Suzuki TS 185 mileage?

[Matariki]

Finally after two years of not riding due to a mobility van failing to give way and colliding into me (destroying my last motorcycle and a portion of my left leg), I'm back on the road again.

And I've been practising my off road riding (which I'm not very good at - if anyone is around Greytown and is willing to show me the ropes I would be keen) and on road riding, I've noticed a few things with my TS 185. For starters its only capable of doing 48km (30 miles) before it needs a refill, the other thing too is that I've noticed smoke when I start up the bike (not like a dirty smoke or anything, but allot of smoke) and when I change gears. This is the first two stroke I've owned, so I don't know whether this is normal or not. My Suzuki TS has a 7.40 litre tank and a 2.50 litre reserve tank.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Used to get 180 km's per tank out of mine. ( Commuting ) Is there a leak in the tank, or fuel lines ?

[FJRider]

Finally after two years of not riding due to a mobility van failing to give way and colliding into me (destroying my last motorcycle and a portion of my left leg), I'm back on the road again.

And I've been practising my off road riding (which I'm not very good at - if anyone is around Greytown and is willing to show me the ropes I would be keen) and on road riding, I've noticed a few things with my TS 185. For starters its only capable of doing 48km (30 miles) before it needs a refill, the other thing too is that I've noticed smoke when I start up the bike (not like a dirty smoke or anything, but allot of smoke) and when I change gears. This is the first two stroke I've owned, so I don't know whether this is normal or not. My Suzuki TS has a 7.40 litre tank and a 2.50 litre reserve tank.

I'm glad you're still interested in motorcycling then, good on you.

If the 48 km's was done off road ... and in the lower gears. This is sort of expected. (high revs but low speeds chews petrol). I assume you know how to use reserve .. ?? (a few don't)

Smoke from the exhaust on a two-stroke is normal. Smoke is good unless it fouls the plug. You make no mention of rough running of the engine ... so I assume all is good there.

When you change gear ... it will give a burst of smoke as you give it throttle.

[Ocean1]

Yeah, you should be getting far better fuel cosumption figures. Do you turn the fuel off at the tank when you park it? If not can you see if there's damp patch under the bike, or a drip hanging off one of the wee drain tubes under the bike? If so it's not a big deal, just a bit of carb maintenance. If not then it's likely you need to get someone to check the carb out more thoroughly, it's drinking far too much.

Little smoke is normal, especially when just started.

[Matariki]

I'm glad you're still interested in motorcycling then, good on you.

If the 48 km's was done off road ... and in the lower gears. This is sort of expected. (high revs but low speeds chews petrol). I assume you know how to use reserve .. ?? (a few don't)

Smoke from the exhaust on a two-stroke is normal. Smoke is good unless it fouls the plug. You make no mention of rough running of the engine ... so I assume all is good there.

When you change gear ... it will give a burst of smoke as you give it throttle.

Oh ok, that makes sense. Yes, as I confessed, I'm not very good at riding off road yet, so I have the tendency to ride on lower gear settings (first and second gear). I know how to change the TS over to the reserve tank, I'm often relying on it to get me home. At the moment I'm practicing riding off road at the local river. Although I don't think my tyres are cut out for it (I have 80 on road and 20 off road tyres). That's the other thing too, If I want to start riding on sand (soft) but still be able to ride on the road as well, what sort of tyres would I be looking at?

[Matariki]

Yeah, you should be getting far better fuel cosumption figures. Do you turn the fuel off at the tank when you park it? If not can you see if there's damp patch under the bike, or a drip hanging off one of the wee drain tubes under the bike? If so it's not a big deal, just a bit of carb maintenance. If not then it's likely you need to get someone to check the carb out more thoroughly, it's drinking far too much.

Little smoke is normal, especially when just started.

Hmm... I did suspect it was the carb, although I don't have the experience or the confidence (yet alone the money if I screw it up) to look at it (nor does anyone else in the family). I am getting a WOF done on the TS soon, so I plan to take it down to the local mechanics anyway's. I don't know what sort of price range I would be looking at though for a mechanic to check, and clean it.

[FJRider]

If I want to start riding on sand (soft) but still be able to ride on the road as well, what sort of tyres would I be looking at?

Probably the better tyre for you would be a Trials pattern tyre. (Google them) most motorcycle wreckers may have second-hand tyres that would suit your needs. (worth a try to start with)

[ktm84mxc]

I've had my share of TS's over the years, 125-50k's outta a tank is the norm for commuting, highway use will use more fuel as it's up around 6000 rpm. Check there's no fuel over flowing through the carb easy to spot turn the fuel on leave it for 5 min if a puddle under bike there's a prob.
When was the air filter last cleaned? off road will get it dirty very quickly. Drill a 1/2 inch hole up the muffler to let it breath a bit better and perform.
Tires a trails/block pattern will be ok, a farm bike pattern also. Kiwi X are cheap and a suitable combo for the TS, just get rim locks fitted for off road riding so you can lower the tire pressures to 14-16 psi.

[Ocean1]

Hmm... I did suspect it was the carb, although I don't have the experience or the confidence (yet alone the money if I screw it up) to look at it (nor does anyone else in the family). I am getting a WOF done on the TS soon, so I plan to take it down to the local mechanics anyway's. I don't know what sort of price range I would be looking at though for a mechanic to check, and clean it.

It's no more than 1/2 an hour to clean and check the carb, another 1/2 an hour to set it up properly, might need parts but they shouldn't be much. It's always good to ask the mechanic what's likely, and to call you before spending much more than that.

Good point about the air filter too, dirty filter can make a huge difference.

[Matariki]

It's no more than 1/2 an hour to clean and check the carb, another 1/2 an hour to set it up properly, might need parts but they shouldn't be much. It's always good to ask the mechanic what's likely, and to call you before spending much more than that.

Good point about the air filter too, dirty filter can make a huge difference.

I can deal with the air filter. I'll go have a look at it.

[Matariki]

Hmm... the air filter is a bit past its use by date. I had a look at the housing and I noticed that some of the foam looked liked it had been stripped/worn and falling apart.

[Ocean1]

Hmm... the air filter is a bit past its use by date. I had a look at the housing and I noticed that some of the foam looked liked it had been stripped/worn and falling apart.

Can't fix it, need a new one before you ride too far,eh? Have to oil it before you fit it too.

[Matariki]

Can't fix it, need a new one before you ride too far,eh? Have to oil it before you fit it too.

Oil the air filter? Or put new oil in the TS?

[FJRider]

Oil the air filter? Or put new oil in the TS?

Air filter foam requires a thin coating of light oil. (basically pour some on the foam/then wring it out) It helps trap dust/dirt. Most types of paper filters do not require oil on them. Talk with your mechanic what he recommends.

[Ocean1]

Oil the air filter? Or put new oil in the TS?

Oil the filter. Stick it into an old icecream container and pour about 1/2 a cupfull of engine oil over it. Scrunch it up and get it to soak up the oil, then squeze it out as much as you can by hand. Then fit it.

The dust particles get stuck to the oil, see, on the way through the foam. You should clean the filter in a little petrol every half dozen dirt rides, or maybe every six months road work. You can buy special filter oil but if you have any standard engine oil that'll be fine.

Sounds like the tyres on the bike might be the originals, yes? In which case they're not a bad compromise. Anything more agressive for off road use is going to be a bit tricky on the road for a beginer. You're better off learning where the traction limits are off road than on it. What you can do is drop the tyre pressures to about 16 front, 14 rear, and take it a bit easy on the road like that. It'll give you a little more grip in the sandy stuff.

Don't let anyone tell you they didn't fall off heaps when they learned to ride in the dirt. Just take it easy eh? little bit at a time.