Suzuki
TL1000S
1997—2001
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have tried to tell the Suzuki TL 1000 S model history on this page as I
know it. This page is still under construction.
I would be grateful of any contributions — sales brochures, magazine ads,
magazine articles, pictures, specs, facts, corrections etc. Please scan the material
in JPEG format (large enough that all the details are visible) and send
them to me. Please tell me the source and the publication date if possible.
If you send me pictures of your own bike, please follow these
instructions.
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When you are talking about V-twin sports bikes, you probably
are thinking about Ducatis. No doubt about it, the Italians
were the kings (forget the Harleys, I said sports bikes) of
V-2 prior 1997. That was the year Suzuki surprisingly introduced
its ”Ducati-killer”, the V-twin powered and very sporty
TL1000. It came in two versions, the TL1000S with a smallish
top fairing, and later the TL1000R, a modified version of the
same bike, with more power, different suspension and frame and
also a full racer replica fairing.
Sadly enough, the first TL1000S model suffered from some (for
Suzuki) embarrassing technical problems. There were number of
problems; oil-leaking engines, slipping clutches, miss-firing
engines to name a few. Later all the cured all the problems
the first bikes had, but the damage was already done. Unlike
the most Suzukis, the TL1000S got a reputation of being an unreliable
motorcycle.
Nevertheless, there were nothing wrong with the behavior of
the bike. When the Swedish Bike magazine tested the bike in
1997, comparing it to the '97 GSX-R750, the test riders cored
the TL1000S as the winner of the competition. The competition
test contained riding from Stockholm, Sweden, to Nürnburgring
in West Germany and back, and naturally some serious testing
at the Nürnburgring classic race track. Although the test
bike suffered from all of the problems mentioned earlier, the
TL1000S was considered as the greater bike of the pair. The
engine character (wider power curve), fairing and the riding
position of the TL were more comfortable on the highways and
smaller roads but GSX-R was less nervous and faster on the Nürnburgring.
The TL1000S had some high-tech features, like lightweight trellis
frame, electric fuel injection, inverted front fork, back torque-limiting
clutch and rotary damper rear suspension. But the main thing
is that the TL1000S is an explosive and FUN bike to ride!
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| 1997 Suzuki TL1000S, Marble Italian Red (28V) |
 
1997 Suzuki year code: V
The first models year's bikes suffered from some ”child deceases”.
The engine could spit out oil to the air filter when riding at
full speed, the back torque-limiting clutch could malfunction
and the engine could suffer from bad throttle response. Complaints
about nervous steering were also heard, and a steering damper
was fitted to the bikes in some countries by the importer.
Starting frame number: VT51A-100001
Introduced in January 1997
Color options: Marble Italian Red (28V), Prime Green (1UH) and Pearl Novelty Black (33J)
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 1997 Suzuki TL
1000 S
Overall Length: 2 045 mm (80.5 in)
Overall Width: 715 mm (28.1 in)
Overall Height: 1 175 mm (46.3 in)
Seat Height: 835 mm (32.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dry Weight: 187 kg (411 lbs)
Engine: Liquid-cooled 996 cc 4-stroke 90° V-twin, DOHC,
TSCC, 8 valves. 125 hp (92 kW) @ 8 500 rpm, 107.4 Nm @ 7 100 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
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 1997 Suzuki TL
1000 S
Overall Length: 2 045 mm (80.5 in)
Overall Width: 715 mm (28.1 in)
Overall Height: 1 175 mm (46.3 in)
Seat Height: 835 mm (32.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dry Weight: 187 kg (411 lbs)
Engine: Liquid-cooled 996 cc 4-stroke 90° V-twin, DOHC,
TSCC, 8 valves. 125 hp (92 kW) @ 8 500 rpm, 107.4 Nm @ 7 100 rpm
Here's
even larger picture.
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|
 1997 Suzuki TL
1000 S
Overall Length: 2 045 mm (80.5 in)
Overall Width: 715 mm (28.1 in)
Overall Height: 1 175 mm (46.3 in)
Seat Height: 835 mm (32.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dry Weight: 187 kg (411 lbs)
Engine: Liquid-cooled 996 cc 4-stroke 90° V-twin, DOHC,
TSCC, 8 valves. 125 hp (92 kW) @ 8 500 rpm, 107.4 Nm @ 7 100 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
1998 Suzuki year code: W
This is how the back torque-limiting clutch is supposed to work:
Change down early on some other bikes in this class and the back
wheel will suffer the effects of a compression lock from the two
large cylinders, which will cause the rear to temporarily lock
and skid. With Suzuki’s system this simply does not happen
as the clutch automatically slips a little to prevent the rear
wheel from locking. Some of the early models suffered from slipping
clutches even when it was not supposed to slip. Suzuki could fix
the problem for the '98 year's model, as well as the other problems
the '97 year's model was suffering.
At a glance, there were no differences between the different model
years, except for some minor changes in the graphics, and new
colors, but engine was improved in several details for the '98
years model to get rid of the oil in the air filter and slipping
clutch. A steering damper was now standard.
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1999 Suzuki year code: X
According to a Suzuki Japan, the dry mass (weight) of the Suzuki TL1000S iuncreased fron 187 to 191 kg between 1997 and 1998. All the other specs remained the same.
For some reason, I have found several different dimensions for
the TL1000S, in different countries (and even between the sources).
The wheelbase and the seat height are usually the same, but the
overall length varies between 2.045 and 2,145 mm (80.5—84.4
in) and the dry mass can vary between 187 and 209 kg
(411—460 lbs). I have used, when not noted, specifications due to the European export models.
Even the claimed power output figures differ between
countries and regulations. I have used the unrestricted power
output figures. The domestic model sold in Japan produced less power.
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 1999 Suzuki TL
1000 S
Overall Length: 2 045 mm (80.5 in)
Overall Width: 715 mm (28.1 in)
Overall Height: 1 175 mm (46.3 in)
Seat Height: 835 mm (32.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dry Weight: 191 kg (421 lbs)
Engine: Liquid-cooled 996 cc 4-stroke 90° V-twin, DOHC,
TSCC, 8 valves. 125 hp (92 kW) @ 8 500 rpm, 107.4 Nm @ 7 100 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
2000 Suzuki year code: Y
No changes were made for the 2000 model. This was the last year the TL1000S was sold on the Japanese home market.
The rotary damper, fitted just behind the engine, made the bike's
short wheelbase possible. Unfortunately the placing of the damper
next to the rear cylinder and exhaust pipe could cause overheating
of the damper when the bike was ridden hard. The problem occurres
on all model years.
The same kind of rotary damper rear suspension was also used on
the TL1000R, but the damper is placed further away from the engine.
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1997—2000 Suzuki TL1000S specifications (Japan)
Model code: VT51A
Overall length: 2 045 mm (80.5 in)
Overall width: 715 mm (28.1 in)
Overall height: 1 175 mm (46.3 in)
Seat height: 815 mm (32.1 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Ground clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dry weight: 1997 187 kg (411 lbs), 1998–2000 191 kg (421 lbs)
Fuel consumption: 29.5 km/liter @ 60 km/h
Minimum turning radius: 3.2 m (126 in)
Engine model: T501
Cooling method: Air cooled
Engine type: Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 90° V-twin,
DOHC, TSCC, 4 valves per cylinder
Bore x stroke: 60.0 mm x 50.6 mm (2.362 in x 1.992 in)
Engine displacement: 995 cc (60.72 cubic inches)
Peak power: 93 hp (68.4 kW) @ 8 500 rpm
Peak torque: 86.3 Nm (8.8 kg-m) @ 7 000 rpm
Compression ratio: 11.3 : 1
Fuel system: Fuel injection
Starter system: Electric starter
Ignition system: Full transistor
Lubrication system: Wet sump
Lubrication oil capacity: 3.6 L (0.95 US gal/0.79 Imp gal)
Fuel tank capacity: 17.0 liter (4.49 US gal/3.75 Imp gal)
Clutch type: Wet, multi-plate, coil spring
Transmission: Constant mesh, return type, 6 speeds
Final drive: Chain
1st gear ratio: 2.666
2nd gear ratio: 1.933
3rd gear ratio: 1.500
4th gear ratio: 1.227
5th gear ratio: 1.086
6th gear ratio: 1.000
Primary reduction ratio: 1.838
Secondary reduction ratio: 2.235
Frame type: Diamond
Caster: 24°00′
Trail: 94 mm (3.70 in)
Front brake: Hydraulic dual disc
Rear brake: Hydraulic single disc
Front tyre: 120/70ZR17 (58W)
Rear tyre: 190/50ZR17 (73W)
Steering angle left/right: 30°
Recommended retail price in Japan: 980,000 Yen (1997–2000)
2001 Suzuki year code: K1
2001 was the last model year for the TL1000S (as well for its
brother TL1000R). I wasn't as successful model as Suzuki had wanted,
and it was redrawn only after few years of manufacturing. Its
reputation was soiled because of the troublesome first models.
As a matter of fact, the later model years were excellent bikes,
far better than their reputation.
The V-twin engine, in somewhat modificated form, was found in
the new all-purpose model DL1000 V-Strom, released in 2002, and
the following year's SV1000 (and its sister model SV1000S).
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 2001 Suzuki TL
1000 S
Overall Length: 2 045 mm (80.5 in)
Overall Width: 715 mm (28.1 in)
Overall Height: 1 175 mm (46.3 in)
Seat Height: 835 mm (32.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dry Weight: 191 kg (421 lbs)
Engine: Liquid-cooled 996 cc 4-stroke 90° V-twin, DOHC,
TSCC, 8 valves. 125 hp (92 kW) @ 8 500 rpm, 107.4 Nm @ 7 100 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
|
 2001 Suzuki TL
1000 S
Overall Length: 2 045 mm (80.5 in)
Overall Width: 715 mm (28.1 in)
Overall Height: 1 175 mm (46.3 in)
Seat Height: 835 mm (32.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dry Weight: 191 kg (421 lbs)
Engine: Liquid-cooled 996 cc 4-stroke 90° V-twin, DOHC,
TSCC, 8 valves. 125 hp (92 kW) @ 8 500 rpm, 107.4 Nm @ 7 100 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
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|
 2001 Suzuki TL
1000 S
Overall Length: 2 045 mm (80.5 in)
Overall Width: 715 mm (28.1 in)
Overall Height: 1 175 mm (46.3 in)
Seat Height: 835 mm (32.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in)
Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dry Weight: 191 kg (421 lbs)
Engine: Liquid-cooled 996 cc 4-stroke 90° V-twin, DOHC,
TSCC, 8 valves. 125 hp (92 kW) @ 8 500 rpm, 107.4 Nm @ 7 100 rpm
Click on the image for larger format.
|
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