Motorcycle Reviews

Find By Make/Model

Sell your bike for £9.99

An MCN ad reaches more motorcyclists than any other biking website or publication

Sell your motorcycle

Need finance?

However much you want to borrow, search 1000s of low-rate loans

Search motorcycle loans

Know how much to pay

Find out exactly how much bikes like this actually sell for

Look up Parkers used bike prices

Advice from owners & experts

Visit our forums to ask current owners about their bikes - or to put a question to our expert panel

Get advice

1 of 14

Suzuki TL1000S motorcycle review - Riding

translate:/Shared/Controls/Multimedia/Flickrator/PreviousImageAltText

translate:/Shared/Controls/Multimedia/Flickrator/NextImageAltText

Suzuki TL1000S (1997-2001)

Detail	Value
Parker's used price range	£1,010-2,590
	Full used prices
Engine size	996cc
Power	125bhp
Top speed	165mph
Insurance group	15

	MCN ratings	Owners' ratings
Overall
Engine
Ride & Handling
Equipment
Quality & Reliability
Value

MCN overall verdict

The Suzuki TL1000S is a motorcycle which has become the Freddie Kreuger of biking. But it's not that evil really, it just suffers from a poor rear shock design that overheats far too easily. You can go fast on the TL1000S if you know what you're doing and take time setting the bike's suspension, but the Suzuki TL1000S will always retain the ability to scare the pants off you occasionally.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

The Suzuki TL1000S barnstorming motor, even today, with 125bhp ready to kick your arse within two seconds of opening the throttle fully. Gearbox and clutch are OK, but repeated wheelies can knacker clutches quickly. Early Suzuki TL1000S models had on/off fuel injection, some stalling problems, but most will have been sorted out long ago by now.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

This is where it all goes Pete Tong for the Suzuki TL1000S. The rear shock's damping action is controlled by a teaspoon of oil being forced through valves - it doesn't work. The rear end starts moving, plus the front end of the TL1000S is liable to flap about as the sheer grunt lifts the front wheel. Result; one scared rider, and possible excursions into the scenery. The Suzuki TL1000S also chews chains and rear tyres easily.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

The TL1000S has some decent brakes, forks and a half fairing, but it never looked as well equipped as some rivals from the late 90s. Details on the Suzuki TL1000S like the rubbish front mudguard, the crude fairing struts, sticky-out subframe and the lack of rear grabrail all hint at a bit of a rushed development.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

The build quality is patchy. Some Suzuki TL1000S machines were rusting when new. Paint rubs away, alloy discolours, electrics and the fuel injection can play up. Luckily, owners are quite fanatical about the Suzuki TL1000S and it's common to see beautiful used examples with a host of mods up for sale in the £2000-£3000 bracket.

MCN rating
Owners' rating

As a used buy the original gangster Suzuki TL1000S is likely to hold its value better than the slightly saner TL1000R in the long run. If you can find a truly original, unmodified Suzuki TL1000S, especially in red, then buy it because you won't lose money on it. The Suzuki TL1000S is now becoming a cult bike. Find Suzuki TL1000S motorcycles for sale.

Insurance group: 15

Compare motorcycle insurance quotes now

1997: Suzuki TL1000S launched.
1998: Steering damper retro fitted to Suzuki TL1000S by Suzuki GB, fuel injection tweaks.
2000: New colours/graphics 2001 Suzuki TL1000S Model discontinued.

None.

Specifications

Top speed	165mph
1/4-mile acceleration	10.9 secs
Power	125bhp
Torque	76ftlb
Weight	191kg
Seat height	835mm
Fuel capacity	17 litres
Average fuel consumption	32mpg
Tank range	100 miles
Insurance group	15

Engine size	996cc
Engine specification	4 stroke, V-twin, 6 gears
Frame	Alloy oval section trellis
Front suspension adjustment	Preload, rebound, compression
Rear suspension adjustment	Preload, rebound, compression
Front brakes	Twin 320mm disc
Rear brake	220mm disc
Front tyre size	120/70 x 17
Rear tyre size	190/50 x 17

Owners' Overall Rating (14 reviews)

Submit your Review

The most under-rated bike I've ridden in my 26 years on the street...

nGenTech

Average rating

Show Details

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

I've owned or ridden one of most major Jap bike models over the years and I can honestly say this is my pick of the lot. Replace the stock shock with a regular aftermarket piece, bolt on a full system and add a TRE and what your left with is the most fun race-rep you can get for your dollar. It also helps if you replace that steering damper with an adjustable piece. A few select mods has you between 125-130 rwhp and between 75-80 lbs of torque. Getting the bike down to a 470lb wet weight is not hard at all. If Suzuki had just tossed the rotary damper and put some track development into this bike I think it could have been a winner. Now, it's just a hell of a lot of fun for the person who can appriciate it. Go get one... Strengths: 120+ rwhp V-twin for sod all cash. Aggressive styling that still attracts more attention than most of the new bikes. Can easily be modded into the bike Suzuki should have built. Weaknesses: Stock rear shock. Stock exhaust too restrictive. No adjustment on steering damper. No longer loved by the after market community.

02 August 2005
Fantastic, full of character, and still turns heads!

TLTimmo

Average rating

Show Details

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Owned since new, no problems except lumpy power delivery around town or on part throttle. Power Commander should fix that and I will get round to fitting one eventually. Race cans a must, OEM exhausts too quiet. Handling ok except long sweepers - can't get suspension set up quite right, and rear pre-load adjustment impossible nearly. Strengths: Grunt, sound, presence. Weaknesses: Brakes, lumpy fuelling, crap finish.

16 July 2005
My Review

ratbark

Average rating

Show Details

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Love just about everything except not sure about handling, BUT, it will be going for a couple of suspension mods shortly which will imporve things no end. Absolutely stunning bike. Have no regrets buying it.

04 April 2002
My Review

johnherron

Average rating

Show Details

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

A real head turner, sounded great, brilliant engine, didn't handle the best and lost rear damping after a few K's when rotary damper became very hot... good front end, brakes ok but not as good as some... overall great for the street but could think of better things to ride on track. was exhausting to ride hard because of the weight and handling. Just couldn't seem to get the set up right on it...

05 March 2002

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Overall
Ride and Handling
Equipment
Quality and Reliabilty
Value
Engine

Discuss this

Add your comment

Subject

Your comment

By submitting your comment, you agree to be bound by MCN's Terms and Conditions

Cancel

speedtona says

sold an aprilia rsvr(my second one)bought a TL cos Ive wanted one for years but i let other people put me off it,All I can say is WOW!!!better engine,more comfortable,its jap so no reliabilty worries and boy don't it handle!!no chicken strips on the back tyre and unless you really go for it its as stable as any other powerful sports bike.Don't be afraid,come over to the dark side!!you don't know what your missing,Speedtona

04 September 2009 22:53

User's Badge

englishusersays

Excellent bike

I have had my TLS for 5 years and have covered 25000 of the 30000 miles on the clock. It has a host of modifications, most significant of which are the Yoshimura cans and Ohlins rear damper. I have toured france, belgium, germany, luxembourg, switzerland, andorra, spain and morocco on it.

20 July 2008 18:57