Suzuki Volusia 800

There's a simple rule at Horror HQ. It states that if you take a testbike home for the weekend then it must come in Monday morning washed, detailed and full of fuel. A pretty simple rule one would imagine.

Why then was I pushing Suzuki's new Intruder Volusia cruiser towards the beckoning lights of the distant BP servo on my way home at 11.38pm on Monday deadline night? Why indeed Mr Chapman?

Blatant Lie?
It had been about 11.35pm that evening that I became thankful for a couple of things, the first being the blatant lie in Suzuki's PR material. Blatant lie?

The Suzuki brochure reckons the Volusia has a 16lt fuel tank, but I can assure you that it's possible to fit 16.48lt into that fuel cell. I have the fuel receipt to prove it.

It's a blatant lie I was more than happy to go with. That additional half litre saved me an extra 8.5km push, given the Volusia's consumption of 17.3km/lt during AMCN's period of ownership.

The second thing I was thankful for at that time of the evening was Suzuki's extensive use of plastic on the Volusia. Plastic weighs a lot less than steel, and with my thighs already burning from my uphill push, every gram was invaluable as I inched closer to my green and yellow oasis.

Of course Suzuki didn't design the Volusia just to be pushed, which is why I also chalked up a couple of weeks of actual riding - commuting and weekend 'cruising'. And unlike my colleague Chappo, I also mastered the art of removing the lockable fuel cap and inserting the nozzle at the bowser...

Price Sensitive
The Volusia is Suzuki's most recent incarnation of its VL800 Intruder, and its contender in the eagerly contested mid-capacity cruiser class.

As for the name, Volusia is the US county in Florida that plays host to the annual Daytona Speed Week, hence the convoluted cruiser connection for an 800cc V-twin built in Japan.

At $11,490 the Volusia slips into the category midway between Honda's budget-priced VT750C Shadow at $10,990 and upspec'd VT750DC Black Widow at $12,190. Kawasaki's Vulcan 800 Classic is $500 dearer than the Volusia at $11,990, while Yamaha's XVS650A Drag Star goes for $11,399 -$91 less.

Add in Moto Guzzi's Nevada 750 at $11,495 and Harley-Davidson's XLH883 at $10,500 and it's easy to see that it's a crowded marketplace.

With the Drag Star and the VT750 lying third and fifth respectively on the overall cruiser sales chart year to date, it's easy to see why Suzuki also wants a slice of the midleweight cruiser pie.

Big Looker
Whether the Volusia will be the bike to do it for the S brand remains to be seen. It's certainly got the big-bike look on its side. The deeply valanced guards, fat tank and dual rightside pipes all scream 'I'm a big bike'.

That seems to be one of the pre-requisites for success in the category -make the bike look like a full-on 1500, but stamp it with an 800 price.

That latter point is an important one, as past experience has shown that the middleweight cruiser sector is a price-sensitive category, irrespective of whether the bike looks exactly like big brother or not. Come in a grand dearer than the opposition and you can bet the warehouse will remain piled high with stock.

With the lower 800 price comes the knock-on benefit of less weight than a full-size cruiser (which makes it all the more perplexing that Suzuki doesn't list a claimed dry weight for the Volusia). Hence the lighter middleweight category appeals to newcomers to motorcycling stepping up from their Ls and Ps, or to those who want something a bit easier to manage due to encroaching years or small physical size.

And I can assure you, that lesser mass is something I appreciated at 11.38pm that deadline night...

Honest Performer
The Volusia's liquid-cooled 45-degree V-twin powerplant has been around for a while now, and was previously found in Suzuki's VZ800 Marauder.

In its single-carb form in the Volusia it's an honest performer, providing usable if not arm-wrenching grunt. There's enough go for top-gear overtaking, as a day's ride battling sightseeing tintops along the coast proved.

It's quite a refined mill, the vibes never becoming obtrusive. It's much smoother than the engine on AMCN's long-term 883 Harley, with the Volusia's controls also light and precise -throttle, clutch, gearshift and brakes.

Curiously the testbike was surprisingly cold-blooded, requiring a lengthy period of choke before it would run without hesitation. Then again, it is winter in Melbourne...

Standard Fare
The Volusia's chassis is standard cruiser fare, with the short-travel monoshock rear (designed to look like a hardtail) quite acceptable for highway travel, although a little harsh on bumpy secondary roads. I didn't get it to bottom out, although I reckon a heavier payload (pillion and/or luggage) may find it wanting. There's seven-way spring preload adjustment to assist here.

The non-adjustable front end is surprisingly good given the Volusia's budget price, soaking up the bumps and giving top-notch stability. The front brake too is better than the norm for this category, although a strong pull on the lever is required.

The Volusia's broad saddle is well-padded and comfy, although a firm ridge at the back of it can be annoying on bumpy roads -although I only 'sampled' it while pushing my butt cheeks back to help stretch my legs a tad.

No stretching concerns with the wide 'bars though, as they were quite comfy in all usages -including extended 110kmh touring.

Plastic Fantastic
My greatest criticism of the Volusia lies in Suzuki's copious use of plastic on the model -from the deeply valanced guards to the ill-fitting steering-stem cover to the 'chromed' instrument console to the taillight surround to the 'chromed' trim strips on either side of the rear guard. Everywhere you look there seems to be plastic -and not all that well fitted, either.

I guess that's to be expected when a bike has to be built to a price, but I can't help but wonder just how good the finish will be a couple of years down the track.

AMCN's long-term Harley on the other hand is mostly steel and aluminium, which gives the option of painting, rechroming or polishing when things start to get tatty. Disposable versus renewable -take your pick.

Hog Fooled?
While I may have been fooled by the Volusia's digital fuel gauge after Chappo's blatant disregard of Horror HQ rules, there were plenty of casual observers fooled by the Volusia's big-bike looks.

'Is that a Harley' I was asked on more than one occasion.

For those looking to spend $11,490 on a cruiser, that may be the only reason they need...

Note: Suzuki Australia has a range of accessories available for the Volusia, including:
sissy bar and rear carrier ($548.90);
saddlebags ($550.94);
saddlebag supports ($163.38);
windshield ($495.03);
rear fender trim ($241.69);
front fender trim ($218.72);
and front accessory bar ($240.32).