Shed Bikes

Scottysix9 · 08-04-2012, 09:12 AM

My buddy for 20 plus years finally told me to come get the bikes. They are a '69 AT1E and a '72 Suzuki TS 400.

I first laid eyes on the pair 20 years ago. I knew the 400 from Dirt Bike Magazine. Rick Sieman wrote about the the TM 400, saying it was one of the few bike that actually scared him with it's light switch powerband and awful handling. I guessed that the TS is a TM with lights.

Anyone that knows the difference between the two, please let me know. I sent Mr. Sieman an email and am awaiting his reply.

I told my buddy Rick that I wanted the 400 that night, the first time I saw it. I gave him $500 about ten years later during a night of heavy drinking. Yeah, I took advantage of him during a moment of weakness, but, what are friends for?

Rick and his sister had a catering business for many years that they finally closed this year. Pueblo, Colorado is a dump and I am surprised that they lasted as long as they did. His sister can't find a job and is losing her home. The bikes had lived in her shed for 14 years.

He called me last week and told me to come get the bikes. The deal with the Yamaha is for me to make it run and sell it, giving his sister the money.

When we pulled the bikes out of the shed last Sunday, I got really excited. I did not take any pictures of the bikes in the shed because I am stupid. They were dusty, had empty boxes piled on them and looked amazing.

Flat tires, bad fork seals and the Yamaha had puked it's injector oil all over the cases at one point. I could see beyond these minor flaws and recognized the flawless bikes before me.

Priapism.

The ride home was spent with one eye on the road and one one the treasures in the back of my truck. Every car that passed me I expected the thumbs up from because they knew the gold in my bed.

No one gave a shit.

An hour of rain and six dollars at the car wash had the bikes showing their potential.

wvboy · 08-04-2012, 09:18 AM

I had a TS 400, great bike

stainlesscycle · 08-04-2012, 10:14 AM

i believe ts has different cdi and head, and probably different porting. should be tamer. probably has longer 1st and 2nd gear.

Pigford · 08-04-2012, 10:56 AM

TS is a way tamer ride than a TM - and for "normal" riding, a much better machine for it

You are one lucky chap ........ soopa-doopa

And shame on all those boring NORMAL folk who didn't wave at the sight of 2 x rare bikes like that

Scottysix9 · 08-04-2012, 10:15 PM

I spent a little time with the pressure washer, degreaser and a brush.

Some metal polish worked well.

Minty fresh breath.

I dig the crazy coil, man.

DesmoDog · 08-04-2012, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottysix9

Every car that passed me I expected the thumbs up from because they knew the gold in my bed.

No one gave a shit.

Coulda been worse.

I had a couple older Ducatis on a trailer once. Driving down the freeway, no one seemed to notice.

...Until a guy on a current(?) Yamaha sportbike (no idea which one) slowed down as he passed, then pulled up next to me... I looked over, he was looking at me so I waved... he proceeded to shake his head no, flip me off, and speed away.

Whatever.

MitchG · 08-04-2012, 10:20 PM

Verrrry good find. Love the 400, very versatile and utilitarian bike with different setups.

Scottysix9 · 08-04-2012, 10:29 PM

The state may allow me to use this plate.

Suzuki.

Yamaha.

eric123 · 08-05-2012, 06:09 PM

You should sell the Yamaha to yourself and give her the money...

woodschip · 08-05-2012, 06:17 PM

Give her at least half of the money

anonny · 08-06-2012, 08:43 AM

Good score

Bugsy · 08-07-2012, 06:35 AM

GREAT SCORE!!!!! Those 400's are great bikes but I wouldn't pass either of them up!!

Scottysix9 · 08-11-2012, 04:30 PM

Still waiting on parts to make it run.

Waiting is the hardest part.

bluedxj · 08-12-2012, 07:46 AM

nice find those cleaned up pretty good.

Center-stand · 08-12-2012, 10:56 AM

If you were going to sell it to yourself, you should have done it before you cleaned it up.

08-04-2012, 09:12 AM	#1
Scottysix9 ^OP Shhh... Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Denver Oddometer: 910	Shed Bikes My buddy for 20 plus years finally told me to come get the bikes. They are a '69 AT1E and a '72 Suzuki TS 400. I first laid eyes on the pair 20 years ago. I knew the 400 from Dirt Bike Magazine. Rick Sieman wrote about the the TM 400, saying it was one of the few bike that actually scared him with it's light switch powerband and awful handling. I guessed that the TS is a TM with lights. Anyone that knows the difference between the two, please let me know. I sent Mr. Sieman an email and am awaiting his reply. I told my buddy Rick that I wanted the 400 that night, the first time I saw it. I gave him $500 about ten years later during a night of heavy drinking. Yeah, I took advantage of him during a moment of weakness, but, what are friends for? Rick and his sister had a catering business for many years that they finally closed this year. Pueblo, Colorado is a dump and I am surprised that they lasted as long as they did. His sister can't find a job and is losing her home. The bikes had lived in her shed for 14 years. He called me last week and told me to come get the bikes. The deal with the Yamaha is for me to make it run and sell it, giving his sister the money. When we pulled the bikes out of the shed last Sunday, I got really excited. I did not take any pictures of the bikes in the shed because I am stupid. They were dusty, had empty boxes piled on them and looked amazing. Flat tires, bad fork seals and the Yamaha had puked it's injector oil all over the cases at one point. I could see beyond these minor flaws and recognized the flawless bikes before me. Priapism. The ride home was spent with one eye on the road and one one the treasures in the back of my truck. Every car that passed me I expected the thumbs up from because they knew the gold in my bed. No one gave a shit. An hour of rain and six dollars at the car wash had the bikes showing their potential. __________________ BMW 650 KDX 220 TS 400 If they can't hear you, they won't know you're there.

08-04-2012, 09:18 AM	#2
wvboy Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Dawg coast Oddometer: 209	I had a TS 400, great bike __________________ “With so many people in America suffering from sleep deprivation, you’d think TV would be better at 3:30 in the morning.”

08-04-2012, 10:14 AM	#3
stainlesscycle Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: morgantown, wv Oddometer: 1,638	i believe ts has different cdi and head, and probably different porting. should be tamer. probably has longer 1st and 2nd gear. __________________ current bikes 07 gasgas xc300-94 duc 900ss-86 morini camel (2)-84 IT200-83 IT175-78 guzzi lm1-77 pursang 250-76 morini 3 1/2 strada-76 frankentaco pursang 200-74 frankentaco pursang 200-74 morini 3 1/2 sport-74 mz ts250/0-74 puch 175 (3)-73 can-am 175tnt-71 guzzi frankeneldo-71 ossa Stiletto-70 frankentaco sherpa s(2)-66 morini corsarino(2)-63 morini corsaro + many more

08-04-2012, 10:15 PM	#5
Scottysix9 ^OP Shhh... Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Denver Oddometer: 910	I spent a little time with the pressure washer, degreaser and a brush. Some metal polish worked well. Minty fresh breath. I dig the crazy coil, man. __________________ BMW 650 KDX 220 TS 400 If they can't hear you, they won't know you're there.

08-04-2012, 10:20 PM	#7
MitchG Iron Collector Joined: Apr 2012 Location: Fort Simpson, NT Oddometer: 229	Verrrry good find. Love the 400, very versatile and utilitarian bike with different setups. __________________ Life is short, don't waste it....now get out there!

08-04-2012, 10:56 AM	#4
Pigford British Joined: Sep 2009 Location: North Dorset, UK Oddometer: 742	TS is a way tamer ride than a TM - and for "normal" riding, a much better machine for it You are one lucky chap ........ soopa-doopa And shame on all those boring NORMAL folk who didn't wave at the sight of 2 x rare bikes like that

08-04-2012, 10:29 PM	#8
Scottysix9 ^OP Shhh... Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Denver Oddometer: 910	The state may allow me to use this plate. Suzuki. Yamaha. __________________ BMW 650 KDX 220 TS 400 If they can't hear you, they won't know you're there.

08-05-2012, 06:09 PM	#9
eric123 Gott Mit Uns Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Idaho Oddometer: 1,433	You should sell the Yamaha to yourself and give her the money...

08-05-2012, 06:17 PM	#10
woodschip Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: In The Briar Patch--Mid-Tenn Oddometer: 41	The Yamaha Money Give her at least half of the money

08-06-2012, 08:43 AM	#11
anonny What could go wrong? Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Beautiful Revelstoke BC Oddometer: 4,957	Good score __________________ Kawasaki H1 build thread 71- 450 Honda CL re & re Just another pathetic sheep following the herd

08-07-2012, 06:35 AM	#12
Bugsy Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: Kansas Oddometer: 39	GREAT SCORE!!!!! Those 400's are great bikes but I wouldn't pass either of them up!!

08-11-2012, 04:30 PM	#13
Scottysix9 ^OP Shhh... Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Denver Oddometer: 910	Still waiting on parts to make it run. Waiting is the hardest part. __________________ BMW 650 KDX 220 TS 400 If they can't hear you, they won't know you're there.

08-12-2012, 07:46 AM	#14
bluedxj Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Location: idaho Oddometer: 27	nice find those cleaned up pretty good.

08-12-2012, 10:56 AM	#15
Center-stand Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2008 Oddometer: 196	If you were going to sell it to yourself, you should have done it before you cleaned it up.

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