1000cc twins

**jonbuoy** · 5th December 2006, 20:32

I've always wanted to try a TRX850! God its nice to come on here and vent my motorgeek side

**98tls** · 5th December 2006, 20:37

Originally Posted by Forest

I don't know about the steering damper, but I remember the english bike mags savaging the rotary rear damper.

I have never ridden one, but I suspect the criticism was overblown.

An english bike journo died on one early in the piece...rest is history but did nothing bad for there rep..........i recently reread the stack of mags i have dated from the launch of the TLS in florida...the results are overwhelmingly in favour of its handling...including our own Kiwi biker.....have had my TLS for many years and have listened to many experts telling me how bad they handle..

load of shit.......have only just replaced my rear damper after 40000 kms.........part of the bullshit may have started with the fact that they were known to crack the rotary mount..on the frame resulting in a replacement frame from Mr suzuki.............

**98tls** · 5th December 2006, 20:41

Originally Posted by wilber

Not sure if a recall or advice to install steering damper in 98 ,surposely due to tank slappers ,mine had suzuki one on it took it off got into more trouble with it on , as for rotary damper I find its ok,might be due to me being a larger guy . Its the front end where i cannot get right ,bloody hard every bump feels worse than what it is .

Recall for steering damper was late 97...........as for the front end...get some aftermarket springs and change the oil.........imho.....fwiw.......

**slowpoke** · 5th December 2006, 20:44

Originally Posted by 98tls

Speaking of Waffle......Two Wheels magazines bike of the year in 97 was........A.....yamaha TRX 850............

Woops!!!! It was Bike of the Year in one of those Aussie toilet rags anyway. Thanks for the good pickup.

Edit: I was only going from memory but here's a copy of something on the that new-fangled inter webby netty thing-a-me jig.

TRX 850 was BOTY in 1996...VTR was BOTY in 1997.

**madandy** · 6th December 2006, 17:50

Can anyone shed some light on the ZX9R dynasty? there's b's 'n C1's, C2's...any links to reliability, quirks, tuning, specs. & maitenance on the different models? I can only find stuff on post 98 models.

cheers
Andy

**DingDong** · 6th December 2006, 18:12

If your after a cheap bike Andy, I know of two in Tauranga cbr900 around 1996 for $5500 and a yzf1000 1996 for 5k, both in pretty good nic, the yzf is a good 2up bike.

The TL I have is my first twin, its alot of fun in the twisties and I've been on longer trips and it's pretty good there too (but the tanks too small, 200k at medium pace)
I disrespected it and it kicked my arse too, so watch out for that.

zx9 is cool bike, you cant go wrong with one of those.

**TLDV8** · 6th December 2006, 18:19

Originally Posted by wilber

Its the front end where i cannot get right ,bloody hard every bump feels worse than what it is .

It might feel harsh because the fork is working at the upper end of its travel.
The front springs are around .85 kg/mm or less (soft) ..... I am around 85kg (more with gear) and have 1kg/mm springs...so you might have to upgrade them.The stock damping (rebound is the worst) isn't that flash either.

The TRX 850 was a very underrated bike.Alan Cathcart did well on a TRX in the World BEARS championships which included the Raeco Moto Guzzi and the Britten (Winner)

**madandy** · 6th December 2006, 20:37

Originally Posted by DingDong

If your after a cheap bike Andy, I know of two in Tauranga cbr900 around 1996 for $5500 and a yzf1000 1996 for 5k, both in pretty good nic, the yzf is a good 2up bike.

The TL I have is my first twin, its alot of fun in the twisties and I've been on longer trips and it's pretty good there too (but the tanks too small, 200k at medium pace)
I disrespected it and it kicked my arse too, so watch out for that.

zx9 is cool bike, you cant go wrong with one of those.

Hey thanks for mentioning those two bikes...I'd be keen to check them out.
Are twins a bit thirsty or just typical for 1000cc machines and your TL a small tank compared to other thou's?

**98tls** · 6th December 2006, 20:41

The Tls is a bit thirsty.......has a 17 litre tank which is a bit small...i think the early VTRs may have had the same or smaller........

**JeremyW** · 6th December 2006, 21:05

Have a serious look at a KTM 990 superduke if you can. A mate at work has just bought one and he loves it.

AND it sounds like an warewolf who has just lost his firstborn

**madandy** · 6th December 2006, 21:07

Originally Posted by JeremyW

Have a serious look at a KTM 990 superduke if you can. A mate at work has just bought one and he loves it.

AND it sounds like an warewolf who has just lost his firstborn

Hmmm, that may be a wee way beyond my price range