Suzuki GV1200GL Madura reviews

I bought this bike new and put 116,000 miles on it in 10 years commuting from Danville, Ca. to S.F. Nobody cares how this bike handles because it was mainly a 0-60 mph, in 3 second rocketship. I neglected the drive-line gearbox service and broke it at 70,000. Only other breakage was a U-joint at 100,000 miles from jumping on the gas too often. This was the fastest vehicle I've ever driven. Compare the look of the Suzuki to the ugly Honda V-4 from the year before. And the Suzuki blew the fenders off everything except the Yamaha V-Max (2.7sec). Compared to other bikes of this era it was beautiful. When I sold it in 1995 everyone believed it only had 16,000 miles on it because it still looked great. After I regretted selling it. Probably had another 100,000 miles it it. Show less

I bought the bike new. It was big, black, heavy and hard to handle at slow speeds. But the V-4 cylinder power would blow the doors off any other cruiser around. A number of folks said, "good looking bike." On the highway a quick twist would have you over 90mph in a heartbeat Over 100 and the front end started to get a little light - probably due to the small fairing I added for wind protection. It was also short legged and uncomfortable for long trips - at about 90 miles, look for a gas station. A rolled-up sleeping bag was the only way to save your back. I made no modifications to the bike other than the fairing. Putting around town and rolling on the power at slow speed would cause the shaft drive to raise the seat several inches and the bike to hunch up like a scared cat. It was a bother. Rolling on power in a turn was not the thing to do; the shaft drive really upset the bike. But then it's a cruiser not a sport bike. A lady in an old 73 Ford station wagon, with beer can in hand, got target fixation on me one afternoon and chased me from one side of the road to the other several times until she finally managed to hit the bike. I took a dive and roll before impact an escaped with only a slightly sprained wrist. If the bike would have been pointed down the road and if I would not have had one glove half way off when I saw her I might have escaped. Shoot, I was just trying to pull over and get myself organized; have never seen a more perfect example of a vehicle going exactly where a surprised/scared driver is looking. I hope I never see another one! The bike suffered $850.00 in damage and repairs but then seemed as good as new. I enjoyed the bike for what it was. It never gave me any problems and after 21,500 miles I sold it but have never really missed it. I would not buy a Madura again. There are much better bikes for cruising and much better for sportier riding. Show less

It's fast and handles anything I have ever asked it to do, which includes going through the woods and many miles on dirt roads. I have well over 100,000 miles on her. The only thing to ever go wrong was the u-joint at around 85,000. Hey, something has to wear out sometime, besides three headlight bulbs and tires. Gas mileage has been as high as 45 and low as 30, I'd say 40-42 average. Some people said she wasn't pretty,(Greg Harrison, AMA, ugliest bike of the year 1986). I say she's beautiful and the best thing to happen to me, I brought her new in 84. If Suzuki still built them I'd never look at another bike. Show less