Suzuki TL1000S (1997-2001)

I had one of the first in the country,being on the waiting list at my local dealer,looked good in green. First year was a bit up and down with recalls and the press getting their knickers in a bunch over how dangerous it was. Yes it shook its head a bit but usually I was riding like a tit anyway. The steering damper recall spoiled the steering feel imho,and it would weave gently in fast bends but I loved it,brilliant engine torquey with top end and the handling you got used to, not a bad riding position either. Had it for 4 years only got rid because i fancied a change and I've regretted it ever since. Have had a Falco and a SV1000s they're just not as good/exciting.......

owned it for 12 years,nearly new when I got it,when it runs right its fantastic,when it plays up it's a piece of junk.Ignore all the crap about Japanese reliability,it's a myth unless it's a Honda,I've had more problems with this bike than there is room to list,bad expensive things as well and as soon as I can afford it it'll be gone,needless to say the next bike will have a Honda badge on it.I think alot of the problems stem from the cheap shit build quality,you get what you pay for and after the CBR i had before this the TL feels like some Chinese thrown together budget bike.A great bike when it's not playing up,a bleeding nightmare when it is.

My favorite Crotch Rocket. I have had a 95'CBR600f3, 98'ZX9R , 01'SV650S , I like the TL1000S the best. Makes riding in the triple digets easy. I don't know if it could beat the ZX9R I had but pretty close. I have not had a problem with rotary damper. I probably don't ride hard enough. Lots of power and torque. More than enough for most people. If you need more your crazy! It will kill you! This bike will do what you want it to do. The "bad" your rear tire will wear out fast ha ha!

Have owned mine for nearly two years and I have to say what a machine. This was my first Litre Bike and took some getting used to, however it is very rewarding, sounds awesome and the engine never fails. When you go to a bike meet, many people look as the TL1000S is fairly rare these days and with unbaffled cans sounds like thunder. You need to muscle this bike a bit to get it to do what you want and be careful of the engine breaking as its pretty hard. All in all a lot of bike and fun for the money and rare to boot.

I've owned mine for 10 years and still can't think of what to replace it with. It is a fantastic bike, huge power everywhere (I had a ZZR 1100 previously)handling better than me and enormous fun. I run a full Yoshi system, and the noise is incredible...not so bad at tickover, but amazing when opened up. Best mods apart from the exhaust, fully adjustable Sprint steering damper (run at its weakest setting) and braided brake hoses. If you haven't tried one, make the effort, it's an adrenaline fuelled rush every ride!

The most fun you can have without busting the bank and fun it can be. The noise can loud with aftermarket cans ( art cans on mine )but they`ll hear you coming and you`ll be differant. Have fun but itis an animal when it wants to be so be warned

All i can say is ignore what the mags say about the TL remember they ride the bikes to the limit, how many of us can say we do i ride hard and fast and the TL is supurb yes get a new shock for the rear and yes get a new damper for the front get the suspension set up for you and more than anything remember to respect it. when the the TL was new it was one of the first big v twins to come out and have so much power and the said full throttle out of a corner it was a bit wild ! what did the expect try and do the same on a new GSXR 1000 that would get a bit wild as well!!!! I love the TL with race cans the sound it just adictive you find yourself cracking open the throttle just to hear that thundering sound it can keep up with most of my mates and we all have 1000cc sports bikes. I go to allot of bike meets and get the same looks and muttrings ( you dont see many of those around ) and thats the good thing its not another GSXR. Great bike loads of power great noise good handling when sorted somthing different oh and it makes you smile everytime you go for a ride isnt that what its all about.

I have owned my TLs for 7 years now and and love it. keep it on an optimate charger and look after its cailpers. Keep an eye on the 2 side bolts the lossen themselves off. also if you have a small water leak coming from R/H casing hole just to the front. That is your mechanical seal has gone it costs about £30.00 from your suzuki dealer. Its not a big job and not the end of the world. Leave lots off slack in your chain as it goes boe string tight when you pinch up nut on rear wheel. so find tigtest part of chain then ajust there . there is lots more but if anyone is looking to buy one and have a Qestion Email me on kennymcq@googlemail.com

Hi I had the TL1000r and had to sell it due to personel reasons, Regretted it ever since, Just got the TL1000s and what a machine experieced rider's only, and give it respect loads of power handles well if you take it by the scruff of the neck, pulls pulls pulls although my TL1000r was a better machine.

I've actually owned 2 TL1000S so that itself says something about them. Some people can get on with V twin engines and others say they can't. If you can then you've got to try a TL1000S. The uummph from the engine from 6000rpm onwards is utterly addictive as is the engine noise with race cans. The handling can be twitchy when HARD on the power over bumpy roads. The main prob is the rear damper unit squatting under power which lifts the front end such that undulations on the road can cause the front to twitch. Its no worse than any other bike I've ridden but the torque allows you to get in that situation easier than some other bikes. Mines fitted with a WP rear shock and handling is more than good enuff to keep up with pretty much anything round the twisties on track days (brakes and chassis are capable of keeping with most things if in good sted). I've toured all over europe without aches and pains on it and if not in 'cane it' mode it'll return around 46miles per gallon. People who buy TL1000S all miss them when they replace them and quite a significant proportion go and buy another one. I can't think of a package that offers anywhere near the same fun and character of the TL1000S at the same price Very early bikes (97) produced the most power but had slightly lumpy delivery. This should be sorted nowdays with a recall remap. If the bike runs lumpy at 3-4000rpm then the throttle position sensor needs adjusting which is just loosening off a couple of screws, repositioning the sensor and securing.