I bought a brand new 2008 Suzuki m109r in mid july 2008. From day one the clutch lever didn't have the usual stiff feel that I am accustomed to from Suzuki?s, I had just traded in a Suzuki m50. I talked to the dealer about this and they said that as long as it had a 1/4in play in the lever that it was not an issue. After the 600 mile service I noticed that the clutch would only start grabbing…
2008 Suzuki Boulevard M109R powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2008 Suzuki Boulevard M109R have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 6,400 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Boulevard M109R | 31 |
| 2007 Boulevard M109R | 40 |
| 2008 Boulevard M109R (this page) | 17 |
| 2009 Boulevard M109R | 7 |
| 2011 Boulevard M109R | 7 |
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 17 powertrain complaints filed for the 2008 Suzuki Boulevard M109R, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 11 mileage-bearing powertrain complaints filed against the 2008 Suzuki Boulevard M109R by each odometer reading. Median failure: 6,400 mi.
10% have failed by1,000 mi
Half the fleet by6,400 mi
90% have failed by21,550 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Suzuki Boulevard M109R in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Reported failure mileage clusters in the 0-25,000 mi band — 10 of 11 complaints with an odometer reading on file land there.
What owners are reporting 15 most recent
I was riding with my bike group. We stopped at a major intersection waiting for the light to change. On the green light I accelerated and was almost hit in the rear buy a pick up truck do to the fact my 2nd gear slipped into neutral. I thought it was an isolated issue. It was not, my bike slips out of 2nd into neutral continuously. This is a major issue when you are trying to get in the flow of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki boulevard motorcycle m109r. The contact stated the motorcycle clutch failed while down-shifting to increase the speed over 65 MPH. The motorcycle was taken to local mechanic who performed a diagnostic test that located the failure in the clutch hub. The manufacturer was notified but denied assistance with the repair. The motorcycle was not repaired. The failure…
Intermittent clutch shudder, this occurs at random but most predictable on first take off after engine warm up. It is a violent shudder of the entire bike and has the potential of causing the driver to lose control will taking off and wrecking. This seems to be a common problem with this model motorcycle. By reading online forums, way to many people are experiencing this problem for it not to be…
"violent shutter/vibration when accelerating " bike is 2 months old and has progressively gotten worse. Now at 2000 miles and violent shutter/vibration when accelerating has become unsafe. At idle you can here clutch noise (knock), when you pull the clutch in it gets quiet. Although dealer has test ridden bike and agrees the excessive vibration seems abnormal, they simply adjusted the…
When riding my motorcycle it jumps out of 2nd gear at 2000-3000 RPM,s. I contacted the Suzuki corporation. I asked if they had a recall on this problem and they stated no. I was told to take my bike to the dealer and let them diagnose the problem and I would have to pay for the repairs. My bike is a 2008 with less than 7000 miles on it. *tr
Motorcycle experiences extreme clutch shudder at low speeds and take off. In august 2011, I was at an intersection making a left turn when the motorcycle engine cut off due to clutch shudder in first and second gear causing the oncoming traffic to apply brakes and almost causing an accident. The second incident was at low speed when changing gear from first to second and causing the extreme…
Violent shutter from a complete stop. Multiple times but intermittent. Had to pull off road to try to engage 1st gear. Nearly rear ended. In the upper gears, bike has a grinding feel, somewhat comparable to having low oil. ( which is not my case, oil level is right on) after reading numerous reports on this problem, I am reluctant to bring it to an authorize Suzuki dealer. Seems it will be a…
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki boulevard m109r. While driving approximately 30 MPH the vehicle shift from first to neutral gear on its own. The failure also occurred while the vehicle was in second gear. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Suzuki boulevard m109r motorcycle. The contact was driving approximately 20 MPH when the gear failed to shift from first into second gear. After numerous attempts, the gear began to shift correctly. On separate occasions the vehicle would exhibit a hard shift. The failure would recur at least two to three times per month. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2008 Suzuki Boulevard M109R?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Suzuki Boulevard M109R?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 4,550 and 12,000 miles, with the median around 6,400. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,550; a quarter make it past 12,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Suzuki/Boulevard M109R.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.