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TL1000R, any good?

TheRiddler

TheRiddler

Helmet Tap
Joined
Apr 9, 2007
Location
California
Moto(s)
Any of the two-wheeled kind.
Name
Matt
BARF perks
AMA #: 1099639
I have the opportunity to pick up a TL1000R and I'm wondering how well they perform as well as what problems are common for them.

I plan to use it for a freeway commute (30 miles one way) 5 days a week, in addition to some twisty riding. I don't drag knee, but not too far from it. Long term comfort is important too since I'll occasionally do 400 mile rides.
 
I heard that components i.e. brakes, forks, etc. are less than top notch and handling was just ok, not stellar. After comment on components though, many bikes have cheaper components to keep price down also. They look and sound nice though, nice twin sound.
 
NOt really... and you have to be a man to get the performance out it. Much like the RVT but not nearly as good.
 
Didn't those things have some funky, rotary damper, (That sucked!) for a rear shock? Seems to me they were kinda quirky, and the SV1000 was a big improvement.
But it's probably OK for a commuter?

Good luck,
 
Gas mileage is not good.
Sub 30 mpg.
They eat rear tires like they are going out of style.
 
I had a 2000 Tl1000r and yes it is a beast, but it had good low end and handled fine...put some yosh on it, new grips, decal set, new Michelin in the back, Did chain, few extra parts...loved the bike had a Gsxr 1000 as well, just a different ride...i prefer twins i now have a Rc51...the thousands will dust you, but anything else...watch out..:thumbup and you have too love that vtwin sound..
 
TheRiddler said:
I have the opportunity to pick up a TL1000R and I'm wondering how well they perform as well as what problems are common for them.

I plan to use it for a freeway commute (30 miles one way) 5 days a week, in addition to some twisty riding. I don't drag knee, but not too far from it. Long term comfort is important too since I'll occasionally do 400 mile rides.
Click to expand...


It's seriously sweet. It was created to kick Ducati 916 ass in Superbike racing.

As it turned out, it out powered the Ducati, but the Ducati went faster around a track.

The TLR was a disaster, because Suzuki made the dumbest release of the bike in history. And the Journo's testing and reporting on their track test, gave it the deserved bad grade.

That's journo's that don't lift a finger to have a bike set-up as well as it can be, and the Suzuki staff didn't do it either.

The bike is fantastic as a street bike. Most everyone that became a fan, had the rotary damper rear shock, switched out for an Ohlins shock.

I found the settings to make the stock work just fine, for my weight (185 geared up) and riding style (aggressive) on the less than nice old roads in the Sierra.

Tomorrow I'll look up the issue of City Bike that featured it in the News-Clues-Rumors section. I made my own handle bar conversion, to put Pro-Taper bars on, and sit like a Multistrada. I also (totally not neccessary) made my own exhaust, but... stock or aftermarket is just fine.

I'd highly recommend the TLR, and that tail section is the coolest "trunk" ever.
 
heard that they have slipper clutch
 
For common problems...gas pump gasket leak is very common but it is a cheap and easy fix.
Standard rear shock is fine for most riders but if you want to ride it hard then I would recommend upgrading to an Ohlins or Penske.
Fuel economy, I average 33-35 MPG.
They do eat rear tires.
Your F3 would be more comfortable for commuting.
400 mile days are doable but it aint no BMW!

.


TheRiddler said:
I have the opportunity to pick up a TL1000R and I'm wondering how well they perform as well as what problems are common for them.

I plan to use it for a freeway commute (30 miles one way) 5 days a week, in addition to some twisty riding. I don't drag knee, but not too far from it. Long term comfort is important too since I'll occasionally do 400 mile rides.
Click to expand...
 
akacastle said:
I heard that components i.e. brakes, forks, etc. are less than top notch and handling was just ok, not stellar. After comment on components though, many bikes have cheaper components to keep price down also. They look and sound nice though, nice twin sound.
Click to expand...

You heard wrong. Brakes are 6 pots with 320mm rotors. Forks are as good as any for their day (1998).
Handling is fine for the street.


Sharky said:
Gas mileage is not good.
Sub 30 mpg.
They eat rear tires like they are going out of style.
Click to expand...

Fix the gas pump leak.....your mileage will go up. :teeth

TeeSnob said:
heard that they have slipper clutch
Click to expand...

No, they don't.


.
 
I had a TL1000s I was never happy w/ the mapping ont he bike. It would stumble and surge at part throttle under 3000 rpm. I did the power commander fucked w/ the mapts tried a full D&D on it and it never got much better. I don't know if thats a V-twin thing or not as it was my 1st v-twin. Had the fuel map been right on I'd still have it. Its not the scalpel my r6 is but it was a great street bike.
 
I have a TLS which is its lighter precursor.

Great street bikes if "fixed" properly, which was extensive on the TLS but less so on the TLR, (ie. dump the rear rotary shock should be the first priority).

But not really a commuter unless you get taller bars, (I have convertibars on my TLS which help), and the gas mileage does, indeed, suck.

Low 30's.

They are generally quite reliable.

What are they asking for it?
 
Papi-C said:
I had a TL1000s I was never happy w/ the mapping ont he bike. It would stumble and surge at part throttle under 3000 rpm. I did the power commander fucked w/ the mapts tried a full D&D on it and it never got much better. I don't know if thats a V-twin thing or not as it was my 1st v-twin. Had the fuel map been right on I'd still have it. Its not the scalpel my r6 is but it was a great street bike.
Click to expand...

With stock exhausts the stock PCII map works great on the TLS, made a silk purse out of sow's ear so to speak in my case.

But I don't recall the same fueling issues with the TLR...I think they got that one pretty well dialed in stock.
 
TeeSnob said:
heard that they have slipper clutch
Click to expand...

They had a slipper clutch that never slipped for me :laughing

Lucky for me I had a Guzzi 850 LaMans before the TLR that schooled me in Rev matching on down shifts, so it wasn't a real problem.

I heard that some riders lost traction and crashed in say coming down from highway speeds to turn a 90 degree corner of going into a side road. So it is something to watch out for. I'd think info is out, for adjusting the damn thing (lighter springs), by now, if someone wanted to do that as well.
 
GAJ said:
With stock exhausts the stock PCII map works great on the TLS, made a silk purse out of sow's ear so to speak in my case.

But I don't recall the same fueling issues with the TLR...I think they got that one pretty well dialed in stock.
Click to expand...


Umm That had slipped my mind. The stock TLR fueling was insane. Could be challenging to start from a stop at an intersection and turn and blend with the other traffic.

When I made my own exhaust I had Dan Kyle manually create the map for it.

He made the fueling dream smooth. Other maps might do it as well. I only know mine.
 
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