Statistics don’t usually tell the full story about a motorcycle but they tell us more about some bikes than they do about others.
Suzuki’s C1500T Intruder is one product that’s defined by its numbers but it’s none the worse for that. We’re not talking about the stats relating to the power and performance so much as the ones that describe this bike’s shape and size.
When you learn that it’s getting on towards two and a half metres long with a 1,675mm wheelbase but has a seat height just over 700mm from the asphalt, you start to imagine what it must be like riding down the road astride a wheeled torpedo.
Suzuki’s Intruder series has been on the go for a number of years and the C1500T sits below the mighty C1800R in the latest line-up.
This bike is not a cruiser from the old school with its abundance of chrome, instead it is finished rather smartly all in black. The typical low riding position and focus on comfort also mark the bike out from the more energetic alternatives. Not that it’s slow. With a 1,462cc V-Twin packing 78bhp and 97ft/lb of torque, there’s lots of potential to cut loose when the road opens up ahead.
Suzuki prices the C1500T Intruder at just under £11,000 and markets the bike as offering the dramatic styling of the C1800R cruiser flagship with extra manoeuvrability and an easier riding experience.
For their money, the C1500T buyer gets 363kg of bike with fuel and fluids on board. It has front disc brakes with dual piston callipers and a singe disc at the rear. This latest version also includes a Perspex screen and a pair of leather-like hard panniers. Despite the manufacturer’s claims, this added protection causes a vortex of wild air around the rider’s head at speeds above 50 miles per hour.
The Intruder is designed to deliver the muscle that riders look for in a big capacity cruiser while also achieving a high level of rider comfort. The vast seat is on a scale that will cosset even the most well-upholstered posterior and vibrations are kept to a minimum by rubber cushioned engine mounts. The C1500T is also fitted with a torque-limiting clutch featuring Suzuki’s Clutch Assist System for lighter, easier operation.
The huge exhausts are perhaps the Intruder’s key styling feature but they also serve to amplify its charismatic rolling thunder soundtrack while the hardtail styling of the back end neatly hides the rear shock absorber.
Suzuki’s C1500T Intruder takes cruiser style and attitude, adding an extra element of comfort and practicality. It’s a vast machine with sleek lines and the traditional low riding position but it is not the best ride on the market and that new wind shield needs some attention. For the easy riders however, it does a pretty good job.
Bike: Suzuki C1500 Intruder
Price: £10,999
Engine: 1462cc 8-valve liquid-cooled, V-Twin
Weight: 363kg (wet)
Seat height: 720mm
Power: 77bhp
Tank size: 18 litres
