Cruisers are a very American thing. The flat, straight roads that run on to the horizon are a feature of this great country and are not always present in other countries. That’s probably why the most well-known manufacturers of cruisers are American brands – especially a certain brand from Milwaukee. However, The Motor Company hasn’t always had the best reputation for reliability, although it has clawed back a lot of that rep in the last few years.
On the flip side, reliability is the purview of Japanese brands. They primarily chase reliability, which has led to some interesting choices over the years. As a result, there have been a number of Japanese cruisers over the decades, some of which have forged their own path. Among these, there is one cruiser that sits in the middle ground between Japan and America exceedingly well.
The Suzuki Boulevard M109R Has Japanese Reliability And Classic American Presence
There was a time in the 1990s and 2000s when everyone wanted ever bigger cruisers, to the point where they were comically large and almost unusable on a daily basis, like a Mr. Olympia winner’s biceps. The Boulevard M109R was Suzuki’s contribution to the cruiser ‘Super Size Me’ movement, with the widest rear production tire on a motorcycle and some of the biggest pistons known to automobiles when it was launched in 2006. It hasn’t changed at all in the intervening years, proving its reliability while giving the world brooding styling that is one of a kind. The Boulevard successfully manages to meld the best of Japanese and American bits in one package.
Priced Like A Japanese Product, Powered Like An American One
The Boulevard M109R’s price is an odd thing, because it can be viewed from two opposite directions. It is the most powerful cruiser available even today for under $20,000, despite stalwarts like the Low Rider S, Sportster S, and Sport Chief now being present in that price bracket. It feels like it is priced like a Japanese product at $15,799. At the same time, its absence of modern safety features like ABS and traction control might make it seem a little overpriced, when a product like the Sportster S has a six-axis IMU and by-wire throttle for essentially an identical price.
The Most Cruiser Power Under $20,000
This is Suzuki’s largest engine for two-wheelers, and it is worth all the praise it gets. The big Boulevard has a 54-degree V-twin with liquid cooling (despite the finned cylinders) and a DOHC head. It displaces 1,786 cc, has a short-stroke design, and a compression ratio of 10.5:1. The result is 123 horsepower at 6,200 RPM and 118 pound-feet at 3,200 RPM. There is a large difference in revs between the power and torque peaks, which signifies an engine that is really flexible, with a wide torque band. A five-speed wide-ratio transmission and final shaft drive complete the driveline.
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Conventional Chassis Is Heavy, But It Also Has Sport Bike Bits
The Boulevard M109R has a conventional double cradle frame made of steel, and the suspension is the opposite of what you’d expect from a cruiser. The front has 46 mm inverted cartridge forks, and a progressive linkage single shock hidden under the seat for the rear. Suspension travel is 5.1 inches at the front and 4.7 inches at the rear. Moving on, the front brakes are derived from an old GSX-R1000. Dual 310 mm discs with radial four-piston fixed calipers were unheard of on a cruiser twenty years ago. At the rear, things are more conventional, with a 274 mm disc and a two-piston floating caliper.
This Is A Big Ol’ Boulevard Bruiser
The Boulevard M109R is a full-size cruiser, and it is 95.5 inches long with a 67.3 inch wheelbase. The seat height is 27.8 inches, which is commendable when you remember that this is a tall engine thanks to the DOHC head, and the rear shock is under the seat. Finally, this is a heavy bike at 764 pounds wet.
Old School Bike, Old School Features
The Boulevard M109R is a twenty-year-old bike, and in the twenty years that it has been on sale, what has changed is… nothing. It has a two-part instrument cluster, with a handlebar-mounted digital tachometer that also displays the gear and warning lamps. The speedo is tank-mounted and has an analog speedo, digital readouts for fuel level, the odometer, tripmeters, and a clock. As for aids, there is no electronic throttle, assist, or slipper clutch. This is a simple motorcycle with a cable clutch and throttle, so you’d better know what you’re doing with it!
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Suzuki Boulevard M109R Competition
There are a fair few cruisers that can be considered rivals to the Boulevard M109R, and among them are the BMW R 18 ($15,395), Indian Sport Chief ($19,999), Harley-Davidson Low Rider S ($19,999), and Harley-Davidson Sportster S ($15,999). These are all proven cruisers when it comes to reliability, and three of them are American, so there’s no question of their American presence. It is also quite tempting to pit the Boulevard against the Sportster S, but they are ultimately different kinds of power cruisers.
Harley’s price drops across its cruiser range have made its products more appealing than ever before. The Street Bob is $800 more affordable than the Boulevard. It doesn’t have the same power output, but it does have slightly more torque at significantly lower revs, thanks to its larger displacement air-cooled engine. Oh, and it weighs a full 118 pounds lighter than the Suzuki. Add to this belt drive vs shaft drive with transverse engines for both, and the driveline losses from these layout choices mean that it should keep up with the Suzuki in the real world while being just as reliable. And it has a lot more scope for customization and/or upgrades!
Suzuki Boulevard M109R Vs Harley-Davidson Street Bob
|
Model |
Suzuki Boulevard M109R |
Harley-Davidson Street Bob |
|
Price |
$15,799 |
$14,999 |
|
Engine |
54° V-twin |
45° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,786 cc |
1,917 cc |
|
Power |
123 HP @ 6,200 RPM |
98 HP @ 4,600 RPM |
|
Torque |
118 LB-FT @ 3,200 RPM |
120 LB-FT @ 2,500 RPM |
|
Final Drive |
Shaft |
Belt |
|
Curb Weight |
764 pounds (wet) |
646 pounds (wet) |
Source: Suzuki Cycles