Suzuki TU250 - anyone seen/ride one? - Page 7

fish3006 · 07-27-2009, 02:59 PM

that is a sharp little bike. would love to see how it looks with that rear seat replaced by a scrambler-type, scaled-to-fit rack ...

Klay · 07-27-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metallic Waste

OK, after much searching for a bike to replace the Ninja 250, we now have one of these in the stable. We left Minneapolis Friday morning, bound for Watertown, SD. By late afternoon, Susan had a brand new bike.

We rode it home yesterday, taking it easy and just dawdling along the county roads. We switched off and she got her first chance to ride a motorcycle on the open road. She's had a scooter for three years now, and rarely rode the Ninjette.

You can't tell with the helmet on, but there's a HUGE grin under there!

More pics and a ride report to follow.
-K

Congratualtions! I can't get over that bike. Perfect choice.

Sune · 07-27-2009, 03:20 PM

I completed my license test on the Suzuki GN250, which shared it's engine with the old TU250, and probably this new version as well. I liked the bike, and wouldn't mind owning one of these new TU250's. Unfortunately they aren't available here.

EdM · 07-27-2009, 05:16 PM

jwrover:

Very nice job with the saddlebags. Can you give a few more details? Did you use the mounting brackets sold by the firm handling the bags or some other type? Do they (the brackets) seem strong enough or are you concerned with them due to the vibration of the thumper engine?

Thank you.

Ned

Metallic Waste · 07-27-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klay

Congratualtions! I can't get over that bike. Perfect choice.

Thanks! It is the perfect bike for her.

I got this email today:

You cannot ride my bike. You cannot ride it in a rally
or in the rain or on a train, not on a boat or with a
goat, not in a box or with a fox, not in a house or with
a mouse.

Apparently she knows me too well and is sticking to her guns!

-K

Klay · 07-27-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metallic Waste

Thanks! It is the perfect bike for her.

I got this email today:

You cannot ride my bike. You cannot ride it in a rally
or in the rain or on a train, not on a boat or with a
goat, not in a box or with a fox, not in a house or with
a mouse.

Apparently she knows me too well and is sticking to her guns!

-K

fish3006 · 07-28-2009, 05:07 AM

THAT is funny. Your bride is worth more than any bike!

Barnone · 07-28-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannda

Nice.

Very nice. Mounting details and turn signal relocation please.

Hannda · 07-28-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metallic Waste

Seems to fit her perfectly as well.

pookiebear · 07-28-2009, 08:59 AM

neighbor got one. Seen him buzzing around here sunday. Was running good.

WrenNH · 07-29-2009, 04:46 AM

I'd like to second that request for mounting details on the hard cases. They look great. Which model hard case is that? Where'd the turn signals go? Which mounting hardware?

On another note, I'm also getting 81 mpg with 89 octane fuel on back / secondary roads.

tom

manfromthestix · 08-04-2009, 08:46 AM

We finally found a bike that my sweetie fits AND loves! She's a n00b, but loves riding pillion on my 1150GS and wanted to "ride her own ride". She just finished her MSF course last weekend, but we have an XT225 that she's played around with. She's under 5'2" so wasn't comfy with the height. We had looked at the Honda Rebel and similar offerings from Suzuki and others, but they weren't right. She didn't want a cruiser style, but preferred a more "retro" look. She's not ready for the open road, so something small to learn on but still a competent road bike was the focus.

We found the Suzuki TU250X to be a perfect fit. It's a very nicely done naked retro style bike with a fuel-injected 250 single with a 5-speed. I took it for a hard ride around town and out onto the expressway before we bought it and found it to be very competent, handles nicely, has disc/drum brakes that are predictable and not at all twitchy even under a crash stop. It has a very nice clutch action and the gearbox is forgiving when shifting. The fuel injected engine starts effortlessly (unlike the cold-blooded XT225, sigh....) and throttle response is very smooth and progressive rather than snappy like the XT.

Hannda said - Bar snake and bar end weights would, probalby, fix that problem. Ours came with bar end weights....

We went for a spin around the block and our neighbor caught up to us on his latest true retro bike, a 1936 Indian Scout. He loved the little Suzuki's looks and features. Peter knows his bikes (he restores classics for a living) and was impressed with the little thumper. He immediately suggested pulling off the pillion seat and putting a rack on there as mentioned above (the rear fender is finished and painted all the way over the rear tire). He also said "Get rid of those damned stickers on the side covers! That'll really get people going when they try to figure out what it is!!" Done.

If any of you have a family member that is looking for a smaller bike I can highly recommend this bike for fit, comfort, looks and function. Sweet ride!

That Indian is looking pretty sweet, huh?

+2 on links to aftermarket accessories such as saddlebags and racks! If I find any I'll post them here. Apparently the bike has been available in Europe and Asia for several years so there have got to be suppliers out there ready to sell us farkles!

Doug

Barnone · 08-04-2009, 05:46 PM

manfrothestix,
Nice story and photos. Great looking Indian.
Comparing the size of the TU and the Scout is interesting. The Indian would be considered a mid sized bike today but back in the day it was a monster. How does the performance compare between the two bikes.
My 1967 BSA 650 was probably not much larger than the TU.
Thanks,

zipizap · 09-17-2009, 11:07 PM

Just bought a TU250, it's waiting for me to pick it up tomorrow. I think it was the only one for sale in Oregon.

I love those hard side cases... PuhLEEZ tell us where you found them!

I ordered a GIVI A 603 windscreen but don't know if it will work... I'll post pics if it looks good.

tri boy · 09-18-2009, 01:19 AM

They're an excellent learners adv bike with a few mods.
This is my partners first gravel bike. Karen still misses it.

07-29-2009, 04:46 AM	#101
WrenNH Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Oddometer: 61	I'd like to second that request for mounting details on the hard cases. They look great. Which model hard case is that? Where'd the turn signals go? Which mounting hardware? On another note, I'm also getting 81 mpg with 89 octane fuel on back / secondary roads. tom WrenNH screwed with this post 07-29-2009 at 05:17 AM

08-04-2009, 08:46 AM	#102
manfromthestix Lost in Space Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Lexington, Virginia Oddometer: 1,818	+1 for the TU250X We finally found a bike that my sweetie fits AND loves! She's a n00b, but loves riding pillion on my 1150GS and wanted to "ride her own ride". She just finished her MSF course last weekend, but we have an XT225 that she's played around with. She's under 5'2" so wasn't comfy with the height. We had looked at the Honda Rebel and similar offerings from Suzuki and others, but they weren't right. She didn't want a cruiser style, but preferred a more "retro" look. She's not ready for the open road, so something small to learn on but still a competent road bike was the focus. We found the Suzuki TU250X to be a perfect fit. It's a very nicely done naked retro style bike with a fuel-injected 250 single with a 5-speed. I took it for a hard ride around town and out onto the expressway before we bought it and found it to be very competent, handles nicely, has disc/drum brakes that are predictable and not at all twitchy even under a crash stop. It has a very nice clutch action and the gearbox is forgiving when shifting. The fuel injected engine starts effortlessly (unlike the cold-blooded XT225, sigh....) and throttle response is very smooth and progressive rather than snappy like the XT. Hannda said - Bar snake and bar end weights would, probalby, fix that problem. Ours came with bar end weights.... We went for a spin around the block and our neighbor caught up to us on his latest true retro bike, a 1936 Indian Scout. He loved the little Suzuki's looks and features. Peter knows his bikes (he restores classics for a living) and was impressed with the little thumper. He immediately suggested pulling off the pillion seat and putting a rack on there as mentioned above (the rear fender is finished and painted all the way over the rear tire). He also said "Get rid of those damned stickers on the side covers! That'll really get people going when they try to figure out what it is!!" Done. If any of you have a family member that is looking for a smaller bike I can highly recommend this bike for fit, comfort, looks and function. Sweet ride! That Indian is looking pretty sweet, huh? +2 on links to aftermarket accessories such as saddlebags and racks! If I find any I'll post them here. Apparently the bike has been available in Europe and Asia for several years so there have got to be suppliers out there ready to sell us farkles! Doug __________________ "If it doesn't blow smoke and make noise, it isn't a sport!" - radio ad for shop in Bozeman, MT manfromthestix screwed with this post 08-04-2009 at 08:54 AM

08-04-2009, 05:46 PM	#103
Barnone Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: WNC SWFL Oddometer: 2,393	manfrothestix, Nice story and photos. Great looking Indian. Comparing the size of the TU and the Scout is interesting. The Indian would be considered a mid sized bike today but back in the day it was a monster. How does the performance compare between the two bikes. My 1967 BSA 650 was probably not much larger than the TU. Thanks, __________________ Vince @ SWFL or WNC 2001 Kawasaki W650 2012 Ural Yamal

09-17-2009, 11:07 PM	#104
zipizap Sky High Joined: Sep 2009 Location: On my way to Silver City Oddometer: 3	Just bought mine Just bought a TU250, it's waiting for me to pick it up tomorrow. I think it was the only one for sale in Oregon. I love those hard side cases... PuhLEEZ tell us where you found them! I ordered a GIVI A 603 windscreen but don't know if it will work... I'll post pics if it looks good.

09-18-2009, 01:19 AM	#105
tri boy Studly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2007 Location: No nuke zone Oddometer: 703	They're an excellent learners adv bike with a few mods. This is my partners first gravel bike. Karen still misses it. __________________ Trav'ln great distance....cause i just gotta.

07-27-2009, 02:59 PM	#91
fish3006 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Oddometer: 367	that is a sharp little bike. would love to see how it looks with that rear seat replaced by a scrambler-type, scaled-to-fit rack ...

07-27-2009, 03:20 PM	#93
Sune Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Denmark Oddometer: 320	I completed my license test on the Suzuki GN250, which shared it's engine with the old TU250, and probably this new version as well. I liked the bike, and wouldn't mind owning one of these new TU250's. Unfortunately they aren't available here.

07-27-2009, 05:16 PM	#94
EdM Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Dover, DE Oddometer: 260	jwrover: Very nice job with the saddlebags. Can you give a few more details? Did you use the mounting brackets sold by the firm handling the bags or some other type? Do they (the brackets) seem strong enough or are you concerned with them due to the vibration of the thumper engine? Thank you. Ned

07-28-2009, 05:07 AM	#97
fish3006 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Oddometer: 367	THAT is funny. Your bride is worth more than any bike!

07-28-2009, 08:59 AM	#100
pookiebear Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2006 Location: CharVegas Oddometer: 936	neighbor got one. Seen him buzzing around here sunday. Was running good.

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