Faults:

Not many problems even if this bike is high mileage. Have fixed all problems myself:

The main issues has been in the electrical department, and I've had issues more or less every year with the electrical system, but I live in a rainy district and the problems are probably related to this: Running on one cylinder due to various bad connections, horn replaced, indicator switch replaced, bad connection in starter switch.

Maintenance: Changed the battery a couple of times, brake pads and shoes, drive packet/chain, tires, some wires etc.

Clutch went last year.

Had problems with starter not working, but a whack with a ribber club fixed that.

Chrome is not very good and will rust if not taken care of. Treat with chrome polish twice a year to keep it nice and shiny.

General Comments:

This is my everyday transport to and from work most of the year, except in the winter. It works very well as a commuter bike about 15 miles each way. Works well in traffic, and is reliable and petrol bills are low. But the tank capacity should have been a gallon or so more.

It's not suited for long trips though. Your rear will be sore and your back will suffer as well. Did a 300 mile trip once, and had to rest every hour in the end. Not very comfortable on long trips.

It's quite easy to work on yourself, very basic, and simple and solid construction for everyday motoring.

This bike is not for the speed freaks or the Euro-touring types keen on Autobahns.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

What fun this bike is, at 50bhp as standard you could never take it to Santa Pod, but what a joy it is to ride.

Am immense amount of torque allows you to pull this bike from 25mph in top gear and literally accelerate away.

Once you have the right tyres on this bike, it will handle like a dream, seems to prefer either Metzeler ME880, or in my case Bridgestone Exeddra tyres. Forget any others as they appear to make the bike handle like a jelly in a washing machine.

One warning, once you have made your purchase, be prepared to spend even more money on extras, yes the bike cost me £2,500 second hand, and in 18 months I have spent nigh on another £1,500 on custom parts or performance improvements.

Never fails to turn heads due to the large amount of chrome on it, but be warned, the chrome you see is mostly chrome covered plastic. This is good in some ways as this means that the chrome will never flake as there is no metal underneath it to create dampness, but if you drop it, the panels crack and that's the end of it. Obviously the engine parts which are chromed are metal, but the adornments like side panels are not.

One downside is spare parts, Suzuki announced earlier this year that they were stopping making after-market parts for the Marauder. Although there is still stock left, this can only last so long, and I am finding except for the engine parts, which are still available, I am looking on various web pages for panels etc.

Having said that, if I carry on at this rate, there will not be much left of the original bike anyway - see that custom bug kicks in again - but again be warned, custom parts are not cheap, but they are definitely worth it.

The seat is the first thing to change, affectionately known in Marauder circles as 'the brick'. It will give you and your passenger a very numb bottom after 30 miles or so, and as some kind of idea, a comfortable replacement can cost anything from £150-£400.

A replacement exhaust to give it that 'meaty' sound and a bit more power, is anything from £200-£400.

Forward controls to make those long rides a little more comfortable are £200.

There you are, £1,000 already in the blink of an eye, and that is before you even start on the frame, paintwork, or the engine.

In my opinion, it's definitely worth it. There are not a huge amount of these on the roads, and if you can get one - do so, I do not think you will regret it. Just make sure you have an understanding partner, as it will take over part of your life.