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Suzuki TU 250X

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Make Model

Suzuki TU 250X

Year

2011 - 13

Engine

Four stroke, single cylinder, SOHC, 4 valves

Capacity

249 cc / 15.2 cu-in
Bore x Stroke 72 x 61.2 mm
Cooling System Air/oil-cooled
Lubrication System Wet sump
Compression Ratio 9.2:1

Induction

EFI

Ignition

Electronic ignition (fully transistorized)  
Starting Electric

Max Power

15 kW / 20 hp @ 8000 rpm

Max Torque

21 Nm / 2.1 kgf-m / 15.5 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm

Transmission 

5 Speed
Final Drive Chain, DID520V, 108 links

Frame

Diamond shaped, steel tube

Front Suspension

Telescopic, hydraulic dampers, coil springs

Rear Suspension

Swinging arm, hydraulic dampers, coil springs

Front Brakes

Single disc

Rear Brakes

Drum

Front Tyre

90/90-18

Rear Tyre

110/90-18
Dimensions Length 2070 mm / 81.5 in
Width     750 mm / 29.5 in
Height:  1075 mm / 42.3 in
Wheelbase 1375 mm / 54.1 in
Seat Height 770 mm / 30.3 in
Ground Clearance 165 mm / 6.5 in

Wet Weight

149 kg / 326 lbs

Fuel Capacity 

12 Litres / 3.2 US gal / 2.6 Imp gal

Top Speed (est.)

120 km/h / 75 mph

Review

Cycle World

Vintage Triumphs and the ilk are all the rage these days, and if you’re looking to recreate that look with a dependable and halfway affordable “modern” motorcycle (smart move), the Suzuki TU250X is just about the only game in town, provided your town isn’t in California, for emissions reasons, apparently. The beauty of the TU is that it’s as simple to ride as it is to look at. Hit the starter and off you go; it even has vintage throttle response (a slight stumble off the bottom followed by a lot of muffled noise and adequate-for-a-250 acceleration), and the shifter sorts through the five-speed gearbox like a veteran DMV worker; slow and inexact but steady.

Meanwhile, the red needle on the speedo climbs around the dial like the depth meter in a WWII submarine movie, leveling out finally at a slightly optimistic 76 mph—fast enough for around town and for short freeway runs. Even tapped out, it’s not too buzzy, and flog though we might, we never managed to get less than 62 mpg from the fuel-injected two-valver.

Since the TU weighs just 326 pounds with a full load of 3.2 gallons of fuel, and since the comfy seat’s barely 30 inches high, it begs to be spanked around town like the cute little tart it is—twin shocks, right-side-up fork, disc/drum brakes and tube-filled skinny tires doing their damnedest to keep you between the ditches and SUVs while you twist the throttle obsessive-compulsively to stay one step ahead of the pack. Little bikes are big fun.

As a matter of fact, the only major thing we can find wrong with the TU is this: For the exact same $3999, you can now get a brand-new Honda CBR250R, which is to the TU what a Bombay Sapphire martini is to a warm juice box. All depends on what you like.