Suzuki VL 800 Intruder Volusia 2007 — Specifications

When Suzuki decided to replace its Marauder 800, it didn’t revolutionize the mid-size cruiser blueprint. It launched the Volusia in 2001, a name evoking the warm sands of Florida, and dressed it in a suit cut from a proven pattern. You’re facing a shrunken Intruder 1500, an almost perfect clone that embraces its heritage without complex. The result? An imposing low rider silhouette, with its large headlight, fleshy fenders, and this 41 mm fork that gives it presence. The chrome shines, the shapes are fat and harmonious. A shame that this plastic-clad swingarm comes to spoil the party, a saving too visible on a motorcycle that wants to be elegant. Tests of the Suzuki VL 800 Intruder Volusia often reveal this detail, a small snag in an otherwise very correct evening gown.

The mechanics, however, are a familiar acquaintance. The 805 cm3 V-twin, inherited from the Marauder, delivers 52 horsepower at 6000 rpm and a torque of 64.7 Nm available from 3500 rpm. Water-cooled but dressed like an air-cooled model, it is remarkably discreet and supple. Coupled with a rare smooth shaft drive and a five-speed gearbox without any roughness, it defines the word "relax." But here's the thing, facing a Honda Shadow 750 or a Yamaha V-Star 650, it lacks bite, it seems less fast. The power is consistent, but we would have liked a few more horsepower to tickle the announced 160 km/h with a little more frankness.

Mounted on a double cradle frame, the whole thing weighs 267 kg when fully fueled, a mass that the riding position and the low seat at 700 mm make very accessible. You are seated upright, your feet slightly forward, for hours of riding without fatigue. The suspensions, although their travel is modest (140 mm at the front, 105 mm at the rear), correctly filter the French asphalt. The chassis is much more capable than you might think, but the limited ground clearance quickly reminds you that the Volusia was born to cruise, not to attack corners scraping the footpegs. The braking, with its 300 mm disc at the front and drum at the rear, is sufficient without being sporty, in the image of the motorcycle.

So, who is the rider of the Suzuki VL 800 Intruder Volusia 2001? The serene globetrotter, the one who prioritizes comfort, mechanical simplicity, and classic custom aesthetics over pure performance. With its 16-liter tank and reliable mechanics, it is made for long, straight roads and relaxed atmospheres. At 8399 euros new in 2007, it positioned itself as a credible and better-finished alternative than some, despite its misplaced plastic. It doesn’t surprise, it doesn’t revolutionize anything, but it offers an honest, robust, and terribly pleasant package to live with daily. A cruiser that fully embraces its role as a beautiful, wrapped, and tranquil lady.