Suzuki Intruder: Tech Talk

As it rolls down the road, one cannot help but get taken in by its massive dimensions, its chrome bling and the intoxicating V-twin gurgle. It is a huge part of the image this bike carries, but anyone who has been in the saddle will know the true star of M1800R is the epic 1783cc, 54-dgree V-Twin engine that propels it. Here's a special on the technology, design and thought that has gone into its making.

Power cruisers have been the new territory that bike makers have ventured daringly into ever since cruiser-big-daddy Harley-Davidson launched the V-Rod in 2002, followed up by Triumph's grand Rocket III. The formula might seem simple and very American to begin with - large displacement, high torque engines. But with great breathing power distributed over just two or three cylinders come the engineering challenges of making the powerplants last.

Suzuki has not only handled the fundamental challenges exceedingly well, but also stepped the game up a notch going the short stroke way - something rarely seen in cruisers. The engine may fit the cruiser way well with its chrome coating, but on the inside its dimensions are like no other. Its 112mm bore is one of the largest on production bikes in the world, making the Intruder's pistons two of the widest reciprocating masses in the world of IC engines.

Large, but light. To keep the int ended rev vy nature of the motor intact, the pistons are made of forged aluminium alloy with short skirts, and mate with the crank through chrome molybdenum connecting rods. Suzuki's proprietary SCEM (Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material) coating on the insides of the cylinders means that the engine can run miniscule clearances and handle all that mass of the pistons running up and down at its 7,500 rpm redline.

A two-stage cam-drive system has allowed the Intruder engine to have more compact dimensions - due to its smaller head. Smaller head alright, but larger brains with the 32-bit ECU handling a whole lot of things apart from the ignition timing of the twin spark-plugs that ignite the charge in each of the cylinders. Also mastered digitally are the dual throttle valves in the 56mm throttle bodies and controlling exhaust tuning of the bike for optimal performance while still maintaining the V-twin sound.

All this machinery put together makes 129PS of power at 6,200 revs - a roaring figure by cruiser standards. And that is what lies at the root of the smile that you have on your face after getting off the bike.