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Offline bma300

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ts125
« on: December 15, 2006, 05:13:47 PM »
I picked up a 74 ts125 over the summer for my nephew for cheap.  Well winter is here and I have been starting to tear into it, although I have my own cb650 to finish.  Dont have the money to keep on the 650 so I figurd a very low budget resto-my own style.  Just wondering if anyone has any comments on the ts125.  Its hard to find information on these.
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Offline RatBikeRandy

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Re: ts125
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2006, 05:46:31 PM »
Not exactly the same, but I was given a '73 TS185 a few years ago and it has been a great bike.  I call it a RatBike because the parts bike that came with it was a Honda XL 125.  Tank, fenders and handlebars came from it and the headlight from a '48 Ford 8N Tractor.  Actually runs well and I have put new brakes and rear tire on it.
Good Luck.
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Offline nickjtc

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Re: ts125
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2006, 07:40:07 PM »
I had a TS125 from new, in England. A great little bike which was very  capable (well, as capable as a 125 can be) on the road and OK for gravel road or light off-road duties. I used it to commute in to London once a week. Happy memories....
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Offline RRRToolSolutions

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Re: ts125
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2006, 03:28:15 AM »
I have a 1972 TC125 with the dual range 4 speed. Yours will have the 5 speed standard tranmission. EBay is full of manuals and parts for these. Just in a few weeks I was able to buy NOS cables, lights, fenders, wiring harness, grips, tools, pegs, and emblems. Reproduction Decals up in Canada made the factory tank decals to original specs. These were all purchased at reasonable prices. You'll find it's a whole lot easier to work on than the CB650. I've ridden it and it's perfect for new riders and wives who want to try learning.

Mine is in storage waiting it's turn at restoration. The 1st order of business is to strip it, powdercoat the black parts, chrome the shiney pieces, replace the rubber ones, lace new spokes to new rims, add period tires, disassemble/reassemble the engine and transmission with new seals, gaskets, hone the bore and replace the rings, hand the paint over to someone who paints, then play jigsaw putting it all back together.
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: ts125
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2006, 06:53:11 AM »


                   Totally agree with comments on the TS,TC125 & 185. They are decent bikes and easy to
         work on. They are a blast to ride and easy to maintain. I haven't checked yet but, You might find 
         a parts manual on crotchrocket.com and then you can see how simple of a bike it is. I
         had a couple of the TS125s and a TS185 basket cases until I put 1 of the 125s together and
         traded it for an early 60's Jawa 250. Also, at one time, I had a 72' Yamaha LS2 100cc Street Twin           
         that I traded for a 72' TS125 and I ran the wheels off of that one (not actually) and had a real
         blast with it. Like it was mentioned, hit ebay for parts. Also, I don't remember his info but, Paul
         Miller Suzuki (somewhere up North) might have some parts that you can't get anywhere else.

                                                                   LOL  Bill :) ;)
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Offline crazypj

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Re: ts125
« Reply #5 on: December 16, 2006, 09:49:15 AM »
It was around for years in one guise or another. Some of the early (air cooled) RM 125 motocross parts fit right in. Only real problems I remember are seizures due to no oil in tank ( or pump not bled) and clutch basket dampers wearing out so its loose on the gear. Oh, and the exhaustr system rots out at front
PJ
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Offline bma300

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Re: ts125
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2006, 08:26:41 AM »
Thanks for the comments guys.  Ilbikes, have you found a place that sells complete gasket sets.  Also does anyone know if the tc model magneto/clutch engaging cover(dont know what it is really called) will work on a ts model, mines missing.
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Offline heffay

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Re: ts125
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2006, 09:19:06 AM »
oooohhhh!  nice!

a tc125 (nearly the same bike) was my first bike that i learned to ride on... it was a 72.  it sat in my step-grandfathers barn for 15 years and the last license plate it had on it was April 76 (the month and year i was born :))

dad and i worked on it and got it running pretty well.  it never ran full steam as it did new but, all we did was clean the carbs and change plugs, etc.  for a bike that sat for so long and had the bare minimum tune up it ran pretty well.  with that dual range tranny it would climb nearly any hill!

i still have the clymer manual for it but unfortunately i don't have the bike...  >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
when i moved to phoenix to go to MMI i immediately locked it to a pole.  it was stolen w/in a week.  dad has not let me live it down to this day.

congrats on the purchase... if there was one bike i'd rather have than all the others that i've had it would be this one... maybe because of it's sentimental value but, it does say something for a 35 year old trail bike.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2006, 09:24:01 AM by heffay »
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Offline RRRToolSolutions

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Re: ts125
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2006, 01:26:59 PM »
Heffay, where are you located? I haven't started this one yet and I'd be glad to let someone take it that wil do something with it. I've got $100 in it and another 200-300 in NOS parts. I don't need one, but if it stays here - it will be restored and I'll be poorer than I am now.

PM or maiil me.

BMA, I don't like aftermarket gaskets - period. I use factory when available. These and their seals were all still available from Suzuki.

Regards,
Gordon
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