I was talking to a fellow at our weekly bike night this past Wednesday. He was saying that his father bought and rode a 1985 Savage and it was registered as such. I didn't think they started making them until 1986. I called Suzuki Canada and they show they distributed 2 1985 Savages in Canada in '85. The following year in 1986, distribution jumped to 1186, 139 in 1987, 140 in 1988 and then only 36 in 1989.

So are there some '85's floating around out there?

TS 250 in the 60's and 70's.
An 85 would have to have been a bike made in 6-85 or later and the dmv had a small glitch and labelled them 85's.
For example, Valkyrie was introduced by honda on may 25th 1996 if memory serves ... and It was supposed to be a 97 model. It could have created a glitch in an unprepared country and ended up as a 96 model.
Ford introduced their new F150 in february of 96 as a 97 model. I know, I own one. Similar confusion could have happened on it too.
The key is to determine what number/letter is in the 10th position and see if it threw off what system in what DMV to create that glitch.
Cool.
Srinath.

i seem to remember them advertising in late 85... pre-official release dealer models used to be a marketting tool.... or like the 70 1/2 camaro- firebird, maybe they just released it mid-model year..... you can buy a 70 camaro in 2 different body styles....

the dmv is the dmv and it is beyond them to comprehend mid year changes.  They don't care, a 1963 vw van is taxed the same amount regardless when the mfgr sold it.  They don't care if there's 3 different release variants or not.