Suzuki TL1000R reviews

I as yet do not own one of these brutes, but I am working overtime on the job to make it a reality. My input is that of Joe blow tired of the nit picky press nickel and dime'ng this bike. The research I have done does not support the reviews that the motorcycle magazines are printing. The dimensions of the bike (TL1000R) are within half inches of its hyped brother the GSX-R 750. The TLR has more torque, lower in the powerband, and with an exhaust upgrade the HP can be brought into line with the GSX-R 750 as well. The weight does leave something to be desired, but comes in handy when moving past that Big Rig throwing off pressure waves that would make a lesser bike shudder! I too am tired of the whining about the suspension of the TLR. Unless you are racing at the professional level, you will probably never notice any of the so-called shortcomings of the suspension. And unless you are of PEE WEE Herman build, the brake and clutch effort should not be a problem. So make an informed choice, not one hammered into you head by journalists looking for a story. Show less

I've never owned or ridden a bike with more wheelie power than this. I just can't help keeping the front tire off the ground. It also sounds like magic with D&D pipes. Show less

Now having my TL1000R for almost a year I am going to stop reading magazines. I get tired of looking at bad press on the bike. I love the bike. I think it is the best bike I have ever owned. Had such bikes as ZX-7, ZX-7RR, GSXR-and the FZR. I know bikes change over the years but the first time I whicked the throttle on the TLR I was sold. I vote it bike of the. Show less

Out of 26 years of riding on 7 bikes and several continents this is the keeper for me. It's one of the easiest bikes to personally maintain including valve adjustments and modifications. Suspension is wonderful for both track and road (if you just take the time to set it up). Ham-fisted journalist should stay clear. Torque is available from the bottom to the top of the power-band. I have ridden my TLR 7,000 miles this year with narry a problem. Only drawback is with Suzuki in that they should have supported this bike on the racetrack. Best sport-twin for the money. Show less

The bike is...well...AWESOME! This despite every magazine review you've ever read. I know I speak for many owners when I say the TLR does not get the respect it deserves. I guess, in one respect, this is not a bad thing considering it keeps it from becoming as commonplace as a GSXR. When someone comes up and says, "Wow, I've never seen one of thosewe just smile. Is the bike perfect? No, there's always room for improvement. One of the biggest complaints about the TLR is the suspension. The rotary damper takes some tweaking to set it for your weight and riding style. Some time spent with a tape measure and some tools will certainly pay off. Some have replaced the rear damper with an Ohlins or Penske shock, and this may give you that extra edge in the corners at the track, but if you are not racing, the stock setup will probably be more than sufficient. I have also read complaints about the quickness of the throttle, due to the Fuel Injection system. It is touchy, but it is manageable. And tuning this beast is a dream. If you have ever changed your exhaust on a carbed bike you know the nightmare it can be changing the jets to suite. With the TLR (and S) you simply hook up Yoshimura's YAFMS box, throw a few switches, and you are done. It's a five-Minute job. If I had to make one complaint about the TLR, it would that the heat generated by that massive rear cylinder under your seat. In stop-and-go traffic it can get to you. The answer? Keep moving! I'm at 3,500 on my odometer and so far I have had no problems. I might also point out the support from other owners via the web is nothing less than spectacular. If you have a problem, someone will most likely supply the answer. I'll sum it up with this. If I had to do it again, I would buy another one, and I'm not an easy rider to please. P.S. The Blue/White one is the fastest one :-) Show less

I have always loved the design of the TL1000R. It's a bike like no other. It looks so muscular and well defined .The front of the bike is sleek and mean, and the double exhaust to the rear points towards the stars. One glance at the bike will blow your mind out of this world. It is a definite podium finish. This bike is reasonably inexpensive for a large displacement bike and since it is a Susuki, maintenance should be minimal. I have never ridden one, but I can only imagine how it would feel and perform. My next bike definitely will be a TL1000R, no doubt. It is a real eye catcher, and girls will love it. Show less

I have 8000 miles on my TL mainly on 500-mile-day rally trips. Great high speed stability on back road Oklahoma. And very comfortable considering its design purpose. I can go all day with no wrist or arm pump problems and that's for a 51 year old. Show less

I've ridden and owned many types of bikes in my 37 years of riding, and I love them all-cruisers, sport, touring, standards, etc. For me, bikes are about fun, and the TL delivers tons of that. In true sportbike fashion, you need to bend like a pretzel to fit on it, and there is a lot of weight on the wrists and forearms, making extended, around-town riding a chore. But you will forget that once free of traffic. It's smooth, powerful, nimble, and extremely stable at all speeds. The suspension is firm but very compliant. It requires very direct steering inputs from the rider to get the most from its handling, making you work harder than other bikes, but this is part of its charm. I have the 2000 yellow version, and installed a Yoshimura carbon fiber race only exhaust system, which looks fantastic and sounds so incredibly good! I can't say if it's the "best" of the twin sportbikes, but I'm having as much fun on it as I did on my very first motorcycle-and that's the highest compliment I can give a bike. Show less

This bike is incredible. I bought it because I wanted a Sport Bike after my '99 Triumph Speed Triple. But guess what, the TLR is a great tourer too. Try riding over 5,000k's in 4 days on a Gold Wing!!! This is where I went: Day 1 - Melbourne (Aust) to Port Augusta 1136km Through to Bendigo then Swan Hill through the Murray Valley. Over into NSW at Robinvale joining the Sturt Highway to Mildura. Turned off the Sturt just after Renmark, then through Morgan, Edunda, and Saddleworth, then up to Clare, Gladstone and Wilmington before heading through Horrocks Pass, one of the best Motorcycling roads in Australia. Day 2 - Port Augusta to Ayers Rock then back to Kulgera 1629 km Up the Stuart Highway into the Outback stopping only for fuel (a tank full lasted about an hour, so lots of stops), taking in the stunning scenery and unusual people in places like Coober Pedy. Into NT then on to Ayers Rock to watch the sun set, returning to Kulgera for the night. Day 3 - Kulgera to Adelaide 1320 km Back down the Stuart Highway to Port Augusta then taking the Horrocks Pass detour before it got dark. Down through Wilmington Again before crossing back to the Princess Highway at Crystal Brook to head down to Adelaide. Day 4 - Adelaide to Melbourne 1018 km Dukes Highway to Keith then down to Naracoorte, over to Edenhope then Balmoral, Cavendish, Hamilton to Port Fairy in search of another great Motorcycling road, the Great Ocean Road. Hit rain at Apollo Bay so headed to Deans Marsh after Lorne then Geelong and home. I LOVE THIS BIKE!!! Show less

I don't know what all the fuss is about liter class 4-lungers, because the TLR has enough low end grunt to spank their hind ends up to the 100mph mark. Which is exactly where you need the power on the street. The R1 and Hayabusa are faster, but in the real world where top speeds are limited to the highways and roads on which we ride.... Show less