Suzuki TU250

FastDoc · 05-02-2012, 03:39 PM

Not a Chinabike but the same (or similar) engine to the newer 250cc Q's. The Suzuki has EFI however.

Spotted in the hospital parking lot today.

FastDoc · 05-02-2012, 03:40 PM

This one has 103 miles on the odometer.

Weldangrind · 05-03-2012, 12:49 AM

Dig that vintage vibe! I hadn't seen of of those yet.

SpudRider · 05-03-2012, 02:22 AM

Thanks for posting the sighting, Doc! That's a nice looking, little motorcycle.

The TU250 has a good reputation. Suzuki needs to put that fuel injected engine in a dual sport motorcycle!

Spud

FastDoc · 05-03-2012, 11:35 AM

First one I've seen too. Handsome bugger in person. Sorta looks like a Japanese BSA Thumper if that doesn't sound too silly. :wink: It sits a little bigger and more substantial than it looks in pictures.

It's problem is it's price. :(

About the same as a Ninja 250 or CBR250, both of which will eat the TU's lunch all day every day.

It might make a good D/S engine but I'm sure it would be a good notch and a half lower performance than the CRF/KLX/WR's due to it's air cooling and lower compression.

Weldangrind · 05-03-2012, 12:45 PM

It wouldn't be about speed for me. I'd take the riding position of that TU over a Ninja any day. I appreciate your interpretation of the design, Doc; I feel the same way.

FastDoc · 05-03-2012, 12:47 PM

I've owned a new Ninja a couple of years ago. You might be surprised how comfortable and (semi) upright it is.

Just for fun go give one a test sit when you pass a Kawasaki dealer.

SpudRider · 05-03-2012, 03:39 PM

Here's an excellent website showing the riding ergonomics for just about any motorcycle you can think of, other than Chinese bikes.

http://cycle-ergo.com/

I much prefer the upright riding position of a dual sport bike, or a "standard" bike, such as the Kawasaki Versys.

However, the Ninja 250r and CBR250R aren't too bad in this regard.

The performance sport bikes are the worst offenders regarding a comfortable riding position! 8O I frequently ride all day, and I would consider riding one of these bikes tantamount to torture! :(

Spud

FastDoc · 05-03-2012, 04:22 PM

Pics didn't work, Spud.

One thing to consider is the dynamic nature of the seating position. The forward cant becomes more comfortable at speed because of wind holding you back. This lessens stress on the wrists and aids comfort. The upright position of a D/S, while great at speeds of less than lets say 50, is a liability at 70 for this reason. The pilot becomes a human spinnaker. The same thing applies, and more so, to feet forward cruisers.

As sportbikes go I'm just saying the little Ninja is very mild. Almost like a standard.

katoranger · 05-03-2012, 05:33 PM

I found the ninja 250 to be pretty comfortable too. Only rode it 200 ft, but it was a comfortable ride.

FastDoc · 05-03-2012, 05:42 PM

I don't remember how many miles I rode mine that summer but it had to be at least 5,000. My GF rode it 350 miles in the mountains one day and she loved it.

If a person is shorter it would have been even nicer. I'm 6 foot, so was (is) she.

SpudRider · 05-03-2012, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Pics didn't work, Spud.

...

That's too bad! :( The pictures are working great for me. :roll: I'll see if I can fix the problem.

Spud

SpudRider · 05-03-2012, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Pics didn't work, Spud.

One thing to consider is the dynamic nature of the seating position. The forward cant becomes more comfortable at speed because of wind holding you back. This lessens stress on the wrists and aids comfort. The upright position of a D/S, while great at speeds of less than lets say 50, is a liability at 70 for this reason. The pilot becomes a human spinnaker. The same thing applies, and more so, to feet forward cruisers.

As sportbikes go I'm just saying the little Ninja is very mild. Almost like a standard.

I fixed the photographs; you should be able to view them now.

I agree with everything you said, but if a bike offers adequate wind protection, I still prefer the upright riding position. The Verysys and CBR250R are good examples of bikes with upright seating positions which don't punish the rider at freeway speeds.

Spud

FastDoc · 05-03-2012, 07:01 PM

Agreed.

With that said IF a person was riding a high performance bike in the manner it was intended the forward lean is necessary to properly weight the front wheel and balance the bike for acceleration and cornering.

I miss my high performance bikes.

Ninja 1100.
RZ350.
VFR800.
GS1100
Ninja250 (=/- 'High Performance' :roll: )

There were others I'm sure but not remembering

FastDoc · 05-03-2012, 07:02 PM

Cool and helpful website BTW.

Does it factor in rider's height?

05-02-2012, 03:39 PM	#1
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Suzuki TU250 Not a Chinabike but the same (or similar) engine to the newer 250cc Q's. The Suzuki has EFI however. Spotted in the hospital parking lot today. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-02-2012, 03:40 PM	#2
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	This one has 103 miles on the odometer. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-03-2012, 12:49 AM	#3
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Dig that vintage vibe! I hadn't seen of of those yet. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

05-03-2012, 02:22 AM	#4
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Thanks for posting the sighting, Doc! That's a nice looking, little motorcycle. The TU250 has a good reputation. Suzuki needs to put that fuel injected engine in a dual sport motorcycle! Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

05-03-2012, 11:35 AM	#5
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	First one I've seen too. Handsome bugger in person. Sorta looks like a Japanese BSA Thumper if that doesn't sound too silly. :wink: It sits a little bigger and more substantial than it looks in pictures. It's problem is it's price. :( About the same as a Ninja 250 or CBR250, both of which will eat the TU's lunch all day every day. It might make a good D/S engine but I'm sure it would be a good notch and a half lower performance than the CRF/KLX/WR's due to it's air cooling and lower compression. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-03-2012, 12:45 PM	#6
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	It wouldn't be about speed for me. I'd take the riding position of that TU over a Ninja any day. I appreciate your interpretation of the design, Doc; I feel the same way. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

05-03-2012, 12:47 PM	#7
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I've owned a new Ninja a couple of years ago. You might be surprised how comfortable and (semi) upright it is. Just for fun go give one a test sit when you pass a Kawasaki dealer. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-03-2012, 03:39 PM	#8
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Here's an excellent website showing the riding ergonomics for just about any motorcycle you can think of, other than Chinese bikes. http://cycle-ergo.com/ I much prefer the upright riding position of a dual sport bike, or a "standard" bike, such as the Kawasaki Versys. However, the Ninja 250r and CBR250R aren't too bad in this regard. The performance sport bikes are the worst offenders regarding a comfortable riding position! 8O I frequently ride all day, and I would consider riding one of these bikes tantamount to torture! :( Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

05-03-2012, 04:22 PM	#9
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Pics didn't work, Spud. One thing to consider is the dynamic nature of the seating position. The forward cant becomes more comfortable at speed because of wind holding you back. This lessens stress on the wrists and aids comfort. The upright position of a D/S, while great at speeds of less than lets say 50, is a liability at 70 for this reason. The pilot becomes a human spinnaker. The same thing applies, and more so, to feet forward cruisers. As sportbikes go I'm just saying the little Ninja is very mild. Almost like a standard. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-03-2012, 05:33 PM	#10
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I found the ninja 250 to be pretty comfortable too. Only rode it 200 ft, but it was a comfortable ride. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
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05-03-2012, 05:42 PM	#11
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I don't remember how many miles I rode mine that summer but it had to be at least 5,000. My GF rode it 350 miles in the mountains one day and she loved it. If a person is shorter it would have been even nicer. I'm 6 foot, so was (is) she. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-03-2012, 07:01 PM	#14
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Agreed. With that said IF a person was riding a high performance bike in the manner it was intended the forward lean is necessary to properly weight the front wheel and balance the bike for acceleration and cornering. I miss my high performance bikes. Ninja 1100. RZ350. VFR800. GS1100 Ninja250 (=/- 'High Performance' :roll: ) There were others I'm sure but not remembering __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-03-2012, 07:02 PM	#15
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Cool and helpful website BTW. Does it factor in rider's height? __________________ Happy to serve.
	0