2013–2017 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Budget Bagger, Honest Miles
The Intruder C1500T is sold in the US as the Boulevard C90T, and it's Suzuki's straightforward take on the big touring cruiser. Its heart is a liquid-cooled 54° V-twin of 1462 cc, rated at 79 hp and 97 lb-ft, with peak torque arriving at just 2,600 rpm. Behind the engine you get a 5-speed gearbox, a slipper clutch and shaft drive, all held in a steel double-cradle frame. A 65.9 in (1,675 mm) wheelbase and a fat 200/60-16 rear tire give it the long, low stance this category demands. No gimmicks, lots of metal. Classic Suzuki.
On paper, this hardware is built for covering distance at a relaxed pace. At 800 lb (363 kg) wet it's a heavy machine, and in this class that's deliberate: the mass sits low, under a 28.3 in (720 mm) seat that keeps the ground within easy reach. With 4.8 gal (18 L) of fuel and a rated 43 mpg, you're looking at roughly 200 miles between fill-ups. Shaft drive means there's no chain to clean or adjust on a long trip, and the whole spec points to low running costs. This is a bike for a rider who wants presence and miles, not bragging rights. Big, calm, frugal.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 79 hp (58 kW) @ 4,800 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 97 lb-ft (132 Nm) @ 2,600 rpm |
| Displacement | 1462 cc |
| Engine | 54° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front tire | 130/80-17 |
| Rear tire | 200/60-16 |
| Wheelbase | 65.9 in (1675 mm) |
| Seat height | 28.3 in (720 mm) |
| Wet weight | 800 lb (363 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 gal (18 L) |
| Fuel economy | 43 mpg (US) |
Over the years this bike has come up in paddock conversations, in owner chats on club nights, and in the emails and messages riders send me directly. The pattern is consistent. Owners like what it gives them for the money and the miles, and they are just as clear about where it runs short.
Riders consistently call it the cheapest way into a bagger. They say it undercuts its rivals and still covers real touring distances. Owners describe the suspension as plush and the seat as generously padded, and "magic carpet" keeps coming up. The fueling gets praise too, with owners saying it runs clean and without hiccups.
The most common complaint is the single front disc. Riders repeatedly say it struggles to haul the bike down once the pace picks up. The weight shows up again on twisty roads, where owners find it slow to change direction. Several point out that there's no traction control or cruise control, and they say that makes it feel dated next to rivals. A few would like more pull from low revs in the tall gears, and a stock exhaust that makes more noise.
Where this Suzuki Intruder C1500T pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Intruder C1500T is actually built for.
Of these three riders, you're the best fit: long, low, lots of metal and a big V-twin built to roll into rally week with real presence. Its fair price leaves money for the trip itself.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
A solid match for long days between parks. Shaft drive, roughly 200 miles per tank and a long wheelbase built for stability at highway speed. On paper, it's made for distance.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
A partial fit. The retro cruiser look and relaxed pace suit slow historic routes, but at 800 lb it may be more machine than you need for unhurried small-town loops.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
