TL1000R

[tykho]

So, theres a 99 TL1000R on CL for $2300 with 20k miles on it. No physical damage, fairings in good shape, Yoshi exhaust. Should I jump at it? I've been looking at getting a bigger twin and it's kinda between this, a superhawk, or waiting out for a decent priced Buell.

[JB848]

From what I know about that bike? It's a twin V like Harley. Very simular in looks to the Bayusa but the inline four is the way to go. My advice is no. A fully tricked out one is for sell for 7k near me what does that tell you?

[tt_four]

The TLR is a v-twin, but it's nothing like the V-twin you'd get in a harley(or even an air cooled Buell for that matter). It puts out some serious HP and it's definitely a fantastic motor. The motor has a great reputation. I've always loved those bikes, but especially with that bodywork they're pretty big bikes, and my 5'8/145lb size keeps me from seriously considering one. A TL(probably the TLS) would be around the top of my list if I was bigger. It's definitely more bike than the superhawk, although the superhawk might be a better commuter since it's not really meant to be a superbike like the TLR. I'm not sure what you're looking to do with it.

Now my opinion is biased, and I'd tell you to wait it out for the Buell. You can get some pretty good deals on them currently, although I haven't seen many as low as $2300(they're gonna be ridiculously hard to find after a few years though!). The Buells make a lot less HP than the TLR(assuming you're looking at an XB, an 1125 would be right on par as far as HP goes) but make a ton more than the GS and have all the nice parts(suspension, etc) to back it up as a great bike. The Buell is better for twisty back roads and riding in town, the TLR would be better for fast paced stuff, highways, and some back roads. The superhawk was just Honda's attempt at a V-twin after Ducati came so popular, and I don't think it really cuts it. If you want a honda more inline wiht the TLR I would look at an RC51

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

As far as price that's pretty good, at least in my area. They normally go for around $3500-$4500 around here. As long as it doesn't need a major overhaul or anything. The only thing is because they're so rare-ish parts and maintenance can be a bit pricey from what I've heard. If your not 100% lusting after and dying for the TLR I'd say stay away. Then again if it's in good enough shape you could prolly buy it for cheap, ride it a while and sell it for a profit if you don't fall in love with it.

[The Buddha]

A TL is much better than a VTR, though I like the TL-S, The TL has a full on frame, none of that swingarm pivot into the engine garbage like the VTR and new VFR. And the CBR929 and 954
Cool.
Buddha.

[SAFE-T]

http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/tl1000r.htm

Like all sporting V-Twins, Suzuki's made trade-offs that you either were or weren't OK with.

[tykho]

I came very close to buying a 01 VFR800, but I chickened out. I'm really liking twins so far, and I've ridden I4s a bunch as well, had a CBR600RR before. Twins are just way better in town and really more fun in twisties, which is where the real thrill of riding is for me. The only downside is all of my fgt friends with gsxrs talking shaZam! all day.

I went to look at the tiller, she looks like she's well maintained and in good shape. There's a guy selling a RVT1000 I'm gonna go take a look at, but $2300 is a really good deal for the TL. Thanks for all the input guys.

[The Buddha]

RC51 has some Idiotic and complicated and $$$$ electronics ... one guy I know that works @ a stealer no less has had lots of trouble wiht his ... of course he also was in several wrecks etc.
Cool.
Buddha.

[tt_four]

yeah $2300 is just a screaming deal, you'll have a hard time finding that kinda deal on anything else. I love twins, but I wish there was a better mid step between the sv650 and the TL1000. My favorite bike is the gsxr750, and I'd love if Suzuki made a v-twin version for me. I'll probably just end up with an I4. I wish twins were much more common.

[Twisted]

yeah $2300 is just a screaming deal, you'll have a hard time finding that kinda deal on anything else. I love twins, but I wish there was a better mid step between the sv650 and the TL1000. My favorite bike is the gsxr750, and I'd love if Suzuki made a v-twin version for me. I'll probably just end up with an I4. I wish twins were much more common.

There is always the Beamer twins.  

They're 800 twins. Pricey though.

[JB848]

Well I think it has been proven on every race track in the world the V-twin concept cannot compete with inline. It is inherently lacking as a design. The concept is like a rotary engine.. it was good when designed but other designs have just passed them by. If you have ever seen or riden a V-twin what ever, just the mechanics of having large cylinders opposed in motion creates ungodly vibrations! To each his own but I prefer inline design.

[Twisted]

But they sound so god damn good! 

[tt_four]

Well I think it has been proven on every race track in the world the V-twin concept cannot compete with inline. It is inherently lacking as a design. The concept is like a rotary engine.. it was good when designed but other designs have just passed them by. If you have ever seen or riden a V-twin what ever, just the mechanics of having large cylinders opposed in motion creates ungodly vibrations! To each his own but I prefer inline design.

I know they're not as fast, but I don't race and don't really look to compete with anybody. I'll maybe be on a race track one or twice in my life, and even at that it'll just be for a fun day, nothing competative. Even if I4s are better on the track, I feel like twins are better(or at least more fun) for the road. I4s are obviously pushed by competition to keep getting lighter and faster, it would just be great if someone could make thing a bit lighter. Buell 1125s only weigh 375 dry, and my XB is only weighs 385 and that's with a base motor that's 50 years old, so we can't blame the normal weight difference just on the different style of the motor. Most of the bigger Ducati Monsters are well under 400lbs, looks like the 1100s is only 370. Japan just doesn't really have the interest to make nice twins. Every twin I've seen, from the TLR, to the RC51, and whatever other bikes I'm missing are always 50-75lbs heavier. I can't expect them to make one if people aren't buying them, just saying I wish they would. There's more than enough options for bikes out there, just not from Japan.

I4s are definitely smoother. Most of them feel so smooth that you can barely even tell they're running. My xb shakes like a paint mixer at idle, and definitely makes some commotion when I'm accelerating, but I never have any issues of being uncomfortable or having fingers go numb, or anything like that. I think all of that(along with plenty of other things) makes the bike fun. You feel like you're actually riding a machine. One of the problems I've always had with japanese bikes, which isn't a real problem, but they're so clean, smooth and wrapped in plastic that it doesn't feel as much like a motorcycle as I like it to.

[tt_four]

There is always the Beamer twins.  

They're 800 twins. Pricey though.

I can't tell if that was a joke or not... 

Just kidding, I give them credit for some of their bikes, but they're just not anything I have interest in, at all. I doubt most of their 800 twins weigh much under 400lbs or make much of anything over 100hp either, so I'd still rather have a TLS for 1/3rd the price. 

[The Buddha]

Yes I4's will outrun twins, however a parallel twin IMHO is the ideal bike motor design, its inherently not as complicated as a 4 and and has fewer parts, does not have to spin up as much and hence can be made cheaper. It will not make the power of an equal displacement I4 but man will it make torque ...

But ... V twins are more flawed than || ... but 90 degree twins have perfect primary balance ... though you can put a 270 crank in a parallel ... but well ...

Cool.
Buddha.

[SAFE-T]

Some of the v-twin sportbikes have more or less vibration than others.

I have ridden SV650's that were vibey, and others that weren't. The only SV1000S I rode had a lot of vibration everywhere. My old Hawk GT never seemed to have a lot of rough edges, and the Honda VTR1000 I test rode in 2003 was even smoother. The Buell XB9R and XB12R shook alot at idle, but smoothed right out on the go. I've only ever sat on the TL-R but I felt really stretched out on it, like the old Kawasaki ZX7R.

The rest I haven't tried yet.

[The Buddha]

My sv 1K vibrates a bit 2500-3500 usually is the worst. Past ... 5K actually it turns near I4 smooth.
However I can get a GS to vibe less than it very very easy ... I mean somethign has to be very very wrong with a GS to vibrate as much as the sv does.
Suzuki IMHO designs their bikes to have a wee bit of vibration, honda does the opposite ... just IMHO. All suzuki's I have ridden vibrate more than their honda design counterparts.
Like a GS650 vs a honda nighthawk, a shadow vs an intruder, no matter what, honda is smoooooooooooooth ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[SAFE-T]

Well I think it has been proven on every race track in the world the V-twin concept cannot compete with inline. It is inherently lacking as a design.

Which is why they sucked so bad all those years in World Superbike 

[madjak30]

The big difference in the "Twin vs L-4" debate is the location of the power...Buddha touched on it...the twins make torque down lower in the rev range  , and the L-4s are making Hp in the upper revs  ...so on a tight course (or around town) the twin of equal size will have the advantage, but if you are talking out right speed of a long straight, or even long sweeper curves, the L-4 will walk away  ...so an inline 4 is for losing your license  , and a twin is for losing traffic at the lights...

It's not really that simple, but it will do without getting too technical...surface area of the piston vs stroke of the cylinder vs compression ratio vs flow rate of the head design...blah blah blah...given two bike with similar state of tune, the twin will have more torque and the L-4 will have more Hp...just depends whether you are a top speed kinda guy, or an accelleration junkie...

Later.

[The Buddha]

Well I think it has been proven on every race track in the world the V-twin concept cannot compete with inline. It is inherently lacking as a design.

Which is why they sucked so bad all those years in World Superbike 

Yes they did, then they all went and got bigger motors ...  ...
Even better was the Buell's 1125cc on the jap 600's. Man did the 1125 ever lose ... Danny Oilslick did ride it to victory in every race didn't he. I love it when clueless harley morons parade that ... and of course Harley killed buell and inspite of that, the harley dealerships have buell posters on the walls ...
Cool.
Buddha.