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Madura vs. GS

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rocketman
  • Start date Start date
Having a rare bike is a double bladed sword....its cool to have a bike thats unique but then you need parts for it also.
 
for my money....

I think Id just customise a neat GS1000 cruiser style....


it would look better, ride harder and be way easier to maintain....

then I dont know much about Maduras at all ????
 
I owned a gv700 madura and bought a gs650g to replace it. Have since sold the Madura.
The madura is a rare beast but not that difficult to work on. It was fairly quick, and I loved the sound but the bike wasn't my style. The biggest weakness that they have is very limited range (small gas tank). One big plus was the motors utilize hydraulic valves (no adjustment needed) and are water cooled. The gv1200 can develop trouble with the secondary drive if the oil isn't changed.
Overall, the Madura are comfy, quick, and reliable but it really comes down to what you want. You could always resell and probably not lose much money (I actually made a little!). Google Madura, they have a very good web site and forum.
 
I get a chill up, not down, my spine when I see these bikes.
They're even uglier in real life......:shock: :???:[/QUOTE]


Fortunately, I've never seen one in real life.
 
Desolation Angel said:
I got to see one once, a glossy black one, up on a pedestal at a dealer in, I guess, '85. I had been away from bikes for 3 or 4 years at that point and I thought it was the most beautiful thing since Racquel Welch discovered bikinis!


Boy, you might be legally retarded!
Click to expand...
 
wolfie said:
Desolation Angel said:
I got to see one once, a glossy black one, up on a pedestal at a dealer in, I guess, '85. I had been away from bikes for 3 or 4 years at that point and I thought it was the most beautiful thing since Racquel Welch discovered bikinis!


Boy, you might be legally retarded!
Click to expand...

You don't like Racquel Welch in a bikini? :shock:
Click to expand...
 
http://www.lk3000.com/madura/photos4.cfm

Has a lot on info on Maduras.

A friend tried to sell me his 1200. My investigation told me that they were fine bikes for short trips and reasonably reliable. The extremely limited production means that obtaining parts is harder than it is for the larger displacement GSes.
 
I just came across an 85 700 Madura for cheap that I'm thinking about buying and flipping to make a few bucks. After seeing this thread, I'm afraid you guys will kick me off the site! As long as I keep my 1100E, I can stay, right? :-D
 
Madura??

Madura??

Hey, if you like the way it looks, why not?
But if you want I can send some magazine articles on it. But if you want something fast, try a V-MAX.

GREG
 
I just saw a Madura today. Some guy just rode up to my house on one and started fixing up my bike. He was pretty cool.

Beautiful bike too.
 
gmansyz said:
Hey, if you like the way it looks, why not?
But if you want I can send some magazine articles on it. But if you want something fast, try a V-MAX.

GREG
Click to expand...

Already got one of them too! :-D I'm just considering this bike because it's right down the street and very cheap, supposedly only needs a battery and carb cleaning. I will most likely get it running and sell it come spring.
 
I dont know about the zuki v-4 but a friend of mine has V65 Magna. It is a really quick bike that is fairly reliable. HOWEVER, if you have to do anything to vertical (rearward) set of cylinders............you will most likely kill something or hang yourself. Something as simple as adjusting valves (the magnas are solid) takes all friggin day because of all the crap you have to remove/jack with/work around just to get to the stupid thing. Even syncing the carbs takes an act of congress.......I really hate that bike.

But hey, the suzuki version might be easier to work on than that.......but I wouldnt count on it :D.

Just my opinion.
 
Ya know, if they would have mounted the radiator vertically, rethought the exhaust a little and reworked/retouched the sissy bar, it wouldn't be a bad looking bike. Of course, my favorite bike to date has been my '85 VT700C Shadow, sorely missed. (Don't hate me yet, I haven't had a chance to ride my GS750E, still trying to get it running!) 8-[

I've always been a firm believer that it's not what you ride, it's THAT you ride. Unless it's a moped, then get out of my way. :-D

Another bike I'm a huge fan of is the Intruder, and it seems to have one of the same problems as the Madura: small gas tank. What does Suzuki have against long-distance trips? I found a company, McFat Tanks, that makes larger tanks, up to 7.0 gallons (topheavy? a wee bit), maybe something similar could be found for the Madura. But, then again, Intruder parts are a LOT more common. Not to mention that they basically haven't changed much since the late '80's.

Okay, now I'm rambling, so I'll shut up now.
 
Buy the Maddie!

Buy the Maddie!

Rocketman said:
Just looking for general comments....... given a choice between a clean, used Madura 1200 or a similar sized and aged GS, which would you take? Overall peformance, comfort, looks, mechanical reliabilty, repairs, parts, etc.

Rocketman
Click to expand...

I'm far from impartial as I own an '85 GV1200GLF and would not trade her for any other bike. Motor is bullet proof. Mine sat in a backyard for 10 yrs and all I had to do was change oil, plugs, drive lube and clean the carbs. 115HP, 6 speed over drive and she'll run rings around most other bikes.

She just won't pass a gas station, LOL

Wayne

BTW: Wheels on the Madura forum has a 700 with OVER 250,000 Miles. No major repairs ever...
 
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