Suzuki GV1400 Cavalcade model history 1985-1990
I have put some Suzuki Cavalcade info on this page. I would be grateful of any contributions — sales brochures, magazine ads, magazine articles, pictures, specs, facts, corrections etc. Please scan the material in JPEG format (large enough that all the details are visible) and send them to me. Please tell me the source and the publication date if possible. If you send me pictures of your own bike, please follow these instructions. |
Honda wasn't without competition with their GoldWing bikes. Yamaha had its Venture, Kawasaki the Voyager, Suzuki had the Cavalcade. It was the most powerful option of the big touring cycles in the late 80's. The LXE version weighed 395 kg with a full tank and perhaps needed all the 112 hp the 1400cc V-4 engine could deliver. There were only about 9,000 bikes made (some say 8,500) between 1985 and 1990 and only 67 of them found their way to Sweden (Norway 77, Canada 700, Belgium 120, Finland 10, Holland 10, USA about 7,500). The model was never sold in it's home country, due regulations that prohibited selling bikes over 750cc in Japan. In other words, Suzuki Cavalcade is a rare bike compared to Honda GoldWing, making it hard to find some spare parts. A good thing is that it's a tough bike and like the GoldWing it's made to last 'forever'. The engine is very well built and I've been told that it should hold for at least 200,000 km /125,000 miles, twice as long if you treat it right. When you do need parts, you may find help from the Cavalcade Clubs in your country.
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1985 Suzuki year code: F
The picture below is taken from the Canadian '85 Suzuki full-line catalogue. I wouldn't believe all the numbers on its specifications page, though. The numbers don't match with the specifications found on other, later publications. It's quite usual that the measurements (weight, width and such) differ between different countries but even such figures as the fuel tank capacity are different from any other numbers I've seen. I don't say if the numbers given in the '85 Canadian brochure are correct or not - for Canada. But even Suzuki's own (International) Service manual says different numbers, I have given those numbers on this page. The model was brand new when the catalogue was printed and the specifications may have been taken from a pre-production model. Even the photos looks a bit air-brushed for me. Some decals are missing anyway. I haven't got it confirmed yet what countries actually sold the 1985 Cavalcade - as a 1985-year's model. Canada may have done that. But in the USA the model was launched as a 1986-year's model, although it was introduced in the summer of 1985. Two model versions were launched, the GT (standard model) and the more luxurious GD, even called LX.
| GV 1400 GD / GT Cavalcade 1985 Overall Length: 2,530 mm (99.6 in) Overall Width: 935 mm (36.8 in) Overall Height: 1,550 mm (61.0 in) Seat Height: 780 mm (30.8 in) Wheelbase: 1,670 mm (65.7 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 331 kg (730 lbs) GT Dry Weight: 349 kg (768 lbs) GD Engine type: 1360 cc liquid-cooled 82° V-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 112 hp/ 7,000 rpm, 123 Nm/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format.
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1986 Suzuki year code: G
The GV1400 Cavalcade remained unchanged during its first two model years, perhaps due to its late introduction to the USA market. In June 1985 the model suffered a minor setback, when Suzuki had to recall 2,757 1986 Suzuki GV1400GD's in USA due to a defect headlight switch. According a bulletin units manufactured between 01/01/1985 - 05/01/1985 had a headlamp switch that may fail during operation without warning, causing that the headlight suddenly went dead and might result in an accident. I don't know if this was widely known and if it affected the numbers of Cavalcade sold in the USA but it couldn't have helped. Did you notice the dates? 1986 Suzuki GV1400GD.. Bikes manufactured between 1985 January 1st and 1985 May 1st.. Recalled in June 1985.. I'd say that's quite an early release for a 1986 model!
| GV 1400 GD / GT Cavalcade 1986 Overall Length: 2,530 mm (99.6 in) Overall Width: 935 mm (36.8 in) Overall Height: 1,550 mm (61.0 in) Seat Height: 780 mm (30.8 in) Wheelbase: 1,670 mm (65.7 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 331 kg (730 lbs) GT Dry Weight: 349 kg (768 lbs) GD Engine type: 1360 cc liquid-cooled 82° V-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 112 hp/ 7,000 rpm, 123 Nm/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format.
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1987 Suzuki year code: H
Only minor changes were made to the Cavalcade for the 1987-year's model. The overall height was increased from 1,550 mm (61.0 in) to 1,620 mm (63.8 in) for the GC model and to 1,550 mm (61.0 in) for the GD/LX model. The service manual has a 21-page supplement for the 1987-year's model, telling that some minor details were improved on the bike, all of them under the surface. I believe the standard model, GT, was dropped after 1986. Instead, a more luxurious GC model (even called LXE) was introduced by Suzuki with even more lyxury items (see the lower part of the page for details).
| GV 1400 GD / GC Cavalcade 1987 Overall Length: 2,530 mm (99.6 in) Overall Width: 935 mm (36.8 in) Overall Height: 1,620 mm (63.8 in) GC Overall Height: 1,550 mm (61.0 in) GD Seat Height: 780 mm (30.8 in) Wheelbase: 1,670 mm (65.7 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 366 kg (806 lbs) GT Dry Weight: 349 kg (768 lbs) GD Engine type: 1360 cc liquid-cooled 82° V-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 112 hp/ 7,000 rpm, 123 Nm/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture. |
1988 Suzuki year code: J
Over 50 pages were added to the Cavalcade service manual, making it clear that even more improvements were made for the 1988-year's model, most of them concerning the electrics, wiring, or emission control. The specifications for the 1988 Cavalcade were the same as for the previous year's model.
| GV 1400 GD / GC Cavalcade 1988 Overall Length: 2,530 mm (99.6 in) Overall Width: 935 mm (36.8 in) Overall Height: 1,620 mm (63.8 in) GC Overall Height: 1,550 mm (61.0 in) GD Seat Height: 780 mm (30.8 in) Wheelbase: 1,670 mm (65.7 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 366 kg (806 lbs) GT Dry Weight: 349 kg (768 lbs) GD Engine type: 1360 cc liquid-cooled 82° V-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 112 hp/ 7,000 rpm, 123 Nm/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.
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GV1400 Cavalcade specifications The Suzuki Cavalcade GV1400, GT, LX, LXE, all share the same basic specifications: Overall Length: 2 530 mm (99.6 in) Overall Width: 935 mm (36.8 in) Overall Height: 1 550 mm (61.0 in) Seat Height: 780 mm (30.7 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Wheelbase: 1 670 mm (65.7 in) Dry Weight: 382 kg (840 lbs) Engine volume: 1360 cc Engine Cooling:Liquid-cooled Engine Type: 82° V-4, DOHC, 16 valves. Compression: 9.5 : 1 Power Output: 112 hp/ 7.000 rpm Torque Output: 123 Nm/ 5.500 rpm Bore x Stroke: 81 x 66 mm Transmission: 5 speed. Final Drive: shaft drive. Front Brakes: twin discs Rear Brakes: single disc Front tyre: 130/90-16 67H Rear tyre: 150/90-15 74H Adjustable passenger foot plates Half fairing (huge but not protecting the feet..) Engine protection bars Four positional adjustment on trunk case Fuel tank capacity: 23 liters (6.1 U.S. gallons) Turning radius: 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) Front suspension: telescopic, coil spring, oil damped, non adjustable.
GV1400GT (base model) Rear Suspension: Swinging arm, pneumatic/coil spring, oil damped
GV1400LX (or GV1400GD LX, the middle model) Rear Suspension: As above with Suzuki Auto Leveling system Passenger seat and Lumber support, air adjustable by passenger Air compressor Cruise control Factory fitted Clarion radio/cassette player with connections for CB, Intercom and speakers
GV1400LXE (or GC, the top model) As above plus: Fairing lowers with vent controls Radio/cassette player has a fader control (front-rear) Passenger has head restraint Driver has air adjustable seat and lower back support Extended engine bars with built in cornering lights
Suzuki Cavalcade Club Norway Suzuki Cavalcade Club UK More: Suzuki GV1400 Cavalcade More: All Suzuki models
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