So, I won a scooter on Saturday and I have been considering adding a TU to my stable for a year or so now. Anyways long story short I traded the scooter and got a brand spanking new TU250X. The new color is saweet, much nicer in person (those of us with green V's know what i am talking about). I already ordered some farkles and the prices are much better than the V's. I have leather saddle bags coming, a new gel seat to complete the retro look (OEM very comfy but just ruins the classic look of the bike), and rubber fork guards. Only $200 for the gel seat (whats the V like $450?). I will post before and after pics with the farkles when i get them, and stay tuned for a user review.

http://cmgonline.com/images/stories/bikes/Suzuki/tu250x/2009/tu250x_rsf.jpg

Nice looking bike. Kinda Old School.

Road test that puppy!!! I have been looking at these too. I was thinking the 250 motor may not have enough giddy up. Certainly I'm not expecting performance like the V but if it can hold 65mph without complaints and get 70+ MPG I may get a new stable mate as well...

Sweet! I really like those but must resist....

I've got a '95 KLX250 for my V's stablemate. Cost me only $750 and since it's an enduro and street legal, I can romp in the dirt or get good commuting mpg. A buddy has been trying to talk me into boring it out to 330cc, but I have other places for the bucks at the moment.

10556

That TU250X reminds me of my first bike, a '73 Honda CB350.

.

Mine is the gold color however, and the other image shows the bike with the farkles i ordered sans the windshield. Here is a quick review based on 100 miles. Does 65-70 on the highway no problem, can run in 4th at those speeds so if a hill or wind tries to slow you down just click her to 4th. Also, tucking really works well with this bike. Handling is amazing! Perfectly stable at highway speeds, front fork has no damping, i will be changing the fork oil asap. Around town is awesome. I click into 5th at 25-30 mph and she can pull flats with easy, then down to 4th for hills or quick accel. Can runaway from most cars from traffic lights. And the exhaust sound is beautiful, quiet when you want it to be and a deep roar under load and high rpm.

So far
PROS: color, handling, mpgs, mirrors, headlight, sound, comfort, rear suspension is really good (no change needed so far). Fun Factor! Styling! Gets Looks!

CONS: painted frame finish (above average, but below average near welds), top speed, no tach, front fork needs a stiff spring and more damping (but no spring sources so damping change it is), need gel seat to complete classic look, need quarter or flat head screwdriver on you to access tool kit if broken down.

Awesome bike for the price, and will be even better once i address the fork

I've got a '95 KLX250 for my V's stablemate. Cost me only $750 and since it's an enduro and street legal, I can romp in the dirt or get good commuting mpg. A buddy has been trying to talk me into boring it out to 330cc, but I have other places for the bucks at the moment.

10556

That TU250X reminds me of my first bike, a '73 Honda CB350.

.

I had an 09 klx250s, it was lots of fun, only went off road a few times (reason i sold it), but it had no stability at highway speeds (and this too), a carb, and only a 2 gal tank. Love swinging that thing around town tho

http://cmgonline.com/images/stories/bikes/Suzuki/tu250x/2009/tu250x_rsf.jpg

Nice looking bike. Kinda Old School.

Yep, and although not perfect, it's a great little machine. Every review I've read of the TU250 has been positive (but then I may have missed some).

Reminds me of the Suzuki GS450 I had many years ago - it was a great little bike as well. The owner wouldn't sell me his Norton 850 Commando Interstate so I bought the GS450 - and loved it. Tore all around Southwestern Germany aboard it.

I did manage to buy the Norton a year or so later - and loved it as well. Rode it from Germany, through Belgium, across the channel to England (by boat that is), through Southern England and Wales and ultimately to the Isle of Man, and home again, through the Lake Country and eventually to East Anglia (to visit the town where I once lived). It never skipped a beat which is more than could be said of the original Gold Wing and BMW 750 that accompanied me. I managed to successfully come to terms with Lucas positive ground electrics and Amal carburetors - the bike must have liked me. :thumb:

Sorry guys, I got carried away once again. Can't seem to write a short response.

Sorry guys, I got carried away once again. Can't seem to write a short response.

Just keep writing! Those who don't want to, don't have to read 'em! :thanx:

Oh man, that is a sweet looking little bike! :D Love that red color! Should make a great little commuter.

Wish I could find a KLX for $750! ;)

... front fork needs a stiff spring and more damping (but no spring sources so damping change it is... Awesome bike for the price, and will be even better once i address the fork

Beside switching to fork oil of higher viscosity, you can try adding a spacer for more spring preload.

Hyperpro progressive fork springs for Suzuki TU250: SP-SU02-SSA003

$148 from: http://www.wilbersusa.com/price-lists/Springs-price-list.pdf

Progressive Suspension may also have fork springs that could be adapted by measuring length and OD... I'll have the Hyperpro #SP-SU02-SSA003 spring rate, length, and OD for you soon.

Progressive Suspension # 11-1521 fork springs for Versys are $84.10 from:

http://www.powersportsuperstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TR77-1521&Click=6154&

Invader,
I HATE this saying, but... YOU DA MAN! :thumb:

Hyperpro #SP-SU02-SSA003 progressive fork springs for Suzuki TU250:
540 mm free length, 5.0 – 10.5 N/mm (44.25 - 92.93 lb/in)

I don't have the spring's outside diameter. You can easily check yours and also measure the length of any existing spacer by removing the cap. It'd be good to also have the stock spring's free length... Then we can select a Progressive Suspension spring set.

Suzuki came out #1 on the 2009 shootout, even beat out the venerable Ninja 250r.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxX-Tdx-6DM

a new gel seat to complete the retro look (OEM very comfy but just ruins the classic look of the bike), and rubber fork guards. Only $200 for the gel seat (whats the V like $450?). I will post before and after pics with the farkles when i get them, and stay tuned for a user review.

Is the gel seat a Suzuki Product? Is it a single seat instead of 2?

Answered my own question....

Gel Seat for TU250X. Really sharp and sets off the old style look. (http://suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/cycles/Products/TU250X/2011/TU250X/Accessories/Gel%20Seats/990A0-31002.aspx?Style=&amp%3BCategoryId=)

The Gel seat is still a two piece but looks as though it is one, this way the rack under the pillion is still available.

A few hundred miles on a tu250x. This weekend was beautiful up in NH, pretty windy, but I stuck to the woods covered back roads. The rumble from the exhaust surprises me almost every time i get into the gas, she is so quiet with little bit of gas and low rpms, then with just a twist of the wrist the little 250 gives quite the roar (sounds much larger than she really is). I am pretty tall rider for 250 class street bikes and find my butt likes to get right up to the edge of the front seat, but this does not affect comfort and i could ride with the stock seat all day (6'4"). The riding position is slightly more forward than the Versys, which isnt bad at all, it gives me the ability to get down into a half tuck which is very helpful flying through the twisties. After the first hundred miles i started getting her pretty low into corners but the pegs just wont drag, I was expecting to hit them easily. The bike is so narrow it is very easy moving around when switching left to right for the curves (wouldnt it be awesome to drag a knee during a track day? people would be like wtf is he doing on that old thing?). So in terms of handling i would give it a 8.5/10 for now, maybe more maybe less once i get a chance to ride with my buddies, see if the little tu can keep up with the bigger bikes in the curves. I have owned two ninja 250s and the tu is just as flickable but much more steady during high speed turns. As far as power it feels a lot faster than it really is, the exhaust noise and torque pull make you feel like there is a lot of acceleration and because of this the only time I really miss the acceleration of larger bikes is when i am doing 0-60 mph runs to get onto higher speed streets or when merging onto the highway (and roll on at highway speeds). But if you are in any other gear besides 5th pulling out of turns and straight line pull isnt as bad as the numbers would indicate. The transmission is pretty nice. The clutch action is better than the versys (maybe not better but easier), you can slowly let it out so you can get a great launch off the line every time (getting a good launch every time of the V is a lot more difficult, this is also due to a lot more power causing the front wheel to come off the ground on the V). That being said, once you have the clutch fully engaged you almost have to immediately pull it back in to shift to 2nd. First gear is so short I feel as though it runs out of breath around 15-20 mph. The rest of the gears seem to have a much longer life and 5th gear is so far away that the engine doesnt feel like its working hard at all at highway speeds (good for mpgs, bad for wind and hills but 4th can be used at highway speeds as well). I purposely took her down the bumpiest road i knew of that didnt have too many pot holes, just lots of speed bumps (frost heaves really). The front never bottomed out on me, and the soft damping was always ready for the next bump, the rear is great stiffness wise, but the lack of damping showed up over this type of road (seemed great on average and better roads), every bump seemed to linger (only for another stroke or two of the rear suspension). The chassis was amazing, no complaints, no shakes, no twists, took the bumps like a champ. The front brake has good feel and decent stopping power, the rear brake has no feel but is good enough with the help of engine braking to get to the ideal speed for turns. I will replace the front with better pads so see if that helps with emergency braking. Its just the perfect little bike to pull out and hop right on for a quick errand and a fun bike to take out and ride the heck out of. Every time have gone out, i get cagers, harleys and other bikers to take a second look. One guy drove by in his car starring at me the whole time with a huge grin and nodding his head like "that is an awesome bike". I cant wait to take it to a bikers gathering with the new accessories that are due in this week and see the response there. Even got the wife wanting to learn to ride, she signed up for the msf course this weekend.

Sorry about the pictures it was pretty sunny out when i took the pics.

She's a beauty. The sun brings out the retro look in her.

.

Pics with the new gel seat.

Pics with the new gel seat.

That seat should come from the factory. They would sell more bikes. It sets off the entire look of the machine.

Wonder if there are any in my area???? Was looking at getting a KLX250SF for an in town errand runner..... But might have to reconsider. Love the style of the old look. :thumb:

I like!

I went from a 1300 to a 650...next bike a 250?

I like!

I went from a 1300 to a 650...next bike a 250?

I am heading the same direction. I am less about power and more about the light weight and easy. Damn I am starting to become the old fart I used to tease my dad about.
Where I live, I can ride <45MPH through my entire town, even into the next towns. A 250 is fun for this type ride. My wife learned on a Virago 250 and I had a blast riding it.

So, I won a scooter on Saturday and I have been considering adding a TU to my stable for a year or so now. Anyways long story short I traded the scooter and got a brand spanking new TU250X. The new color is saweet, much nicer in person (those of us with green V's know what i am talking about). I already ordered some farkles and the prices are much better than the V's. I have leather saddle bags coming, a new gel seat to complete the retro look (OEM very comfy but just ruins the classic look of the bike), and rubber fork guards. Only $200 for the gel seat (whats the V like $450?). I will post before and after pics with the farkles when i get them, and stay tuned for a user review.

Where are you from and what kind of a price did you get that TU for?

I am from NH. I got the TU for 3999 OTD. They waved the $504 in various fees.

Weekend Ride Number 2 on the TU250X...

I finally got out with the riding group, however, in the spirit of the new bike we did a tiddler run. The Field...

Late 90s DR350
2001 Super Sherpa
Night Hawk 250
1988 VTR250

About a 200 mile loop up and around lake winnipesaukee. The trip gave the little tu quite the work out. Not only were the roads pretty sh*tty, but there were some huge hill climbs with an average MPH Limit of 45. The first major hill we hit i wanted to see what the little 250 could do so i left it in 5th going about 55 and in about 1/4 mile i was down to 40 and i had to shift to 3rd to get back up to 55. I havent spiked her off the rev limiter yet, but she was screamin at 55 in 3rd gear (nice to know i can use it at those speeds). After that i prepared myself for up coming hills and i was able to maintain speeds above 50 using 4th gear on the steep hills. We all swapped through the bikes during the ride and everyone loved the tu, admired its pep and quick handling. Spec wise the tu has more power than the sherpa and about the same as the night hawk. The sherpa was a 6 speed but was geared a lot shorter than the tu250 (was able to handle hills better because the revs were near max power). The gear changes seemed annoying at first on the tu, but once you are above 60 you appreciate the smoothness of the tall 5th gear. So far i have been averaging 71 mpg, not as good as i want but decent for break in, hopefully with more commuting i will be able to get her up to 80 mpgs. I hit 80 mph indicated tucking on the highway, used 5th gear to get up there. Riding behind a car is a completely different story, there is power to spare at 70 mph even with my fat a$$ sitting up right. Very stable at all speeds, but is def happiest power wise, wind wise at 65 mph using 4th to maintain that speed when necessary (for highway riding).

So, i need to address the front fork asap. Pulling into my driveway after the ride i was coming in faster than normal so i was on the brakes pretty good and there is a slight curb at the end of my driveway for rain water to stay on the road and down to the drain, well anyways i found out that the front has about .5 inches of travel left under braking conditions and didnt enjoy that curb very much (i am 230-240 lbs).

Pics with the new gel seat.

Thats the seat Suzuki should have on the bike. Completes the retro look and makes it look bigger than a 250. I think I am going to get one of these for Sandra, so I can ride it.

Congrats on the new ride! Looks sharp!

My first bike was an '06 GZ250 which had almost the same engine, except mine was carburated. It was a fun bike to learn on and putput around town or back roads. Highway riding was another story though.

79mpg... tremendous mpg for the size of engine, I wish my 125cc had fuel injection, it pushes 70mpg in the city and have no idea how much she'll do on the higway. Really nice!!!!

Pics with the new gel seat.

Did you try the new seat with just the front portion on? How did it look? Any pics?

At one time in my life I thought a 250 cc bike is all one needs. I had the 250 Ninja and the 250 dual sport. Great mileage and fun to ride. Then I started riding distances, and my wife wanted to ride. That was all she wrote. Still have the 250 dual sport, but the rest are 650cc and above. I guess a lot depends on where you live and ride on what type of bike will do it for you. Of course size matters. Not the bike but the rider. :)

She's truly is a Beaut !
and the new saddle makes her something special indeed.
Congrats on the new scoot.....and as for winning her (sorta kinda)....You lucky dog you!:joke:

Makes me wonder if someone makes one of those old school 'bullet' fairings for it? :devil:

Be well.
Ride safe.
natch!

But don't get me wrong as it looks terrific just the way it is.....New color rocks as well.

I have the 2009 TU250 and love it! For around town & riding the back roads it's a ton of fun to ride. Everyone has to stop and check it out. Have been thinking of modifying for a more cafe look, but for now it's pure '70's with '00s engine. Thump thump!

Did the dealer deal? When I was shopping for my first bike two years ago, I looked at a brand new TU 250, and the dealer quoted me such a ridiculous price that I didn't bother making a counteroffer.

A few weeks later, the salesman called me literally as I got into my car to go pick up a used Ninja 500 from another dealer.

Did the dealer deal? When I was shopping for my first bike two years ago, I looked at a brand new TU 250, and the dealer quoted me such a ridiculous price that I didn't bother making a counteroffer.

My local dealer acts just like that. Did it twice (dont know why I gave him another shot) and also would not let me ride one, period. When he threw out the price I just looked at him in amazement and told him he could keep it. I drove 30 miles to another larger dealer and they put me right on a Versys and sent me out the door for a test drive. The bike sold itself and they played the dealing game and I left feeling like I got a reasonable deal.

I wish my local guy would change his ways, their location is more convienent but I have decided to take my business to someone who provides better customer service and actually want to move product & accessories.

My local dealer acts just like that. Did it twice (dont know why I gave him another shot) and also would not let me ride one, period. When he threw out the price I just looked at him in amazement and told him he could keep it. I drove 30 miles to another larger dealer and they put me right on a Versys and sent me out the door for a test drive. The bike sold itself and they played the dealing game and I left feeling like I got a reasonable deal.

I wish my local guy would change his ways, their location is more convienent but I have decided to take my business to someone who provides better customer service and actually want to move product & accessories.

My local dealer likes to keep inventory moving through the store. I was in there on the last day of the month and they offered me any kawasaki product at cost because they wanted to put two more units out the door. I had already bought the Versys the last day of the month before so I had to pass. It was real tempting but I didn't have anything in my stable I wanted to part with. They do free Saturday cook outs during the spring and summer months. Have a pool table and free drinks in the shop. Let you go out back and watch the technicians work on your bike. I even helped uncrate my Voyager and helped put it together. :)

Did you try the new seat with just the front portion on? How did it look? Any pics?

I can take some pics for you. I dont like the look of the bike without the pillion on. Maybe if i had the rack they make for it would look nicer. Right now i have the stock seat on because it is lower and my 5 foot tall ball and chain needs the lowest possible seat height she can get.

The bike is truly amazing. I have recently added fork gaiters to the front and increased the fork oil weight so it doesnt dive and rebound so quickly. The stability at speed and easy handling and tremendous lean angles it can maintain through turns are awesome, only if it had 6 more ponies at the wheel :(.

Upcoming mods will be stickier tires and stronger brake pads. Or possibly some knobbies ;)?

Did the dealer deal? When I was shopping for my first bike two years ago, I looked at a brand new TU 250, and the dealer quoted me such a ridiculous price that I didn't bother making a counteroffer.

A few weeks later, the salesman called me literally as I got into my car to go pick up a used Ninja 500 from another dealer.

I didnt really push it at all, but after i won the scooter, they gave me $1200 for that (honda metro) and waived the dealer fees ($505). I didnt even ask for the dealer fees to be waived.

New pictures with fork gaiters and pictures of requested setup.

I've been looking at these bikes too. I just sold my 73 CB350F. I like the old bikes, but I'm not a wrench by any stretch of the imagination. I like riding them, I don't like fixing them. I do like the FI on the TU, that's the way to go.

I have my V of course, and a 02 KLR250 for the dirt. I think a TU would be a good addition. :D

If Honda would make a modern 70's CB style bike with FI, they wouldn't be able to make them fast enough.

I can take some pics for you. I dont like the look of the bike without the pillion on. Maybe if i had the rack they make for it would look nicer. Right now i have the stock seat on because it is lower and my 5 foot tall ball and chain needs the lowest possible seat height she can get.

The bike is truly amazing. I have recently added fork gaiters to the front and increased the fork oil weight so it doesnt dive and rebound so quickly. The stability at speed and easy handling and tremendous lean angles it can maintain through turns are awesome, only if it had 6 more ponies at the wheel :(.

Upcoming mods will be stickier tires and stronger brake pads. Or possibly some knobbies ;)?

I saw a Power Commander V for the TU on ebay. Maybe that and a new air cleaner and the usual tricks would open it up some. I haven't seen an aftermarket exhaust for it yet, but I'm sure someone will do it.

I looked at a brand new 09 today.$4592 OTD.

I miss my little green machine and this post made me miss it more. I traded a 2008 Ninja 250 in for my Versys.

Hopefully once the V is paid off I'll go pick up another little 250. I actually want to take the 250 ninja and convert it to a naked bike with a different tire setup for blasting through the dirt roads around here. The darn thing was so light and low I had no issues with gravel or dirt.

I miss my little green machine and this post made me miss it more. I traded a 2008 Ninja 250 in for my Versys.

Hopefully once the V is paid off I'll go pick up another little 250. I actually want to take the 250 ninja and convert it to a naked bike with a different tire setup for blasting through the dirt roads around here. The darn thing was so light and low I had no issues with gravel or dirt.

Just get a klx250s, great bike and they make em in green ;)