Help me decide

[lankyman]

Inside the next 4 or so months, the viffer will be sold for a long overdue upgrade. After many hours drooling over reTard-me and dredging various forums and websites, I have basically whittled my wish list down to 2 bikes, the TLS, and the GSXR-750 (SRAD model)
The bike will be used for commuting, weekend fangs, track days, and up 10 extended rides per year (New Plymouth to no further than Auckland and Wellys) and may be required to carry pillions from time to time (mainly on the tours)
These bikes both have the same sort of power output (Although fairly different styles of power delivery), and I have been weighing up the strengths and weaknesses of each but am still no closer to a decision (Although the TL does hold some sort of strange allure).
I'll be making a trip to Auckland in the next few months with the aim of spending a day test riding (I'll probably try a few other bikes too i.e ZX7R, R6) which should help the decision process along.
In the mean time, you're comments would be muchly appreciated:devil2:

[fridayflash]

ive pondered that exact same question myself its bloody close but id go
for a 97 tl with ohlins damper...dont know how i ended up on my rf? lol

[coffeejunkie]

TL:2thumbsup

[BMWST?]

dont think either bike is pillion friendly(esp if long rides is when the pillion is carried!)

[lankyman]

ive pondered that exact same question myself its bloody close but id go
for a 97 tl with ohlins damper...dont know how i ended up on my rf? lol

Haha, did budget restrictions have anything to do with it?

[DEATH_INC.]

Ha ha, what a choice..... they're very similar, but soo different. The GSXR is a little more sport focused, where the tl is a little more of an all rounder. Both are hooligan bikes, just in their own ways. I'd give the reliability edge to the srad, and it'll be a gnats cheaper to run, and chew through less tyres. But the TL is still a cool bike....dunno, decide if you wanna thrash the nads of a four, of if the cool sound and grunt of a twin is for you....

[98tls]

TLs are getting long in the tooth and many have been ridden hard throughout there time,swingarm bearings,head bearings etc were never overly endowed with lubrication from the get go so may well require attention.If still with the OEM rear damper check throughly round damper mount for very hard to see cracks,many have broken over the years.Ive had mine for many years,only thing thats ever happened is rust in tank requring solder,ive toured on it 2 up,commuted on it actually done just about everything there is to do on it,good cheap fun,well in my ones case not that cheap as ive spent more on aftermarket stuff than the things worth but hey thats my choice.Fwiw if its going to be the only form of transport i would go with the GSXR anyday.

[Lurch]

Although I recently bought a 1 litre v-twin, out of the TL and the GSXR750 I'd go with the GSXR. The main reason I opted for the SV myself was that (new) it was 5-6k cheaper.

I agree with 98tls that the chances of finding a truly great example of a TL are less than a GSXR. Your question is difficult to answer without a price bracket, what are you hoping to spend?

[ManDownUnder]

Take 'em both for a ride and see which engine and riding position you prefer. The big v-twin and sport IL4 are such incredibly different engines. It's not like you're comparing two kinds of horse to get - more like a horse vs a camel if you see what I mean.

Try 'em all and see what you like. Take it from there.

Mechanically I think they're both pretty proven technology so should be good bikes with minor foibles (as all bikes have).

[ajturbo]

TL:2thumbsup
yeah.. they are OLD great bikes....

[AllanB]

yeah.. they are OLD great bikes....

In 15-20 years the TL will be fetching silly prices just like a clean Norton Commando does now, or a Z1300 (6).

Also consider that if you get the TL it adds at least 1.5 inches to your dick ...........:woohoo:

For a only bike out of those 2 my heart would say TL but I'd probably end up with the GSXR.

Personally - set your budget and ride everything that appeals twice. I await in interest your post -'new bike' ......:sunny:

[one fast tl1ooo]

get the tl man . its a load of fun:rockon:

[lankyman]

Although I recently bought a 1 litre v-twin, out of the TL and the GSXR750 I'd go with the GSXR. The main reason I opted for the SV myself was that (new) it was 5-6k cheaper.

I agree with 98tls that the chances of finding a truly great example of a TL are less than a GSXR. Your question is difficult to answer without a price bracket, what are you hoping to spend?

7-9k or there abouts

[JayRacer37]

I just went through the same process as I had a limited budget, although I was tossing up between an SRAD and a cheaper (read - older, more km's less atteention spent on it) TL-R. The TLR really does it for me, but I decided I didn't want to without the Ohlins shock as from all accounts they badly need it. I thought about a TL-S but really I love the TL-R too much to settle for the older sister... Then the SRAD's were all pretty badly neglected, or really quite expensive (but most of them around seemed to be as race bikes).

I then went and looked at a 96 ZX-7R, it was really mint, hadn't done many KM's and was in my budget. I bought it right then :)

ALSO - Had I had a 7-9K budget, i'd have been looking at early R1's, CBR Fireblades between 2000 and 2003 and perhaps even Ducati 916's...:drool:

[martybabe]

750 is a fantastic bike but I think you'd better try one out mate they're quite small and I think I read somewhere that you're about 6 and a half foot tall aren't you? you'd be able to rest your helmet on your knees:yes: TLs more of an all rounder and a wee bit more accommodating. What about an SV, best of both worlds maybe.

[Squiggles]

TL's are great bikes... kinda miss my one now :crybaby: SRAD's have an equally shit rear suspenders fwiw, I replaced my rotary with an ohlins when it started to feel worn out

[slowpoke]

I just went through the same process as I had a limited budget, although I was tossing up between an SRAD and a cheaper (read - older, more km's less atteention spent on it) TL-R. The TLR really does it for me, but I decided I didn't want to without the Ohlins shock as from all accounts they badly need it. I thought about a TL-S but really I love the TL-R too much to settle for the older sister... Then the SRAD's were all pretty badly neglected, or really quite expensive (but most of them around seemed to be as race bikes).

I then went and looked at a 96 ZX-7R, it was really mint, hadn't done many KM's and was in my budget. I bought it right then :)

ALSO - Had I had a 7-9K budget, i'd have been looking at early R1's, CBR Fireblades between 2000 and 2003 and perhaps even Ducati 916's...:drool:

He's a smart fella, that young Mr Lawrence.:yes:

[98tls]

7-9k or there abouts Thats a pretty good budget,plenty to choose from.If its Suzukis v-twin that interests you then you would get a later model SV with good kms for there abouts.

[lankyman]

Thats a pretty good budget,plenty to choose from.If its Suzukis v-twin that interests you then you would get a later model SV with good kms for there abouts.

There's something about the SV's that just doesn't excite me. I don't find them that pleasing to the eye, and they just seem a bit bland or something. I don't know, I've never actually ridden one so I could be in for a pleasant surprise if I do. I've read on heaps of websites that they lack the hackle raising excitement when compared to the TL. Kinda like a lot of Honda's, they just a bit too accommodating to the point of being boring to ride

[fizbin]

I know you are looking at a TLS but if you could stretch the budget a little and don't mind the TLR then then is a mint one in Red Barron at the moment with some stupidly low KMS on it something like under 5K for a 99. could be worth the look.:scooter:

[carver]

99 GSXR 750 i say

[98tls]

There's something about the SV's that just doesn't excite me. I don't find them that pleasing to the eye, and they just seem a bit bland or something. I don't know, I've never actually ridden one so I could be in for a pleasant surprise if I do. I've read on heaps of websites that they lack the hackle raising excitement when compared to the TL. Kinda like a lot of Honda's, they just a bit too accommodating to the point of being boring to ride Know what you mean,was offered a straight swap for an early SV but declined,some would call it madness but i really am a fan of the old TLs,the SV does the same thing as a TLS but just does it differently and with better oem suspenders,if i liked the SV looks wise i probably would have considered it but they just dont do it for me though theres one owned by a member on here thats turned it into a real good looker.

[h20boy]

750 is a fantastic bike but I think you'd better try one out mate they're quite small and I think I read somewhere that you're about 6 and a half foot tall aren't you? you'd be able to rest your helmet on your knees:yes: TLs more of an all rounder and a wee bit more accommodating. What about an SV, best of both worlds maybe.

Im 6'4" and fit my srad nicely...tho I have been a bit saddle sore, its getting better now :)