SUZUKI TL1000R (1998 - 2004) Review

Year: 1998

Annual servicing cost: £200

I have owned this bike for about 20 years with a gap in the middle when I sold it to a friend and then hankered for it back. I originally drove it daily but now only on fine days. It has let me down once in all that time when a sensor played up.

Year: 1998

Great fun

Year: 1999

I've owned a few different bikes, but this one is my favourite. Hard to describe why, until you ride one.

Buying experience: I bought from a dealer. The bike had loads wrong with it, but the dealer paid to have it all out right.

Year: 1999

Addictive stomp, Very comfortable for a sports bike, Easier to work on than my 2013 Speed Triple. Absolutely no issues with handling, goes exactly where you want it to go.Only two issues of concern or consideration being as follows.6 pot front calipers are no way as good as current brakes.Fuel injection again in 1999 is not as good as modern bikes.Bought as investment, three owners and only 16,000 miles, Problem is I enjoy riding it more than the Speed Triple.The engine is an absolute peach.

Buying experience: Private.

Year: 1998

Annual servicing cost: £200

Such a beautiful bike with an awesome engine.

Buying experience: Bought my first one (Yellow and charcoal) new in 1998. Wrote it off about 4 months and 8,000 km later when the rear brake torque rod came off and locked the rear wheel at 100 km per hour and the bike high-sided. Swing arm had been replaced under warranty so draw your own conclusion. Liked it so much I bought another new one (1998 model) in early 1999 (red and charcoal). I still have it and it still puts a smile on my face.

Year: 2001

Annual servicing cost: £300

Throttle control is mandatory for this beast. Respect and a complete feel/understanding of this machine has to be there to push her. Once you achieve this beautiful area between disaster and success you will understand what it's all about.

Buying experience: I bought my TL1000R from a individual and although it was in "street fighter" form I got it because of my absolute love of vtwin superbikes. It definitely wasn't for the faint of heart not a novice rider.

Version: w

Year: 2000

The rear shock and rotary unit is crap, but the engine is an animal and will laugh at you all day trying to push it to the limits. Some people slate them, but I don't know why. I suppose it's rough and ready when riding but it's got character and soul not found in newer bikes I've ridden.

Buying experience: I bought it from a dealership 10 years ago and still love it. They're becoming very rare now and prices increasing.

Version: TL1000R

Year: 1998

Annual servicing cost: £200

The bike's engine is amazing, it sounds deeper than most V-twins. I've had mine two years and always get bikers come and look at it. They have a growing cult fan base and are getting quite rare.

Buying experience: Get one now! Prices are on the rise. There are less than 500 registered as working in the UK. Mine is a first year and there are just 42 of them.

Year: 2003

Engine has to be the best twin of that era , stonking amounts of torque power , beware of cornering, will over steer on slower corners and feel a bit heavy on the front unless you set it up, love the sound of this bike.

Year: 2000

This is the 3rd one I have owned and love it wish I hadn't got ride of the first one. Always gives you grin factor when I go out on it my second one I did track days on was awesome low down grunt powering out of corners leaving 4 cylinders behind... Did a few with the rotary damper and no issues it loved Mallory park. Shame they dont still make them in the TL form

Year: 2001

I bought mine 2yrs ago and it was totally standard, so i changed the cans for yoshis put a TRE & Power comander III on it; it tuned up to 120bhp wich doesn't sound alot to the newer bikes but the torque MORE than makes up for it when you throttle on, must say though that nearly all manufacturers over state their figures on bhp. No problems at all with mine but the massive torque does wear the rear tyres out so i picked avon storms (sports tourer)last time but will try the new angels out this spring, it sounds fantastic and is softer on the bum than my 918 fireblade it replaced,no probs with pillions either, thumbs up from me , ...

The TL1000RW is an awesome looking bike, with great design and style, however its inner beauty does not match. The back cylinder is right under your seat next to your manhood and when the engines running, it gives a whole new meaning to the word HOTROD! I agree basically with MCN’S review, electrics are dodgy in the wet, but all Suzuki’s are like that, c’mon guys, sort that out, you’re pro’s now. And the suspension is a joke, tank range poor too. However it sounds good and value is great picked my version up for £1200, (1999 T reg, 15K miles). Only for the brave or stupid I’d say. You should always acquire as much info on a bike as possible! Do not listen to gossip, most people have not ridden half of what they say and just hear it from others. Take advice from people who have actually had one or ridden one.

Have had Ducatis , Yamahas , Kwakas , Honda have a soft spot for suzuki and this seems to be a great all rounder , Especially fast open road stuff (Quick touring) , big torque , big power (relatively now)and reliable and of course that big booming twin sound . The only problem I will ever have is how to replace it if is totalled/stolen.

HAD BOTH TLS MAD FAST BRAKES BIT WEAK, FRONT END HAPPY OK UNITL THE SUB FRAME SNAPPED AT 110MPH HOW I STAYED ON I DONT KNOW. GOT A BRAND NEW TLR BLUE WHITE TOOK THE STEERING DAMPER OFF MUCH BETTER, NEW GRIPPY TYRES. OLHINS FITTED FRONT N BACK POWER COMMANDER AND CANS AND FILTER AND DYNOED MADE THIS BIKE AWSOME THEN IT GOT NICKED SO I GAVE UP AND GOT AN R1 BUT GOOD IN THERE DAY

What more do you want! Rolling road tells me i get 67ftlb at 3000rpm which peaks at just over 9000, storming machine for the money and frightens the young uns too ;-) Only let down is the possibly fragile gearbox, not as good as the GSXR but a helluva lot more fun!!! Have personally found the suspension ok, but i have it on fast road settings, just gets a bit twitchy on the bumpy bits, no different to my 1990 1100

This is my favourite machine to date and I stupidly sold it about two years ago. The power delivery was sweet and with a few tricks and mods the bhp can be easily increased. My biggest complaint would be the weight, but I helped reduce this with a set of Titanium Remus race cans (which also improved the note and noise to offensive... *grin*)

Awesome power and handling,mines done 32,000 miles and still going strong. Can be hard work if stuck in traffic (clutch grabs), other from that can't fault it....

Load a grunt in em. luverly sound wiv rite cans [blue flames} had 3 now, r & s models. dunno why they so good. each too thier own.... Strengths: Comfort, style noise. Weaknesses: Crap tank capacity.

I owned and raced a '99 TLR, one of the best cruisers around, just remove the "Superbike" sticker. Not any good for the track unless you spend large amounts of cash on it, 600 will trash you. Strengths: Storming motor for a V-Twin. Bullet proof unless you remove the soft rev limiter. Remove the scissor gears, skim and flow the heads, fit a 2-1 Yoshi Titanium Race pipe, if you can get one, BMC/K&N filter, remap and you'll have a sweet sounding tyre shredding power and torque, for a twin. 1100cc big bores around but to expensive and sleaves to thin so a bit of a risk. Weaknesses: Crap suspension, joke of an exhaust, must be for the Americans, to heavy and restrictive. Styling, you either love it or hate it.

My god its good...the engine is a stonker it just wants to pull wheelies everywhere...sounds nice with standard pipes. Strengths: Flexibility of the engine, you can stick it in any gear and it pulls...and coming from a sports 600 its good to still have a screming top end as well! Weaknesses: Low speeds stuck behind town traffic.

Always owned GSX-Rs but just bought a TL1000R. Some of the tech is showing it's age. 1998 fuel injection doesn't compare to my 750-K4's silky delivery. Changed the front brake pads to EBC HHs and this transformed the stopping power. Overall though this machine is lunatic fun. Strengths: Sets off car alarms. Sounds like it's ticking over at 150mph. Grin factor is actually about 110. Weaknesses: Needs twin injector fueling.

I've had it for nearly 3 years, it's taken a load of abuse and still looks and goes great. Will be looking for something new after this summer and it's going to take something special to replace it. Strengths: Engine. Power delivery. Weaknesses: Eats tyres (2000 miles rear), chain & sprockets every year (4000).

After riding 4 cylinder bikes it took a bit of getting use to, but now I wish I had bought one when they first came out as I have always liked the look of the TL R. That engine when coming out of a sweeping bend at 6000 rpm + is a good reason as any for continuing to live. The bikes rep (re the rear damper)did slow me down but I have yet to find any problems, & every ride I push that little bit harder. I think the rear damper problem is only an issue if you are on a track. As a real world usable road bike it's excellent.

Fabulous top end power but almost 4 cylinder-like in its power delivery. Turns heads. Suspension is way too harsh, spring rates too high and it is overdamped. Needs a diet.

Stonking engine, shame about the handling & reliability, I have had to make 4 warranty claims in 18 months; mainly electrical problems. I use the bike all year, I guess they are not supposed to be used when it rains.

REMAP GIVES BRILL MIDRANGE AND TOP END, 180 REAR GIVES FASTER TURN IN, MICORNS SOUND SWEET. D\B SCREEN 100%. THIS IS A GREAT BIKE AND WITH THE REMAP GOES MANIC AT 7500RPM. EATS MOST BIKES IT COMES ACROSS AND ALWAYS PUTS A BIG, BIG GRIN ON MY BOATRACE. LOVE IT.

I love the enormous torque and handling is well within my riding capabilities. Too bad Suzuki dropped the race program and further development of this awsome machine.

Love the sound, acceleration is blistering (chews up and spits out majority of bikes) and with faultless handling. Clutch hard work around town. Took rear fairing off and put seat on because it was a bit ugly. Bit of a nasty to get a decent insurance quote.

Lovely bike, fast, fairly comfy, reasonable economy all round, suprb V twin noise, If she could cook, I'd marry her, for excellent info, try www.tl100.com, the owners site, mostly U.S. members, but even the yanks seem to have the bike well sorted. NEEDS A CLOCK THOUGH PLEASE MR. SUZUKI!!!

REAL GOOD FUN, NOT SURE ABOUT THE FRONT END YET!! GOT A FUNNY TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, BLOW'S AWAY VFR 800'S EASY!!

Removed steering damper - feels much sharper and easier to get turned without it. Engine lumpy and awkward in traffic.

First V-Twin owned love it.