View Full Version : What are SUZUKI TL1000 R like?
SUPERSTARDJ01
28-10-10, 03:12 PM
Hi,
Anyone own/owned one? are they any good?
Yes.
Bags of torque, bags of grunt, don't be put off by the suspension and widowmaker claims.
Carbon cans sound best, but so much resonation they eventually blow through the carbon.
Great bikes, great engine. Go for the earlier S version (non faired) for true hooliganism. R faired versions are more girly and toned down.
tinpants
28-10-10, 04:48 PM
As above. Get the "s" version. They're MUCH more fun!!!!!:twisted:
andrewsmith
28-10-10, 05:03 PM
the 's' look a lot nicer and are the true hooligan.
If the widowmaker claims put u off ignore them. I think swapping the rear shock for a conventional unit helps the handling
Hello! I own a 2002 TL1000R. Here is a summary of my time with it so far:
I got it in almost standard trim, just some cans (sound soo nice) and an undertray on it.
First, I changed the rear shock. It was creaking when I bought it. When i whipped it off I found it to no longer be straight, more like a slight banana shape. The Bitubo shock transformed the handling, it was like a different bike. Definitely definitely change the shock. Then, I warped the brake discs up from so got some waveys. Made a huge difference. A lot of people do front end swaps, I've heard of Busa front ends being good stuff. Then the Ecu went, and the bike cut out at about 65mph in a corner which was scary. But that's another story.
The motor is awesome. I dropped a tooth on the front sprocket and it's just silly amounts of fun, 3rd gear wheelies are a reality.
It is high maintenance though. Just had the valve clearances and the TPS done on the last service. It costs a fair bit to run especially with changed gearing. Petrol ain't cheap and tank range isn't all that. Be prepared to spend some money on it basically.
Don't believe all the stories about rubbish handling, if you set it up right it'll be cracking. Fact. Just spend time getting to know it and treat it with some respect. It's a big old thing to chuck about. It's quick enough to get you into trouble, but it's also pretty comfy. I rode to nurburgring and back in 48 hours doing only backroads and no motorways. It didn't miss a beat and my mate on an R6 was practically in tears when we got back.
I could ramble on for ages. But basically, I don't regret it for a second. They're getting rare-ish, which I like, but there are still lots of parts available as I found out when some tool knocked it over. As for the S or the R version, it's personal preference. I just like how the R looks.
I love my bike. Perfect? No. Reliable? Mostly. Fun? Definitely.
Happy days.
Have an s love it love it! With carbon cans currently getting stripped down and colour all changed, factor in getting rear suspension changed I bought a bitubo rear shock transformed the bike (circa £250 imported from states I think)
sunshine
28-10-10, 06:42 PM
I test rode a TL1000s the earlier today tempted to trade the SV650 for it, but on my test ride i found the widowmaker claims to be true if your not very gentle on the throttle, bit to much and the front wheel goes skyward, but that could be my 10stone not being enough to hold it down (i Wheelie to SV too much too), as jonnyb said treat it with respect and remember it is called the widowmaker for a reason.
The one i was looking at handled better than my sv which is set up the best i can do for myself so a bit of playing with the TL would get it perfect. My insurance killed my dream of having one, being 20 they declined to offer me insurance, im guessing they dont like its nick name.
I was 20 when got mine and insurance was I think 400 for multi bike policy including the sv and drz
Wideboy
28-10-10, 07:23 PM
my insurance was 400 also for the TLs when 20, was cheaper than the SV
sunshine
28-10-10, 07:47 PM
with how many points on them licence's?
and comp or fire and theif?
Clean and two years no claims fully comp on tl
SUPERSTARDJ01
28-10-10, 09:58 PM
How much would you pay for one? And what should I look for? Are they really hard to ride?
dizzyblonde
28-10-10, 10:05 PM
I have a TL1000s
its hidden under my Italian clothing ;-) And its much more nimble in that form than the original blamonge it came from!
Mine is nimble enough lol! I payed £2000 for mine when I got it a couple of years ago you had a look on tl zone? Between 1500-2000 seems to get an alright bike now. Few issues frame cracking at back on older model... So higher milleage bike that still have soas system.
Hard to ride no, it's a different bike really tight twist single track roads in the damp are very hard work. It's a heavier bike but feels planted enough once suspension is changed. Thing you have to remember is you can't just whack the throttle open ( same as any bike really) else the front comes up or back wheel spins .
Or tl planet, tlzone had a crash and lost a lot if not all old posts but the members are still there so they will easily help
its hidden under my Italian clothing ;-) And its much more nimble in that form than the original blamonge it came from!
I was hoping Bimota SB8R then....... :P Best chassis ever for that engine.
speedplay
29-10-10, 08:03 AM
As with all bikes, test ride one for yourself and see if you like it.
There is only one way to find out if a bike is any good (for you) and that's to ride it for yourself.
the earlier S version (non faired) ... R faired versions .
Is that true? :???:
barwel1992
29-10-10, 08:51 AM
^ tls is half faired tlr is full faired
personally i prefer the R
dizzyblonde
29-10-10, 09:00 AM
Thing you have to remember is you can't just whack the throttle open ( same as any bike really) else the front comes up or back wheel spins .
yup, indeed the same as any other bike. Mine goes up in the air at any opportunity, have to be careful with the throttle and how fast I let the clutch out or its ....yeeeeehhhhhhaaaaa:mrgreen:
The TLs engine is an absolute peach, sweet as a nut...well mine is:smt040
Haha, tell me about it, the clutch on the R is hydraulic whereas the on the S it's a cable. The hydraulic one isn't a particularly good one, on my bike at least, its like a switch. It's either on or off, which always makes the TLGP interesting. :)
I paid about 2800 for mine but it was very low milage and a late model. I figure it's probably worth about 2200 - 2300 now as I've piled some milage on it. In retrospect I overpaid a little, but it had to be a black one. :)
And ad53ggz is right about it being hard work on twisty single track roads and the like, but is it ever rewarding....
SUPERSTARDJ01
29-10-10, 11:07 AM
So is this over priced then? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201040369997828/sort/priceasc/usedbikes/model/tl/make/suzuki/postcode/mk64lw/radius/1500/page/2?logcode=p
Hmm, maybe a little, although it already has a bitubo shock. But it's a 99 bike with fairly high mileage. Lots of shiny extras but have they got standard bits too? Also the wheels are diff colours which I'm wondering about. I'm just saying I'd definitely try and get the price down a bit.
SUPERSTARDJ01
29-10-10, 11:24 AM
Never noticed the wheels, problem is I have a ZX6R 04 B1H so not sure about going backward in time if you get me?
Do you have a pic of yours jonnyb (http://forums.sv650.org/member.php?u=2799)?
Yeah I'll dig a pic out for you. Bare with me. I had a ZX7R before the TL which I loved but I'd do the swap again no questions asked. It will feel unrefined at first compared to the kwakker (for me it did anyway) but i soon got used to it.
http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab329/jonnyburrows2002/Bike%20History/tl2.jpg
http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab329/jonnyburrows2002/Bike%20History/tl-1.jpg
There you go. Got some more ghey carbon since then mind. I'm such a tart.
SUPERSTARDJ01
29-10-10, 12:25 PM
That is lovelly, really nice, if you don't mind what was the cost? I've seen one simular but with carbon mirrors and a clear clutch cover which really makes it stand out.
The bike was about 2800, I paid a bit too much mind, but I don't know what I've spent on it since then. I don't really want to know. The shock was about 300, the wavey discs were about 260. New ecu was 60, plus the levers, got some carbon fibre ram air to replace the poxy fake carbon ones... The list goes on. Essentially I could have spent a lot less but I just couldn't leave it alone.
My girlfriend hates it. :)
Youtube TL1000 Vs Ferrari.
Speakers up
Sit back and enjoy the ownage :lol:
Bitubo shock is about £250
note that the TLR/TLS have dont have a stock, the damper is split from the spring, it is known that the oil runs out in the spring or SOAS (Spring On A Stick) as its known in TL land, this then causes it to wear out the piston inside and cause the bend or lock up causing rock solid suspension which is bad too (hard tail TL), the springs can be replaced for under 50 on ebay and tlzone.net but if you have the money replace both the damper and spring at the same time with a bitubo unit
you can get olhins/maxton etc but they only ususaly replace the damper and super expensive
the hydro clutch can be converted to cable using the TLS parts
make sure tyres are set right as the bike becomes realy lardy if its slighty off
the front steering damper does have a big affect on the steering but without it you are asking for trouble unless you take it smooth and even so it will somtimes tank slap without hesitation
personaly i would put a smaller sprocket on the back as the gears are so short and the torque curve is nice a flat but depends on what you want
TLZone.net is your full resource on them
Most powerfull TL currently without NOS is a 200HP Supercharged unit made by a guy on TLZone, dont underestimate the TL
yorkie_chris
29-10-10, 08:16 PM
Nice bikes... a bit heavy though. The engine isn't very twin like but they shift a bit and sound great.
I've heard of Busa front ends being good stuff.
Nah!
Use a showa GSXR one... if you use busa you're replacing kayaba crap with more kayaba crap.
I have a TL1000s
its hidden under my Italian clothing ;-) And its much more nimble in that form than the original blamonge it came from!
So that undersprung thing with the handling issues caused by having geometry of a chopper... compared to the thing with handling issues caused by a too-hard back end?
Mike I never guessed you were such a hooligan:lol:
dizzyblonde
29-10-10, 09:49 PM
So that undersprung thing with the handling issues caused by having geometry of a chopper... compared to the thing with handling issues caused by a too-hard back end?
Heresay??
We'll just have to lay that one to rest on Sunday;)
Geometry of a chopper is a bit far out there.
dizzyblonde
29-10-10, 09:52 PM
Wheelies were a cinch in 3rd gear off the throttle. 1st and 2nd gear just thinking about it would have the nose in the sky.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/bigfastyellow/BikeHistory/mike0005_sm.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/bigfastyellow/BikeHistory/mike0004_sm.jpg
As easy as on a mountain bike by the looks:riding:
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