Suzuki TS 185
 

Anybody know much about the suzuki TS 185? I am thinking of buying one right now, it`s a 2007 model, seems to be in pretty good condition. Just some rust on the exhuast etc....but other than rust and tire wear it looks alright. They are asking around $1,600 usd, I`m here in mexico right now. Looking for a bike to travel long distance on. The only thing I am not sure of is would this bike be easy and somewhat cheap to find parts-repairs (in central-south america)? As this is the first TS 185 I have seen in all of mèxico. It has 15,000 km right now by the way. Also it`s a 2 stroke, which mean it will consume much more fuel right? And be more maintenence?

I don't recall seeing a single TS185 anywhere on my trip Latin America trip. The only common 2 strokes I saw were the AX100 / other 100cc 2 strokes being used as city bikes.

Unless you are a diehard 2-stroke afficianado, they are definitely not a good choice for long distance touring. They've got their strong points (simplicity, low weight), but the increased fuel consumption, decreased engine longevity, and cost/necessity to source both fuel and 2 stroke oil on a daily basis make them bad choices for long distance travel. For touring or reliable commuting you would almost certainly be better off with one of the cheaper 125cc 4 stroke Japanese bikes that are everywhere in Mexico/CA/SA.

Not to say it can't be tried with enough determination:
http://dantpeters.com/going_down/