SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum

The TL1000S is a great bike. I rode mine to crap and it was a complete dog but now is rebuilt and feels like a new bike.

There is nothing 'Wrong' with the rear suspension so to speak. It's just not that great. Problems that occur generally are more likley to materialise on a hot day if you are pushing hard, the rear tends to move about a fair bit - especially on fast sweepers. The vast majority of riders are not fast enough long enough to expose any weakness of the standard rotary damper.

Fuelconsumption on a TL is not great tho if properly set up with a PC11/111 then with moderate fast/slow riding you can return 100-110miles before the fuel like starts winking at you to hint that it's your turn for the next round. Constant redline or speeds above 110-120mph will have you @ 75mile before the **** Head bike wants more gummy berry Juice!

As for tank slappers, with TL's it's kinda hit and miss - some are fine others are not. I have ridden 3 TLS's and one TLR. My TLS has ohlins and STD forks, use to have ohlins Internals in another set but they got screwed!!! Since my bike has been back on the road, probably done a 100 or so miles on it, and already 2 tank slapers on the 2 occassions I really gave 2nd gear some gas. One on the A40 following TSM @ about 60mph which was a realivley angry one and the second was today.... was hard on the power coming out of a round about on the A413. I do not have my hyper pro steering damper on. In a sick way I do kinda enjoy the slappers and am use to it tho I do look forward to having the S damper back on as then my mind can rest when giving it some gas over bumps/corners.

A TLS really is a good bike and does actually handle very well. For those of you that are concerned anout the TL's rep, applies more so to the 97 model, as I am sure you are all aware, later models got softer power and revised suspension settings along with a sterring damper.

Goand buy one, complete bargain :D