hmmm.... IF ever a motorcycle gained a reputation as a baby-eating monster, then the TL1000S is it. Wholly unjustified of course, but still enough to imbue Suzuki’s fearsome V-twin with a caché more normally reserved for wayward rock stars or serial killers. It all stemmed from the decision to use a novel and unique rotary damper, with remote spring, to control the rear end. Opinions are divided, but it works for some people and doesn’t for others, causing all sorts of interesting back end shenanigans which then translated into front end foibles. General consensus was that the heavier the rider, the better it worked, but it spooked Suzuki sufficiently for them to recall all the TLs and retro-fit a steering damper. Strange as it may seem, chain tension has a lot to do with it. If the chain’s too tight it can have an adverse effect on the suspension movement, causing the back end to ‘freeze’ and therefore provoke a possible hedge-bottom appointment. Adjust the slack with the back end compressed 3-in though, and Bob’s your mother’s brother. But it’s the engine which really guarantees the TL a place in the motorcycling hall of (in)fame(y). Producing more power than a Ducati 916 (20% more, actually) it is an arm-wrenching-wheelie-pulling-mean-V-twin-gruntorama device and tastier than All Saints in an ice-cream factory. In fact it’s this Ducati-beating performance, without the premium price, that attracted riders keen to experience the V-twin phenomenon. From just off idle the fuel-injected lump pulls with gusto. It’s just about the best wheelie machine since the Yamaha RD350LC. Of course, all this grunt in a short, quick steering chassis with a bit of a rearward weight bias also added to the TL’s reputation as a head shaker to rival a parcel-shelf dog. Hence the damper. This penchant for high-octane histrionics naturally detracts not one jot from the Suzuki’s appeal as a bike to be wrestled into submission and ultimately conquered. It’s a challenge, bestowing riding-God status on those who have owned, ridden and tamed the beast. Colour changes are about all that Suzuki see fit to alter over the years, but from the S-W models on the TL got even more low and midrange grunt from engine and fuel-injection mods. Like the Diesel jeans ad says: None But The Brave.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:49:14 +0000
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