TL1000S vs Aprilia RSV

[skelstar]

I might cop a bit of flack for this (sorry V) but I'm looking at changing bikes very soon and have the opportunity to buy a 99 RSV for a (probably) very fair price. I have ridden the beast and loved it, admittedly it was on fairly fast roads but loved it. I have not really ridden a sports bike much so am oblivious to the finer aspects...so I am kinda lined up to buy this bike....


but...I think I kinda like the idea of having a TL1000S



One thing I've enjoyed about my Hornet is having a bike thats a wee bit different. My bike has been described as sounding 'feral', and with the Buell headlights on the front, it has the air of being a bit of a hooligan bike...but I think I'm over nekid bikes, inline4's, and am wanting something that handles really well. The TL seems to encompass the above aspects that are important to me, whereas while I loved it, I'm not sure if the RSV will...so...

Handling is real important to me. Is the TL (with Ohlins rear or equivalent) ever going to handle as well as a stock RSV? Also comfort is going to be important...I found the RSV comfy enough...how is the TLS going to compare?



Honestly I've spent a fair bit of time thinking about the next bike, as one does, and my mind keeps coming back to TL's...even now when I could very well have a RSV for good money. I've seen some fantastic looking TL's that have been modded...and I have quite specific ideas about what mines going to look like, and its going to be farken cool! ...I don't think I'm going to get as enthusiastic with an RSV...and if i don't warm to the sports bike thing, then i'll just 'fighter' it

I would love to hear your opinions...Sensei? Trashy? Drew?

[Grahameeboy]

Is yours the black bike? If so keep it man.........I will pray for you

[James Deuce]

The RSV is a MUCH better bike than the TLS.

If you ride round on a TLS at medium pace all the time you'll never discover any of the quirks that make it so beloved of the lunatics that sing it's praises. Up the wick and you'll discover just how "exciting" motorcycling can be.

A '99 RSV will be more comfortable and quicker from A to B, plus it's Italian and responds beautifully to being grabbed by the scruff of the neck and thrown about. Ride a TLS the same way and it may bite. It may not too, but you never know with a TLS.

Anyway, we've had this discussion.

I found the TLS quite similar to my RG400. Fun to a point and then bloody terrifying. I know which I'd rather live with.

[skelstar]

The black bike is a TL1000S, just an example of what you can do with one.

The attached image is of my bike.

[limbimtimwim]

but...I think I kinda like the idea of having a TL1000S

PM Cowpoos, he owned one too I think.

They are very good value for money too. I think the TL1000S could be the best sounding water-cooled v-twin ever, for some reason.

[skelstar]

Yeah true, I have PM'ed poos about it in the past. Maybe i could just find the message in my millions of PMs

[James Deuce]

OK he's not listening, so I'll try another approach.

Aprilia RSV as an operating system: Debian. Elegant, supremely capable, developed by experts who prize capability and design purity above flashy gimmicks. Quietly exceeds expectations. Owners never brag, just get the coffee for everyone because they mysteriously arrive everywhere first.

Suzuki TLS: Windows ME. Fundamentally flawed, exists in an awkward space between technology changes, designed by accountants with an eye for a quick buck from the terminally gullible. Defended by owners as the perfect combination of "street-cred" and "proven capabilities". Windows ME users gratefully accept coffee from Debian users as they have been up all night tweaking things to get around the latest patch that stopped things working.

[skelstar]

Sorry J2, I didn't see you post as I was in writing and my browser panned down past it. Points taken though and make sense. If I got a well sorted TLS with Ohlins on the back it might not bite?

BTW RSV not RSVR. The R has the expensive bits on it.

As I alluded to in the first post, I like the idea of repainting the bike, matte black/stealth rat style colours...I think it would be sacreledge (?) to do this to an Aprilia ...

[limbimtimwim]

If you do get a TLS, I have many pages of magazines here devoted to fixing it's problems to stop it from hurting you....

[skelstar]

Have spent (too many) hours reading a TL forum in the last 24. I understand that there are probs that you are obliged to fix/ignore, but for the money...

[James Deuce]

Why throw money at an aging pile of crap? There are plenty of street fighter RSV's out there and the basic platform is much nicer to ride.

[skelstar]

Well, I've noticed that some other very good riders rate them very highly (for the money) J2.

[BarBender]

I like the TL...but if I were recommending to someone else it would be the RSV over the TL...

However - if you are looking at a RSV you may as well try out a Tuono....

[skelstar]

However - if you are looking at a RSV you may as well try out a Tuono....

Yeah, have considered those as well. I'm not a fan of the looks of the 99 RSV or the Tuono...and I'm over travelling at ~200 on a nekid and am worried that a Tuono isn't going to be that much better.

[madmal64]

If you can ride the two on the same day on the same route.
You will then more than likely decide to go for the prilla.
BUT its got to spin ya wheels mate. If the TL spins ya wheels more than anything else go for it.

My opinion? Have a guess!