1000cc twins

[madandy]

Feel a bit guilty asking this after the weekends sad news...but I'm sure Bruce & Daryl wouldn't mind me asking.

I've been absent for 18 months or so but will be returning to two wheels just as soon as we sell our house. So hello to those who may remember me.

I'm after a new(used) bike. After a couple of small bore 4's, V Twins are seducing me with their sound and torque delivery...
I'm interested in peoples experiences with the Suzuki TL 1000's & Honda VTR's from the servicing and maintenance angle...VTR or TL or something else? aint got the coin(8k tops) for a SV or Duke or Aprillia.

Cheers,
Andy

[Dazza]

Check out an Aprilia SL1000 Falco or a Millie @ the right price, you won't go wrong

[Cajun]

WB andy mate.

You should turn up to the nav on a thrusday evening some stage

[vifferman]

Andy,
Having owned a VTR for a while, I'd say that it's a very easy bike to ride, they're generally cheap, reliable if you watch that the camchain tensioners don't go "Ping!!", but I'd buy a Suzuki or summat else if I was buying another V-twin.
The VTR's the least powerful of the litre v-twins, the least sporty, and possibly the least reliable.
I really liked mine, and don't regret buying/owning it, but you could do better. An RC51, f'rinstance.

[xxblackbirdxx]

I have owned a VTR 1000 and never really had much issues with working on it or maintaining it. To be very honest i was exactly where you are with all that talk of V Twin Torque and stuff. owned it for three months and found all that exitement waning away. That twin wouldnt hold a candle to a sports 600. I suggest you ride a few of those before putting the money out for it. Seeing that you have mostly been with fours before. I can safely say that the power of a vtr would dissappoint you. Then again it may not..
PS: while i owned a VTR i often found other people who have owned them to suggest that the TL is a better bike

[HenryDorsetCase]

you'd get a K3 SV1000 for 8 grand wouldn't you?

[madandy]

Thanks guys...
Dang now I'm wondering what the hell to do...I'll have to ride a coulpe for sure...anything's gonna feel fast after my apprentices '06 GS500 !
I'm a bit of a mid range surfer and the Yammy 600 almost had enough grunt mid range, solo but lacked the oomph when 2 up, and that's where a lot of my riding will be - with Sharon on the back...
I read a couple of reviews that stated the TL was superior and I do like a harder edged sports ride but I've also heard the TL wasn't too flash reliabilty wise...that true or bollocks?
The bike I had in mind for a while was a ZX9R...maybe I should compare that to a twin aye?

Andy

[Kwaka14]

try an RSV Mille, nice bikes and plenty of Grunt and they don't have the Rotary Damper suspension issues that plagued the TL's, you should be able to find one close to your price range....

[RC1]

hi there, i havent ridden any of the other bikes mentioned but i bought my tls about 8 months ago easy to ride and i have had no trouble with it and luv it every time i jump on it,but as others say try them all to see for yourself, welcome back and enjoy

[FilthyLuka]

honda sp cant go wrong. guzzles fuel seeing as its a "race" bike but apparantly it pulls like a school boy.

[cowpoos]

can't beat a TLs.....unless your planning on touring everytime you ride.....otherwise.....they are the bees knees!!!

[FilthyLuka]

Have you thought of a Yamaha TRX850? if you do the front shocks nicely they are kick arse bikes!

[Sanx]

I've owned my VTR1000 for four weeks. It's only eight months old and the judging by the state of the tyres, the previous owner had ridden it very carefully and absolutely upright for the whole 2200 km it had on the clock. I tried an SV and an RSV-R before buying the VTR. Yes, I wanted the RSV-R but couldn't quite find the dough without mortgaging the wife. I would have liked an VTR1000 SP1, but they're as rare as rocking horse shit second hand. Although the SV probably had more grunt, the VTR felt a bit more rough and ready. with Scorpion pipes on, it sounds f'ing glorious.

The VTR has an annoying mechanical rattle between about 3500 and 4500 rpm which I'm told is the cam chain. The dealer assures me this is absolutely normal and nothing to worry about - there's 16 months left on the warranty if it does go ping.

Back in the UK, my kid sister has had two TRXs (the first written off after being rear-ended at traffic lights by an on-duty traffic cop in a marked patrol car!). Absolutely great bikes once the front-end's sorted. The stock front calipers aren't too hot and subject to corrosion, though my sister did use the bike day in day out through a scottish winter. Rain, snow and lots of salt ain't too kind to the metalwork. However, R6 calipers bolt straight on the mounts and work much better.

If you're on a race-track, a 600 will give you better bang for the buck. However, for most NZ roads, I would have thought a big twin would be more usable. No need to keep the revs up above 7000 to get any pull.

[98tls]

Done 40000 kms on my TLS with no problems.....changed the oil every 3-4000 kms and all is good.........best bike ive ever owned,does everything well...i can load it up with gear and go away for a week in relative comfort or spend the day on favourite twistys and it always leaves me smiling..There was issues with the rotary damper/damper mount cracking but most have aftermarket suspenders on these days...even mine finally some have said inline 600s are quicker.....i say depends whos riding it as with every comparision.....in my opinion fwiw living with a 600/4 on a daily basis would be as exciting as a wet flannel...........the icing on the cake is the noise..they sound awsome..i can quite happily listen to it all day..best thing is go ride one

[imdying]

I've a twin, had a 600/4 before that... the twins sound nice, wouldn't say they sound better than the induction roar on the ZX6R though. Better low down driveability on the four too... much better in traffic. Winding that bitch up through 6-7k was a glorious thing... should've open the airbox up a little to enhance it further. Having been fed a diet of 4s, the twin still feels like a bit of a tractor... nice to ride though. Ride em all before you spend your money.

Me, I've neraly sorted the twin out. I certainly won't be replacing it with a 4... instead I'll get another 4 to compliment it