Suzuki Marauder 800 (VZ800) reviews

I am 61 yrs old and got back into biking after 15 years. I read reviews on bikes for 5 months before deciding on this bike. I was able to test drive it. But I was set on a Ducati, good thing I didn't get that. Even though I am 61, I do believe if it's between you legs you will use it: none of us need to go 130mph, life is hard enough without becoming disabled or brain dead. I like the bike a lot. I have 400 miles on it and it handles very well. I was surprised that it cornered so well, I hit the peg once but that's good because it's a way to let you know to ease up and the peg comes up when you hit it so you can even go down further and it doesn't hit till you are pretty far down. On the freeway, the bike is very stable. I was blown around by the wind but not the bike at 79mph. So I got a windshield that I am putting on today and a rear luggage rack that looks way better than the afterthought passenger seat that is not cool looking. So take it easy, start out slow, and stay slow. Smell the scents in the road and grow up to be 61 like me waiting to dribble in a nursing home, or have a midlife crisis and get another bike at 61, midlife crisis : how many people do you know that are 122 yrs old? Show less

This is my first bike and I am learning to ride on it. I love the bike. It looks great and runs great. Once it gets warmed up in the cold weather we have here in Maryland, I will get to ride a lot more. Show less

Like I said, this is a great big little bike. The only thing I would change is the gear ratio in the pinion or an overdrive in fifth or sixth gear. Anyway you slice it, I believe the bike has enough torque to handle a taller gear and this would lose the unnecessary revs at highway speeds. Show less

I have really enjoyed the Volusia. It has just enough power to have fun with whithout too much weight. It gets a lot of attention from other riders because it just looks cool! It has the distinctive "Fatboy" look to it. Show less

Purchased a used VL800 1 month ago. It had 6000 miles on it, so it's hardly broken in. This is my second bike, and I couldn't be happier. The styling is fantastic, I've even had die hard Harley guys tell me "that's a heck of a nice bike". The response and the bikes handling makes you want to ride forever. I've gone on a 3 hour trip, and my only complaint is that I need a little more padding in the seat. A gel cover will fix that. I love riding my new bike. Show less

Bought this bike new in April 2005 and have had absolutely no issues with it. Decent power (for a v-twin), very nice chrome and paint and great handling for a cruiser makes me proud to own this bike. Worthless stock seat has to be replaced immediately and stock exhaust is superquiet which to me is a shame as far as the "soul" factor goes. I have been riding for 34 years and have not owned a more completely satisfying bike to ride. Fun and trouble free bike. Show less

I can't say enuff great things about this bike! It's engineering is advanced, it's powerful, and looks great. I especially liked the driveshaft over belt drive, etc. Mine is a 2003 Silver VS800. The silver and chrome look awesome together...especially with exhaust going down both sides. I tried some Cobra slip ons which sounded good, but ended up cutting the baffles out of the stock mufflers and put them back on. What a great sound! Adding a wide highway bar with pegs. Harley's may be the popular choice, but I'll take this bike over similar Harley's any day. Much smoother shifting, etc. Show less

I am 55 years...and riding is a tad tougher on the bod than it used to be. But I've got a wild hair...and took a 2000 mile trip..alternatley camping and staying in a motel along the way. I picked 45-55mph back roads through Idaho , Oregon and washington state. This is what this bike is made for. freeway speeds are un-fun on this bike for me. But I had a blast. The bike handles well..has low vibration at 45-60 and was relativley comfortable for an old dude. Great Bike! Show less

No doubt that this is a great bike and like most Suzuki's, a great value. An awesome bike for cruising at 55-60 on a two lane highway or even a twisty type mountain road. I have a windshield but basically a stock bike. Problem, if there is a problem, is on the freeway. Is a 450 pound bike enough? I commute 35 miles one way from the mountains into downtown Denver each day. The fifteen miles of freeway are definitely the not so fun part of a fun trip. Plenty of throttle response, that's not the problem, want to go 80? just go. No, the problem is that at 65-70 on the freeway you feel like you're on a bicycle, being blown around and not feeling real solid on the ground. I don't think that's the Intruder's fault, just having a bike that's not heavy enough. So, do you move up to a Volusia? Probably not, same V-twin engine but another 100 pounds, not enough umph for the mountains. Go up to an Intruder 1400, now a Boulevard 90? Maybe, but now you're over 600 pounds and getting up there like one of those overpriced Harleys - and they aren't known as "hogs" for nothing. So, like the rest of life, you make tradeoffs, try to avoid the freeway and utilize the bike where its strengths lie, and that's in almost every other area. Any further thoughts on the right bike for both nimble cruising plus solid freeway feel? I'd like to hear them. Thanks, M Jones 5-3-2006. Show less

I bought this bike expecting a nice comfortable cruiser. What I got was so much more. With the astounding low-end torque and the low riding seat, I instantly fell in love. My last bike was a Yamaha 1100 maxima. It was fun, but this v-twin gives me much more of what I want. It's more stable at all speeds, smooth and throaty off the lot, hands down the best bike for the money. Show less