Archived Posts

General discussion about Offroad two-stroke Suzuki motorcycles.

Moderators: oldjapanesebikes, H2RICK, diamondj, Suzsmokeyallan

Post Reply
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

desmocat wrote:So the TC was more street ortiented that the TS?
No, it was more for climbing hills like a billy goat. The high-range tranny was still only about as high as ths TS. The low range was really low.


Lane
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

rngdng wrote:Interesting. I guess they weren't worried about the extra weight on the TCs.


Lane
I checked the fiches for all years of the TC and TS 185. All years TC185 are 12 volt. All years TS185 are 6 volt. Why, I have no idea.
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

The TC's had different fenders, steel instead of plastic, I think the 185 was the largest TC, didn't make a 250 TC but had a 90 & a 125. This brochure says it has electric start, I think they also had points instead of PEI.

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/TC/T ... s_1089.jpg
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

Having owned a 76 TC185 for the last 20 years...... They are a great little bike for following deer trails but not much for serious motocross stuff.... Mines got just over 14,000 Miles and all I've had to do motorwise is replace a holed piston.... just gas and go.... It does have an electric start but very rarely works.... Almost as much fun as the wife.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

Barry S. wrote:The TC's had different fenders, steel instead of plastic, I think the 185 was the largest TC, didn't make a 250 TC but had a 90 & a 125. This brochure says it has electric start, I think they also had points instead of PEI.

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/TC/T ... s_1089.jpg
There was a TC250 and TC305, but they were just street scrambler versions of the T250 and T305... Didn't zooke get a TC305 awhile a go?
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

Heres how it was spec wise for the TC and TS 100L models in 1974, the bikes were identical in everything BUT these items.

TS Honcho vs TC Blazer
Trial tyres vs knobbies
Low braced chrome front fender vs high mount shorter chrome one with frame
Indicators vs none
5 speed g/box vs 4 speed dual range
Tank colours met silver/orange stripe vs met green/lgt green stripe.
No rear rack vs one fitted
Everything else was the same on these two models.
The TSs performance was a bit better than the TCs in the high range mainly because of the closer ratios and the 5th gear, however the TC had 185cc like exceleration in the low range but unfortunately its max speed in this ratio was only 45 mph.
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Did you ever do this to your TC

Post by Admin »

Heres a photo of my brother having some fun on my stock TC 100L Blazer back in 1975. Yes we jumped that bike to some insane heights, even higher than this photo in many cases.
The suspension would have none of it for too long though and after about 6 months the stancion tubes began to bend forward by the lower triple clamps.
A quick solution was to mark them and rotate each 180 degrees and resume the antics, it all came to an end a few months later when we noticed the rear frame top shock mounts bending upwards.
That little bike was real tough considering how we treated the suspension, all those hours spent on the track and those wild jumps.


Image
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Very rare RM 125S photos

Post by Admin »

I understand these bikes are as rare as hens teeth now, so i decided to post two photos here for interested persons to see of the one i restored in the early 80s.
These RMs were a 75 mid year model designation "S" and some serious mods were done to the motor to boost hp up to 26 over the M versions weak 23hp.
Suzuki did some serious work to the motor on these bikes including making a handbuilt expansion chamber pipe from rolled sheet, and fitting a massive 34 mm mikuni carb with an eye opening 280 mainjet to this 125cc engine.
If you have any queries about this model i'd be happy to answer.

Image
Image
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

Diggin' that jersey! :grin:
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

How about the pics of the bike????? show me the tank and muffler guard and i'll give you the exact year, well for those parts anyway.
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

Those Lt/Dk blue tank decals were found on some early PE models and a few RMs too also had a similiar strip pattern during the period, so thats where they came from.
The bikes got a locking fuel cap from the photos, so either the tanks been changed or still original which would make the bike (tank) from mid 73 to 75 period.
Those muffler guards were in use for the years 73 thru to 75 as well so were still in the two year period on that item.
The ign key location is on the LH under tank location but i vaguely remember some early 74 250s also still having them while the smaller cc bikes went to keys by the instrument pods years earlier
Unfortunately theres not much there left to look further, but if the back sprocket is original it would make the bike a 74 since 73 250s had small holes in the sproket design, and these larger style holes are the type used on 74 and 75 year 250 models.
Ok just pin it in the middle, and you've got a late 73 early 74 Suzuki TS 250L
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

Well, the pipe, heat shield, cylinder head and 19" front wheel all say 1973, fer shure. This was the first year for this style heat shield but the last year for the splayed fins on the head. So the K model was very unique in that regard
along with being the last year for the 19" wheel, as well.
The orange colour mentioned was #714 Sunset Orange and in some markets known as Cobalt Orange and this was definitely a TS250K model colour.
This was the last year for two colour choices on this model, if memory serves correctly. The other colour was a truly hideous eye-popping green #709 Pine Green with, I believe, a contrasting orange stripe. Knock your eyes out or what....
I remember the shop owner where I worked telling Suzuki to NEVER send any more green TS250's to him, back in the day.....
:lol: :lol:
My .02.....
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

As previously mentioned, the TC range of bikes were more oriented to plodding along what with the dual range tranny, steel fenders, 19" front wheel
and electric start. They were HEAVVVVVYYYYY.
The TS was a farrrrrr better bike IMO and I had an L model which was the first year with the 21" front wheel, a large handling improvement. I rode that poor thing out in the mountains on serious off-road trails for 3 years until I upgraded to a PE250.
My old TS is still down on the ranch with my in-laws and still gets started up in the fall for the boys to go out and check things over in their grain fields. It's still got the original piston and rings in it. :shock:
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

Hey Rick i HAVE a few pics of those ,,,,ahem wonderful green 250 K bikes with the orange stripe,, care to see them.
Admin
Supreme UFOB
Posts: 34711
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Admin »

Nope, Allan, that's okay. I can live with NEVER seeing one of those AGAIN!!!
My optic nerves have STILL not recovered from seeing the one and only example that I PDI'd back in the day. I can still remember removing the cardboard box portion of the crate and then........the horror....the horror.....
:lol: :lol: :lol:
If others wish to view such hideousness, please please post a pic on photobucket or someplace and then just supply a link to the pic......
Please....no thumbnails or full pics on this site. Remember that small children and maiden aunts occasionally view this site and we wouldn't want to scare anyone unnecessarily.....
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Post Reply