Project TS185 (56k....wait... who still has 56k!?!?!?!?!?)

[Bu11dogg2]

Ever since I was I was a little kid I always wanted to restore a classic car. Since i'm not made of money and have no garage I decided I would start small and see if it's something i'm truly dedicated to.

I started searching CraigsList for an older model motorcyle and ran across a 1971 Suzuki TS185 (185cc) dirtbike/motorcycle. for $475.

I went and looked at it and found the frame, motor and wheels to be in pretty good shape considering it's 38 years old :) The blinker and tail lights had been taken off, the headlight hadn't been use in 20 years and the battery was original :eek: (doesn't use a battery/alternator to run)

The guy had got it as a gift when he was 8 (1996) and it had only been used as a dirt bike from then on.

Anyway...

I talked the guy down to $300 and drove the bike home (quite illegally)

My plan is to strip it, repaint it, rebuild the engine and re-do the wiring.

Enough talk... here's the pics:

First day
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/002.jpg

the coolest member on this forum sold me that helmet. I :wub: him
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/007.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/005.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/004.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/003.jpg

[Bu11dogg2]

Very first inspection sticker in 1972 (I was -8)
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/008.jpg


Rust every where!! except the motor :)
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/009.jpg


Pulled the gas tank off to clean the rust out, sand then repaint.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/011.jpg




Let the stripping begin!

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/019.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/013.jpg

mmmmmmmmmm

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/015.jpg



Inside cycle side of exhaust, not visible and not good :mad:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/016.jpg


Anyone know what's wrong with this picture?
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/017.jpg
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Broken bolt inside the block....I didn't do it.... the previous owner did and I didn't notice it before I bought it.

oh well..... I can get it backed out

[Bu11dogg2]

Tail Light back on :)

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/018.jpg


Seat taken apart
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/027.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/028.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/029.jpg

[Bu11dogg2]

Seat is apart and it's been sanded and repainted :) I need someone to apolster it :)


I also repainted the frame and started on the wiring :)

[Robk0000]

i have to admit this,


that is the most pethetic looking bike i have ever seen. Rebuilding stuff is always fun, so im not going to mock you for doing this. Nice build you are going to have.

[wagonmafia]

wow man, never thought id see one of those over here. we used to own one onthe farm when i was just a little one. that thing ran almost 10years with the original plug and oil.lol wish my suby could do that. anyways if you cant find that exhaust here let me know. ill get my brothere to check the classifieds back home.

good luck

BTW if anybody ever comes across an Yamaha RD350 in the classifieds pls let me know.

[Bu11dogg2]

They were superbly popular overseas as a cheap means of transportation.

In Europe and other countries the roads aren't always paved so a standard street bike just wouldn't cut it.

And Rob.... it's a dirt bike.... look at the motor :rolleyes:

[Robk0000]

i dont know anything about bikes, how can you tell by looking at the motor?

[wagonmafia]

very popular on farms, cause they arent very fast but as strong as an ox for a small bike. RELIABLE as well.

ROB. just look at he front mudgaurd. on a dirt bike the wheel will travel to it. so its mounted on the bottom triple clamp. on a streetbike the mudgaurd and wheel travel together. mudgaurd is fastened to the lower section of the front forks.

[Bu11dogg2]

the one cylinder is another way :lol:

Here's the seat after it was sanded and painted. You can see all the pitting from the rust :(

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/030.jpg


Here's us cleaning the gas tank. Years of watery gas have rusted out the bottom
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/031.jpg

Heres the fuel kill. It has a filter and a trap in it. Look at the crap inside :mad: this is probably why it won't idle right.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/038.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/037.jpg

Heres the original battery. It's so dry inside that the plastic is breaking apart.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/032.jpg

[Bu11dogg2]

Heres the fuel filter... melted.....

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/039.jpg

Here she is after we painted the frame :)

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/035.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/034.jpg

Here's my buddies fullrestored (not well cared for after) 1941 Harley Trike

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/020.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/Bu11dogg2/021.jpg

it's worth about 16k..... yet it has not been driven or registered since it was refurbished. :eek:

[Bu11dogg2]

Just ordered the following parts:

New Clutch and brack handle
New blinkers
Used blinker/horn/headlight control
New mirrors

Hoping to have this painted, rebuilt and road worthy by Oct 1st :)

[Bu11dogg2]

Mirrors, blinkers, grips, exhaust and a bunch of other parts are in.

Seat goes in for resurfacing this month...

Rust is cleaned out of the tank.


Need to work on the wiring harness this Sunday :)

Anyone with electrical experience want to help for beer for steak?

[Forcefedfreak]

Any updates?

[GeoffC8]

That is so ****ing awesome. It's a smoker, right? I want an old project bike so bad. I found a 74ish CB450 for $250, not running. But no where to work on it. I'll have to settle on upgrading the lighting on my Ninja over the winter.