Rare Beast: 1973 Suzuki TS-400K Apache

It’s hard to believe that we haven’t seen a Suzuki 400 here on Barn Finds; this is the very first one for any configuration – street, trail, on/off, etc. It’s also one of the rarest and most desirable, at least of this era. It’s so close, yet so far, as I have a handful of project bikes already, and am getting rid of most of them. Panned by several reviewers as being too heavy, particularly top-heavy, having bad brakes, and a few other issues, I still think they’re cool. Cycle World said, “Suzuki’s Enduro Big Bore Looks Very Serious, But Is Best Suited For Light-Hearted Riding.” This 1973 Suzuki TS-400K Apache is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Burnsville, Minnesota, and the seller is asking $1,000. Here is the original listing.

If all were right with the world, I would already own this one, and it would be partially torn down already for the nut-and-bolt restoration it deserves. Dang you, world! (fist in air). Just kidding, it isn’t the world’s fault that I can’t justify buying this rare TS-400K Apache and restoring it. I could have done a better job of finding a career to dig into that wouldn’t have gone almost totally obsolete in 20 years, and then wondered why business was down so much over the last handful of years. Dang you, social media thumbnails! Nobody wants or needs actual nice, big photos anymore. I may as well sell dial home phones. I’ve never owned a blue motorcycle, let alone a Coronado Blue one, or a Suzuki bigger than my ’71 MT50 Trailhopper.

Suzuki made the TS-Series since R. Milhouse Nixon was sworn into office (1969), and that’s a long run. I believe 2015 was their last day of production, 11 years after Mr. Nixon’s last day of production. I can’t think of any motorcycle I want more right now, having just watched a video from motorcycle and ATV guru Joe Weber and his 2Vintage YouTube channel, which I’m addicted to. He took one on and somehow got it running, just to see if he could do it. You can see it here on his YouTube page. I can’t imagine this one being as bad, and it sure looks good in the photos compared to the one Joe got for $150. This TS-400 is only about 35ish minutes from me; I really should at least look at it. Unfortunately, I just got an even rarer two-wheeler, a 1971 Trapper Trail mini bike, a couple of months ago, but still…

The engine is Suzuki’s 396-cc two-stroke oil-injected single, and that’s a big single. It isn’t the biggest, but other than my brother’s former Honda XL600R, which was scary, this would be by far bigger than anything I’d ever need. With 34 horsepower backed by a 5-speed transmission, this would be a fantatsic restoration project. I know, not everything has to be restored, and this one looks nice enough that I’d maybe just “restore” the black bits, maybe get new decals for the tank, new tires, and leave the rest as is. The seller says this Suzuki TS-400 hasn’t been started in several years, so at a bare minimum, the entire fuel system has to be gone through. Have any of you seen a Suzuki TS-400, or better yet, owned one?