The Suzuki VL 1500 Intruder LC and Boulevard C90 are cruiser motorcycles with a feet-forward riding posture and shaft drive made by Suzuki from 1998 to 2004 as the Intruder, and since 2005 as the Boulevard.[2]
After VL production ended with model year 2004, Suzuki updated the motorcycle with fuel-injection, renamed it to Boulevard C90 in North America (Intruder C1500 in Europe) and it remained in production until 2009.
In 2013 the C90/C1500 model was resurrected with a completely new engine and frame.
VL 1500 Intruder LC
The original Suzuki VL 1500 Intruder LC had a 680 mm (26.7 in) seat height and an underseat 15.4 L; 3.40 imp gal (4.08 US gal) fuel tank. The engine is a slightly revised version of the air and oil cooled Suzuki Intruder 1400 motor: a 45° V-twin with offset crank pins to reduce vibrations. It also features shaft final drive and hydraulic clutch with a back-torque limiter.
The 3-valve single overhead camshaft valvetrain utilizes hydraulic valve lash adjusters to minimise maintenance.[3] It produces a claimed 50 kW (67 hp) @ 4,800 rpm, and 114 N⋅m (84 lbf⋅ft) @ 2,300 rpm of torque.[1] Models made between 1998 and 2004 were equipped with two Mikuni BDSR36 carburetors. 1998-2001 models had single brake discs on the front wheels and single disc on the rear, both fitted with simple twin piston, dual action calipers. 2002-on models were updated with a dual rotor front brake with floating, twin piston calipers, the rear brakes were upgraded with 4 piston brake calipers.
In 2004, Suzuki added a four-way emergency flasher/high beam passing switch and multi-reflector turn signals.[1]
The VL name refers to the V-twin engine and "long" frame,[4] 1500 is the approximate metric displacement of the engine, and the LC means Legendary Classic.
Production resumed for the C90 in the 2013 model year with a redesigned, liquid cooled 54° V-twin engine.[5]
In 2005, Suzuki re-branded its line-up of cruisers as its Boulevard series,[2] renaming the VL1500 the Boulevard C90. Aside from a name change and cosmetic differences, Suzuki replaced the carburetors with a new multi-port fuel-injection system that was borrowed from Suzuki's Suzuki GSX-R line of racing bikes. They also added a 32-bit ECU processing chip and a marginally revised 3.7 gallon fuel tank.[6]
The engine's torque and acceleration were increased by the introduction of the new fuel-injected system, with dual throttle valve and auto fast-idle systems. The engine uses SCEM cylinder plating.[1] Suzuki said the engine developed 50 kW (67 hp) @ 4,800 rpm and 114 N⋅m (84 lbf⋅ft) @ 2,300 rpm.[1]
