Intruders-Alert

I'll add that when Suzuki introduced the VS700 in the US Canada got the 750cc version.

It should be noted that the 87-89 versions of the VS1400 had a different CDI unit and can't use the CDI units from newer versions. There is plenty of evidence that the earliest 1400's produced more HP & TQ>

IIRC the 1400 actually began life for the 87 model year when the tariff ended.
Canada received the 5 speed version of the 1400 a model year before the US in 96 & I have heard reports of at least 2 bikes from 90 or 91 with a 5 speed transmission (think European markets got it before Canada even) but have not been able to verify this information

Yes my 1996 1400 looked just like Emu's but was a four speed and his 96 was a five.They were so close to gear four and five in the five speed I would not care which when trading rides with friends with five speeds.Now my 1700 RoadStars five speed is great.Sofar apart from four to five its like a over drive.And my six speed on the Vstrom is nice.Night Wolf has been riding the 650 Strom a lot.Sure he has put a lot more than my 34,000 on one.

old time rider wrote:Yes my 1996 1400 looked just like Emu's but was a four speed and his 96 was a five.They were so close to gear four and five in the five speed I would not care which when trading rides with friends with five speeds.Now my 1700 RoadStars five speed is great.So far apart from four to five its like a over drive.And my six speed on the Vstrom is nice.Night Wolf has been riding the 650 Strom a lot.Sure he has put a lot more than my 34,000 on one.

I don't ride as much as I used to & now I have 2 bikes to choose from when we head out; it's nice having a choice, might add a 3rd streetbike to the mix (looking @ the Honda CBX 500)

I remember reading somewhere that at 70 mph the VS1400 top gear 5th lowers rpm about 300 rpm compared to VS1400 top gear 4th.

NE_FL wrote:I remember reading somewhere that at 70 mph the VS1400 top gear 5th lowers rpm about 300 rpm compared to VS1400 top gear 4th.

Yes there isn't a big difference in RPM between the 4 & 5 speed versions

When I first was getting used to my 2002 1400 I kept doing that at 60 mph.. I thought I was still in 4th gear and I was reaching for 5th....took me a while to get used to the high pitch sounds at 70 mph.. But I loved the acceleration from 70 on up..at the time my two riding buddies had Harley's...... one was a 2003 Low Rider and the other was a 2000 Super Glide Sport, both were 88 ci engines and mostly stock and both couldn't keep up with the Beast on a 50, 60 or 70 mph roll on....It used to piss them off big time....In fact the Sport rider did all kinds of mods to boost his hp but all he could do with all those mods was just to keep up with me

Yes,I also have two bikes,honda1100 sabre,and a 99 intruder 1400,had a 96 model intruder a few yr's ago.I like the 99 5 speed but it seems like it is a little more top heavy than the 96 was,I cant figer it out but just wandering did they change any thing about the frame or rake between 1996 and1999?

Nope, but is the handlebar the same between the two?

ride on1946 wrote:Yes,I also have two bikes,honda1100 sabre,and a 99 intruder 1400,had a 96 model intruder a few yr's ago.I like the 99 5 speed but it seems like it is a little more top heavy than the 96 was,I cant figer it out but just wandering did they change any thing about the frame or rake between 1996 and1999?

Could the shock setting be higher on one of them?

Bet it is something like that as I could never feel any thing not the same but the so slight gearing on a five and four speed 1400.Traded rides a lot with friends that had five speeds.Never wanted a five after that.Now my five speed 1600 and 1700 RoadStars have a fifth gear that feels like a over drive.
I have way too many bikes and after telling the wife going to sell a few went and bought two more at near the end of 015! Now have another 650 Vstrom.Took the front wheel off it to replace my soon to be five year old 011 as it has one more year of warranty after March 017.So still looking for a front wheel cheap.My 09 has half the miles of my 011 that has 53,500 now with being down since June of last year when the front hub became toast.Other wise such a good bike.
They do more things good than any bike I ever owned of well over 30.They are such good tour bikes all so if solo.My wife will not even get on them,too tall, got to be the Harley or RoadStars now.She rode the C50 to Ga. coast and now its on her hate list all so. My 01 Nomad was by far best two up tour bike and only one ever for a 1,030 mile day on in 01.Did do a solo 900+ day at age 69 on the little 650 on way back from Colorado in 015 and not bad at all.