W/PA Open House Visitors M109 impressions?

[PITVTX]

Don't know if anyone rode it or just looked at it while yur were at Tom Clark, but I'd like to hear your comments. Especially from this group. :shock: Don't hold back. :lol:

[mishka]

i know a few of the guys rode it(beat the hell out of it)........i didnt.

but for looks........ugly...the speedo looks like a chrome alarm clock....just needs a custom snooze button.

[sskillett]

Jim, Lex, & myself rode the M109 while at TC.

I, personally wasn't impressed. I didn't care for the look of the bike to start with. I agree with Mike about the chrome alarm clock. It looks like a very large sport bike. It rides like it too. Seating position is akward, sort of like a sport bike as well. Problem is it aint a sport bike. It feels lighter than the VTX, but it is only about 12 lbs lighter. If I were looking for a supesize sport bike, I would get a Hayabusa. Much faster, much lighter, & a bit cheaper.

With that said, it is quick, has a 240 rear tire, factory tach, 1783cc v-twin, fuel guage, clock, & probably will last forever. A Suzuki fan now has something that will compare to a VTX. Suzuki hasn't really had a performance cruiser in their lineup, so this fills the bill. I would bet they will be discounting the M109R in 6-8 months, just as they did with the VTX.

[VTX1652]

George,

I liked the M109R at the Cleveland Show in January when Jim (ENROUTE7) and I got an early look at them. I was the first customer to test ride one at Tom Clark's - a week before the April 29th TC Open House. I picked-up my Black M109R on May 5th.

Carl

[trmc328]

Congrats again Carl....Thanks again for the White Diamond
-Tim
cutrolin@aol.com

[STASH]

Wasn't at the open house, but my friend bought one and I took a long cruise on it. My impression was:" he can keep it." I'm in this for comfort, thus my bike has the Ultimate, risers etc.. On the Suzuki I was in the "Clam Position" for too long. I hate reaching for the bars. The bike handles extremely well, both at high speed and low speeds. It's quicker than S**t. 0 -50 just hold on. Looks are not bad, but passenger comfort has got to suck. I work with his wife and she's all bothered because I said I wouldn't trade for my 1300 even up. The bikes just not a comfortable ride. It does have some features Honda could have put on the VTX such as a gas gauge, clock, tach, etc. All in what turns you on.

[VTXCRZR]

I thought the M109 was a great bike. One simply has to keep in mind that fundementally its different bike than the VTX. So in my mind its like comparing apples and oranges and I happen to like both.

Looks: I like the looks. The only thing is I don't care for the powder coat wheels. Of the colors I've seen in person: Black, silver and puple, Black in the only way to go in my opinion. Looks are a personal thing either you like it or you don't.

Speed and Power: Way fast. My typical operating speed on the X is between 0 and 100. So thats where I make my comparisons. No question in my mind that the M109R will get there faster especially during rolling take offs. Will it come out of the hole as fast as an X? Probably not, but to me its the end of the race that counts not the begining. Kinda like the old urban legand that a VW bug will beat a Corvett for the first 12 feet of a quarter mile race! Does it have a higher top end than the X, probably but I don't much care what happens after 100 MPH. Does the M109R have the low end torque induce grunt of the X. Absolutly not. But in the theme of its a different kind of bike, Suzuki chose to favor HP over torque. Strickly a design choice not a design failure.

Brakes: I really missed the linked brake system of the X. Just a matter of getting used to it.

Comfort: I didn't ride long enough to get a real feel for comfort. But for the short time I was on it, I was not uncomfortable. But clearly it is more of a sport bike riding position than a cruiser position. So for me its hard to imagine a 300 mile day on the M109R. But then again I'd be willing to give it try. I was pleasantly suprized at the way the bike design and seating position protect the rider from the wind. Between the headlight cowel, the positon of the speedometer/tach combination and the rider position the wind is deflected over the riders head (even well into the triple digits!).

In summary to the degree that I tested the M109R I thought it was a good bike. Just try to evaluate it for itself and don't try to do the apples and oranges thing.

A big thanks to Tom Clark for making it available during the open house. Most places here in Pittsburgh won't let you test drive unless its a factory sponsored event with the manufacture supplying the bikes or you plunk money down on the table.

[VTX1652]

Lex,

Excellent review! With a week and 375 miles under my belt the only thing that I would like to add is that the handlebar position is really a stretch and the first item on my wish list is some new bars.

Carl

[UofM-Fanatic]

Finally got to see the new Zuke in person today, looks like a cross between a a standard bike like an 80's still nighthawk in the front and a hayabusa in the rear with the bonus of a stock 240. Was only able to view it and not ride. I have to say I was pretty impressed with what I saw and think that if it was available when I bought my X, I may have went that way. But just like someone else posted earlier ... there will soon be some other bike to surpass it. My X has all that I need.

[SM1(SW)LEWIS]

I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A 109...YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, IT HAS A SEXY LOOK BUT FOR THE $$, THE X RULES. THE 109 IS A GREAT BIKE, A CROSSOVER IF YOU WILL...I LIKE THE ACCELERATION THE BIKE HAS BUT I GOT HIM OUT THE HOLE AND ALL HE SAW WAS MY X THE WHOLE RACE....SOME SAY IT WAS THE RIDER, BUT DURING THE BIKE ROUND-UP IN MEMPHIS THIS PAST WEEK I POPPED 2 M109'S...THE HARLEY'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THAT 03 1800 R/WITH MUZZY EXHAUST,POWER COMMANDER, AN ASS KICKIN MAP, K&N, BOSH +4...AND ME IN THE SADDLE...IT DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN AN X