General background

The Suzuki TL1000S was introduced by Suzuki in 1997 and was produced until 2001 and is frequently referred to as the TLS or Suzuki TLS. It is notable for the V-twin engine which is still used in Suzuki's modern SV1000

Suzuki SV1000

Often categorised as a naked bike, Suzuki's SV1000 and the half faired SV1000S, were first launched by Suzuki in 2003. The 996 cc 90-degree Suzuki V-twin motorcycles were aimed to compete directly with the Honda VTR1000F , which was released prior to the Suzuki, and the low end Ducati...

 and V-Strom 1000 motorcycles.

The TLS motor featured a 90° V-twin for perfect primary balance and had hybrid chain/gear driven cams. A traditional cam chain turned a gear that in turn rotated the cams. This hybrid design eased maintenance immensely and gave the motor additional aural character because of the gear whine. The motor was also used for the Suzuki TL1000R

Suzuki TL1000R

The Suzuki TL1000R motorcycle was introduced in 1998 as Suzuki's V-Twin Superbike. Production ended in 2003.- General background :The TL1000R is a full fairing racing-oriented version of Suzuki's popular TL1000S. The TL1000R was launched in 1998, one year after its sibling, the TL1000S...

. Suzuki also sold many of the TL motors to Cagiva

Cagiva

Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components. It went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni...

 to be used in the Navigator and V-Raptor models. Bimota also used the engine for their popular Bimota SB8K

BiMoTa SB8K

The SB8K is a sportbike made by Italian motorcycle manufacturer Bimota.The bike was added to the present lineup after the company hiatus in late nineties financial crisis. The bike was built with a profusion of light alloys and carbon fiber; the materials employed in the construction of the chassis...

.

Rear shock

Suzuki designers needed to find creative solutions to make the TL1000S a viable sportbike. V-twin motors are longer from front to rear than standard inline four cylinder motors used in most sportbikes. In order to keep the wheelbase as short as possible engineers separated the rear shock absorber

Shock absorber

A shock absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy. It is a type of dashpot.-Nomenclature:...

/damper from the spring. The spring was located on the right side of the bike and Suzuki developed and employed a rotary style rear damper that provided its damping characteristics through rotating arms. A similar version was also used on the Suzuki TL1000R. The rear shock was similar to suspension dampers used on Formula One

Formula One

Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...

race cars.