What to buy and how much to pay
First off decide what look you want; early glitz, mid-model smooth or final iteration functionality. There is no right or wrong choice and market availability may very well determine which you go for. It’s worth noting that the very similarly styled TC100 Blazer often gets misnamed as the TS100. If the bike runs a large T-shaped handle on the left hand engine case it’s a TC not a TS. Project examples all together with nothing serious missing start at around a grand; if you find one for less buy it! For that money you might get lucky and find the motor is sound but figure on a top-end rebuild at least. Trail bikes as basket cases or in boxes are genuinely best avoided unless as a parts donor to a bike you already own. Stuff will be missing or totally worn out. If you’re after a bike to show and/or simply admire then without question go for a 1973-75 model: few trail bikes look prettier and it will always be a talking point wherever you park it up. These early machines are more sought-after and £2500-£3000 is not unreasonable asking money. Perhaps the interim 1976/77 models are the dark horses; still with the older exhaust system they retain a certain restrained charm and if we could grab one for £1750 we’d be very happy bunnies. Figure on similar money for the later C and on models. Our choice? We’d be looking for a TS100M in Laredo Red with some patina about it; a damn good clean, some PJ1 on the exhaust system and we’d reckon it’d be £2500 well spent.