TLS cams are the same for all years. Here are the specs.

[Kazz]

Thank you for contacting Suzuki Canada.

The information you requested is as follows:

TL1000S (all model year)
IN Open = 31° BTDC
IN Close = 67° ABDC
EX Open = 67° BBDC
EX Close = 31° ATDC
IN Valve Lift = 9.8 mm
EX Valve Lift = 9.0 mm

TL1000R (all model year)
IN Open = 32° BTDC
IN Close = 68° ABDC
EX Open = 67° BBDC
EX Close = 31° ATDC
IN Valve Lift = 10.8 mm
EX Valve Lift = 9.0 mm
We trust this information is helpful.

Yours Truly,

Customer Relations
Suzuki Canada Inc.



I thought I would contact Suzuki Canada and see what they had to say about the '97 cam profiles compared to the later models. I also got the TLR cam profiles too. SO, THAT ENDS ALL THE BULLSHIT ABOUT THE '97 TLS CAMS BEING BETTER.
Have a good day,
Kazz...

[Duken4evr]

According to those specs, the TLS and TLR use the same lift and timing on the exhaust cam. Hmm...

According to some things I have read, playing with the intake timing has a greater effect on the nature and total amount of the power an engine puts out. This is supported by the fact that a popular mod for the DRZ400 I recently got is to replace the intake cam with an aftermarket model and leave the stock exhaust cam in place.

Hmmm...

[kevh]

but were they all cast vs the 1st year being forgesd ala tlr? i probably have that backwards

[Kazz]

Yes, the exhuast cams are the same. When I had my motor built a bit we used the TLR intake and exhuast cams just because they were there. And kevh, your thinking pistons. The TLS has cast pistons and the TLR has forged with a bit more compression. I hope this settles all the arguements about the '97 TLS being the fastest because of the cams.

[N2wheelies]

i thought they were fast because they were green.

[Kazz]

I would also imagine with the increase in compression on the TLR they wanted to run a little bigger cam for it.

[Rupes]

Nanananana .... Told ya so

[Steve TLS]

Handy info there

[godslayer]

. SO, THAT ENDS ALL THE BULLSHIT ABOUT THE '97 TLS CAMS BEING BETTER.

Not necessarily true though. There were alot of little differences between the 97 and later model years that had part numbers that superceded the 97's. Though this MAY not be true for the cams, after just having put my 97 back together, there are alot of parts that I had to buy(or fabricate if they cost too much) that were no longer listed in the TLS parts fiche.

[kevh]

oh...maybe i should read before posting

[J-Bone]

Originally posted by kevh
oh...maybe i should read before posting

thats never a good idea

[Kazz]

Hey Godslayer, which parts did you have to fab up? I am just curious. THe TLS models are quite similar, except for the '98 and up having the pair valve. What were the small differences? All I can tell is the stickers on the fairing were changed and mabye the steering damper mounting hardware. What do you mean when you said lots of parts you had to buy that were not listed anymore. If they weren't listed how could you buy them?
Get back to me on that. I have a '97 also that I will probably never sell so I am curious with what you have to say.

[godslayer]

Breather hoses, a ventilation hose that goes from the crankcase to the airbox, and a couple other parts. The most confusing one was that crankcase ventilation hose. On the 97 models it is a staright through tapered hose that goes from the middle of the vee to the bottom left of the airbox. On 98+ models it is an assembly consisting of two small straight diameter hoses with a one-way valve seperating them. The part number is very cleary marked on the original hose that I have but when you look at the supposedly universal fiche, all it shows for that part number is the assembly. I sat with my Suzuki dealer and talked with Suzuki USA trying to figure out how I could get that broken hose replaced and all Suzuki kept telling me was that the piece I have does NOT exist.....BULLSHIT. It is in my hand and I just pulled it off the bike. Then I showed the dealer my service manual (which happens to be an original 1997 with the later addendums, not a **NEW** manual it shows the hose very clearly. The **NEW** manual shows the assembly with the exact same part number. WTF?

Anyway, long story short, Suzuki seems to completely disavow all knowledge of any old part numbers even if that information could save a life. I had the proof in front of me and was still told I was wrong.

What do you mean when you said lots of parts you had to buy that were not listed anymore. If they weren't listed how could you buy them?

Like I said above, there are newer parts to replace some of the older ones. They may not be the exact same piece but they will swap in just the same. Some have improvements like the vent. hose mentioned above while others are just different materials, etc. Superceding part numbers are only good if you acknowledge the old parts and the mistakes that were made.

[Ryno]

From what I remember the early 97's made more juice, but it was all down to mapping. They recalled the first generation ECU's and replaced them after all the bad press about the bike being sone prone to tank slappers etc.