WANTED, TLS or VTR

[vifferman]

Get some class chap, why ride something disposable, get a DUCATI, get a pure breed dont go to the pound and get a mongrel, hehe

Quite Rite, Mr Quasievil. Sir.

[vifferman]

Yup. Haven't ridden either myself but can confirm the word is that the VTR front and TL rear suspension are both utter, utter shite. The TL appears to be the easier bike to get to a fully 'sorted' state though.

So in other words, you've no idea what you're talking about.

[lewises]

Some more advice please. A guy has offered me a 2000 TLR for $10500 or an 01 TLS for $8500. I understand that the TLR is way heavier but an allround better bike. What say you all to this.
By the way, appreciate the posts, if indirect, they have given me food for thought.

[Hoon]

Get the TLR...they usually go for around $13K. Whatever TL you pick make sure to check the rear shock top mount and also the frame by the steering head for cracks.

[vifferman]

I'm vaguely aware of the differences between a TLS and TLR (it's basically like a VTR compared to an SP1 or SP2, yes?) But apart from the full fairing on the TLR, what other differences are there? The TLR still has that stupid rotary damper, and basically the same frame and engine?? Or not? Huh??

[duckman]

Deffinitely get the TLR - They are usually about 12 - 15 grand so thats a good deal provided the bike is o.k.

[Jinx3d]

TLR is a very different bike to the TLS

Obviously the full fairing
also, frame, engine internals, (rods, pistons etc)
Radiators
Rear swing arm
brakes, 6 pots on the R vs 4 on the S model.

etc, I'm sure you know all this.

Apparently the TLR was going to be the Ducati beater in super bike but it was 15 kg heavier than the TLS and never overcame its weight problem.

My impressions of my own TLS

A little heavy on the hands, but tours nicely (6 hour trips)
Punches like a boxer, whoa boy!
Thirsty as a whale, ($17 to fill now, get about 190 km/tank.)
Rotary damper supposedly shite but Ive had no probs so far. The guy at that tyre shop on Barrys point road set it up for me, (which says a lot about how I ride doesnt it!!), and its fine. Apparently the olins damper doubles rear tyre life.
Brakes are fine, two finger stuff.

The only downside is that it's bit difficult to ride smoothly at low low speeds. ie tight roundabouts in the rain, the twin does not transition smoothly between engine braking and roll on power.

Cheers
Mike

[Jinx3d]

Get some class chap, why ride something disposable, get a DUCATI, get a pure breed dont go to the pound and get a mongrel, hehe

I wonder if that will get some bites ???

grrrr *knashing teeth*

Hahahahaha

I will restrain myself and merely point out that the money saved on outright cost and insurance would keep a TL in gas and servicing for its entire useful life and have still have money left over for a very nice pair of boots and helmet.

:-)

[dangerous]

Well while this evening, I was waiting for my balls to drop back down while
carefully polishing the hard-to-get-at bits while extolling the virtues of Safe, Reliable Engineering (thank you jrandom )
I was thinking about the TLS v VTR, and while the reports of cam chains going turtle up I have never knowen one that has had this trouble however I do know of two TL motors blowing up one was a mates after he sold it and the other was an other mates in OZ who had a Cagiva (tlr) on a dyno when it totaly lunched itself

As for suspension that is a easy fix for either bike however (I know you mentioned a buget but) if you go for the series 2 VTR the suspension was sorted better than the series 1 while it s still no W/P or Peoili etc I find it after a bit of playing around not too bloody bad plus you get all the other extras like a bigger tank and LCD dash.

The end result for you will be which bike you like to ride and which is the more apairling to the eye.

ps: TL became SV cos of the bad handling probs & inj probs but one wicked bike to ride but not for too long, I also know as I had one in OZ.

[spudchucka]

Some more advice please. A guy has offered me a 2000 TLR for $10500 or an 01 TLS for $8500. I understand that the TLR is way heavier but an allround better bike. What say you all to this.
By the way, appreciate the posts, if indirect, they have given me food for thought.

Not intended as spam but go here http://www.tlplanet.com for heaps of TL info.

[Hoon]

The TL motors are considered to be very reliable and are the best part of the bike! When I had mine it was rock solid even with all the shit I threw at it.
Just have a good read through the TL forums to get an idea.

The TLRs put out more power and yes there are a lot of differences. On the drag strip the TLRs seemed about half a sec faster than my TLS. The rotary damper is fine for 99% of us, just set the preload to its softest and you'll be sweet. However I also found my TLS lacking after a while - only because I was losing to other "lesser" bikes (i.e. GSXR750's, CBR900's etc).
However if racing isn't your thing you'll be more than satisfied on the street.
The low down torquey V-twin is perfect for around town too and you can comfortable blat around without going over 5K.

Ohh another thing was I use to get bad tank slappers on my 97 TLS when changing into 2nd gear sometimes at WOT......but don't let that put you off - you get use to it after a while

If I had $10K to buy another bike a TL would be my first choice. All the bad rep that bike has means you can score them for a bargain if you don't mind a bit of attitude.

[merv]

But apart from the full fairing on the TLR, what other differences are there? The TLR still has that stupid rotary damper, and basically the same frame and engine?? Or not? Huh??

I thought the TLR had a conventional shock and different frame.

[Marknz]

Haven't ridden either TL's but did do 20K on a 03 VTR1000 in Aussie. Out of the box the front end isn't very good, but get it up correctly (and I'm not talking about internal work either) and it's a very nice ride. I'll step up and even say it was better than my Gixxer is now... I have no confidence in the front end at all, but hope to have that sorted soon after some fettling by WT .

Yes, I did have the front cam chain go on the VTR, but I heard it go in time and was saved any serious damage by having them fix it under warranty. Was bloody great for the 14K km after that.

[jrandom]

So in other words, you've no idea what you're talking about.

Well, it's more of a "someone that said something to me once reckoned that they had some idea of what *they* were talking about" thing. Not that you should necessarily assume that I'm *not* full of shit. Etc.

[scroter]

do not set the preload its softest. you will find you will have to stiffen your damping to compensate and this was the problem with cracking frames. stiffen the preload (it handles better anyway) and soften the compression. I had mine set up soft when i bought it and it just wallowed everywhere had the preload stiffened and damping softened. was heaps better.

by the way they are bloody excellent at doin wheeelies