Hello,

I am a 59 year old that has ridden motorcycles for years. I had a 1986 Honda TLR200 Reflex and a 1997 Gas Gas Contact 200.

I would like to get into riding very easy trials type riding in the woods around my house, not competing.

Used trials bikes in my area of Northern Indiana are hard to find and I would like to start tinkering around in the woods asap as this COVID-19 stay at home order is driving me nuts. 

There are two within 90 minutes of my home.  One is a 1975 Yamaha TY175 ($1,400) and the other is a 1974 Suzuki RL250 ($1,000).  Both seem to be in the same shape. 

My question is which one do you think would be the better bike for me?  From the specs the Yamaha seems to be 21 lbs. lighter, but the Suzuki is more powerful.  I sold the 1986 Honda TLR200 because it was a 4 stroke and not powerful enough.  I sold the Gas Gas because I didn't want to stand up all the time.

Any input would be extremely helpful. 

Thank you.

Vintage Newbie 

Edited April 27, 20206 yr by Vintage Newbie
Didn't include brand of cycle in title

Back in 1979/80 I had a new 1979 Beamish RL250 and a 1977 TY175. As I recall (and it's obviously ages ago!!) I always preferred the TY175. I just found it much peppier/buzzy (it also had a one piece WES exhaust which maybe helped that) than the Suzuki and seemed to steer better. The RL always felt 'long' to me - maybe slacker steering angle - but I'm no expert on these things. But the RL had plenty of torque, a nice soft motor and plush suspension - pretty forgiving. Both were very reliable and dead easy to work on.

 

TY is the better bike, the RL is lighter in the front end & frames are known to crack around the swingarm plates. Parts for the TY are also easier to get

 

 

The RL appears to have an incorrect tank, not just because of the colour but because the nose of the tank usually has longer front pieces. The one fitted doesn’t appear to fit, going from properly the picture.

Thank you for all the help.