Suzuki TU250 - anyone seen/ride one?

[NJ-Brett]

I don't know as I never take anything anyplace for service or repair.
Must be a good job if you can get it...

$250.00 would buy 2 sets of tires, and leave $50.00 for gas or beer.

If you did the work yourself, the cost would be about $9.00.
Thats 2 quarts of oil and a filter.

And most shops would charge you the $250.00 and not do anything but look the bike over and change the oil.

Originally Posted by malice666

I just called my dealer and found they want to charge me 250 plus parts for the first service. Am I wrong or is this too high? I asked what it included and he said oil filter, oil, check spokes, check tires, chain tension, wheels throttle play, go over bolts , check some other assorted stuff. I asked him if they checked the valves as well for that cost and said they didn't know it would depend on the mechanic but probably wasn't needed.

I don't know it seems a bit much for a service charge but I could be wrong.

[malice666]

Thats the fee I was given over the phone, I can change the oil myself and check bolts and stuff. Am I hurting the warranty if I dont get it dealer serviced?

[malice666]

Is this the correct oil filter?
http://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-Filter-.../dp/B004FSNFSM

[rivercreep]

Originally Posted by malice666

Is this the correct oil filter?
http://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-Filter-.../dp/B004FSNFSM

No!

I'd suggest getting parts from Bikebandit. They have always been great to me and the parts fiche for Bikes is a great tool for parts and a general idea of how things fit together if you don't have a service manual.

P.S. Fill out your profile.
If you're anywhere near me, I'd show you how to do the job yourself to save $. (good Beer and conversation is all I'd charge)(after the jobs done)

http://www.bikebandit.com/2011-suzuk...2591#sch700254

[malice666]

Thanks for the tip, and profile filled out.

[Gastank]

No. It looks like this and should cost about 6 bucks either online or from a dealer. The filter is #14 on the schematic.
http://www.bikebandit.com/2011-suzuk...2591#sch700254

As far as the service, the owner's manual tells you exactly what to do and doing it yourself puts you more in tune with your bike. It's zen.

Originally Posted by malice666

Is this the correct oil filter?
http://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-Filter-.../dp/B004FSNFSM

[rivercreep]

Originally Posted by malice666

Thanks for the tip, and profile filled out.

Too far for a S.E. Pa. Boy.....

I'd spend the money on a service manual if you're any good with and have a decent set of hand tools.

Best trick is to loosen the slotted plug (part # 23) right after a long ride when the bike is hot.
http://www.bikebandit.com/2011-suzuk...2591#sch700260

Also, the bike does need to be completely cold to do the valves.
Many on this thread have shared tips/tricks.

[NJ-Brett]

I often get oil filters at the local dealer, they are about $6.00 there and I buy 3 at a time.

Doing the work yourself does not impact the warranty, but its not like you would ever use it anyway.

I find the shop manual not much use. The TU is a very simple bike, and the only thing I ever used the shop manual for was the head bolt torque.
I had my motor mostly apart and the only thing I needed was the head bolt info, and even that I did not really need.

I just wanted to see what the motor was like inside, so I had the side covers off, the head, cylinder and piston out.
Its a VERY well made motor.

[malice666]

I'm technically inclined and do my own handiwork around the house so I assume I could do most of the maintenance myself. I changed out the sprocket and that seemed to go well. The only thing I am not good at would be things like the spokes, how do they check them anyways and the chain. Although i suppose its all about the right tools and the time to work it out. Oh yeah and youtube for tutorials.

[NJ-Brett]

Just tap the spokes and listen.
A loose one will sound dull while tight ones sing, and I do not think you will have to adjust any, they do not seem to loosen up.

Lube moving parts, brake pedal pivot, lever pivots and cable attachment points at the clutch lever, sidestand pivot, adjust clutch cable play, the chain should have some play in it with the shocks set soft and you sitting on the back of the bike, oil and filter change, air filter cleaning (once a year seems to be fine for mine), going over all nuts and bolts for tightness, valve adjustment.
At about 6000 miles, look at the front brake pads, the back brakes should be good for 30,000 miles or more.
At close to 10,000 miles, my back brakes look new.
Check tire pressures once a week.

And really, I think you can just change the oil and check the valves and be fine for 10,000 miles.
The chain seems to not need much adjustment, and even my non O ring chain has been on for about 1000 miles and has not needed any adjustment. Too loose is better then too tight.

Originally Posted by malice666

I'm technically inclined and do my own handiwork around the house so I assume I could do most of the maintenance myself. I changed out the sprocket and that seemed to go well. The only thing I am not good at would be things like the spokes, how do they check them anyways and the chain. Although i suppose its all about the right tools and the time to work it out. Oh yeah and youtube for tutorials.

[malice666]

What kind of lube do you recommend and are the tools that come with the bike enough to do basic maintenance? What other tools should I purchase?

Tools I have:
Crescent wrenches
Vice Grips
Socket Set with metric sockets
Allen keys in metric and imperial
Screw Dirvers

[janeuner]

Originally Posted by malice666

What kind of lube do you recommend and are the tools that come with the bike enough to do basic maintenance? What other tools should I purchase?

Tools I have:
Crescent wrenches
Vice Grips
Socket Set with metric sockets
Allen keys in metric and imperial
Screw Dirvers

You also need a feeler gauge. If you have to actually adjust the valves, there isn't a lot of room to work. A set of metric combination wrenches will get you a lot further than any crescent wrench. Also, something like this is helpful too.

For lube, just grab a tub-o-grease from the auto parts store. Costs about 4 bucks. Lasts forever.

[BCinMD]

Hey TU250 gurus...

Not new here, but *maybe* new to the TU250. I have a line on a used 2011 with 1700 miles that I am thinking of picking up from a local dealer. I took it for a test ride earlier today and it was a blast to ride! At 5'8" with a 30" inseam, I fit perfectly on this bike.

The dealer has it listed for $3500, and I want to get some feedback on what I should offer.

I'll be trading in a 2009 Kymco scooter (an Xciting 250iR) that I got as a new leftover for a steal back in 2010. The scooter was fun, but it's also big and heavy for a 250.

I just want to get back to a lightweight, 'regular' motorcycle and have been interested in the TU250 since it came out. It's closer to my first bike - a 96 Nighthawk 750 - in terms of style and ergos, and I'll be honest, I miss shifting.

Anything else I should know about the TU before I make a purchase decision - please share. Thanks!

[NJ-Brett]

The price is high, but it is at a dealer.
Used ones are going for around $3000.00 in private sale, but the dealer must make money.
As you will find out with the scooter, they will offer you 1/2 of what its worth, then sell it for 50% more then a private sale would go for.

The TU IS a lot of fun for not much money, it only needs a sprocket change to be fantastic.

You would be better off selling the scooter on craigslist and looking for a used TU there, and besides tires and front brakes, the TU does not really wear out.
They don't even run their best till about 6 or 7 thousand miles on them...
Maybe offer $3250.00, or look for a fast red 2009 TU for around $2900.00.....

[artemedes]

Originally Posted by BCinMD

Hey TU250 gurus...

Not new here, but *maybe* new to the TU250. I have a line on a used 2011 with 1700 miles that I am thinking of picking up from a local dealer. I took it for a test ride earlier today and it was a blast to ride! At 5'8" with a 30" inseam, I fit perfectly on this bike.

The dealer has it listed for $3500, and I want to get some feedback on what I should offer.

Anything else I should know about the TU before I make a purchase decision - please share. Thanks!

I would think that price is at least $500 too high. If Suzuki is still offering 0% you would probably be better off buying a brand new one. I don't own a TU anymore. I made the mistake of trading it on a bigger bike. The bigger bike wasn't a mistake, but thinking I should only be a one bike owner was. I sorely miss the TU for local riding. I traded my TU in at 1824 miles in perfect shape. It was also the more sought after 2009 red. I only got 2400 trade in. If that dealer did something similar and you can buy it for say $3000, they will probably make more off that used bike than the profit off a new one. Definitely try to get them to come down on that price.

I was in my local suzuki dealer back in March and they had a 2012 grey marked 3999 with 0%. I didn't buy it cause I was picking up my DR650, but looking at sure made me wish I had kept the TU.