder4218]

Have fun with it!

[@thebikegeekandmore2448]

Thanks for the video. Please do more review of this bike and let us know about your experience from the bike!

[@caridinaintruder4218]

I sold the C800 over a year ago, so that's not really possible. If you want more info, please let me know it the comments, and I will try to reply as accurate as possible with the memories I have of the motorcycle.

[@thebikegeekandmore2448]

@@caridinaintruder4218 May I ask why you sold it? Any technoical reasons?

[@caridinaintruder4218]

@@thebikegeekandmore2448 I was looking for a bike more adventure oriented, but also had about €2.5k in repairs around the cornor, and most of these costs were already present when I bought the bike from the dealer (Which I didn't know about). So t.b.h. I just wanted to get rid of it A.S.A.P.

[@NZVideoGuy]

What repairs did the motorcycle need done? Anything major like engine or transmission? Thanks.

[@NonStoppie]

Cool bike. Nice review !

[@caridinaintruder4218]

Thanks :)!

[@Meifesto]

yeah, 10.000km is a good start for a review :)

[@caridinaintruder4218]

A review should be of a longer period of time, not just 20 minutes. You cannot really review something in that duration, because when you ride the motorcycle for a longer period of time you will find out things you will not find out in 20-30 minutes. Everything other people title as "Review" should be called "First Impression". I should have done the same with the Scout, but I learned from that. All feature videos of me test-riding motorcycles will be "First Impression" videos.

[@Meifesto]

@@caridinaintruder4218 Yupe, agree. At least a few days for a decent starting review. 2 or 3 hours is a first impression.

[@caridinaintruder4218]

@@Meifesto well, to be honest, a "First Impression" starts at the moment you think of the motorcycle/see the motorcycle. So theoretically speaking everything up to a few days is a first impression. Even 5 minutes walking around the motorcycle without even touching it. The value of these first impressions is very useless, but well, it still is a first impression.

[@Meifesto]

@@caridinaintruder4218 Just a look at the bike, or a walk around the bike i would call a first look. Impression to means sitting on it, feeling its behaviour on the road etc. But yeah, that is based on personal taste and the definition men hold to the term "first impression".

[@max98765ful]

Is there a warning lamp when the fuel is low? And thanks for all the fine information

[@caridinaintruder4218]

Yes, there is. The only issue: there is no proper documentation on how much fuel is left when the fuel light comes on. I think it's when there is about 3L left.

[@jerryeastman8407]

I have an 04 that is stock and has fuel gauge.

[@Animosus08]

I own a 2004 VL 800 Volusia and i have a fuel guage 🤔

[@caridinaintruder4218]

Strange. Mine came with the "low fuel light", but not with an actual gauge which shows how much fuel is left.

[@Animosus08]

@@caridinaintruder4218 i have a digital guage just below the speedometer :) it shows 1-6 "bars" of fuel.

[@caridinaintruder4218]

​@@Animosus08 Maybe this has something to do with the country yours was produced for.

[@Animosus08]

@@caridinaintruder4218 could be, mine was first registered in Sweden (and still is).