The Suzuki TLR and S

[killa]

Ok, first off, I don’t want any comments on the looks, I know the TLR is an acquired taste as is the S, but I’m after some information on both, in comparison.

I’m on MSN chatting to one of our members, Tarche2 says his Dad had a TLR and the thing handled like a twat, it didn’t inspire confidence, that sort of thing.
I don’t know anyone with an R but I do recall people on here saying it wasn’t the best for corners, but I don’t remember any mention of the S.

Two guys I know have TL’s and they love them, they are both a bit nuts (one guy rides with the south west biker gang or what ever), I’ve ridden with him and the TLS he has sounds like a German hand grenade and seems to eat road like nothing else.
The other guy, a mechanic has a TLS import in black, gorgeous sound, and he likes the ride.

So what’s the difference?
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[McJamweasel]

The TLR has a completely different frame (big ass beam istead of tubular), a fat fairing and a detuned motor.

One of the mechanics at work rides a sorted TLS - full akra system, power commander, K&N, Ohlins gubbins front and rear and PFM brakes. 125bhp at the wheel and next on his list is a set of Galespeed wheels or porting/gas flowing work to get more go. He is tempted with a GSXR1000, but says that he like his TL too much to get rid of it. Oh - and it has 40-odd thousand miles on it too.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[bish777]

Well the TL1000S is pretty mental, I was tempted to buy one after a friend let me ride it, they are vicious! Think factory Streetfighter.

The R is apparently far more sedate. I think they look fine, but they are rather porky.
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GSXR1100J

[stinkwheel]

The TL1000S had a reputation as something of a 'widowmaker' when it first came out.

A combination of torquey engine, short wheelbase, over-wide rear tyre, too little rake and a very dodgy rotary suspension damper meant they were spitting born-agains off left, roght and centre.

Later ones had a dirty great steering damper to stop them shaking their head so much. In reality, the best thing you could do is throw the rotary damper in the bin and fit a WP/ohlins shock instead. I believe fitting a narrower rear tyre also helped settle things.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[doggone]

I had a T reg 1000R for a couple of years and experienced none of this mythical evil handling.
As usual a reputation once acquired is hard to lose.
Very capable high speed machine which seems to just lope along and take everything in it's stride.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

An aerospace engineer that was involved with the investigations into the TL-S crashes told me that the problem was pretty much the power delivery, only the rotary rear shock was jumped on by the press as the obvious cause because it was new.

That's why Suzuki kept the rotary damper, sorted out the fuelling so it was less vicious, and added a cheap steering damper to placate press/consumer fears.

[Rob W]

My dad's had his '99 V reg TL-R from new and loves it.

I dunno why people slated them so much, they sound the bollox, look mean as anything and go like stink. I struggle to keep up with my old man on his TL in the twisties on my ZXR, granted he has 30 odd years experience but he can make that thing go round corners like it's on rails. Funny how most magazines now say there a good bike, yet when they came out they were slated, and you speak to people who ride them every day and they cant fault them. My dad's had no problem with the rotary damper, only thing was he noticed it would seem a bit dodgy if it was ridden hard for an hour or two, but half an hour to cool down and it would feel fine again.

If you get one, stick some Scorpion cans on it.

[Ant]

theres a fastbikes vid on here somewhere (maurice posted it ages ago if i remember rightly) and it shows it not been too good in the corners!
Ste also had one for a bit! and i was so tempted but chose the 7R sitting next to it in the end!
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04 ZX10R ~

[TL666]

I've got a TLS and in my opinion its the best bike ever. Its nine years old now but I can't find anything mad enough to replace it with. The TLR is a completely different bike its longer heavier and hasn't got the stupid power delivery of the S. Though it does handle better and has a slightly better top end so is quite a bit quicker.
If you like tankslappers, wheelies and expensive repair bills get the S. If you want a fast, nice looking and sounding bike get the R.

(TLS' after 1997 had all the fun tuned out of them.)

[killa]

[Nolongerhere]

See I think the whole they dont handle is when people compare them to ther bikes. Its my mates dad who had the R and he couldnt stand it! Said it really did like going round anything just loved straight lines!

I like their looks! Not a fan of unfaired stuff the S is ok. One of the nicer unfaired bikes! I am very bias towards faired sports bikes tho!

[ram_doom]

Remember when they were new, and were reputed to have dodgy frame geometry... not much you can do about that really, and after a zx7r they'll probably feel a bit... unrefined.
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TL1000s, KDX200

[Dark]

My mate has a TLS (not sure what year but i'm sure its newer than 97) and i've ridden a few times in the last month.

It handles fine even with the weird rotary rear suspension thing, but it doesn't feel powerful at all, it feels flat as a pancake jumping off my 10R and i don't even think it'll out pace your 7R Killa.
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My Bikes in order:- Yamaha RXS100 / Suzuki X7 250 / Yamaha RD350LC / Kawasaki
KR1S 250 / Kawasaki ZXR750 H2 / Honda C50 / Kawasaki ZX7R P5 / Kawasaki ZX10R / Suzuki GSXR 400 / Honda CBR1100 Blackbird & Yamaha FZR 600

[Rob W]

[bish777]

[Dark]

Your probably right, my perception has probably been warped by the 10R, but the power delivery doesn't seem harsh at all. I think its an S or T reg.

Heres a pic of it
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My Bikes in order:- Yamaha RXS100 / Suzuki X7 250 / Yamaha RD350LC / Kawasaki
KR1S 250 / Kawasaki ZXR750 H2 / Honda C50 / Kawasaki ZX7R P5 / Kawasaki ZX10R / Suzuki GSXR 400 / Honda CBR1100 Blackbird & Yamaha FZR 600

[scampypants]

ive got a tls 99 t reg, it is mental, it does need a steering damper.
the only problems ive had are that suzuki dont honour recalls on imports. some of the recalls are very important for example clutch cover o ring, stops it peeing oil over the back half of your bike. it needes an updated ecu cos it feeds petrol into the engine constantly when the bike is turned off filling the sump with petrol, obviously the early ones need a steering damper. the bike never comes of choke see ecu above.

with all these problems its still the best bike ive ever ridden it scares me yet is strangly satisfiying at the same time. i love it but they are too unweildy round town. i like my twins though i had an sv before so its like a natural progression
also i broke the steering damper by accident which makes me ride a lot slower

[TL666]

My bikes cost me thousands in the couple of years I've had it. Clutches don't last five minutes. Engines suffer from oil starvation and the frame has a tendency to crack around the headstock and the where the rotary damper bolts on to.
The bikes a horrible pain in the arse but great fun.

[scampypants]

its not about the money though, i dont care im gonna keep it forever