| Author | Message | ||
     Vanvideo |
Has anyone ever ridden one of these v-twin Suzooks? I've always liked their looks-especially in yellow - and the ones I've heard have a good, deep base rumble to their exhaust. Kinda like, oh, say, an XB. How do they compare? I know they're more powerful. How's the torque? Do they pull like an XB? | ||
| Spiderman |
I have, I actually did it on a training class on the new XB9's LOL I will post my feelings and experiences later tonight, I have class in a hour and have to go LOL | ||
| Macbuell |
A friend of No-Rice has one and he had it at the Dragon when they were there over the summer. It certainly was fast enough and he had no problem ripping through the Dragon. I'll tell you this, that bike looked huge sitting next to a couple of XB's. | ||
| Ducxl |
RC-51 is the bike you want....if that's what you want....The TLR DOES look rather large,i've seen them up close.But they're all Ducati wannabes'  | ||
| Spiderman |
Well I have a few before class so here goes. I rode the TL1KR and immediately jumped onto a XB9R. The noticeable difference is the low end grunt. After riding the TL which red lines at 12k plus as soon as you twist the wick on the XB you can tell the right away. The TL can defiantly pull on a XB9 in a roll on but never got the chance to see who would pull from a dead stop. The TL is faster and with the suspension set up right I am sure is a tad under the handling of the XB's (we didn't really have any nice twisties to tell) I am a big guy so the TL's size was no problem for me the bars are aggressive but the pegs are about a 1.5 inches down an back from the XBR. All in all the TL pulls hard with the R's up but you can notice the low end grunt moving right from TL to XB. The TL does have significant grunt for it's high revving nature and the top end will definitely make up for the small loss. And I never really got to thrash her on any tight corners SO all I can tell you is she handled well in light duty and well in parking lot scenarios... | ||
| No_rice |
i have alot of seat time on his. they pull very well. my friend has a fair amount of tunning and such done to this though. and a lighter/better rear suspension on it. the factory unite is a huge. it functions ok, but is easily improved upon. his has the full titanium yosh(i think) system on it and sounds very healthy. they are right up there with an RC51. i love the bike, but they are alot bigger. it is a change for sure when you get on it. my xb and his tl run very well together. i was pissing him off a bit at the dragon though, lol. he was running hard in second and i was in third and could still catch him. i did have to put a little effort into it though. he is a very capable rider and has owned that thing since it was new. i could by no means EASILY walk away from it, but it was do able. if we run them flat out, he can pull away from my xb slowly about the time i hit fourth. his is geared down a few teeth though. i like it enough i keep considering buying it from him. | ||
| Vanvideo |
Thanks for the info, guys. I've always liked them, and if I hadn't test ridden an XB12R, I might have gone for a TL. They do look big and I think they're close to 500 lbs. wet weight, but I don't think they'd be any heavier than my old '92 ZX-7. If a TL can pull like an XB, then I might get one one day - but still keep my 9R. | ||
| Chasespeed |
I have done a bit of work on one... in fact, if you look at my website, you will see it, right next to my X1... its a 98, and the best mods to the bike, were, Steering head bearing conversion(from ball to tapered needle), and re-gearing... Second up, would be the increase in displacement, which, is...1145 I believe.. This thing makes some serious power, and lofts teh front with NO EFFORT, and no clutch.... There was ALOT of work to the suspension, especially that rotary shock in the rear, but, again, well worth it... MY personal opinion... great bike, very comfortable, capable, and...fun... I have been looking for one for my daily ride for about 6-7 months... Hope that helps... Chase | ||
| Chasespeed |
  Here are a couple pics... Chase | ||
| Vortec57 |
This makes me feel good! A friend of mine just picked up an Aprilla RSV1000 and wants me to buy his TLR, I've been on the fence about it a lot though. Now I guess I better start counting my pennies again. | ||
| Chasespeed |
BTW, as an aside, the clutch takes a little getting used to on take off... there is NO fast getaways without the front end going sky high... Its a 2 stage clutch, so, its either in or out... once you stall it or wheelie it a few times, you will figure it out... The one in the pic likes to be around 3k to take off from a stop.. The other one I work on, likes 2k... So...take that for what its worth... they are fun bikes though... Chase | ||
| Cmm213 |
I enjoyed the time I got to ride a TL for a week. But I liked the RC51 even more when a buddy let me ride it! | ||
| Trojan |
The TL1000R is definitely one of the most underrated bikes out of Japan for years, and suffered because of the bad reputation that the TL1000S earned itself (although all the handling problems had been solved by the time the R came out). Theyare a big bike compared to the XB, but then so is everything else! The engine is superb and a match for the Ducati 916/RC51 any day, plus it has the added advantage of a decent fuel range and 'real world' comfort. Get a test ride and you will be impressed  | ||
| Trojan |
The TL1000R is definitely one of the most underrated bikes out of Japan for years, and suffered because of the bad reputation that the TL1000S earned itself (although all the handling problems had been solved by the time the R came out). Theyare a big bike compared to the XB, but then so is everything else! The engine is superb and a match for the Ducati 916/RC51 any day, plus it has the added advantage of a decent fuel range and 'real world' comfort. Get a test ride and you will be impressed | ||
| T9r |
I'd picked up this race TL1kS while I had my 1995 Buell S2. The TL was WILD, crazy fast and experienced a tank slapper or two with it. I loved the sound of the M4 2-1 full exhaust, this sucker was LOUD. I just love twin engines.     | ||
| Loki |
and to think..... The late EH company.....reverse engineered this power plant to build their own | ||
| Oldog |
and to think..... The late EH company.....reverse engineered this power plant to build their own Huh? please expand on this, I am considering adding one of these to the stable as a sport tourer. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Any Cagiva Raptors make it stateside? Thats the TL motor with an Italian chassis, and a fairly nice looking bike (the naked one anyway). | ||
| Loki |
A buddy of mine , a former employee of Ex-Henderson. As the story goes. EH went out and bought four S models just for the engines. Tore the engines down and sent them to europe. To study and not have to re-invent the wheel, completely. | ||
| Vanvideo |
I sat on a TLS and found the seat height uncomfortably high. I was told you could not lower the suspension on an S. I have seen TLRs lowered, should the bike feel too high for us vertically-challenged individuals. T9R, I take it those are two separate TLS'? One is a race bike, the other a modified street bike? or is it the same bike in different stages of its life? They both look bad-ass. (Message edited by vanvideo on February 26, 2007) | ||
| T9r |
Same bike, lots of spare parts. I got it as a race bike, then converted it to street. I did take it to one roadrace track in VA once. The bike had the adjustable linkage on the rear (aftermarket) to raise/lower the rear height, that helped greatly for a comfortable ride in both scenarios. Thanks. I miss that bike. I ended up selling most all that I had for it, even an extra engine. | ||
| Vanvideo |
What did you use for that front fairing? It actually looks a lot better than stock. Do you know who makes the adjustable rear linkage? I've heard TLSs are nasty, torquey beasts. Makes me want one! | ||
| T9r |
That carbon fiber looking thing was just the stock part on the S model. I bought tiny bicycle mirrors and put them on later (can be seen in one of the photos). The linkage came with the bike, I don't recall who made it. It was like a long screw. The TLs was a 1997, very torquey and very powerful. It had the power commander and full exhaust so it was a performer. | ||
| Rick_a |
A friend of mine had one briefly. A wheelie monster, though a bit overweight and underpowered. Hmmm, this sounds familiar... | ||
| Trojan |
Do you know who makes the adjustable rear linkage? Hyperpro make a rear shock conversion for the TL1000S that gets rid of the dodgy rotary shock and replaces it with a conventional coil over type shock. Improves handling 100%. I think Hyperpro are distributed in the USA by Micron? A wheelie monster, though a bit overweight and underpowered If he thought the TL100R was underpowered there was either something wrong with it of he is used to riding some serious superbikes! I've heard the TL described as lots of things over the years, but underpowered sure ain't one of them. Theyare still capable of winning races against much newer bikes and regularly do over here in Sound of Thunder. Twins: Buell XB9R = 92HP Buell XB12R = 103HP Ducati 999S = 143HP Honda VTR-1000 = 110HP (Firestorm) (193KG dry weight) Honda VTR SP2 = 136 HP Suzuki TL1000R = 135 HP (197kg dry weight) Suzuki TL1000S = 125 HP (191kg dry weight) Aprilia RSV 1000 Mille = 138HP (185 KG dry weight) Yamaha TRX-850 = 83 HP (198KG dry) (Yamaha's only decent attempt at a twin) Those ae crankshaft bhp figures, and the TLR makes 120+ at the rear wheel. | ||
| Rick_a |
His next bike was a ZX-9R. I live in a different state now and am unsure what he's riding currently. His was a TL-S which is about 110-115 hp stock. He always complained about how weak it felt on top. That'd be plenty fast for me. I love the TRX. Very cool and (almost) soulful for a Japanese creation. A lot of potential there, me thinks. Over Racing did a good job with one years back. | ||
| Vanvideo |
Years ago Yamaha had a TRX on display at Daytona. They had a questionnaire asking if there was interest in the bike. I sure answered in the affirmative. It was a beautiful bike. It figures it never made it to our shores. | ||
| Rick_a |
Look at almost any major motorcycle manufacturer's sites overseas and you'll find a much larger variety of motorcycles. Anything that doesn't easily fit a well defined category seems to bomb in the US. | ||
| Trojan |
The TRX unfortunately bombed in just about every market, including here in the UK where it made a lot of sense. Yamaha got the pricing totally wrong and tried to price it at the same level as Ducati rather than undercutting them. They also seriously underestimated the power of the badge on the tank, and people looking for a fast twin were lured by the 'exotic' Ducati name rather than bland old Yamaha. If the TRX had been priced at the same level as the SV650 it would have sold by the boat load. | ||
| Vanvideo |
I thought the price was a bit much when Yamaha displayed the bike. They even had a question in the questionnaire: would you buy the bike at their suggested retail price? I wrote that I thought they should lower the price. Guess I was right. |
