This found its way into my garage (it killed me to let someone else buy it for $50, so I did), my first motorcycle was 1980 and I was a toddler when this bike was made so I don't have a clue what model.
It starts right up, and I have ridden it through the neighborhood. Other than it has old shit gas so it smokes a little, it runs through all the gears and seems to be reasonably mechanically sound (other than it is 45 years old and looks mostly original- no restoration ever from the looks of it).
I googled 1971 Suzuki, and it is possibly a TS185 Hustler?
If not can someone let me know what it is? Anything "special" about that model in the Suzuki history?
I know this was the infant years for Suzuki dirt bikes (even though it has a head light) so just was curious about the background if anyone has more info. Thank you
It starts right up, and I have ridden it through the neighborhood. Other than it has old shit gas so it smokes a little, it runs through all the gears and seems to be reasonably mechanically sound (other than it is 45 years old and looks mostly original- no restoration ever from the looks of it).
I googled 1971 Suzuki, and it is possibly a TS185 Hustler?
If not can someone let me know what it is? Anything "special" about that model in the Suzuki history?
I know this was the infant years for Suzuki dirt bikes (even though it has a head light) so just was curious about the background if anyone has more info. Thank you
Great entry level bike. Learned on a 73 myself.
Must be the TS185 then, thanks for the information!
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The TS-185 may have been Suzuki's best dirt bike prior to the TM-125, decent engine and handling; they were pretty popular MXers in the 175/200 classes while those lasted. They were a mainstay of dirt bike rental businesses because they were really tough to break; IIRC, a rental proprietor said they just put on plastic fenders and unbreakable levers and swapped a pod filter for the airbox and turned them loose.
Here is a picture of someone racing a TS-185 at Fort Hood in 1972. He may be one of the Army riders who bought their own 185s to race:
The muffler guard looks like it was off of a 73-75.
I don't think it is a 71 or 72 because of the shape of the side oil cover.
Of course, the previous owners may have swapped numerous parts.
My guess is it is a 72.
I had a 74 TS185 for a while. It was a fun little bike.
http://www.suzukicycles.org/All-Suzuki/all_suzuki_models.html
But like you said Chase, who knows what all was possibly changed over the years.
No idea what I am going to do with it, just another thing taking up space in the garage. Pretty soon my wife might have to start parking in the driveway (and we have a 4 car garage). I guess the golf cart needs to go, kids don't use it anymore anyways. Can't get rid of any motorcycles....
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