I've been told what was the Suzuki Intruder 1400 has been renamed the Boulevard S83 a couple years ago. Is this bike any good for pulling a sidecar? Does it have the lower gear torque? Is it able to cruise well at 65 mph? Would it need a sub-frame? Doesn't anyone have a sidecar attached to one?
Wayne, my better half, has a 1990 Intruder 1400 and it got it's first sidecar in 92. Since then it has been hacked to 3 other sidecars. It has a 4 speed transmission, not like the newer 5 speed ones. It has a lot of torque and cruises along just fine at 70 plus. We didn't have a subframe but over the years Ron has modified the clamps to suit himself and has built sort of a subframe for it.
I've attached Velorex 562 sidecars to several 1400 Intruders. Most were owned by persons of short stature. Due to the low seat heigth I guess.
No sub-frame is needed. The exhaust and forward controls need to be R&R'ed
to complete the installation. The small 21" tire doesn't seem to impose a problem in handling or stopping. Power is more than adequate.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecar
After doing some reading about road tests, I've got three concerns. Can you confirm if they are issues and if so how were they corrected? 1) Long trip comfort 2) The increased rake and handlebar causes low speed issues with solo bike 3) The brakes are "mushy" and wear out pads quickly
Troll, I don't think that any of your concerns are insurmountable if the S83 is the bike you want. If you find after purchase that long distance comfort is lacking, many traditional solutions are available to improve the situation. Aftermarket seats, floorboards, highway pegs, forward controls, windshields and handlebar swaps all come immediately to mind. Additional costs? Sure, but the joy is in making YOUR bike fit YOU like a glove! I put a Mustang seat, saddlebags and highway pegs on my 1986 Intruder 700 and rode it from Washington state to Ohio and back, ~6000 miles round trip. I wasn't smart enough at the time to add a windshield, but it would've really been nice crossing the Great Plains states! Why are you worried about slow speed handling of the solo bike if you're going to rig a sidecar to it? Usually the problems that you hear about on Cruiser style motorcycles are more like quirks that you adjust to and compensate for as you become familiar with your motorcycle. You might find too that those "quirks" are influenced by tire brand selection and stock suspension components. A bike specific enthusiasts board might have some insights into those mysteries. If you find your brakes to be soft or spongy, you might try bleeding the lines real good or converting them to braided lines which are reputed to swell less and firm up the lever feel. As far as pads and wear, again, I suspect that if it is really a problem you'll find good recommendations on an enthusiast's board. One big advantage you should have with a bike like this is it's long lineage. I believe the first Intruders debuted in 1985 at the 700cc displacement level and were followed in a few years by the 1400cc models. After the tariff laws were repealed the 700's grew to the 800's that continue on into the Boulevard guise of today. With over 20 years of model production, the aftermarket should have a number of options available to help make YOUR bike fit YOU! Hope that my ramblings help to ease your mind. Steve
Do a search for RonC and send him an email. I'm almost certain he runs a 1400 as his tug. I'm sure he'll answer your questions. He's also in Dekalb, Illinois which is close enough for a first hand look.
