Suzuki Marauder 125 deposit sent!

[Maddsto]

Like the title says.

What are your thoughts on the Suzuki Marauder 125?

I was riding a Suzuki GN 125, until near 2 months ago when some total knob decided to drive into the side of me, writing the bike off

I like the style of the marauder, was thinking about getting one and then preparing myself for a full bike license!

Any thoughts etc would be great!

Ta
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Maddsto]

Cheers for the reply and the link!

Yeah im really thinking about getting into the cruiser style, im 5'10 with a long arm span so I think i should be comfortable with the style, I dont like being all hunched up!

Really want to know though is are these bikes easy to work on, like my old GN125, i undone a few bolts and could take things apart fairly quickly.

Assuming suzuki like that style?
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Nick 50]

That style of bike has its positives and negatives.

I had one for my 125 whilst I was at that stage of learning. It was a great bike, very comfy and did what I asked of it.

I'm in the positive camp obviously.

It is pretty heavy and as such it can struggle for speed especially when windy and/or on a hill.

Has a large turning circle due to it being a mini-cruiser but you'll soon deal with it. But it does have bigger tyres compared to most 125's which are confidence inspiring in the wet and in corners.

from me

Prices are a bit much. Check for rust as they rust up easily, especially the exhaust. Check the side next to frame and underneath near welds.
The reg/rec can also go but they are fairly cheap and really easy to change.
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[Maddsto]

Cheers for the reply Nick, great info!

Im not to fussed about speed, as my area is mainly 30/40mph zones. But just wondering what was your average top speed for the bike (if you remember).

And did you do much work on the bike, was it all fairly easy to access?

Cheers
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[_matt]

My Mrs rides a Marauder and I take it for a spin every now and then, it's by no means a bad bike.
With me on (16 stone) it'll top out around 50-55mph, which tbh, is all you need from a commuter bike by the sounds of it.
Repairs/work however, they're a bit of a pain.
Basic servicing is dead easy, however, they are low bikes, so when you eventually lean to far into a corner and snap a footpeg off then it's a job and a half to fix (for me anyway) because it's decent metal lol, which is a pain in the arse to drill/grind.

Overall, great little bikes, decent MPG (60+ mpg) but be aware they are quite small, so i'd suggest sitting on one before buying blindly off ebay if you're 6ft 4" like me

Additionally, if you've got a girl, and she wants to go on the back... dont try going up any hills, cos you wont make it lol
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1990 Yamaha XV 535 (Alive Again!) / 2007 Jinlun Texan 125-11 (formerly 2k3, wrong details, now going rusty in the back garden )

[Nick 50]

As _matt states speed wise around 50-55mph but can get 60 in right conditions.

I did a lot to the bike and was nice and easy to work on. Changed chain, brake pads, brake lines, brake bleeding, clutch cable (amongst other things) and even went as far as taking the swingarm off to de-rust and repaint....... got a tad carried away lol

Another thing to check (which the above reminded me). Take the seat off and check the bolts that hold the pillion seat on. If the bike has seen a lot of rain it drains of the pillion seat right down onto the bolts and rusts badly.
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[Maddsto]

That speed is pretty decent in my eyes for a cruiser!

I done loads of work on the GN125, thats why im so annoyed it was a write off

Im 5'1 and weigh 14st 5lb, so the bike should be alright.. Saying that, a guy at the end of my street has a marauder, might have to ask for a cheeky sit and get a feel for the bike!

With the pillion seat, would it just be the bolts that are rusting? Assuming just new bolts (cheap fix?)
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[BravoCharlie]

Evening!

I'm riding a GZ125 at the moment, and i do love the bike

it's just a little unfortunate for me though that the 6 owners before me didn't look after the bike and its cost me a lot in time and effort!

but i have a Love/Hate relationship with my Suzy! She drives well and does me for the commute to and from work, as well as trips through town etc. so overall great!

other GZ's I've seen have been mechanically better than mine and the owners i've spoken to loved them as much as i love mine
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Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[Nick 50]

[Maddsto]

Like the way i forgot the 0 in my height... Like a tiny oveweight dwarf! 5'10* haha!

Cheers for all the replies, great info!

Another question, as for spare parts, i've done abit of research and all seem widely available and pretty good prices, is this normal or just a flood in the market atm?
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[BravoCharlie]

[Maddsto]

UPDATE :

Just put a deposit down on a 2001 Marauder 125!

2001 reg
9000 miles
Year MOT start of July
Tax ends 30/04/13

From the description and pictures the bike looks and sounds in really good condition, will be paying a total £900.. already managed to knock him down £50

https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/742/bike2wc.jpg

https://img36.imageshack.us/img36/1308/bike1v.jpg

Need to look into some storage on the bike now, removable panniers or something! I've got a small tank bag for now though!
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[sidewinder]

Looks like a very nice clean bike matey.Hope you have miles and miles of fun on it
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"Nitrous is like a cheap hooker, you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences

[Nick 50]

Nice looking bike The price is pretty reasonable compared to some I have seen on e-bay.

Out of interest what clothing do you wear? I had some cheap'ish textile trouser and the edge of "maruader" badge on the side of the tanks chewed them right up
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[Maddsto]

Will post some more pictures when I get her on saturday!

Im soon to be investing in some kevlar jeans but at present just wearing thick denim jeans, will have to keep an eye out for wearing, ta for the heads up!
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[_matt]

looks spot on mate!
Also, give the frame a quick check when you get there, just to make sure it isnt a re-badged Chinese copy or anything
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1990 Yamaha XV 535 (Alive Again!) / 2007 Jinlun Texan 125-11 (formerly 2k3, wrong details, now going rusty in the back garden )

[Maddsto]

What are the signs of a re-badge? Silly question I know but abit of a novice, would it be an obvious stick over the top or is there anything in particular to look for?

The advert states the owner has the v5 so would it say in there if its a genuine suzuki?
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Maddsto]

Here are some other pictures

https://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3672/clocku.jpg

https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1510/badgel.jpg
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[_matt]

yeh if he's got the v5 then you wont have any trouble. When i was first looking at bikes I found a guy selling a "Honda Shadow 125". Went to see it, looked a bit shoddy so checked around the frame for the usual "HONDA XXXXX" sticker thing, to my surprise it read "PIONEER NEVADA" lol.
Easy enough to change the side panels etc to get more money for a shit bike. but that suzuki looks spot on, and if he''s got the v5 well, you're in good order!

actually, for a 2001, that's low miles and it looks in decent condition, so you've got a nice tidy bike there i rekon
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1990 Yamaha XV 535 (Alive Again!) / 2007 Jinlun Texan 125-11 (formerly 2k3, wrong details, now going rusty in the back garden )

[Nick 50]

Me being picky again.

Just a few things I noticed on the pics.

https://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/ElScampio/GZ125%20selling/bike2wc1.jpg

The rear sprocket is black, it should be silver. So I would check the condition of the sprocket and the chain.

If the seller will let you, take the front sprocket cover off. There are 3 x 7mm bolts denoted where the 3 red arrows are. If he wont or a bit uneasy about asking, check underneath the cover and make sure there isn't an excessive amount of black guey crud.

next thing:

https://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/ElScampio/GZ125%20selling/bike1v2.jpg

I'm not sure if it's just me, but at the bottom of the exhaust where the red arrow points too, it shows a few signs of rust.
Make sure you check behind and underneath the exhaust especially at the join (blue arrow) as they can easily rust and cause holes.

In the later models they had a cover (like on mine below) to try and prevent the rusting.

https://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn6/ElScampio/GZ125%20selling/GEDC0462.jpg

The end part of of the exhaust ^^^ looks relatively rust free ................ it wasn't!! At the join I was talking about, round the back of it it had nearly rusted through. But without looking there you wouldn't know.

*edit*

The speedo pic, what's the 2 cable ties for??

Oh and the big GZ thing, the rear brake pedal really is in that stupidly f***ed position where you can't reach it properly. Don't worry they are all like that. You'll see what I mean when you try to use it
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[_matt]

All good things to check!

[alexknight200...]

Hi,

Just for the record, I got my Marauder in April, I passed my Mod 1 and 2 on it and have now sold it (same as what I paid of rit) and have now got a 650.

The marauder is a nice bike and I could keep up with the normal flow of traffic. It won't be long before you are using it to its capacity.

Alex
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Current stable: Yamaha XVS 650 1996 - Honda Super Magna VF750 1988.

[EazyDuz]

Thought id throw in my experience.
Owned a 2005 Gz125 in september, sold in april this year.
Nice looking bike, but it was dog slow, regularly had traffic building up on 60mph roads with people dangerously overtaking.
I maintained the engine well, its either just how the bike is or mine had lost compression somehow.
Its not easy to pass your tests on but its doable, passed mod1 second attempt and mod2 first attempt on it.

Resale value is good, i sold it for 200 quid more than i paid for it, and that was after i had an off and scuffed the exhaust!

Suzuki chrome isnt worth a wank, the underside of the exhaust was rusty as fuck, quite deep rust but not so bad that it had holes in it.
Cover it in ACF50 and hope it keeps the rust away.

https://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt134/Kurt_V/SV205701.jpg

Apart from that its a sound bike. Ive now got a 535 Virago which even though its 22 years old, it has better chrome!
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To shreds you say? Tss tss tss

[Maddsto]

Top replies all, big help!

Nick 50 - The guy did mention there was a slight scudd on the exhaust but was no major damage (will find out on saturday how much of a "scuff") Also, I didn't even notiice those cable ties... Hmmm, nothing mentioned about those in the description, so will have to investigate! I'll have to check this brake position aswell

Once again cheers everyone for comments, thoughts and advice!

I feel like a kid counting the days till christmas!
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder