Total Motorcycle Community Forums

after looking around a bunch of dealers for a decent used bike i found one in a local paper. its a 97 suzuki marauder 800. bike is in excellent shape(save for the chain i need to oil a bit) with around 10k miles on it. i was looking for a bike i wouldnt outgrow too soon and i cant wait until i start putting some miles on it. still have a few more lessons to go with training with the road test being the end of next month. so for now i have to sadly keep staring at it in my backyard wishing i lived closer to an empty parking lot.

Nice looking bike! We generally discourage anyone from starting out with a bike bigger that 650, but you can generally get away with a bit bigger in the cruiser department, since they don't have as much power as the sports. Just be careful, the weight will probably be the biggest issue to overcome as a new rider. Keep us posted on how you're doing!

i started on an 03 marauder and had no problems. it doesnt have over whelming power but it will take off on you if your not carefull. it is a heavy bike but its so low to the ground it didnt ever bother me doing parking lot manuevers. one thing that sucks with that bike and learning though is theres no Tach to see your rpms. makes it weird to just have to feel the bike to shift. if you catch onto that and dont need a tach then its no big deal. but i think when learning having a tach might had been easier.(i had no manual transmission exp. before getting on that bike that might have been why also).

i highly recomend putting blue lock tight on the mirror swivel points though, those things vibrate and loosen and the mirrors always moved around on mine, and a friend of mines as well.

iwannadie wrote:i started on an 03 marauder and had no problems. it doesnt have over whelming power but it will take off on you if your not carefull. it is a heavy bike but its so low to the ground it didnt ever bother me doing parking lot manuevers. one thing that sucks with that bike and learning though is theres no Tach to see your rpms. makes it weird to just have to feel the bike to shift. if you catch onto that and dont need a tach then its no big deal. but i think when learning having a tach might had been easier.(i had no manual transmission exp. before getting on that bike that might have been why also).

i highly recomend putting blue lock tight on the mirror swivel points though, those things vibrate and loosen and the mirrors always moved around on mine, and a friend of mines as well.

thanks for the pointers. luckily ive driven a few cars and trucks with standard transmissions so hopefully ill pick it up as far as shifting goes. i know what the manual calls for but thats just the recommended mph to shift give or take a few mph. i wasnt sure if i could add a tach but i doubt it.

G'Day nyrblue35 & Welcome to the TMW Forums.

Congrat's on the New Suzie!

I see you have as your Avatar the Iron Maiden cover...."The Trooper"

Cool, I like "Aces High"

P.S. Check this out: http://ironmaiden.webvis.net/Album_Pics2.html

classic stuff, CentralOzHOG but i can do better. here's a really old pic of what my denim still looks like to this day although i havent worn it since the early 90's ha

http://img115.exs.cx/img115/3199/m3bironm2.jpg

adding a tach is easy enough, i always wanted to but didnt ever get around to it. i really didnt go by speed for shifting but just listening to the rpms seemd easier.

nyrblue35 wrote:

iwannadie wrote:i started on an 03 marauder and had no problems. it doesnt have over whelming power but it will take off on you if your not carefull. it is a heavy bike but its so low to the ground it didnt ever bother me doing parking lot manuevers. one thing that sucks with that bike and learning though is theres no Tach to see your rpms. makes it weird to just have to feel the bike to shift. if you catch onto that and dont need a tach then its no big deal. but i think when learning having a tach might had been easier.(i had no manual transmission exp. before getting on that bike that might have been why also).

i highly recomend putting blue lock tight on the mirror swivel points though, those things vibrate and loosen and the mirrors always moved around on mine, and a friend of mines as well.

thanks for the pointers. luckily ive driven a few cars and trucks with standard transmissions so hopefully ill pick it up as far as shifting goes. i know what the manual calls for but thats just the recommended mph to shift give or take a few mph. i wasnt sure if i could add a tach but i doubt it.

A Classic Full Metal Jacket...Ha Ha Ha ha haaaarrrrrr!