TLS Questions

[Damon]

The black one is starting to look good, bad luck about having a second Calf shit yellow one lying around

[DemonWolf]

What do you mean by the front end peeling away??

[TLDV8]

What do you mean by the front end peeling away??

some TLS's (most likely 97's) have been known to get cracks in the steering head casting.

[Damon]

some TLS's (most likely 97's) have been known to get cracks in the steering head casting.

If you dont notice the cracks, when you come down too hard the front end just streches away and the bike ends up looking like a chopper and your riding on the engine, not all that common but something to be aware of

[wendigo]

WRT TLS v. VTR

One thing - fuel injection. As far as I remember the early VTR's didn't have it. I don't know whether the later models have it (though thinking about it they must do for emmisions regs), but whatever, if you're buying a VTR second hand, it might not have it. The reason I bring this point up, is because I've spent far to much of my life pissing about setting up / cleaning / fixing / balancing carbs, so this was quiet a large criteria when it came to buying a new bike. There's also the the fact that EFI theoretically gives better fueling hence power, efficiency etc.. Saying that, the TL was one of Suzuki's early efforts, so the above argument is (definitely) maybe void.

As for the argument of TLR v. TTLS, the TLR is bigger, heavier but more powerfull. 6 of one, half dozen of the other. TLR is more expensive though.

If you're going to go down the path of modding your pride and joy (i.e. getting the suspension sorted etc.), the TLR could be a better bet. The R being that bit bigger means that you can replace the separate spring & damper units with a conventional shock, wheras with the S, the space for the spring unit is narrower, meaning a conventional shock won't fit & the spring and damper units have to remain separate. This is the one gripe I have with my TL, as the stupid bastards put the damper unit about an inch away from the hottest part of the bike.

Just my 2c.

Somewhat of topic, does anyone know where I can get good brake disks over here? The ones I have will probably fail their next WOF. As I originate from Ireland & still have family over there, I was going to get a nice set of PFM cast iron numbers sent over. However if anyone knows where I can get similar over here, I'd be much appreciative...

Oh & finally, a lower fairing on a TLS??? Oh God no, there's just not enough beer in the world to make that look good!!

[S&S]

[QUOTE=TLDV8]Your right both ends of my black TLS fell off



Thats a nice lookin TLS in black TLDV8, I love the rear wheel & swingarm.

[BurnCycle]

If you're going to go down the path of modding your pride and joy (i.e. getting the suspension sorted etc.), the TLR could be a better bet. The R being that bit bigger means that you can replace the separate spring & damper units with a conventional shock, wheras with the S, the space for the spring unit is narrower, meaning a conventional shock won't fit & the spring and damper units have to remain separate. This is the one gripe I have with my TL, as the stupid bastards put the damper unit about an inch away from the hottest part of the bike.

Hence the Bitubo unit I mentioned before. It is a conventional shock that replaces the spring-on-a-stick and rotary damper.

Bitubo...


No damper...

[cowpoos]

The R being that bit bigger means that you can replace the separate spring & damper units with a conventional shock, wheras with the S, the space for the spring unit is narrower, meaning a conventional shock won't fit & the spring and damper units have to remain separate. This is the one gripe I have with my TL

acctually...separating damping and spring forces is ideal...that way you can have perfectly tuned linkages for the springs only...the shock doesn't need and shouldn't need tuned linkages... That is why the ohlins kit leaves the spring in its current place...unlike penske and maxton...Biturbo is a better comprimise than the later two....the ohlins kit plus a 750-800lb spring up grade would be Ideal [800lb if you raise the ride hieght 5-15mm...because changed angle of swingarm lowers the leverage on the linkage for tls]

CP

[TLDV8]

Lindemann in the U.S do a 800lb spring also (fwiw)

[wendigo]

Hence the Bitubo unit I mentioned before. It is a conventional shock that replaces the spring-on-a-stick and rotary damper.

Bitubo...


No damper...

I stand corrected. 'Scuse me while I put on my little pointy hat with a big 'D' on it, and go stand in a corner.

How do you Bitubo it? Was looking at the Ohlins damper & spring upgrade, but I'm not sure I can really justify getting it

[BurnCycle]

How do you Bitubo it? Was looking at the Ohlins damper & spring upgrade, but I'm not sure I can really justify getting it

As mentioned by cowpoos having a separate set up makes for one hell of a suspension... on paper. Since the original concept of the TL's suspension was a progressive linkage on the spring and linier rate on the damping I was worried how the damping characteristics would be with the whole thing sitting on the progressive linkage with the Bitubo unit.

After many km's and a few track days now under my belt with it I can say that it's not a concern at all. The rotary damper use to almost eject me out of my set under harsh conditions (big bump). With the Bitubo unit compression and rebound can be properly adjusted for a change and those adjustments can be felt. Nothing I ever did to the rotary damper made a difference.

Just recently I had the TL's suspension looked over by Art Diaz who is a professional rider for Buell motorcycles here in the States. His initial reaction was 'there may not be much we can do for a bike with limited adjustment'. At the end of session I had backed off some preload, added a click more compression and back off the rebound half a point and ended with a 'that feels pretty damn good'. Unfortunately the track day ended before I could go back out and test the new set up but I can tell a difference between the before and after just with everyday riding. Something I could never feel with the stock suspension.

But is the Bitubo the end-all-be-all. Nope. But it is the only conventional and readily available shock on the market. For other options check out this thread on TLPlanet...
http://www.tlplanet.com/forums/showt...&threadid=7465

[wendigo]

I stand corrected. 'Scuse me while I put on my little pointy hat with a big 'D' on it, and go stand in a corner.

How do you Bitubo it? Was looking at the Ohlins damper & spring upgrade, but I'm not sure I can really justify getting it

Crap! that was suppposed to read 'How do you rate the Bitubo (un)it'. Still, you answered the intended question. Cheers.

[loosebruce]

Ya know i'm sick of people bagging the the handling of the TLS, i've left both mine stock as is out of the box, adjusted damping/preload to suit front and rear, i fully admit the handling is not upto GSXR spec, but it would be a gsxr if it was!!!! But apart from the odd waggle and rear steeping out i've never had issues with mine and i can haul along at a fair rate of knots, ask anyone who rides with me, i'm not the fastest rider out there, but i'm sure as shit not the slowest. I've always wondered what it would be like to take a fully sorted TLS out for a blast to see the difference, but in my books for the average rider there is nothing wrong with it. (even with a snapped shaft in the rear shock )

[DEATH_INC.]

I'll vouch for the awesome handling of LB's special TLs,I took it for a few laps of taupo last time we were down there and it blew me away how good it was,even with a buggered spring unit it still outhandled the Gixx,sure it wobbled and shook a bit but it was bloody great.
Dunno 'bout 'em loosing front ends either,they'd be the most abused bikes out there next to the srad gixxers,and I've never heard of this.If it was gonna happen it'd have happened to LB....

[Teflon]

Ya know i'm sick of people bagging the the handling of the TLS, i've left both mine stock as is out of the box, adjusted damping/preload to suit front and rear, i fully admit the handling is not upto GSXR spec,

I agree mate. 99% of the riders out there who knock the TLS are riding no where near the limits.