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Suzuki TU 250

Suzuki TU250 Review

Suzuki TU 250Adding to the Marauder 250, Suzuki has returned to a classic design: the single cylinder small displacement universal Japanese motorcycle (UJM). With a low price point, Suzuki’s TU250 aims to be the answer to a double-dip recession, offering motorcyclists a low cost, efficient method of transportation that’s light on fuel, maintenance, and on insurance.
Stop waiting for retro style… and start waiting for a retro style bike, that actually has some power…

The Suzuki TU250 is a small standard motorcycle designed for the first time motorcyclist and brand new to the North American market. Despite the old school design, this little machine isn’t carbureted. It’s single cylinder is fuel injected, so while it may seem like a simple enough machine to work on at first glance, no carbs to fiddle with may or may not be a good thing for the budding motorcyclist.

Maintenance costs should be relatively low and with its light weight we’d expect the TU250 to be popular in motorcycle riding schools. The downside to this is that the bike is built to a budget. The 18″ tube tires on spokes handle well, but the non-adjustable suspension leaves a lot to be desired. When you first get up close with the TU250, which looks wonderful in picture, an experienced eye is a little underwhelmed: craftsmanship is fine for what the bike is, but details are missing, and the bike comes our looking cheap. The “Suzuki” and “TU250” markings are plastic stickers. The cute retro throwback gas tank side-panels are also just a plastic sticker. The bike is absolutely adorable from far, but up close it leaves the purist’s heart sinking.

Suzuki TU250

Braking is handled one disc on the front and a mechanical drum brake at the back. The driving position is near standard UJM and not cramped, despite the seat height being kept intentionally low, to help with the confidence of newer riders that the TU250 looks to attract.

The price on Suzuki’s new TU250 comes higher than both the Honda CBR250R and the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, a bit surprising given it’s much lower performance. The TU250 tops out somewhere between 120 km/hr to 130 km/hr. Despite its old school racer looks and fuel injection, the Suzuki’s cylinder won’t put out the kind of numbers you want to take outside of your town or city, unless you want to take the quiet, less traveled backroads.

Specifications / Specs:

Engine Type: Single cylinder, 4-stroke engine, air-cooled, SOHC
Fuel Delivery: Electronic fuel injection
Compression: 9,2:1
Displacement: 249ccs
Bore and Stroke: 72 x 61.2 mm
Power: 16.1 bhp @ 7,200 RPM
Torque: 12.54 ft/lbs @ 4,500
Gearbox: 5 speed
Final Drive Type: Chain drive

Frame: Steele
Front Suspension: Non adjustable 37 mm Showa conventional fork
Rear Suspension: Dual non adjustable Showa shocks
Front Brakes: Single 275 mm disc with Tokico 2-piston calliper
Rear Brakes: Drum
Front Tire: 90/90-18
Back Tire: 100/90-18
Wheelbase: 1,375mm
Rake and Trail: 25.5 degrees / 91.4 mm
Saddle Height: 770 mm (30.3 inches)
Weight: 326 lbs (148 kg)

Fuel Capacity: 12 liters
Fuel Economy: 3.48 L/100 km (81 MPG)
Fuel Range: ~345 km

The Good:
Effective in the city beginner machine
Stylish
Great on gas mileage
Low on cost

The Bad:
Cheap finish – it’s a “sticker bike”.

The Ugly:
Very weak power outputs make it scary on bigger roads.

Other 250cc motorcycle reviews:
KYMCO Venox 250
Honda Rebel 250
Kawasaki Ninja 250R
Yamaha V-Star 250

UPDATE: Here’s a step by step walkthrough on how to change oil on the Suzuki TU250.

About Adrian from YouMotorcycle

I started riding motorcycles in 2007, founded YouMotorcycle in 2009, and was working in the motorcycle industry by 2011. I've worked for some of the biggest companies in motorcycling, before going full-time self-employed in the motorcycle business in 2019. I love sharing his knowledge and passion of motorcycling with other riders to help you as best I can.

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