2008 Suzuki reviews

I've had this for four years now. It has excellent power and handling. It turns on a dime, leans easily. The only negative is long rides but it's not a tourer. I did 900 km. one day and wrist, back and derrier were numb. I did have trouble with ISC-V and replaced it. I check gixxer forums for issues with the ISC, regulator/rectifier and rough idle. It's apparently an issue with '07 and '08. Overall, I am happy with this baby. Show less

I picked up this gem as a leftover model from 2008 in 2012 for 5k. All in all the bike is probably one of the best if not the best all-around bikes you can get. I've outridden Goldwings and Harleys on this thing with no problems and for being just a 650 it hauls my fat self around fast and nimble. Other than a few issues concerning the fuel system, one of which was already fixed by ASK(fuel gauge wasn't working due to sitting in old gas) and the gas tank not venting (will be contacting them tomorrow), I have zero complaints with the bike. Other than that, it can possibly roll off of the kickstand (tried twice with me but caught it both times) and the lack of aftermarket parts for it. Show less

This is my third bike and I have yet to find anything that could be considered a fault. It's reliable, comfortable, strong and good looking. If only I had time to ride it more! Show less

I've had my V-Strom 650 for over three years. It's seen snow, sand, rocks and mud. It's been in 100 degree heat and 12 degree frigid weather. I have been on the same terrain as the KTM adventures and the BMW GS's. My V-Strom cost a fraction of what those cost. Once you farkle it out, there's no stopping it. The V-Strom wasn't intended to be a dirt bike but it comes pretty close. After riding it offroad, go eat up the miles on the slab. The V-Strom is a superb all around motorcycle. Show less

This is a great all-around bike. Ride it as a comfortable naked bike and ride hard thru the twisties in comfort or load it up with bags and cargo and tour for a weekend or a week. One-up or two-up, the bike has plenty of power and room for every kind of road. The handling is also superb. Seating position is upright and easy on the arms, legs and back. Because it's so light, it's great as a commuter, too. I have riden mine in all kinds of weather including snow. I am amazed at how well the OEM tires perform on this bike. I laugh at rainy days. Show less

I bought a new leftover 2008 S83 in late summer 2009 at a great price - last one in the store. I got it for under $6,000. I had done a lot of research before I bought it. I wanted a lean, lighter weight, bigger displacement V-twin cruiser for under $10K. I was aware of the criticisms of the bike - squeaky brakes, grabby clutch, floppy low speed handling, uncomfortable seat, cramped riding position. Like a lot of 1980's vintage bikes, the S83 has a few quirks, but I think they add to the bike's character. The clutch is a little grabby coming off a stop and the brakes do squeak from time to time - so what, you get used to it. I found the other complaints to be nonissues. I find the midmount footpegs and original seat to be very comfortable, and I think that the bike handles just fine. The S83 has nice low end torque and plenty of power for passing on the highway. I only gave the S83 a 4 of 5 in performance, but my last bike was a HD V-rod that really scooted. My fuel economy was a little low at first (35-40 mpg.), but it really started to improve after about 2K miles on the odometer. Now I get 45-49 on the highway and 40-43 in mixed city-highway riding. Other than the clutch being a little grabby, my only complaint is the lean tuning out of the factory (to meet EPA standards). The bike does take a while to warm up and it hesitates a little on the low end when you first hit the throttle. I'm planning on a carb rejet at 4-5K miles - from what I hear, that should make the low end acceleration a lot crisper. The gas tank is only 3.6 gallons, but refueling every 100-120 miles is not a problem for me. The look of the bike is subjective - I love the narrow 1980's chopperesque look of the bike, and I do get a lot of compliments on its looks. My bike has the gold paint job - very nice looking. All in all, I'm very happy with the bike and I would buy it again without any hestitation. Show less

I currently only have 600 miles on my C109R. But wow, what an experience! The power that the v-twin puts out is great. You will never have to worry about hearing a Harley cuz they will never get close enough!! Great cruiser. Show less

I have ridden all classes of motorcycles from the 600 to the 1300. I have ridden all in between as well. For the value, agility, power, speed and style, it all came down to one motorcycle for me, the GSX-R750, and I have not changed my mind one bit in the three years I've owned it. My only flaw I saw was the servo butterfly and the welded cats. Show less

I looked at many bikes over a period of about 6 months (GSX650F, GS500F, Ninja 650R, FZ6R and several others,) but this one had the best price and was by far the most comfortable. For taller riders, this is your choice. It has plenty of power, weighs a bit more than it's competitor 650's, but it's not noticed. In fact, I think it feels lighter than the Ninja 650R. It's an excellent bike, I'm very pleased. Be safe. Show less

I bought this bike last year new and had to wait a couple of months for snow to leave before I could ride it. It performs like nothing else I have driven. It's scary fast, more power than you can use and handles like a dream, very smooth power and handling. I love this bike but it's no good for doubling. I bought the back seat for it to take my 12-year-old on it. We went for a couple of hour drive and he acted like an old man getting off of the back of it. But for one person, it's the total package. Show less