So .... What's it all about.

4212 Views 47 Replies 10 Participants Last post by rxf610, Jan 29, 2014

762fmj

Discussion Starter · Jan 8, 2014

My TLS is ready for its MOT and I'm still yet to ride it in anger. So far I've ridden it 500m to the gas station. It was a nervous couple minutes as it was essentially a mini shake down.

Next is the ride to the MOT centre where I know it'll pass but I'm unsure of how she's going to perform from a handling stand point. I still have the rotary damper and spring on a stick set up. I've removed the aftermarket steering damper for no other reason than it was not functioning efficiently ... I've serviced the device but am considering leaving it off. Is that wise?

So a fair bit of trepidation going on ... Is this the rude bucking bronco people say it is?

Gonna take it for a gentle spin then I'm going to rag it. Eeeek ... Can't wait.

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spanwah

· #2 · Jan 8, 2014

the first time I rode my lads today was surprised how smooth the engine was and not as aggressive as I thought it might be! could do with another 1000 revs though! front end geos light when accelerating hard but had to whip it to get it to wheelie but I was impressed ! deceptively fast on real roads!! engine feels lazy but speedo says different! was following on my bike for a while and would say it seems faster than his 7r pulls harder low down would be an interesting comparison considering they are from the same era!!! maybe when we take them out together the truth will be told:devious gut feeling power geos to tlr handling to the 7r not to say the handling was bad (rotary damper fitted to his) cant believe the hype over that damper seemed fine but that said we weren't at full chat cornering as roads still greasy and will find out when they become better otherwise I was impressed !always a bike I wanted to ride since I had a mille !
certainly not the bad reputation it has been given !!!!

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762fmj

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 8, 2014

Nice one spanwah ... Glad you liked the TL. Appreciate your feedback on the beast. Friday will apparently be relatively decent weather down here so that's the day for the shakedown. :wheelie

snowblind

· #4 · Jan 8, 2014

There's a good article about TL suspension in this month's Performance Bikes (see other related threads). Explains why it doesn't work and what you can do about it.
I'm looking forward to seeing the verdict once they finish the project.

spanwah

· #5 · Jan 8, 2014

snowblind said:
There's a good article about TL suspension in this month's Performance Bikes (see other related threads). Explains why it doesn't work and what you can do about it.
I'm looking forward to seeing the verdict once they finish the project.

certainly going to read it stood in morrisons while wife shops:laugh:laugh

Reactions: 1

762fmj

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 8, 2014

snowblind said:
There's a good article about TL suspension in this month's Performance Bikes (see other related threads). Explains why it doesn't work and what you can do about it.
I'm looking forward to seeing the verdict once they finish the project.

Yep ... I will be pulling the OEM rear suspension set up and replacing it with proper mono shock conversion. But that ain't happening just yet .... I need to do up another bike. Then I'll go phase 2 on this bad boy. In the meantime I just need to convince myself that this thing will be safe enough as it's currently configured. I want to use it as my winter hack before doing a motor strip and total makeover.

snowblind

· #7 · Jan 8, 2014

It will be fine. Not the best it can be maybe but perfectly acceptable for tooling around on nice frozen, greasy, winter roads. There's enough still going with the rotary in place to prove they aren't an automatic death sentence.

Then, when you are ready you can get new, improved and lemon-scented!

:drool

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cham

· #8 · Jan 8, 2014

The R is better handling than the S, its the 97 S like I crashed that was named the widow maker. I have a spare standard steering damper if needed Tony.

adstl

· #9 · Jan 8, 2014

snowblind said:
There's a good article about TL suspension in this month's Performance Bikes (see other related threads). Explains why it doesn't work and what you can do about it.
I'm looking forward to seeing the verdict once they finish the project.

what like get a different bike lol personally i get hacked reading about all the negative comments about these bikes both the r and the s alright if your boss is paying to reinvent it , or getting freebies from manufacturers

adstl

· #10 · Jan 8, 2014

cham said:
The R is better handling than the S, its the 97 S like I crashed that was named the widow maker. I have a spare standard steering damper if needed Tony.

thats because you tried to copy steve mcqueen in the great escape lol

At least you won the ploughing a field competition , and became a tv star

and now you have a really nice s

Reactions: 1

cham

· #11 · Jan 9, 2014

Cheers, Adam, you have a nice way with words,lol.

snowblind

· #12 · Jan 9, 2014

adstl said:
and now you have a really nice s

Err, this is a bike list. not a dating site. :laugh

Reactions: 2

762fmj

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 9, 2014

snowblind said:
Err, this is a bike list. not a dating site. :laugh

:rotfl

cyclecamper

· #14 · Jan 10, 2014

You guys need to say what bike you own.

RichTLR

· #15 · Jan 10, 2014

Not much wrong with the standard suspension imho, works fine for normal riding/conditions. I've changed mine to a bitubo over the winter, yet to try it but it will be interesting to feel how different it is. Will post my findings for others to see

A friend of mine (ex club racer) always says to me - "you'll never outride the bike, unless you're a total bellend!"

Rich

762fmj

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 10, 2014

RichTLR said:
... Not much wrong with the standard suspension imho, works fine for normal riding/conditions ... Rich

That's good to hear. I'll soon be finding out ... If I get time I'll run her up the road a couple of times this afternoon.

Hursty46

· #17 · Jan 10, 2014

You ain't pushing the Tls hard enough if it ain't trying to buck you off your ticklein the throttle give it full throttle in the tight corners & then the arse end should be letting slip mine does and I come back for more just wish I had bought the Tls a few years ago all the fun I've missed out on with owning one it's def on the keeps list with my other toys ride it hard if you dare lol

rxf610

· #18 · Jan 10, 2014

762fmj,

I am doing a rear end upgrade as we speak. Not a full mono upgrade, but dumping the rotary damper for a proper one. Someone in the past had snapped a bolt off in the frame and I didn't even have a front damper. The point of it all is I had the "worst" and most "dangerous" setup and I thought it handled very very well. Mine is the dreaded widow maker '97 TLS but I'll be fine... because I'm not married :laugh

762fmj

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 10, 2014

rxf610 said:
762fmj,

I am doing a rear end upgrade as we speak. Not a full mono upgrade, but dumping the rotary damper for a proper one. Someone in the past had snapped a bolt off in the frame and I didn't even have a front damper. The point of it all is I had the "worst" and most "dangerous" setup and I thought it handled very very well. Mine is the dreaded widow maker '97 TLS but I'll be fine... because I'm not married :laugh

Thanks rxf610

Again ... Encouraging to hear. I guess I have no doubt that the bikes handle ok ... they must do or Suzuki would have had the book thrown at them long ago.

I just tried mine on a very limited run and it was fine perhaps a bit wallowy at the rear and the front needs tweaking further. Just a little. I did discover an oil leak though. Coming from the two o clock position bolt on the clutch cover. Nothing drastic there though. The brakes really do need the new braided lines as they're a tad vague with the bike rolling under power. So couple of things to do over the weekend and it'll all be good.

gaztl1000r

· #20 · Jan 10, 2014

Don't confuse the tlr rotary with the tls.
The tlr works to a fashion.
The tls does mine makes a great door stop.
If you are lucky enough to ride the same road every day. And if that road happens to be as smooth as a race track. Then it's just about ok.
But if you ride on typical uk crap roads it's a different matter.
There's lots of mods out there that are relatively cheap. And they show how good the bike could be.
But once you improve the rear it shows how poor the front is

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