Suzuki VL800 User Manual

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IF YOU DON’T HAVE A
HELMET - BUY A HELMET, AND
WEAR IT EVERY TIME YOU RIDE
Most accidents occur within a few
miles of home, and almost half
occur at speeds of less than 30
mph. So even if you’re just going
on a quick errand, be prepared-
strap on your helmet before you
take off.
Helmets do not reduce essential
vision or hearing. Generally, hel-
mets do not cause or intensify
injury if you crash. Helmets simply
help your skull protect your intelli-
gence, your memory, your per-
sonality, and your life.
Your eyesight is equally valuable.
Wearing suitable eye protection
can help keep your vision
unblurred by the wind and save
your eyes from airborne hazards
like bugs, dirt, or pebbles kicked
up by tires.
IF A COLLISION IS IMMINENT,
DO SOMETHING!
Many riders fear locking up their
brakes or haven’t learned to
swerve to avoid an accident.
Many inexperienced riders (and
too many seasoned riders) use
only their rear brake in an emer-
gency, resulting in unnecessary
impacts in some cases and
unnecessarily high impact speeds
in other cases. Your rear brake
can only provide about 30% of
your motorcycle’s potential stop-
ping power. The front and rear
brakes can and should be used
together to maximize braking
effectiveness.
Experienced motorcyclists learn
to “cover” the front brake lever by
lightly resting a couple of fingers
over the lever when riding in traffic
and near intersections to give
their reaction time a head start.

Suzuki VL800 Specifications

General

Engine Type	4-stroke, liquid-cooled, SOHC, 45-degree V-twin
Displacement	805 cc
Bore x Stroke	83.0 mm x 74.4 mm
Compression Ratio	9.4:1
Fuel System	Fuel injection
Ignition	Electronic ignition (transistorized)
Transmission	5-speed constant mesh
Final Drive	Shaft drive
Front Suspension	Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped
Rear Suspension	Link type, coil spring, oil damped
Front Brakes	Disc brake
Rear Brakes	Drum brake
Wheelbase	1, 655 mm (65.2 in)
Ground Clearance	140 mm (5.5 in)
Seat Height	700 mm (27.6 in)
Front Tire	130/90-16M/C 67H
Rear Tire	170/80-15M/C 77H
Overall Height	1, 110 mm (43.7 in)