2015 Suzuki TU250X - Classic Bike Shootout Part 2 - MotoUSA 

Not all motorcyclists want a large displacement bike to race down the highway. The TU250 is designed for those of us who want a simple commuter bike for daily use. It has more than enough power to handle both local and highway traffic. It has got that classic universal Japanese motorcycle look with all the modern conveniences. Having a small displacement is not the bike's weakness but one of its appeals.

"I wish it had more power." Well shit, it's a 250cc, what were you expecting?

I'm glad she told me it didn't have enough power- I naturally thought it'd be like a 'busa. They must get these test riders straight off the beach

You cant really buy a 250 and then complain that it lacks power.

The fine Suzuki TU250 is a bike I am thinking of buying for myslef very soon. And, I am now 61, started riding motorcycles off road at 8, and have always ridden since that time. Where I live, and the fact that we don't ride two up any more, make me realize that the TU can do everything I need in a motorcycle. No freeways here. Top highway posted speed limits are 50-55 mph.I also like the S40, the Yamaha SR400, and the new Honda CB300F.

Gear to 16t. Cruises comfortably at 75mph, low vibration. Go up one size on the front tire for more braking, and comfort; you have a bulletproof small bike. WIth 19hp.

when you buy a 250cc bike you want to know how reliable the bike is not compare with bigger faster bikes, we don't care about bigger or faster we only want to know about how does it handle, forget about faster, if we want faster we'll buy a ninja or something, stick to the review, the suzuki tu 250 is it reliable?

Buys 4-stroke 250cc... "needs more power"

I'm no speed demon anyway. Love the look.

This bike will be running strong years after the Enfield has hit the junk pile, it wont numb you like a ninja, and it travels long distances very well.. it is the consummate economical round the world bike.

Took the MSF on that bike. Great little bike. Beautiful test riders fellas :)

This bike SCREAMS simplicity. We all dont need 200hp to enjoy a bike. Basics actually go a long way. Been riding since the 80's and time to slow down and really enjoy the purity of what a motorcycle really was from its inception.

Picking up one of these on Friday!!

It's a 250. You're not going to get 50HP out of it, however, worldwide? There are more 250's than all other bikes combined.

Oh enough with the BS, guys! it's not a racing bike. it's a simple, air-cooled, easy to work on Japanese single that gets you around town and on the highway if you stay on the right lane and don't push it. I had a 250cc Honda CBF a few years ago, that thing barely pulled above 100 KPH (60 MPH) but I still did 300-400 KM trips in one day on it, many of whom were on highways...so everything is possible!

This bike is a lot of fun! The weight and ergos are perfect in town but I wouldn't recommend riding in rush hour traffic or on I-35.

Nice looking bike

I have a 2012! I love it!

Just from their " low power " comments I can tell they're not experienced with a small displacement single , the lack of power is a given here guys .

Its built to cruise on down to the coffee shop, lol.

This video is best watched with no video. I have been rideing longer than any of these test riders. Pretty hard to take advise from anyone who owns a Royal Enfield, LOL

TU FTW!!!

If you were looking to get a Rebel, but want something that looks and fits better... If you're going to work and back on locals, and getting Starbucks, you don't need a Gixxer.

Me likey smaller displacement, retro, air-cooled bikes! I just added a SYM WOLF 150 to my stable of mid and larger displacement bikes, and I must say, riding the small SYM is a BLAST! Ditto for my old, classic 2-stroke 50cc HONDA MB5. It is tons of fun to ride a smaller displacement bike at it's limits, and to keep the revs up, shifting constantly!

Hola, muy buen video. ¿Puedo usar tomas de tu video en un video que estoy realizando? Tendrás todo el crédito. Muchas gracias. Agradecería tu ayuda, Saludos

300lb, 300cc, 30hp, 30ftlb, 30in seat height, 3 gallon tank, 100mph top speed, and this would be astonishing.

I do enjoy the retro bikes. I have considered getting a smaller bike so that friends can go riding with me. I wouldn't want an overly powerful bike to loan out.

Does anyone know how to import this bike to Europe ? local traders don't offer it here

Greetings! What is the highest minimum speed limit in the United States? That is, on high-speed roads, what is the minimum speed limit you must go? Can the TU250X easily reach and exceed that limit? Could you ride this bike on those high-speed highways?

Young Adam!

wish they would sell it in europe

What does that first woman that said it had good suspension mean when she said it had good suspension? Would you please explain? I appreciate hearing facts from experts, but could she be a little more specific? Was she referring to spring rates, rebound and compression compliance? Balance in the system between the front and the rear spring rates? Damping balance between front and rear? Frontend dive under very hard braking? The machines ability to track and stay on line through bumpy corners? Does the suspension recover quickly between ripples in those bumpy corners? She says the machine is slow, sorry Suzuki? But what is she spinning the motor in its past power range? or was she opening the throttle at low rpm’s at the base of a big hill in too tall of a gear?? Is she an accomplished rider? I don’t mean someone that can get on the machine and go from point A to point B without falling over. I mean someone that understands that a low horsepower machine can still be ridden briskly if you maintain momentum by staying off the brakes and picking perfect lines through the corners, being in the correct gear, keeping the motor spinning near its peak power band?? I have ridden hundreds of machines. I have more fun on a smaller machine that I can ring its neck than I do on 150 horse power machines that you can’t even come close to using even half of the power all the time. It is not a challenge to go fast on a big hp machine.. But on a small displacement machine, that takes real skill To go fast. Someone that complains that the machine is too slow, doesn’t realize it’s not the machine thats slow, it’s the rider. A smaller displacement machine takes a little bit longer to wind it Up yes, The fun part comes in by keeping it up to speed which takes real skill. Now in order to go fast on a small machine, you need to have good suspension, good brakes, good ground clearance, a transmission ratio that is complemented by a power band that won’t drop off every time you Upshift to the next gear.. you also need a good easy to operate clutch on a smaller machine to get that motor spinning when it needs help at lower RPMs. It would be nice if the machine had a tachometer. The factory does not pick a redline out of a hat. The factory states what the maximum safe rpm to operate that machine is, and with a tachometer, you could keep the TU 250 at or near it’s safe maximum RPM without damaging the motor when needed. I have found that smaller engines tend to not make enough power to really damage themselves at high rpm’s under load, so I tend to just ring their necks Until they stop pulling, and then shift up. I’m sure the owners manual has a guideline on miles per hour to operate the engine in each gear safely, but a tachometer is more useful.But after a few short rides, you will develop a feel for when the motors tongue starts hanging out and it’s time to upshift... These testimonials in these videos from tokens have no value.

You folks should really do a comparison between Yamaha VSTAR250 and with Suzuki TF250X coz they both are of same tier and the same price range.

is there any reliable affordable lets say 350cc to 500cc new ish caferacer out in the market?

My brother has a TU..I wish I was shorter than 6'4".

Want more acceleration, change the front engine sprocket with 1 tooth smaller than stock.

If you need more power, buy a Honda CBR 250 or 300 or a Kawasaki Ninja 250 or 300. . You do need more power if you feel the need to pass vehicles going up hill on the freeway or fast 2 lane roads. or If dropping down to 60 mph in 4th climbing steep grades with headwinds bothers you. If you don't.. but you do need a really settled, uncomplicated, hyper reliable small bike, with excellent lights, economy, and secure handling.. in a light low seat height package... that will last many decades, prove to be very cheap and simple to maintain yourself.. and if it FITS you. the TU-250x is a great choice. The longevity of the bike may prove to be astounding for a small single. It you are 6 feet tall.. keep looking. When my BMW is too much trouble to get out or horse around in parking lots .. this bike was always my choice. When I needed to down size to a lighter smaller bike.. I was glad I had chosen this. It is really in its element on fast (or slow) two lane roads.. for freeway riding.. go with the 16 Tooth front sprocket.. to pick up 5 mph top speed, and lower reves at 65-70..and increase the usuable speed in 4th up steep grades into the wind. Otherwise, the 15 Tooth primary and Suzukis gear ratios are just right. Riding 2 up.. stick with 15T.

What about Triumph Cafes!!?!?!?!?

V nice

I love that it's about a decade since this review came out, and Adam Waheeds journalism seems to have actively damaged great motorcycles like this.

I wish honda would make a bike like this.

where is the kick start?!?!??!?!?!??!, the nub is there but the whole set is missing!

0:45 what are those three bikes behind him? name from left to right

I agree with yumpla

Matt Brody's bike

whats the top speed on the TU250

its a commuter bike not a highway bike

Who's the European chick? Wow.

wish it was faster? meh, it's a rare opportunity where most of us have the chance to ride a fast bike fast... it's way more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. heck, i love my vespa for that... it's always at full throttle. vrooooom!

ผมอยากให้มีขายในไทย

why?? why do you have to say "like" all the time??? You speak like a 15 year old school girl!

"Achieves superior mileage and range between fill ups" but won't give us a ball park number.

Ad: Idiots wanted for motorcycle review.

I wish Yamaha would import the Scorpio 225 cc bike to the U.S. it would beat the Suzuki TU 250 hands down.

Here in southeast asia, 250cc bikes are for the rich. Owning a 150cc or 175cc here makes you middle class.

安い割には良く出来てるだろう？パワーが足りないのは排気量の問題だ。このクラスで比較するならテンプター400が良いのだろうが、既に絶版だからな。

suzuki=yamaha>>>>>>>>>>>trash re which actually cost less that what yamaha and even suzuki tu costs in japan

wtf is wrong with those girls, don't they know anything??

I like this bike. But I can't ride it because Suzuki messed up so bad on the seat. WHY, oh WHY, couldn't they have put a flat one piece seat on it? I have to sit right between the 2 seats, and it is extremely uncomfortable. I really like the SR400, but it is just too expensive for me, and also too expensive for what it is. It's a smaller version of a bike that came out in 1978, and they cheapened it by using tube type tires. I might be willing to pay $6K for it if it were a 500cc with tubeless tires. Don't even think about buying a Royal Enfield. I got scammed big time on one of those pieces of junk. $6K OTD for a 2013 B5 Bullet, and it literally fell apart on me. Everybody on the Enfield forum is having serious problems with their UCE bikes, including broken frames and rear brakes that just lock up by themselves.

I like the looks of the TU250, but that's about it. At 6'1" 240 pounds, I don't fit on it. It has EFI, which I don't like. It can be ridden on the freeway, but only in the right lane and only at full throttle. I don't know how long it would last doing that. I do know a couple of Honda 250 Rebels that passed 80,000 miles at full throttle riding before they began to eat their valves. But those were twins. It also has tube type tires, and no centerstand, so you are out of luck if you have a flat. And it just has a tiny bike feel and sound. If you feel lucky about not having a flat, it could be used as a commuter bike, it's about as reliable as it's cheap electronic fuel injection system, which will cost a fortune to fix when it fails. Both ethanol gas and running out of gas tend to damage $500 fuel pumps. Give me a carb any day.

Lady if you need more power to haul your butt around get a bigger bike and you guys to too!

まぁ～たこんな、インドネシアで３ケツで走っているようなバイクをだす・・・ボルティか！

My choice over an 883 Sporty ANY day! ("The ultimate bitch bike") And I'm sure Ana and Melissa would say the same (they're CLEARLY not bitches!) And 883's, although boasting a higher displacement and price tag are FAR less sophisticated bikes.

Those female riders totally missed the point of this bike. " Needs more power" .......smh

The SR-400 is a high quality bike with a bigger engine.. The Enfield is a cobby antique piece of shit.. with fancy paint.. that will never be reliable, rideable for any distance. The tux is a push a button and go jewell, that will be just that 30 or 40 years from now.

I own 2.. ride them hard, am not small, and I have yet to find any sloppiness in the handling. If the bike is properly set up, with broken in tires.. it is secure, well planted and utterly predictable. It has bias ply tires, and it is not a superbike.. But is makes the bikes sold in the 60's, 70's and 80's in this class look like real shit. Compared to a touring or UJM type bike.. it handles very well, and continues to do this when heavily loaded . The caveat is that the intended top speed of this bike is about 75mph. and the normal running speeds will generally be 65-70 mph.. They handle grooved roads and other bad surfaces securely.