SACHS 800 (2000-2004) Review

The handling’s pretty good, with wide bars, and it’s easy to tip in to corners. Push it harder and you’ll soon feel it’s weight, however. The brakes are fantastic and have loads of feel and the gearbox is good. It’s vibey through the bars and pegs at higher speeds whilst the suspension’s good, rather than great.

The V-twin engine’s a Suzuki number (it’s used to power their VL800 Intruder) and it’s very much a cruiser job which doesn’t sit entirely well in the Roadster’s chassis. It has plenty of torque, as you’d expect, low down and in the midrange, but still not quite enough power to match the bike’s flingable leanings.

The Roadster’s built to a high standard but those gold-coloured USD forks do look slightly out of place. The engine’s a tough one, even if it doesn’t suit the bike terribly well, so reliability shouldn’t be a problem. Sachs’ bikes are hand built so precision and care in their construction is paramount. Good.

Hmm… Not that great. It’s funky and different but has a bit of an identity crisis. A roadster that wants to scratch but is held back by an engine which is tuned for cruising: somehow it doesn’t all add up. Either buy a cheaper (and far superior) Suzuki SV650 if you want to throw something around or opt for a dedicated cruiser instead. Find a Sachs Roadster for sale.

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The big, wide seat houses rider and pillion comfortably and there’s a grabrail at the back. The mirrors work well, as does the headlight. It’s naked as standard but a small screen is a popular modification. The wire-spoked wheels, chrome-housed clocks and shaft drive add appeal.