Raider or M109R? Which one for the win?

I have an 07 M109R LE, an 08 Raider, an 09 Stratoliner, and a 2019 VMAX. The 109 is a little faster than the air cooled bikes. None of them can touch the VMAX in horsepower, handling and breaking. The only thing the VMAX can't pass is a gas station as it has a small tank and gets terrible mileage. Variety is the spice of life.

The engineering focus is very different for these two. The Raider is the Torque King between the two hence that satisfying 123Lb-Ft of torque @ 2250rpm railin' down hard on the pavement(And only Roughly a 100hp peak at around 4.5), but it's not a high revving HP Monster, it's a little diesel. Whereas the M109R is a torquey machine with a peak of 118Lb-Ft@3200RPM but has more horse than torque at 127HP/6200RPM Peak but revs significantly higher. The M109R was meant to still be pretty damn quick for the man who's wife says "The Busa has got to go, you need a cruiser". The Raider was meant to always feel incredible and have consistent mini-hoss pull. Power Aside, The handling of the raider is a reflection of incredible engineering, CG and Weight Division as I have customers who are 5'4 to 6'7 Riding Raiders. It's 760Lbs that feels like a well planted 550. Whereas the M109 is much more of a pig, handles more like a fridge. If you two were to do a race dragging peg and pushing limits, you'd find the nimble Raider would take the crown with more concentrated power vs power spread out over a wider rpm range. 109 wins on straights. Raider everywhere else.

Never owned either one but a huge fan of both. Love the style of both bikes . thanks for the video .

Hey man, I just stumbled on your channel, I like what you’re doing comparing different bikes for whatever reason! I just got back into riding after 20 years. I had a Yamaha V-star 1100 classic. I just bought a Suzuki DRZ 400 and then rode my buddies cruiser and now I’m looking for a warrior! Good content keep it up. Cheers.

Well that was kinda how I thought it would go but didn't want to admit it, great video man!

I've had the C109 RT , and loved it. My next one will be the M109. I love the way they look, and they run like crazy !

Oooooooweeeee thanks for the video man that's good stuff. That m109r is a beast!!!! It looks like that m109r had hyabusa power in a cruiser. I love it. You don't see these type of videos much about cruiser I appreciate your time brother God Bless you safe riding.

nice work....both bikes look amazing

Dang! Both those bikes are BEAST! I thought my 04 Warrior was fast. Great videos brother. Stay safe. 🤘👌

Just found your channel, subscribed. Dig your vids, keep on keeping

Yeah, like um both , but I've liked the m109 since its inception . Like your videos too Jon. You don't make shit up , your humble and keep things straight up . Great channel.

Bring it on. My Raider hasn't been beaten by any other since I've had it!

Thought this be a close fight just on how yamaha and suzuki build big bad ass bikes but holy damn that m109 is a monster.

I'm on my 3rd M109R. You can just kick into a higher gear without using the clutch when you race her like that - just hold off on the accelerator a bit for a fraction of a second when kicking into next gear.

There are 109 cubic reasons why I bought the Suzuki. Would love to see a drag against that yellow camaro tho

The 109 is SICK!!

I was weighing up the raider or m109. Both raiders I rode were stock and felt slow. I then rode a stock m109 which felt quick and ended up buying a M109with cobra pipes, fi2000 & filters. Crazy fast, wheelspin in first gear, second gear and shifting 2-3 big spin, gotta be careful.

That looks 👀 fun 👊✊💨

I'm a USMC disabled veteran and was in tears when I couldn't swing my leg back over my S1000RR AND ZX10-R after (BOTH) my hip replacements. I started looking at V-Rods and my DoD colleague suggested the M109 BOSS edition. NEVER LOOKED BACK AND NEVER HAD A B&^%@ SEAT ON IT.

Great video thank you! I'm way up here in Port Elgin Ontario Canada

Can you do a video of all the bikes you currently have and what you love about each one? Great videos!

Who hoo been waiting for this 1

What monster bikes! I'd love to see a Raider/Warrior side-by-side comparison on how the ride feels.

Hey what year is your Suzuki. Has your Suzuki had any clutch issues?

Love to see u add the vtx 1800 to this mix. Would like to know the power difference between the 109r and rhe VTX 1800.

The m109r is tough. Amazing video.

It would be cool to see a vtx 1800 in there!

Up until now I was going to buy a Raider and M109R was my second choice. Now, after seeing this awesome video, I decided I gotta have both. Thanks man!

I am a big cruiser bike kinda guy but I dig your channel.

Got the 109 and its a beast, cant beat it.

Thought the 109 would pull ahead. Pretty amazing stock-ish machine.

The only issue with the M109 is wanting to feel the power every time its ridden , monster bike

Great vídeo bro i ride a 2002 goldwing with cobra slip ons

Great video I have a bully myself... ride safe from the UK

What bike is that white one with the vertical gray stripes 2 over from the 109

I have that boulevard's exhaust on my raider.. its so good!

Well done

Enjoyed the video. I owned a M90 for 1.5 years, and during that time took a trip up the PCH with my brothers and rented a Stryker for the 1400 mile, 9 day adventure! I never could get the bars on the M90 close enough that I could ride more than an hour before needing a break. The handling of the M90 was hands down better, as was the acceleration. Yet the Stryker was no slouch in acceleration and was far ahead when it came to long distance riding. Still after 250-325 miles in a day, I was ready to stop. What do you think about the handling and ergos of the big brother M109 and Raider?

I have owned both bikes, the M109 IS A TORQUE BEAST! I loved both. The Raider was awesome riding, but it desperately needed a 6 speed trany.

That looks like Florida to me, I am near West Palm Beach. The M109R is a monster and it's all so gorgeous, however, when I test drove it it was just way too big for me, and I'm six foot one. Instead I got a V-Rod and I am loving every minute of it, the V-Rod is extremely well-made and extremely fast. And it handles like a puppy dog at low speeds. Very low center-of-gravity, the gas tank is under the seat.

Nice rides

What do you think of the 2005 Suzuki boulevard 1400cc I have one and it seems pretty torky it's a good running bike have a 2000 Harley Davidson deuce softtail 1450 it's a good running bike but my opinion the Japanese bikes are more dependable and will take what you give them with out breaking down great video guys keep the great work up thanks again Mike Holden out of north Carolina said that

Please do a drag race with a Kawasaki VN2000 vulcan ! Great video !

I would like to see this azuki M109 run like that with the Kawasaki 2000

I wonder how my Moto Guzzi Audace would hold up? I can spank a lot of Harleys with 1380cc's (84ci).

I currently own a 1985 Suzuki Intruder 750 and man-o-man does it ever have pep! Previously I owned a Suzuki M50 and I rode that rate from Sarnia Ontario to Fredericton New Brunswick and Beyond and it's a great great bike!

The only problem with the 109 is that eventually, your friends will recognize you on it!

I know this is old but did he have any air intake modification on the raider because they really choke that motor with the stock system

What happened with the VTX race

Do the M109r come with a radio?

When you eliminate the rev limit on the 109 it will bury the speedometer

Those are nice bikes man! I wish you could find one of those old Honda magnas (v65, 1100) so you can compare it with the 109r. That would be sweet.

Can confirm between my buddy and I, the M109R walks away from the Warrior 1700. No contest. As far as a VMax, my M109R is hard pressed to keep up.

What’s the name of those pipes you have on the M109r?????

How’s the cornering clearance between the 109 & Raider? Which will start dragging hard parts first?

I have heard that the 109’s don’t have the best transmissions. That is there weak spot? True or false?

How would a VK2 compare ?

I think everyone is forgetting about the Kawasaki ZL's Eliminator 900 / 1000 back in the day. Shaft drives and I've seen them twist and snap shafts like toothpicks. The Vmax still has a current following and production but the ZL's demanded respect usually came down to the riders ability. Now again they are 4 cyl bikes so not really a fair match for V-Twins. So with that said pick up both of these and have a shootout video.

My father has an m109r and I got a raider. Definitely gonna share with him.

The M109R looks badass, but then you added the footage of that black-chrome Raider and it's no contest, jesus fkin christ what a sexy thing... Raider for me please

I have a 2022 109 and it's a monster. Comfortable also.

109 is an absolute beast

Jon, I find the wind unbearable on my Stratoliner (without the windshield) at 65, what is the Raider (without faring or windshield) like compared to the Roadliner/Stratoliners that you have ridden? One thing that annoys me about the 1900 yamaha's is that loud whine from the alternator I suspect. The Suki looked well proportioned and suspension looked well matched, but I hate its exhaust sound at idle.. I'd like to see a Raider vs the little Stryker (but much lighter).. that smaller 1300cc engine (if its the same motor as in the V-star 1300) is a marvel..so so smooth (maybe less vibration than my goldwing F6B had) and wow will it take you way past 120mpr in a hurry.

You should try the 2018 brake out with the 114 stage 4 DANGEROUS .

I own a M109R 2006 since 2012 and I won't change it for anything else. The 240 tire and the 1800cc is the best.

We need a M109R vs the FXDLS now!

The 109 is a monster.I had a 2011, recently sold it for a Kawasaki Concours which is also quick and a nice freeway cruiser.

Jon, thank you so much for all the videos you make. I am really torn between buying a M109, or an 1800 VTX. What are your thoughts? Which is the faster, more powerful bike? Which is more comfortable/smooth? Which do you prefer all-around?

His shifting is really good.

I've had both the M90 and M109R, and they both haul ass🤙🤙🤙

Nice

The M109R BOSS (mine was blue 2016 I got basically half off because they lost it in inventory during covid) is like a Merc G wagon....timeless and classy and will never go out of style and always hold its value.

I loved my M109R and regret selling it. However, there was two things I didn't like with it. 1st the not so clean first gear to second gear and 2nd being a shaft drive when you back off the throttle, the drive wanted to still push the bike. Would I own another M109R?..... HELL YEAH. Also to add, it was classified the first ever "sports" cruiser on paper. The other cool bike I would prefer to the Raider is the Yamaha 1700 warrior, has nice lines as well.

The M109 has a Hypercharge on it. And I’m more confortable on the Raider and it’s very nimble.

Air cooled vs Water cooled. Water cooled motors can be built for HP and Torque. Air cooled motors pretty much need to keep revs down to stay reliable. would like to see VTX1800 vs 109r.

The M90 and 109 are very high reving V-Twins, you can stay lots longer in each gear. Had my M90 to 70mph in second without hitting the rev limit !

Are you in LA guy

Either one of these bikes is a monster with a tuner installed

M109R is an amazing machine!!! Period! No disrespect to the Raider...I am Suzuki...

Check Moore Mafia, they've just dropped a vid on flashing the ECU on the Suzi, big hp gains...

Hell yeah man! Finally! Lol kinda figured it would be the 109, the raider seems to pull in 2nd and 3rd, but levels out in higher gears

I wanna see U ride that beast vs kawasaki vulcan 2000 cc

I got a New M109! They fixed the shift from first to second! I have road bikes all my life!! Im 50 yrs old. I aint gonna lie, This M109 is a monster. These younger kids on these sports bikes. Look at me funny when i eat there bikes up! The M109r, is big, its ,heavy and it will blow your mind, if you've never rod one!

The M109r exhaust note is deep. It just sounds like it has more oomph than the Raider.

109r vs warrior 0-60? 😁

i think should get out of residential and speed bump zone, then once at an adequate place. drop a rag or something.

M109R is a Beast hands down

Don’t mess with the 9!

I'd love to see a 2014-15 valkyrie against both of these things. I prefer the looks of the Yamaha over the Suzuki for sure though.

M109!!! straight BEAST!!! thinking of trading my 109 for a 19 streetbob because everytime i ride it ,its like i have to race everyone!! haha (undefeated so far) lol!

I see alot of my brothers m109r in the rear view mirror atleast when I'm on my zx12 lol

Waiting for the M109R vs the Honda VTX1800. Honda exhaust sounds terrible, but I love my VTX!

There is only two replacements for displacement and that's supercharger/turbo combo or nitrous/type of fuel.

Damn that 109R sounds sexy

How much horsepower does the Raider have? How's the passing power on the highway let's say 65 to 80? Any downshifting require? Love your channel brother

M-109 R is my next bike . I ride a 1400 Suzuki intruder and it has torque & I see the M- 109 R is my next bike . Thank You for the Video .

What would you pick? Yamaha raider or the Victory Vegas 8 ball?

Test drove a M109 yesterday. Hated to admit that it was too much bike for me. Comfortable, but very touchy throttle. 1st and 2nd would lunge at the shifts. Looking forward to test drive the belt driven Raider.

Really shocked how quick that M109r is, that appeals to me. However not a huge fan of all the plastic or the exhaust note.