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TL1000R, any good?

GAJ said:
Look forward to hearing the OP's opinions on the test ride regarding fueling and suspension compliance.
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I've got a friend with a TLR who's going to let me ride his bike for a bit before I look at the one I might be buying. I can let you know how I like it then. Considering it won't be my bike and the roads are still slick, it'll be at a gingerly pace.

The fueling issue at low speeds was supposed to be fixed by an upgraded ECM. The weak brakes on the S were improved with 6 piston calipers instead of 4. The rear shock overheating was supposed to be fixed on the R as well. Something about the electrical system is guaranteed to go bad in the rain due to water pooling up, but it's fairly easily fixed by adding insulation. There was some mention of the clutch's on/off tendencies that blamed Suzuki for over-torquing some bolts that was supposed to be fixed as well. The countershaft seal is supposed to leak on occasion, but that's also reported to be a cheap and easy fix.

The S seemed to be the trial bike, and the 99+ R appears to have all the issues resolved.

It seems like the only reasoning I can have to not like this bike (on paper) is its weight. I only weigh 125 (about 140 with gear), so muscling this thing around might prove to be a chore. However, it only has 20lbs on my F3, so we'll see how well/poorly those extra 20lbs are distributed.
 
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Commuting on the TLR is fine, I commute mine occasionally from sac to bay area, but mostly just like to hit the foothills with the tiller. I've done some trackdays as well this year with my TLR(frickin Awesome!).

Ergos are comfy for me (6' 200lbs), the torque gives you instant acceleration to zip through traffic anytime, anywhere, anygear... no complaints when your moving. BUT....the TLR does not like to go slow! It gets real hot at the lights and its heavy as f*ck to lug around at slow speeds. TLRs like to go...

Other than that, its unique and the grin factor is off the charts... I love this bike. She's a Beast!!!

Ron
 
From Motorcycle Consumer News:

F3: 90hp, 43lb/ft torque, 460lbs, 3.4 0-60, 11.0 1/4 mile@124mph

TLR: 112hp, 68 lb/ft, 509lbs (39 more than the TLS!), 3.2 0-60, 10.8 1/4@130

I'm guessing you'll notice the weight first, and if it is dry, the torque at low revs compared to your f3.

Hope it's as dry down there as it is up here.

Sunny actually!

Enjoy and report back.
 
I loved my TL1000S, and I went to that from a twofiddy. Handling was a little funky, but the torque was awesome. The thing eats it's tires pretty good, but I never had any other problems for about a year. It was a very comfortable bike for my lanky ass. And I think I weighed about 240 back then.
 
Banjoboy said:
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,
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depending on what year you have alot of the TL1000 was a bit better then some of the sv1000
 
I rode my friend's for about half an hour this evening.

The weight seems to be commonly referred to as a downside. It wasn't terrible. However, I was going so slow I can't give too good of an evaluation. The suspension was stiffer than my F3's, but it's fully adjustable and it wasn't bad enough to be disqualifying. I think it was set up stiff enough so the bike didn't even know I was on it.

The clip-ons also had me leaning further over, but my feet were at the same height. It'd be uncomfortable for really long rides, but the tank is at the right height for me to rest my left arm on it and support my torso.

I wasn't a fan of the front brakes; they felt weaker than my F3's. But the owner said the pads were worn out.

The sound was amazing (Yosh full system). I originally thought I didn't care about sound, but it's good enough to make me care.

On my F3 I can tuck underneath the windscreen. No way I could do that on the TLR. I almost never do that, but it can be helpful on extremely cold days.

Power, like everyone said, was smoooth and everywhere. Powerband? What powerband? It felt like the entire rev range was a powerband, and I don't think I took it over 9k. I could never tell how high I was in the RPMs since it was so smooth.

EDIT: The clutch. My main annoyance is that it's not adjustable and engages all the way out. On my past two bikes I've had it engage all the way in. I have small hands so it's easier that way. I'll definitely need to buy an adjustable clutch lever. As for engagement, it didn't feel like on/off. It felt just like every other bike clutch. Shifting was smooth as silk, too.

If the one I see tomorrow is as clean as the owner says it is, I'll be picking it up.
 
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TheRiddler said:
I rode my friend's for about half an hour this evening.

The weight seems to be commonly referred to as a downside. It wasn't terrible. However, I was going so slow I can't give too good of an evaluation. The suspension was stiffer than my F3's, but it's fully adjustable and it wasn't bad enough to be disqualifying. I think it was set up stiff enough so the bike didn't even know I was on it.

The clip-ons also had me leaning further over, but my feet were at the same height. It'd be uncomfortable for really long rides, but the tank is at the right height for me to rest my left arm on it and support my torso.

I wasn't a fan of the front brakes; they felt weaker than my F3's. But the owner said the pads were worn out.

The sound was amazing (Yosh full system). I originally thought I didn't care about sound, but it's good enough to make me care.

On my F3 I can tuck underneath the windscreen. No way I could do that on the TLR. I almost never do that, but it can be helpful on extremely cold days.

Power, like everyone said, was smoooth and everywhere. Powerband? What powerband? It felt like the entire rev range was a powerband, and I don't think I took it over 9k. I could never tell how high I was in the RPMs since it was so smooth.

EDIT: The clutch. My main annoyance is that it's not adjustable and engages all the way out. On my past two bikes I've had it engage all the way in. I have small hands so it's easier that way. I'll definitely need to buy an adjustable clutch lever. As for engagement, it didn't feel like on/off. It felt just like every other bike clutch. Shifting was smooth as silk, too.

If the one I see tomorrow is as clean as the owner says it is, I'll be picking it up.
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word. FWIW i came from a strung out i4 600. the torque of a big twin is kind of life changing :laughing. You'll find out you'll need to make adjustments to your riding style and line selections on spirited outings. Its a good thing.

good luck!
 
blackrat said:
he might be making a joke about the slipping cluctch issue a lot of the TL bikes had. :laughing Several times I would whack the throttle open on a straight only to hear the revs shoot up for a moment before catching again which usully ended up with me getting a surprising view of the sky as I was pointed straight up. Seemed to be a regular problem with many people over on TLPlanet.
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The whole clutch slipping issue was on the early bikes with synthetics... My current bike did that but went away by just changing to barnett clutch springs. :teeth

I had a TLS, loved it. It wasn't as fast and didn't handle as well as my current bike but the sound and presence of it more than made up for it. Had some fueling issues where it was choppy but that could have been because of the PC3 that it had. From what I remember reading the twitchy handling issue of the S (where it got the widowmaker nickname) as taken care of when the 98 S and R models were released. They always kept that reputation though. The rotary damper is supposed to be fine for street and general use as well once your bike is adjusted for your style. The S' had a problem with the damper gettng hot because of it's placement in relation to the engine but the R remedied that. The aftermarket set ups are clearly going to be better though of course.
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GAJ said:
Motorcycle Consumer news has the old beast a hair faster than your 675, but I'm quite sure the lighter Triumph is a far better handler.

Ohlins/Lindemann, a convertibar (had to have a custom fairing stay manufactured) and a narrower rear tire on my old 1997 make it handle quite well...but it's still not a "flickable" bike.
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Only the early 97 tls had the fueling problems, they later had a recall and did an ECU remap and streering dampers to correct the 'widowmakerness'. I had an early 97 that had the fueling issue and the 97 I have now does not. (coincidentally I also have the steering damper, updated tank seal, etc) I think the whole window maker deal was blown out of proportion by people wacking the gas and lofting the front unexpectedly. (read: torque monster)

The TLS rotary damper is not ok for anything imo, it has way too much compression damping and not enough rebound. The stock TLS forks are also ridiculously soft. (spring AND valving) Still I had never experienced the whole "twitchyness" deal, but I tend to set my bikes up properly before hand :D The bike becomes very much more flickable when you raise the rear and drop the front with little to no loss in stability. It also helps to run a 190/55 rear tire opposed to the stock 190/50. But lets not compare apples and oranges :twofinger TLs are still the #1 hooligan machine in my book.
 
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My husband had 2 TLs... If anyone knows someone who is getting rid of one.. Let me know
 
Ojameyo said:
My husband had 2 TLs... If anyone knows someone who is getting rid of one.. Let me know
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I might be selling mine next year.

I simply don't ride it enough compared to my other 2 bikes.

Original owner, fully "fixed" (power commander, Lindemann fork springs and valving, Lindemann rear spring, Ohlins shock, Corsa III's, 180/55 on the rear, custom fairing stay to accommodate taller/adjustable Convertibars, Kevlar lines).

1997 Green.

If you're ever up this way, give me a PM.
 
Guy sold it before I got a chance to look at it. Such is the nature of Craigslist.
 
if you wanna ride my SV1K to see how it feels let me know
 
funkycharms said:
maybe he will take 3500
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Not sure what SV you are talking about, but talked to my friend and he may be willing to come down to 3500. It's an 05, all black...couple scratches right on the left side fairing by the clip ons from falling against a trailer wall, 20k miles or so...but otherwise in great shape. Hell, my TL has 73k miles and still no issues....


He needs the room in his garage more than he needs the money.
 
PhoS said:
The whole clutch slipping issue was on the early bikes with synthetics... My current bike did that but went away by just changing to barnett clutch springs. :teeth


Only the early 97 tls had the fueling problems, they later had a recall and did an ECU remap and streering dampers to correct the 'widowmakerness'. I had an early 97 that had the fueling issue and the 97 I have now does not. (coincidentally I also have the steering damper, updated tank seal, etc) I think the whole window maker deal was blown out of proportion by people wacking the gas and lofting the front unexpectedly. (read: torque monster)

The TLS rotary damper is not ok for anything imo, it has way too much compression damping and not enough rebound. The stock TLS forks are also ridiculously soft. (spring AND valving) Still I had never experienced the whole "twitchyness" deal, but I tend to set my bikes up properly before hand :D The bike becomes very much more flickable when you raise the rear and drop the front with little to no loss in stability. It also helps to run a 190/55 rear tire opposed to the stock 190/50. But lets not compare apples and oranges :twofinger TLs are still the #1 hooligan machine in my book.
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^^^ sums it up well.

Also had a '97 TLs. Put a little over 35k on it in the 2.5 yrs I had it from new. Toured it to Canada, commuted on it and played around in the moutains around ventura. Sold it for 3k way back then w/ stands and bags.

Clutch would slip w/ synthtics and cured that w/ barnett springs also. A friend said he just firmed up the springs w/ washers.

Fixed the tank issue, ecu issue and some other minor things.

Took off the retro fitted dampner because it was cumbersom when you wanted to lift the tank. Went into a tank slapper on the first fwy on ramp. Put a wer rotary dampner on the lower fork clamp. Worked much better.

Great bike for touring and playing around on weekends. Loved the torque.

Sold it because I went through 3 water pumps. They were not easy to replace because the cam chain ran over a sproket on the pump shaft. The seal would go bad, then the shaft would go (or the other way around) and it would leak fluid.

Agree re: mpg. 30's and fuel light at 120 mi unless you let it warm up before you fill the tank, keep a steady speed and use non - ca fuel. Then I could get up to 180 mi. out of a tank.

Easy to ride but don't miss it.

A friend took out 2nd gear on his low mi bike. May have missed a shift while riding the back wheel. He like the TLs but called it a wine before it's time. Have to agree. Get the honda.
 
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