Suzuki Marauder 125?

[Paivi]

How would this be as a first (ever) bike for a very short (prob exactly 5ft), tiny (less than 8st) woman who's never ridden anything with two wheels before, unless you count that one time 20 years ago when she tried a 50cc scooter and went straight into a wall?

When she said she wants to get a bike, I thought she wanted to get a small scoot, but she wants to go for the whole hog and get a proper bike. She mentioned she likes the look of a Suzuki Marauder 125cc.

Anything you want to say about the Marauder, pros or cons? Or, recommend other small 125cc bikes for her to consider? She lives in Fulham, so the roads are flat, narrow and congested. I don't quite know how much she's planning to use it, but if it's for commuting, it'd probably be about 45min door to door, through Central London.

[Steve - RS125]

Im not a fan of the Maruader, have a look at the Suzuki VL Intruder 125 it has a bit more class then the marauder but on the whole they look similar.

They are both great bikes, had me a Intruder for a year and it was awesome, only problem is the chain needs tightening every 4 or 5 days i found and I had to change it for a new chain within 8 months but on the whole great bikes and I would imagine the Marauder would be very similar, same engine just different exterior.
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Suzuki VL Intruder 125cc - September 2004 to July 2005
Aprilia RS 125cc - July 2005 to Present
Suzuki RF600RR - May 2006 to October 2006 (RIP RF600)

[steveh]

i have one, and i can say they are a REALLY easy bike to ride, low CofG fat tires, ive never came unstuck banking it over to KD (in the dry obviosly) they really are a great learner bike, not great for A roads, as they dont really like being pushed constantly, ive redlined in 5th a few times (huge hills), cornering is great and even two up, i dont notice the difference, apart from the speed, i can bank it over two up and it doesnt spit the dummy out.

Build quality isnt bad, nothings broke or fell of mine, does start to rust if u dont watch out, but thats with most bikes with alot of crome.

really comfy, only thing it lacks is speed.

Steve.

One thing i will say, if you ride them hard and wheelie them, they eat chains like theres no tomorow.

any Q's pm me.
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[steveh]

[syris]

What steveh said, I had mine K3 for a year and done 14,000 miles on it. Dead easy to ride through traffic and scrape the pegs on corners - loads of fun. They do seem to eat chains though, I had 3 chain & sprocket kits in that time. I think it was because the chain/wheelbase is so bloody long. Personally I think that the VL is a waste of money for the other 5mph.

PS: Fuel consumption is great too, I was paying about £5 for 110miles

[Paivi]

Well, I'm hoping she won't be doing wheelies or trying to get her knee down!

So, it doesn't sound as silly an idea as I thought.

Thanks, guys!

[yambabe]

Best bike (in my opinion anyway) for a small person is an SR125.

The little customs are OK but she may find if she has short arms that the reach to the bars (which tend to be quite wide) may give her some problems.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Steve - RS125]