TL 1000

[slob]

what, apart from the badge and 2 wheels do these bikes have in common?

I'd say they have about 40% parts in common. The front end (except the calipers), the tank, controls, rearsets, wheels etc. The seating is identical too (if you were blindfolded and the engine wasn't running, you couldn't tell the two apart).

[marty]

what? a TL from a GSXR600? the 600 must be an overweight porky thing then...(for a 600)

[festus]

I've gotta add the following:
Clutch slippage - yes a problem if ridden hard, several sotutions available from Barnett clutch and springs, trying different oils (like full synthetic). I got around this with inserting 2 washers in each of the 6 clutch bolts, never had the problem since (done this with 2 TLS I've owned).

Tank slapping - never had this problem, early model TLS suffered from this problem because of lack of steering damper. However this subject got well & truly flogged by bike mag writers when one of them got tossed off (and killed??) when testing an early model TLS. Retro fitted damper sorted that.

Rear rotary shock - yes, agree can limit the bikes handling, but the average rider would never know the difference. I have Ohlins front and rear, transformed the bikes handling immensely. Tyre wear greatly improved also.

Frame cracking - yep happened to me hence the Ohlins rear, same happened to my brothers TLS, luck of the draw. As for the front steering head, heard this can be an issue, due normally to constant hard landings from wheelies, think this could happen to any bike with that kind of treatment. Such an easy bike to wheelie the TLS, can happen when learning.

Stumbles - early TL1000SV model suffered from this, again not a biggie, there are fixes that can improve this, visit TLPanet for solutions.

There are lots of other improvements/enhancements that will make the TLS even better, like the 'Air Box mod' (good mod for more power that costs nothing), tre (questionable) and so on as above.

In a nutshell, as its been said, of all the bikes out there, the TLS is one of the best bikes for your buck!. reliable, awesome motor great looks!.......

[slob]

what? a TL from a GSXR600? the 600 must be an overweight porky thing then...(for a 600)

Dude, I was comparing my '96 GSX-R750 with my old '98 TL1000S. Have you actually ridden the TL1000S? It's one of the lightest litre v-twins around. The only time you notice the weight is (a) cornering (b) picking it up from the ground.

Besides, the main contributor to the most v-twin's slowness in steering is the crankshaft mass, not the weight of the bike itself.

[marty]

Have you actually ridden the TL1000S? It's one of the lightest litre v-twins around.

Besides, the main contributor to the most v-twin's slowness in steering is the crankshaft mass, not the weight of the bike itself.

once or twice. and it's not as light as: any litre aprillia, any litre duke, an SV1000, any SP honda, to name a few. and yes i've ridden all of the above.

and, as mass is constant, with your argument it should be the same 'heavyness' at any speed, which it isn't. try taking the damper off, or running thinner oil in it - that'll speed it up.

[loosebruce]

I'd say they have about 40% parts in common. The front end (except the calipers), the tank, controls, rearsets, wheels etc. The seating is identical too (if you were blindfolded and the engine wasn't running, you couldn't tell the two apart).

Bet ya i could tell em apart, the tanks are way different to each other, take a look at an SRAD 750 and a TLS and you'll see straight away, the seating is also different, the GSXR clipons are lower than the TL's, controls are almost the same on all Suzuki's, rearsets although simallar are still different, the TLR and TLS rear sets are the same though! The TL feels taller when sitting on it as well.

[justsomeguy]

Isn't the TL noticeably shorter than the SRAD??? I thought that would make some diff....

[festus]

once or twice. and it's not as light as: any litre aprillia, any litre duke, an SV1000, any SP honda, to name a few. and yes i've ridden all of the above.

Here's some figures re weights that I quickly got off the net, so could be slightly out since you get different spins on specs:

SP1 194kg
RSV Mille (2002) 187kg
Duc 996 (2001) 198kg
VTR firestorm 192kg
TLS 191kg

It appears the TLS is one of the lighter litre V-Twins........

[nsrpaul]

Also your other comments

Ya don't know what your talking about mate, if you jump on a TLS from a light 250 2 smoker, of course it's gonna be heavy, your talking about a big V-twin 996cc bike with ball tearing power that's tipping the scales at 191kg dry mate!.
Take it for some more rides, ya might like it!.

nsr is not the only bike in the shed , its just the best one , it also shares sleeping quarters with a k2gsxr750 which like the nsr is a far better bike than the tl , which is to heavy and eats tyres

[nsrpaul]

i reckon he's just scared of it

I am scared of it , scared it might squash me cause its so heavy

[marty]

hmm hmm and hmmmmm. i'm looking forward to seeing pix of all these bikes you own.

and apparantley the TL is one of the lightest of the v2 1000cc bikes!

bored with this pissing match now. see ya.