The TLR is an awesome bike, contrary to popular belief and views commonly seen in the UK magazines. I have owned two, a 2000 model which I had 23000 miles on, and now a 2001 model (with 3800 miles in two months) which replaced the first one after it was rear ended by a car while sitting still at a traffic light. Over the last two summers I did two road trips, one 5400 miles, the other 5200 miles long, through the 11 western states in the US. Both trips were over 12 days each, so quite a bit of riding per day, averaging 440 miles. Not once have I been uncomfortable on it!

Although a bit heavy, it is also great on the track. I did a track day yesterday, where I got it up to an indicated 172 mph on the 3/4 mile straightaway. Only modifications I have done so far from stock is a K&N filter and a 41 tooth rear sprocket (39 is standard). Due to the sprocket change, I imagine the actual speed was somewhere around 150-155. I had it dynoed to 161 mph with the stock sprocket and before the K&N filter.

Check out this web page for some info on it from Jamie (McAllister - think that's his last name) in the UK. He used to tune bikes for Carl Fogarty and Joey Dunlop, and he states the TLR is a better bike than the R1 (1999) with a few modifications. (I wouldn't go as far as saying that, but he should know seeing he's been in the MC industry for years). Here's his quote and his web page:

"Over those years I won championships and learnt so much about setting up bikes that I ended up building and preparing bikes for various Honda Riders such as Steve Hislop, Carl Fogarty, Joey Dunlop, Phillip McCallen, Nick Jefferies at the TT and mainland British Championship races with wins being the result. My latest bike, the Suzuki TL1000R, is without doubt the best bike I have ever ridden, including my race bikes. It's never got a good press since it's launch but I think that's unfair as with some simple mods it can be made into the best bike currently on the market, and that includes the ubiquitous Yamaha R1."

Needless to say, I do not have a great deal of experience on other bikes, but have ridden R1's, R6, GSXR600 etc. I liked the power of the R1, but prefer the complete package of the TLR. The V-twin sound through M4 or D&D pipes is unbeatable. Everyone looks up when you are coming down the street for sure!

I attach some pictures of my luggage laden bike from my trips. The wheelie picture also is with a fully loaded bike...

Regards,
Jonny Brakstad, Seattle USA

In a bid to improve his chances in the ever more competitive Sound of Thunder championship, KRJ decided that the TLS had to go and he's got himself a TLR for the 2002 season. Why not an Aprilia RSV Mille? Well, Kevin's always liked a bit of a challenge and he had spare wheels for the TLR ....

Built by JB Racing, the bike has a Bob Farnham tweaked motor, Maxton suspension, nitrided forks, Harris rearsets, Akrapovic exhaust, all set off in a rather nice black powder coated frame.

Getting the bike started was something of a problem. Basically it wouldn't. Then it kinda got going, one one cylinder with lots of popping and banging and flames shooting out of the exhaust. The general feeling was that fuel had dried in the injectors and blocked them. A swift call to JB Racing and a whole set of new injectors arrived, so we bunged them on, twiddled with the throttle sensor and the bike roared into violent life. The fuelling still wasn't quite right, so next stage was the introduction of a Power Commander to the bike's 'pooter and a trip down to the dyno. Twiddling of the mapping filled out a big hole in the power around 3000 rpm and cleaned up the low end a bit. Now for some riding ....

Being a national racing megastar, young Jones felt that somewhere hot and sunny for testing was preferable to an icy, snow covered Mallory, so the bike was ferried over to Spain for some serious track time. The track was Almeria, a trip organised by Track Sense (http://www.hedgehogtrading.co.uk/tracksense/index.htm) - £160 for the track time, £200 to get the bike there and a cheapo flight over for the rider. Although the blurb about the circuit sounded good - designed for GP and WSB etc. - it proved to be a bit of a gokart track. Too many tightening turns and a bit of a letdown after travelling so far. Still, the weather was OK.

The bike seems to have a good top end and makes loads of power from 4000 rpm, but the bottom end fuelling is not right, the motor still popping and banging and creating a very snatchy delivery. Racing at Mallory last weekend rewarded Kevin with a fine 2nd place in the SoT Championship round, and that after a crap start too, due to a grabby clutch and the aforesaid fuelling glitches which made a hairpin a bit of an adventure ...

More fiddling with the fuel mapping will hopefully cure the problem - praps we need to put the hole back in the power band? We'll let ya know.