Said to have been “redone” a few years ago but still possibly having some cosmetic work to finish, this 1974 Suzuki TS100L Honcho appears to be a nice starter bike. Or, a nice one for anyone of any age or skill level. It’s listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Loganville, Georgia and they’re asking $1,800. Here is the original listing, and thanks to PRA4SNW for the tip!
As most of you know by now, I couldn’t give a ___ less what anyone else thinks about my vehicles. I’m not someone who has to prove anything by driving whatever makes me look tough. I gladly ride my tiny 49-cc motorcycles around, even if, gasp, other humans are nearby. Life is too short to care what anyone else thinks. And here’s a newsflash: anyone who makes fun of your vehicles isn’t a real friend, so their opinion doesn’t matter anyway. Capiche?
Other than that (crickets), how about this little Suzuki?! They also made street models of this bike and without having any numbers, which are rarely given in craigslist ads, I don’t know the VIN to check it out. Suzuki made a trail version, the TC100L Blazer with a dual-range four-speed manual as opposed to the Honcho’s five-speed, and there was also a motocross version, the TM100L. The TS100K Honcho came along in 1973 and this TS100L Honcho followed. At 200 pounds, this is a fairly light bike and should be easier to get into the back of a truck or van if you don’t have a trailer.
The top of the Stardust Silver gas tank has taken some hits it looks like and that won’t be inexpensive to repair and repaint, with new decals added as well. The seller doesn’t mention that but showing a photo is nice so the potential buyers know what the needs are. It looks almost perfect other than that as far as I can see. As sort of a street scrambler on/off bike, this one is set up with handlebar reinforcement and a higher front fender, along with semi-knobby tires.
The engine is Suzuki’s 97-cc two-stroke, rotary disc valve single with 11 horsepower and 8 lb-ft of torque. The five-speed manual sends power to the rear wheel, of course. These bikes have a primary kick start, as in you can start it in any gear. The seller says it runs well and it looks great other than the top of the gas tank. Are any of you into “smaller” motorcycles like this TS100?
Cool 😎 Suzuki perfect camp bike. 🏕
Most 100 2 strokes from this time were at least as good as most 150-200 4 strokes. This would be a great weekend camper bike in its day and some places now too-except on most of the far left coastal states where you could encounter the ire of those who hate ICE and especially 2 strokes.
Enjoy the ride!
Whoa, consider us chewed out( 2nd paragraph) and duly noted. I think, for the most part, the members are pretty cordial, it’s the riff raff that meanders through on their way to a FB rant, where the trouble is. I’m disappointed the author had to go on the defensive like that. That shouldn’t be part of the writers duties. Far as most rational thinking people are concerned, you da’ man!
Anyway, pretty close, SG, a visual, anyway. My 1st real dirt bike was a ’73 Suzuki TS400. The “TS” ( trail/street) models all looked similar. The “TM”s were strictly dirt. Mine had an expansion chamber and stripped down to only the essential street items( speedo, lights) and with the silencer off, it was wickedly fast. An ex-friend had a Triumph TT500, and we hit all the tracks in Wis. and N.Ill. I rode that bike to the UP, N.Wis., put a slew of miles on it, maybe rings once, but it never let me down.
I know where that dent in the tank came from, someone either chest or helmet on their way to the ground, and one will find, this is underpowered for any kind of riding. As mentioned, a nice camping bike, they aren’t as offensive as the old pre-mix jobs, I’ve always said, better to have the power and not use it, that t’other way ’round. They are great bikes.
Cool bike Howard. Love to see a pic.
Hi Stan, sorry, this is the best I can do,,they had corny names, the TS 400 was Apache, and the TM was Cyclone.
https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-japanese-motorcycles/suzuki-ts400-apache-zmmz18mjzhur/
These were bulletproof small bikes. Personally, when I go to foreign countries, I drool at all the small bikes available and used there. As with cars, utility seldom sells here. Sad. These were fun bikes you could ride wide open and were a blast as a high school commuter or exploration tool.
Love It !! My first real bike was a 1972 TS400, what a Tractor ! 925.00 out the door, hauled 1 or 2 people anywhere ! Wish i still had it !
I hope that the dent on the tank wasn’t from the rider landing there, if you catch my drift. Otherwise, it appears to be a really nice bike. I remember Suzukis from back then having catchy names, such as a street 125cc two stroke twin called the “Stinger” and the the first water-cooled 750s were “Le Mans”
Ouuuuuuuuch! (in my best Vienna Boys Choir voice)
I had one just like it in 1974, fun little bike
I”d haul it around in the back of a 1980-83 AMC J-10, get vanity plates that say “HONCHO^2″…
I’ve heard it said: If 2 people agree on everything only 1 of them is thinking. I’ve been out on my XT250, that loads easily on the back of my RV, and had a group of HDs come up and swarm me, I was doing 10 over.
People just get caught up in their Charades.
Live and let live, I say, in my never humble opinion.
back in those days, we would repair gas rank dents with a firecracker (Not M80 an a dry gas tank ) had a ’72 Kawasaki 100 G5( first bike), and Suzi TS400 a couple years later…loved the 2 srokes
Um, air pressure was a lot safer, popped them dents out likety split.
My 13 year old self would have loved this bike. My “camp” bike nowadays is a dreaded HD Springer.
I’m fond of ’71-72 TS185s when it comes to small bore Zooks. I recently finished a ’72 using 125 fenders and a 250 rear wheel/tire. Pretty fun little shaker.
The problem with vintage Suzukis is factory support. There is none.
This the Suzuki competitor to the Yamaha DT100 I lusted after in high school. I don’t remember if Honda or Kawasaki had a 100cc enduro bike between the 75-80 cc and the 125 cc class bikes, but with the exception of the Elsinore’s, all Honda’s were four-stokes. While quieter than the two-stokes, they were also well down on power compared to a two-stroke of identical displacement. The Honda XR75 was a four-stroke and only available as a motocross bike (no enduro), and the Honda Elsinore’s were Honda’s first two-stroke enduro bikes. GLWTS!