I just purchased an orange 1975 model. A true time machine. Running perfectly. Just needs a bit of love to bring it back to its former glory. I think my favourite road to ride on these days is called memory lane.
Bought one new back in 1976. It was my dream bike and I promptly rode it everywhere, town, countryside, and off-road. On the motorway it would happily cruise at 50 to 55 mph all day. I was heartbroken when I had it stolen never to be recovered 2 years later.
My dad changed the rear sprocket on this bike and competed in trials in the early 70s. About 12 years later, as a teenager, I found the bike dissembled, stored in boxes within the garage. I learned about motorcycles and engines putting this bike back together and getting it to run again. I'm interested in buying another for nostalgia purposes. Thanks for the video.
From USA , Michigan, had a 1972 TS 185, brings back memories. In the cold it would burble until it warmed up. Strong engine, and transmission. Never had any problems with it. Great bike for what it was.
Beautiful little bike could listen to that engine all day long just shows you don’t need a massive engine to have some fun good video Thanks for posting
i learnt to ride on a ts185 the seat, exhaust, petrol tank, and kick start were all held on with wire permantly no lights no front brakes but it was such a good bike so much fun
Love it, my dad had 1973 TS 185 and I remember when I was 4-5 yrs old, sitting in front of him, holding on to the cross bar riding the dirt roads of West Virginia
Wow ! My dad also had a TS185 back in the late 70s, it was a 1976 model in Orange and he also sat me on the tank while I held the crossbar as I was about 6 years old at the time. Happy times when it never seemed to rain as much, even here in the UK.
had a new one of these in 1977. it cost £344 on the road from heron suzuki.passed my test on it the next year at the grand cost of £4.80.still have a couple of b/w pics of it.excellent.
Back 1 year later: Just went for a ridiculously fun ride on my 1973 Suzuki TS185, I love that stinkin bike, it's my favorite of over 50 motorcycles I've had over the years (I'm a rider and a bike flipper as in resale) probably the sentimental value, ol' Grandpa had a 73 TS250 when I was growing up and we would go on long rides, I rode a Honda 70cc mini trail from the 70s vintage that was his, highlight of my young life really-but those just don't cut it although still cool and valuable.
You're right it is a little gem! Love the early Japanese two strokes, I've just acquired a '74 Yamaha 175 as a project. Good to hear the Northern accent, I did my U/G training at Manvers/Wath many moons ago.
My first bike in 1974, I was 16. Exactly like the video shows to ride, brings back memories. Great off road, the TS250 was too big and didn't, due to extra weight, produce a lot more performance. The TS 185 was best of the 250 and under trail bikes at the time.
These Bikes bring back Such FOND Memories. I was 16 in 74 & Ready to move up from my Yamaha 80... ALL THESE Decades later... STILL A RUSH! 70'S Heaven! 2 Strokes FOREVER!! GOD BLESS..
My first bike too, in 1979. I was 14yo. No license. Road along the rr tracks until I got my permit. First bike I wiped out too. Bike was fine. I got a few stitches and I was back on it. Good times!
The TS-185 is one of the most underappreciated 2-stroke enduro bikes. Power of a Yamaha DT-250 and nearly as light as many 125's. Here in the U.S. you can find really nice bikes often for under $2,000. Great bike for riding arround secondary roads. Light and Zippy.
I have a 1973 that was stripped of lights, gauges, mirrors and has a climbing gear on the back. I'm converting it to a street legal adventure bike using modern battery/wireless accessories. Runs like an absolute unit, it is the blue and yellow tank Sierra version
Thank you for posting. I am looking for a TS 185 and appreciate its power to weight, nimble handling characteristics for Sunday drives on local back roads and trails. In fact there is a 185 for sale currently in Doncaster. The rib is I’d have to pay for shipping to the states. Shipping prices have skyrocketed due to energy prices hikes. Thanks again for posting.
Wow! Thanks for the ride. I just love that sound!! My dad owned a 1972 until I was 20th s. He bought me a 1971 when I was 14. rode it every chance I got!!
I've got a 1962 Lambretta. Half of the engine and transmission is Suzuki, and it goes quite nicely. It's got a Suzuki TS185 piston in the top end, and the clutch is made from a Suzuki RM125.
Oh my, I'd love to have one of these - or a TS250. I rode a TS125 back in the 70s, till it was stolen. Now there's a DR650 in my garage, but there'd room for smaller stroker.
Fantastic vid , and a great example of the TS185 , im looking at building one in the near future , i saw a wtite up in classic bike mechanics a year or so ago , probably one of the most affordable and usable classics around. Once again great vid 👍
Hi John here in sydney Australia I just bought a T's 185 sitting in a old warehouse for last 4 years head light missing few dents and scratches engine all complete and turns over just paid 600 bucks for her il do her up and see how we go
UNRESTORED! Holy crap! For a 48 year old bike it looks incredible for an unrestored version. Yes, you absolutely do have a "gem" there! My first bike about 53 years ago was a Suzuki A 100 and after flogging that poor thing around the bush for a few years I bought a TS 185 and loved it so much that when it finally got to being just not worth fixing and patching any more I bought another one. Oh man, listening to that brought back such great memories. At first it didn't want to rev but I guess just needed a bit more warming up since it pulled and revved nicely after a bit of running. I'm absolutely gobsmacked that not only did you find one, not only did you find one running, and well but, you found one in remarkably fantastic condition. I'm green with envy right now. Kind of hilarious seeing a tacho red line of 8,000 rpm after my last bike which was a BMW S 1,000 R which is a 4 cylinder 4 stroke and it revved to 12,000 while it's racier brother red lines at 14,000 rpm because they put lighter valves and tuned that same engine a little differently. So weird when I always thought of 2 strokes as the revvy engines. Good luck with your great find there.
First world problems: I've got a new bike coming next month, and space is tight in the garage. My original plan for today was (after not having ridden it in months) take my TS185C out of the back of the garage for a fresh MOT to make it easier to sell (it had six months left on the old one) but after riding it to the MOT shop and then taking it for a 20 mile ride (they're not long distance bikes) I remembered why I'd kept it so long (12 years and counting). No way is it going up for sale. Light, flickable, super-fun engine (albeit limited to town and country back roads by its 18 bhp) and just a very cool ride, I won't be selling it, something else will have to go!
I’ve the exact same bike. Restored it during 2020. Mine was it a bit shabbier than yours when I bought it. Engine was good and still with standard piston. Lots of time and NOS parts later it’s a great bike to own. Runs fairly sweet and will buzz up to around 70mph with std gearing. If I had the chance to do it again I’d probably fit the smaller rear sprocket just so it didn’t rev so high at 50-55mph. Good luck with your bike. They’re little gems and worth keeping roadworthy. p.s. The clocks suffer from the internal lube drying out making them flicker or stick. Don’t be tempted to squirt WD40 inside as you’ll properly knacker them. Even NOS ones suffer from inaccuracies; it’s just an age thing.
Hi, yes both my clocks suffered from flickering on the needle. I managed to pick up a decent 2nd hand pair as the trip meter button was broken and glued back in place, but didn’t work! Didn’t swap the Rev counter as it’s getting better with use. Down side is replacement speedo shows 20000 miles - original had 2924 on it.
@@barnsleybikervideodiary7694 The threaded portion for the drive cable was broken on my Tacho, so unable to repair it. A new set of clocks set me back £200 with only 2 miles showing on the speedo. Even these are iffy, mainly the Speedo accuracy at lower speed. But you’re spot on about them improving with use. Happy days!
The ts185 is by far my#1 favorite bike. My uncle and I built a Cafe with a ts185. Try replacing the airbox with a k&n and rejetting. And you can also ring the motor out a little more. Sadly, here in California, these thing will be illegal soon... so I need to get one before that happens!
It appears that when Suzuki changed from 19 inch front wheel in 1973, to a 21 inch wheel in 1974, that they didn't change anything else to adjust for that, which means the steering geometry got screwed up at that point.
I had one of these a bit newer but not much. Fun little bike small enough to throw around the trails. Mine would do 110km/hr not sure what that is in m/hr. Mine had high and low range. Lots of torqe in low but only abou 30/km/hr
I had a TS100 new on my 17th B/D and later a TS250 which was really quick for a trail bike, the 100 had rotary disk induction which I would never have again, the disks keep breaking up and they end up in the crankcase,