Metric Thunder News

New Suzuki Boulevard M109R - The Wildest Cruiser Yet!

What do you get when you cross a sport bike with a cruiser, A Suzuki Boulevard M109R!

The long rumored performance cruiser coming from Suzuki has finally surfaced for 2006. The flagship cruiser is dressed with hot-rod styling over a long 67.5-inch wheel-base, with a unique headlight shroud and attention-getting cast wheels.

I had an opportunity to see a pre-production model at the Hard-Krome facilities in October 2005 and it looks long, lean and fast. If the M109R is a success, look for combination of design and technology filtered through their upcoming models.

From the brief time I had with the bike it seemed like the engineers got the exhaust note right. It has a great deep rumble, I'm also looking forward to see what the team at Hard-Krome can do to enhance HP and the low-end exhaust note.

At its heart is an all-new, 1,783cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, dry-sump 54-degree V-twin, with 112mm pistons that Suzuki says are the largest pistons used in any production passenger car or motorcycle.

The M109R is fat in the back with a massive 240-series meat on an 8.5-inch wheel. Braking duties come straight from the GSX-R1000 with opposed four piston radial calipers up front.

On the business side, Mel Harris, VP of Suzuki U.S. said at the recent Suzuki dealer show that the repackaged Boulevard line of cruisers are experiencing a 28% increase in sales over last year and that Suzuki would be adding another new cruiser in 2006 and two in 2007.

- Metric Thunder Bob

November 7, 2005 07:36 AM