The Silver Mist paint has seen better days in certain areas, but this 1974 Suzuki TS185L Sierra looks like a really nice all-around survivor on/off-road bike for those of us who don’t need massive power. The seller has it listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Hilbert, Wisconsin, and they’re asking $1,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the TS tip!
My best friend growing up had a 1972 Suzuki TS185 in blue, and I’ve always wanted one. It seemed to have more than enough power for two-lane 55-mph roads, and once you got to your off-road trail or logging road, it wasn’t so big that it was too powerful or hard to handle. This example looks great for $1,500; you can’t get much in the on/off-road genre for that anymore, especially anything this nice.
Silver paint has a tendency to look bad or to go bad. Maybe all paint does that, but I seem to notice it more on silver or other metallic paints. The rear fender would be easy to bring back to looking like new again, but the top of the gas tank would take more work. Is it worth it? Or is this a bike that you just ride and enjoy without having it be in perfect condition?
A 250-cc motorcycle may be ideal for a lot of us, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at a 185. I don’t weigh anything near 200 pounds, so maybe that’s why it would work for me. Suzuki made this TS series beginning in 1971, and it lasted until 2015; that’s a long run for almost any vehicle. With 6,414 miles, someone rode this bike more than I ever rode a dirt bike or on/off road bike. With a 21″ front wheel and 18″ rear wheel, both steel, so a bit heavier than alloy wheels, this one should be able to handle most off-road chores. The seller has a new set of tires that they’re throwing in with the sale.
The engine is Suzuki’s 183-cc two-stroke single-cylinder with 17 horsepower, 13 lb-ft of torque, oil injection, and an electronic ignition. It’s sent through a five-speed manual to the rear wheel, and the seller says it starts easily and runs great. Have any of you owned a Suzuki 185?
One of the bikes I’d consider buying,but it’d have to be
a ’71 TS185 Sierra in Green.
This one seems like a good deal,as prices seem to
have gone crazy.Of course it’s not the best time of year to
be selling a bike.
Used to see these commonly lashed to the front of someone’s cab over camper truck and zipping from the campground to the store, out on a trail etc.
Great find, seems to be a good price on this great all around “scooter”.
This would look great in your garage, Scotty!😆👍🏻
It’s a nice bike for not a tot of money. You could repaint it, clean it up and make it better, or ride it as is. The good thing about this one is it’s a 1974 and doesn’t have much chrome on it.
I restored the 72 TS 185 that Dad brought home in 73 about 17 years ago. It had 53 pieces of chrome, the bill was $2500. I had to have Paul’s Custom Chrome do it, because the normal bumper platers lose bumpers. My stuff was a few big parts, but at least 40 small trinkets. I would expect to get half of them back from a bumper plater and spend months looking for replacements.
The bike will “cruise” at 55 MPH, but it’s going to make a lot of noise doing it. It’s a lot better around town or off road. At my age I can’t afford to do much but run around the neighborhood and annoy the neighbors with the two stroke.
Back yonder a piece( pulling suspenders) mid-70s, I spent a lot of time on the farm in N.Wis. riding in the forest, snowmobile trails in the summer. I had my Suzuki TS400, friend whose parents farm, had a Yam 250, and his cousin had this exact bike.The “Hilbert, Wis.” was of particular notice, but his was a LOT worse. It was on the ground more than upright. It’s bikes like these that gave me my “no less than 250” attitude. Don’t get me wrong, any dirt bike is a fun dirt bike, but inept for any road travel, downright dangerous, in fact. For a kid to learn the ropes, and spend some time away from the phone, great fun, even if encased in bubble wrap. The downside, is today, with distracted driving, I’m almost afraid to ride a motorcycle on the street, but I do miss a dirt bike back in the hills. I think for any kind of adventure, an atv is next, but a great find.
I have one, 77 model. Super fun around town with the 2 stroke wail and smoke. Be one of the last ones I would ever sell. Cranks easy with kick or starter.
I bought a TS185 back in the mid 70s in rough shape. It had a small grove in the cylinder so I had it bored oversized and ordered a new piston and got it running, it was a fun little bike…
Those groves need to be thinned or they can take over.
I had bought a brand new (leftover) 1975 Suzuki TS-185 in 1976. It was a competition orange (hugger orange?) and silver. (Suzuki must have really liked silver on the ‘70’s…). It was a decent on/off road bike. I primarily used it off road for trail riding and since the dealership wanted to get rid of the leftovers, they swapped out the “street” tires for real knobby tires for very little or no additional cost. I just removed the turn signals and the headlight and taillight to protect them from being damaged on the trails.
I bought a 72 new from the dealership I work a, installed the 175 kit and raced motocross, hare scrambles, one enduro and trail rode it a lot. Great lightweight bike and loads of fun!
I bought a ’72 TS185 Sierra new. That was a lot of fun until I got tired of going to work every Monday morning with scratches & bruises. Sold it & bought a new ’79 Suzuki GS550L street bike. Dirt bikes are a young guy’s game.
As a Yamaha guy that owns pretty much all the Enduro’s from the little 80GT’s up the DT400 – these 185 Suzuki’s were a good respectable bike on par and this one looks to be well taken care of….and at a good price ! My 400DT is also pushing close to 7900 miles….
Listing update: this one appears to have been sold.