SUZUKI TL 1000

The all new Suzuki TL1000R was originally introduced to the motorcycling press at the Eastern Creek racing facility in Australia back in March of this year. The preliminary impressions of the bike were promising but, due to a few problems encountered in manufacturing the motorcycle, it took until Mid-June for it to reachour shores ready for the show room. We nabbed one from the nice folk at Suzuki, we put our butts on the seat, and we rode it. Power Plant

As everyone knows, the TL1000R engine is a slightly modified version of the 1000cc, 90 degree, twin cam, four valve, V-twin that first appeared in last year's TL1000S. The modifications include throttle bodies with dual stage injection and two injectors per cylinder, a redesigned air box for improved flow, cams with higher lift and longer duration, and a high-volume exhaust, to name just a few. Taking a look inside the big twin, we find forged pistons for increased durability over cast ones.

 Forged pistons also have the advantage of allowing for thinner support walls for the wrist pins and the removal of nearly all of the side skirts of the pistons. The rods connecting the pistons to the crank are carburized for higher surface hardness, providing for light weight and high strength. Light weight is doubly important on moving parts because the weight savings is multiplied by the subsequently reduced inertia. It's sort of like that movie with the giant cannon they were dragging across Europe and how, although it was difficult to drag the thing up the mountain side, it was even more difficult to control its speed on the way down. I can never remember the name of that movie.

So concerned were the engineers about throwing away horsepower when designing the TL1000R that even the splashing of oil in the crankcase is controlled to reduce power loss. To reduce agitation, the side case that carries the return oil from the heads has a fin cast into it to deflect the oil away from the crankshaft.