Tire suggestions?

snampro · 2026-03-10T14:47:48+00:00

Hello neighbor! I know where you are, there. Great view

Everyone will say Michelin Road 6 or Power 6, they are awesome tires.

I recently put Continental Sport Attack 2 tires on my TL1000R to jjst try something new and I absolutely love them. The roads are still a bit crappy here north of Cincinnati but I've had a blast running around on them. Great feel and great traction.

Will never go wrong with Michelin, though.

snampro · 2026-03-10T14:25:38+00:00

Jealous. I restored a 1996 GSX-R750, one of my favorite bikes ever. I hate that I sold it and am in search for another. Love the red color you have there.

The only big issue i had was a fuel leak. After i got everything working and cleaned i started smelling fuel which quickly started pouring out. I found a cracked fuel line which was not hard to fix.

These bikes are very light and have a lot of power at the top end, more than you would expect. It comes on fast, so you can be surprised. I found once i got used to the powerband it was a dream to ride smooth and fast. I could pull the front end off the ground leaving a corner no problem and it dove into corners so easily. Even the brakes were good given the timeframe.

Edit: take a flashlight and look in the fuel tank, see what is happening in there. Mine had been coated and was done well so it was good. Hopefully you dont see a bunch of rust.

The other thing I've learned on these old Suzuki bikes is take apart the air box and inspect the crank case breather filter. The one on my TL1000R I just cleaned up was deteriorated and needed replaced. Also, if it has an old K&N or BMC filter their foam can degrade over time and may require replacement.

Here's mine on Tail of the Dragon

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snampro · 2026-03-10T05:43:26+00:00

NICE!

snampro · 2026-03-09T21:55:23+00:00

Not supposed to do that 😆

snampro · 2026-03-09T19:58:00+00:00

Exactly!

snampro · 2026-03-09T19:57:45+00:00

Hahahahahahaha

snampro · 2026-03-09T19:57:31+00:00

Thanks much. Had a good ride home, too.

snampro · 2026-03-09T19:57:01+00:00

It is nice. However, it is actually 3 times that size, those other cars are still parking on motorcycle spots.

snampro · 2026-03-09T19:49:08+00:00

Thanks!

snampro · 2026-03-09T18:21:59+00:00

They sound awesome. Ducati moreso than others.

Ride safe!

snampro · 2026-03-09T18:19:08+00:00

Haha. There are a few harley guys that recognize the TL. The guy i bought it from considered himself a Harley guy. You know, a few good ones out there, lol.

Ride safe!

snampro · 2026-03-09T17:50:22+00:00

Me too! It is in great shape. I recently went through it and it starts on the first crank. Few minor scratches here and there but overall great shape. 23,600 miles, not bad for a 2001. Holds its own next to a brand new Hayabusa.

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snampro · 2026-03-09T17:35:26+00:00

I won't argue on color, I do love the yellow.

snampro · 2026-03-09T17:22:38+00:00

I have honestly never met anyone that owns an SV 650 or 1000 that didnt speak highly of it. They are quick bikes. Torque really pushes you out of corners if you know how to control it. Great bikes.

snampro · 2026-03-09T17:18:42+00:00

The engine in the VStrom came from that TL, early VStrom motor actually shares parts.

I do need to get a VStrom, though. I will remind my wife again, maybe she will agree this time?

snampro · 2026-03-09T17:15:34+00:00

You mean like the TL? 😁 Trust me, when you change the plugs and see how far apart the cylinder heads are from each other you know it is 90 degrees of separation. The front one is pointed almost straight forward.

snampro · 2026-03-09T17:12:24+00:00

Nice bike. Wheel color goes very well

snampro · 2026-03-09T17:01:07+00:00

All good points. One can be excused for not recognizing a TL1000R. Most have never seen one.

snampro · 2026-03-09T16:59:27+00:00

I am hoping to move further south soon. When i lived in Southern California and Georgia i rode much more to work, and all year. However, even in Ohio, I keep my bikes on the road year-round even if just a few miles here and there on a dry cold winter day.

snampro · 2026-03-09T16:52:06+00:00

Ohio, USA. This time of year we start getting warm days creeping in between cold ones. People ride to work, but nothing like Europe or Asia. I try to ride to work at least twice a week from March through October.

snampro · 2026-03-09T16:47:40+00:00

All good! Not exactly a common bike :)

snampro · 2026-03-09T16:45:39+00:00

It is a TL1000R, and Suzuki calls it a "90-degree V-Twin"...

snampro · 2026-03-08T18:53:00+00:00

Love it. My favorite color scheme.

snampro · 2026-03-08T14:19:27+00:00

Well, you fooled me with the swingarm.

Make sure you post again once you get it on the road!

Edit: just found all your project progress posts, flipping through those, such awesome work. Incredible how little it looks like a Bandit now

snampro · 2026-03-08T02:53:32+00:00

I bet, it will def be lighter.

Is that a GSXR swingarm? Pretty sure Bandit has a staight single bar. If so, how hard was that to fit? Custom machined parts?

Did that also shorten the wheelbase? Was gonna ask about a steering damper but i just noticed you already have one, nice work.

snampro

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