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Suzuki Intruder thoughts/opinions

  • B

    Hi guys. 

    I just wanted to come here to ask opinions about the Suzuki Intruder VL800

    I've owned a 1993 Suzuki Intruder 800 for most of my riding years now. Admittedly, it's been sitting on my ramp for quite a few of those years while riding other bikes. I would like to eventually get her back on the road and give her a new life. 

    However, there is not a great deal of custom stuff for it. I am in the UK, ordering parts is mostly from the States or Germany, which makes it super expensive with the shipping costs, and it doesn't seem to get talked about a lot, or at least from what I can tell. And well, in fear of the answer is "because no one likes them", I'm just here to really ask, why?

    Is the Intruder 800 a terrible bike, and it's just not popular? I'd like to know people's thoughts and opinions on this.

    Don't worry, I have an unnatural amount of sentiment for this bike; she's always going to be with me, built or otherwise, and no one will convince me to get her sold/chucked😇. I just want to know why it seems that the intruder seems to be a bit of a black hole in terms of online presence. I am aware that it might just be me who hasn't found much about it. I know I can be a bit of a dumbass, and I can take abuse, but be gentle; I am a delicate petal. 🙏 

    ideas:
    1. I would like a bit more rake and extend out a little; the bike itself kinda looks a little small, and I reckon a touch more on the rake would make it look a bit more badass. (separate point, I have a buddy who has the 400, they bought the bike with a bit of stretch in the rake, but it's done by the yolk, not the headstock... I am unsure about what that does to the strain on the headstock. I've always thought the forks and headstock need to be parallel 🤷‍♂️)

    2. The bigger engines I've had a look at online, the mounting points look suspiciously similar to the 800 frame... would anyone be able to verify? not something I am looking to do immediately, but, y'know... options! I think upping the stopping power would be first if I were to go down that road. 

     

    Thanks in advance, guys! 

  • TJ

    @Batchtastic alright buckle up son - 

    1. It got renamed (so the “support” is hiding in plain sight)

    The biggest thing people miss:
    The Intruder line ended around 2005
    It was rebranded into the Suzuki Boulevard S50
    Mechanically… it’s basically the same bike

    That means:
    A LOT of “Intruder 800 support” exists… it’s just labeled Boulevard S50
    Forums, parts, and discussions shifted names. This alone makes it look like the Intruder disappeared online.

    2. It barely changed for 12+ years (no evolution = low aftermarket demand)

    The VS800 ran from ~1992 to 2004 with almost no real changes
    That sounds good… but here’s the catch:
    No redesign cycles = no hype cycles
    No major performance updates = no “problems to solve”
    No platform evolution = no aftermarket innovation

    Compare that to:
    Harley Evo → Twin Cam → M8 (constant parts ecosystem growth)
    Sport bikes → constant updates → huge tuning scenes.
    The Intruder 800 just… stayed the same.

    3. It sat in a really weird market position

    The Intruder 800 was:
    Not a beginner bike (like a Rebel 250)
    Not a “big boy” cruiser (like a 1400 or Harley)
    Not performance-oriented
    Not culturally iconic

    It was basically:
    “A solid, middleweight cruiser for people who just want to ride”
    That’s great for owners…
    but terrible for building a passionate aftermarket scene.

    4. It had internal competition from Suzuki itself

    Suzuki cannibalized its own platform:
    Suzuki VZ800 Marauder used the same engine
    Later, Boulevard lineup split into:
    C50 (classic cruiser)
    M50 (muscle cruiser)
    S50 (your bike, basically)

    Instead of one cult platform…
    you got 3–4 similar bikes splitting attention

    5. Cruiser culture didn’t adopt it

    This is huge
    Aftermarket follows culture, not logic.
    Harley = identity + lifestyle → massive parts ecosystem
    Honda Shadow = cheap + huge volume → big DIY scene
    Sport bikes = performance obsession → endless mods

    The Intruder 800?
    Reliable ✔
    Comfortable ✔
    Affordable ✔
    Cultural identity ❌

    No tribe = no content = no parts boom

    6. It’s actually too reliable and “done” from the factory

    Ironically, this hurts aftermarket:
    Shaft drive → fewer drivetrain mods
    Mild tune → long engine life
    No major flaws to “fix”

    People ride them… instead of modifying them

    That kills:
    Forum activity
    YouTube content
    Parts development
    7. The online era missed it

    Timing matters:
    Peak Intruder 800 years = pre-YouTube, pre-forum explosion
    By the time online moto culture blew up…
    The bike was already “old news”
    The industry had moved on to newer platforms


    The Intruder 800 is:
    One of the most underrated, reliable middleweight cruisers ever. Its 
    Mechanically solid
    Easy to live with
    …but it failed in 3 key areas that drive aftermarket ecosystems:

    No strong identity
    No evolution
    Got renamed mid-life.

    so there you have it. 
    changing the rak eouwld require raked triple trees, and i was not able to find anyone who makes those for that model of bike. the next option is cut the frame and adjust in a fixture. 

    as far as i can tell they are not compatible for an engine swap. but i am not able to tell from images and my research. 
    hope all this info helps you get it on the road. 
    my advice? leave it stock get it running and enjoy it till it dies. 

    DO FUN SHIT!
    Check the FAQ's here for tons of tuning info and more!! - t.ly/MA6r6

  • B

    @TJ awesome amount of info here dude.
    Thanks very much! 

    It's really good to know that the intruder is a good bike still.
    Although there's not much presence, it kinda makes it cool for me, as not many people have this bike. And who doesn't like having something that no one else has, right? 

    As for the forks, I'll find some extensions first and see how it looks. Otherwise, yeah, I'll have to make a jig and cut it. 

    Thanks hugely again for your time

  • TJ

    @Batchtastic no problemo!

    DO FUN SHIT!
    Check the FAQ's here for tons of tuning info and more!! - t.ly/MA6r6

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