185s Identification

[rally4x4racer]

I just picked up a heap of a 185 out of the junkyard fr 30$ and I am trying to verify what year it is. the motor says 180cm on the cyl and the number plate reads TB01E-2212652, the frame at the neck reads JH3TB0100CC212510
The forks that were on the frame had no suspension, and the frame looks pretty close to the fiche of the 82 185s

anyone know how to decipher these identification numbers?

thx - r4r

[oldskool83]

if it got front shocks its 1983+ if not its 1980-82. post a pic.

[TtownJoeShow]

the 10th digit indicates 83

[thedeatons]

Pictures would help... The solid front forks indicate early model (80-82)... I am not good at deciphering the VINs..... Can you tell us about the headlight and headlight switch? If it is a round headlight, then it is a 1980 185 (non-s), if it is a square headlight witht he switch on the shell, then 1981 185S, if it is square headlight with the switch on the handlebars then it is 82-83... I believe 1983 was the last year. In any case let me know which year you have, as I may have some parts for it. There is a chance that it was pieced together with parts from other models as the originals wore out... Good luck!

[mohawk]

as he said: the 10th digit indicates 83

fool proof, and to the point. myself, and probably ttown, can give you the year of pretty much any model of the big 4 from 1980 to present by the tenth digit.
i have them in memory :)

[mohawk]

and ps dont let the solid forks fool ya. its correct that 83 was the first year, but alot of these were switched over because the atc suspension models had a bad habit of rotting out. or it may have hit a tree at one point, and the owner threw a solid front end on it for simplicity or because it was all he could find.


all good info posted above, nice work guys

[rally4x4racer]

- no pictures yet - no headlight came with it...
I appreciate the info on the frame digits. I am unsure if I want to build it - or jus keep the good parts for future projects at this point. It would cost a hell of a lot to get it going - and its not exactly what I had in mind for the next project.
I want to build something with a litle bit of power but I am on a "husbands" budget. Plus, I want to ride something with suspension.....

so - its kind of up in the air
r4r