I am the second owner of a 2002 vl800 with, yes, 82,000 km... Still smooth, flawless, absolutely NO issues, reliable, and great commuter bike, or long rides with lots of public appeal...this is a Classic workhorse with appeal...the quality for the price you cannot surpass...Yes it sounds like an angry sewing machine but open up the pipes to get the classic rumble and you will be hooked...

I would highly recommend this bike for a 1st timer that you will not outgrown quickly. It looks and runs like a cruiser bike twice the size. It is a 805cc (50 cubic inches) with a 5 speed transmission, drive shaft, water cooled & very reliable. It has a very low center of gravity with great balance. It handles with a passenger very well. It has an off set crank pin without power robbing counter balancer's as one reason for the power and nice V-twin sound. There is no reserve switch, but has a gas gauge & large tank. I bought this bike used and the only thing that wears out are the tires. I use synthetic oil, maintenance free drive shaft. Most people think it is a Harley. Volusia got it's named from bike week (Daytona Volusia county). Deciding reasons I bought this bike, won the middle weight shoot out, best bang for the buck, hard to loose any money buying it, great transportation and hobby.

I have a 2004 Volusia which I purchased just over a year ago...it had 49,000 kms on it. I thought the engine was noisy so I took it in and got the valves reset, but the engine noise was the same. later I ran into another person with a Boulevard 800 and the engine sounded the same, so I guess that is what they sound like. My bike (2004) was the last year of carburation, changed to the Boulevard and fuel injection in 2005, but I have had no problems with the carb set up, which is a single carb, so not much to go wrong. I have put 10,000 kms on the bike and just love it...the only problem I found which wasn't the bike itself, was that the previous owner had put the wrong size tire on the back...they had put a 180/70-15 instead of the called for 170/80-15...so I changed it and the revs on the highway dropped off by probably 3 to 4 hundred revs which made a difference in the sound of the engine. Another thing I did, was I drilled 4 ha1f inch holes around the center exhaust outlet in each pipe to give the bike a throatier sound, which it did, but it isn't over bearing like some of the bikes on the road. (I must be getting old...I used to like noisy cars and bikes). I was at a recent bike reunion and tried out different bikes and when I got back on my Volusia, it felt good or better than what I had tried out, esp for comfort (Mustang seat). It may not be the fastest bike on block, but it does the trick and in style. I would recommend the Suzuki Volusia (2001-2004) or any of the Boulevard line of bikes. They are reliable, inexpensive to buy...and a whole lot of fun to ride.

Its hard to find anything wrong with this bike, in fact there isnt anything wrong with the bike. Just buy one.
I have had loads of bikes over the last 20 years from passing my test and having a GSX 750, through CBR 600's, an R1 a couple of cruisers & a few trials bikes. This is a great bike.
It handles very well round corners, gets plenty of admiring looks fantastic for both long and short journeys.
P.S. The missus likes it too, loves going to Flamingo Land on it when the kids are at school 90 mile round trip and no sore bits after the journey home and the rides at the theme park

Just picked up a 2002 volusia 800 from an older gentleman that purchase the next larger model from Suzuki. I've been out just a few time because of bad weather, but I can tell I've picked up a gem of a bike. He's made the upgrades that alot of people do suggest, a mustang seat , full windshield and floor boards, this makes for an enjoyable riding experience. I've been very pleased with the exceleration from the shaft drive, handling and it's weight, it's got that the big bike feel. Looking forward for day long and weekend cruises. My opinion a can't miss motorcycle.

I've ridden many similar bikes over the years, but the Suzuki Volusia sits and rides like a good American. More bang for the buck, not many accessories, but that's a good thing, no money pit!

The Suzuki Volusia was test driven by myself some days ago.
I found the bike very good. Good fuel range say 150. Gear change was faultless but when you have to stop then you knock 1st gear to go it takes a bit long to go. The revs are around 3500 for it to take off from stop. But on the run it goes well smooth very smooth. With no snatch from the shaft drive. Also footboards help on it relaxed. Long rides, handle bars very laid wide but perfect.
Yep go for it. if you dont want something heavy and in the pocket too.
My next bike!

Most 'cruisers' don't handle worth a darn, this Suzuki Volusia VL800K3 is an exception with really excellent handling. Very economical, I get 50 mpg. It's comfortable to ride over a long distance without frequent stops & the handlebars & rear view mirrors are free of vibration. As a point of interest it's actually longer than a Harley Davidson Electra Glide! I love this bike!

Suzuki Volusia VL800K3 2002 model. Almost 10k mi., now, and loving it. Of course one always wants something bigger and better, but, during this model year, I don't believe you could get more bang for your cruiser buck. A 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad will probably be the next bike for me.

I have owned the Volusia for 4 months and i find it a pleasure to ride. It is comfortable, handles well, good fuel consumption (I managed 55 to 56 mpg on a run), plenty of extras to customise it and always attracts attention when riding or parked up.
The plastic fenders and panels keep the weight down and also the rust!

One fault I did find with this bike is the footstand, at first I thought it was just inexperience as I have only been riding bikes approximately 5 years. The stand does not seem to extend forward far enough and on 3 occassions I have just managed to stop the bike rolling off the stand (even at a garage when filling up). After talking to another Volusia owner he explained that exactly the same thing happened to him resulting in his bike smashing against a wall and causing considerable damage.
The simple answer to this is to leave the bike in gear (or modify the stand).

To date it has been reliable and starts first time, I would definitely recommend this bike to anyone looking for a custom cruiser.

Overall this Suzuki Volusia VL800K3 Motorcycle is good value for anybody's money, ideal bike for small and tall people alike, can be individualzied to your own spec. Suzuki parts are very expensive, pays to shop around you'll find what you are looking for and normally cheaper than Suzuki parts. Pity that there is no automatic choke. That said it sounds and looks good overall a great bike for me, looking to keep it for years to come.