Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126929
~ CX) l-t iJ.) ..0 o .... u o The VS1400Gl's oil cooling system is shown in this cutaway drawing. The shaded areas show where the oil is directed from the single pump. The frame features a forged steering head that accepts a 41 mm fork with a 36-degree rake. Frames are painted to match the bike's painted parts. The clean lines of the Intruder are complemented by the 3.4-gallon fuel tank and the seat which puts the rider 28.3 inches off the ground. the back cylinder is oil-cooled. Why juSt the rear cylinder? "We wanted to keep it as simple and as light as possible," said Shigenoya. Shigenoya said the technology of the Intruder 1400 would be introduced into the Intruder 700 in the future, but when asked if that meant the '87 700 would have an oil-cooled rear cylinder, he said, "No commenl.'· Engine redline is set at 7000 (plus or minus 250 rpm) by a rev limiter. A four-speed constant mesh transmission, shaft drive, and wet multi-plate type clutch are complemented by a torque limiter in the rear hub. _ .. As will all '87 Suzuki street bikes, the Intruder 1400 will feature a starter interlock that prevents the engine from starting when the sidestand is down. Keeping in mind that the bikes. that were ridden at the press launching were pre-production models, the Intruder 1400 we rode would not start unless the sidestand was down. Pushing the electric start button pOlS a small cam gear into action and it opens the exhaust valves for 0.7 seconds to lower compression to provide for easy starting. The Intruder 1400 produces just w hat Suzuki intended, "a deep throaty sound." Taking the bike on a brief (40-minute) ride revealed smooth and impressive acceleration through the gears, gobs of torque, and impressive cruiser-bike handling, no doubt partially provided by the "fattest" rear tire on any production bike, a 170/80-15 monster. Available in either pull-back or flat bar versions, all Intruder 1400s will come with spoke wheels in '87. "Spoke wheel-equipped Intruder 700s sell two to one over mag wheel 7·00s," said Shigenoya. . The finish, at least on the preproduction models, was as promised-"jewel-like." Every nut and bolt is covered, wiring is routed inside the handlebars, the front brake hose is housed in chromed tubing, and three coats of paint areapplied to all painted surfaces (the frame matches the available colors-maroon or black for the pull-back bar models, and a dark blue for the flat bar model). Claimed wet weight is 571 pounds (the engine with exhaust system weighs 220 pounds). The 1987 Suzuki VSI400GL Intruder will start rollingoff the assembly line in Japan in mid-October and will be available to dealers in late November. Price? "In the $5000 range," said Shigenoya. With a grin he added, "Maybe 5-9-9-9, but then maybe 5-00- I. " It's more, much more than just another new model for the Japanese manufacturer. As Mr. Shigenoya put it, "The Intruder 1400 is not just a special machine, but a very, very special machine for the U.S. markel.". 25