That's good to know. I'm looking to get an entry-level bike (Standard or Cruiser), 5'9" 160ish, to just enjoy the backroads for joy riding.

I kind of want to trade the XT to a TU, in a way. I like them both but I like the comfort of the Tu250X and the fact it has that little more that can handle the interstate for at least a short stint. 250s like the XT and TU are perfect for just flying around town and I am happy to help out!

I still need one. Too bad this is their last year.

@@RabidHedgehog Really! Where did you hear that?

I did a long term review of the TU250 as well. They are awesome machines.

+57Ketchup Thanks!

Wren57 Just finish my msf course on it ...creat bike...never been on a bike I was able to pass the riding test ...getting one tomorrow for my first bike..

I seriously want a Grom or Ruckus for just running about through town. I love their simplicity and honesty!

+truchito I want one too! But I also want to look at a SR400 first.

I am also considering the SR400 but the TU250X price tag is more enticing. Specially for a beginner rider and it being my first bike. would you say that the SR400 is worth the 6k?

Thank you!

It would be a nice investment because it would be great to start with and great as a commuter bike and then something to play with too as you grow in the sport! There is so much potential in these bikes that you can have fun. Let me know what you do.

It is also more fun to take a slow bike fast than to have to ride the fast bike slow.

And sometimes that is just what it's about. Everything you need and nothing more. Back to simplicity.

MotoNewb808 Thank you!

That would be a fun bike to be a scrambler and it already has decent ground clearance as well. Have fun with those mods and ride safe!

How do you take a snorkel off an air box? What's an air box?

The SR 400 is fun, I want to get on one soon for a review, the only thing is you have to be happy with constantly kicking the thing to go.

I did get to ride the TU250x for my second day of motorcycle class, it was really nice. I would definitely have bought one if I didn't find a nice used SR400 for $2000 off MSRP

+Paul Bruneau nice score!

I hope you keep it forever! Fun little thing to have.

I wish they would have continued to make them... They are sadly gone :(

I am working on a review for the little GSXR but I lost an opportunity as it was sold before I got there. I will advise when I do ride.

Thanks!

Suzuki uses a similar mirror on the S40 and it likes to get floppy every once in a while too. Just carry a 14MM and it's all good.

Greeley Grey The sooner it hits the road the better! Hope you enjoy it.

***** I definitely will (I've taken it around the block a few times), got riding school on the 17th/18th so I can get my insurance sooner and cheaper. So I get to ride 125cc practice bikes for 12 hours, so that will be fun, and then if I pass I'll fax my insurance company my certificate of completion, bring my insurance info to the ministry and get my plates (I don't know how long it takes them with this part, or if they pre print plates) When this is all done I will be legal to ride this bike! Its a lot of work to get it all but its worth it.

and just a few months later I've shattered a small piece of my femur! haha.

+Greeley Grey Bummer dude! I hope you heal quick! Was it from a drop?

+Rabid Hedgehog yes it was. I was taking a 4hr/400km drive up north to see my girl, half way there it starts to rain so very lightly, millimetre wide rain droplets hitting my visor, my pants were just damp, couldn't even see that I was in the rain aside from my helmet thats how light it was. anyhow I decided to exit in case the rain got worse, slowed down to below the posted speed for the turn which was 60km, but my brakes were not working to full capacity when I took the turn on the wet, oily, gravel ridden road and I was slowing down but not enough evidently. The constable was on the scene before the ambulance took me and he was fairly sure the weather and road condition caused the accident and said so in his police report. The actual crash is black, I was getting close to the guard rail trying to get my brakes to work, then I hear a crash and everything is black, then I'm standing up and trying to wave for help. I eventually got it, and I went in to surgery to clean and repair a puncture wound on my right leg, that runs from the side my knee to my femur bone. Nobody could find what punctured me because all the blood was caught in my pants and none was on the road. I'm alive though and i'm not going to stop riding. Once I get my bike back and I've licked my wounds I'm driving right back there!

The Tu250X would be the better place to start as they do have Fuel Injection over the older Rebel 250 and its carbureted engine.

Thanks for the input Dwayne!

I'm in the same boat as you when you left this comment. Taking the MSF course in 2 weeks, i was looking at the ninja 400 and ninja 300, but coming across this little bike and i love it. My commute to work is 45 miles one way, mostly on a 55mph road. What did you end up getting?

I'm 63. 120 lbs. I'm buying one this week. Haven't ridden in 25 years. It's now or never!

Zachary Norman It was bone stock so more than likely the 15t. On all the smaller displacement bikes like this 10-15 is going to be about right from 1-2, rarely do they wander to 20-25 in 1st.

dont be afraid to rev it more. i dont shift to second until almost 20-25mph.

I've had mine for a few days. I start I second quite a bit.

It depends on how you use it. As a commuter bike it is solid and will get you back and forth to where ever you want to go reliably and efficiently as well. It's also a spirited little ride as well and is loads of fun. However, if you're going to be using it on the highway, in stock form it may grow old quickly. There are performance mods and sprocket changes to help achieve better speeds if needed and forums on how and what to do. But I love the little 250s and I have an XT250 for in town and commuter to and from the city and it does so very well. But I have to admit the TU250X is more comfortable and had better power in the top end and is more of a blast on the streets and I believe with the right spirit and mods it could be a long term bike. And with all that fuel you save from not driving you can save for your next bike and have this one sit proudly next to it in the garage.

It's all in perspective. Over time if you love to commute and don't need the long distance it will be perfect for long term. And with the money saved you could do some mods and engine power upgrades and make it worth while. I have an XT250 now that has become my everyday rider and I love hopping around the city getting 70 MPG and then just hopping into the dirt and mud. Some, yes, will grow tired of it for sure. But to give it hope, met a man with an older TU250X he has had for 7 years and over 40K in miles and he's never going to get rid of it. He had a guy who massaged the engine as well to help out with roughly double the original HP so highway is much easier. Just gauge how you might feel if you get a chance to ride one, see if it's quirks are something you find charming or grinding. If it grinds you the wrong in a hurry you know it's not the long term you're looking for. Good luck and happy hunting!

+Ed Smith - Sry. I asked the question before the video ended.

+Ed Smith It's all good. The TU250x can hold highway speeds with a light load, which I am not. The S40 has more power and ability to hold highway speeds. You do have to live with it being an older design that still uses a carb though Vs FI that the TU250 does. Both can be a good fit though, it depends on if you are leaving town on a long ride or staying in town really.

if you do a lot of highway riding, get front 16t sprocket to lower your rpms and technically increases your overall top speed. it supposedly makes you a bit slower off the line but i really don't notice a difference. if you go a tire size up in the front, say with a shinko 712 which is a common tire replacement for the tu250x, it helps make your speedo more accurate (it is slightly optimistic at stock, as with most vehicles) and is definitely more rugged than the stock cheng-shin tires. theres also the simple air snorkel removal mod which increased HP by a slight bit as well (around 5 minute mark in this video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/orR8n7qju7mVgZc.html)

More the lack of speed. You have to hold wide open the whole time and it can only hold at around 75 ish until that first hill.

Seat height is near the same and it is actually a smidge wider at the tank. This bike would also do the speeds you're looking for.

Hey man, anyway you think you could ever review the van van 200? My dealership has both the 200 and tu250x. the van van fits me better with the large seat. the tu250x would be perfect if it had a seat like the SR400 that would let me sit back off the tank. Thanks.

I will have to see what I can find! The two dealers in this area keep batteries and gas out of them until you sign to say you'll buy. But I will check around for another and see what I can do.

+Daniil Lugovskyi I am 6 foot and I found it to be comfortable without issue.

Where did you take you course? OSU-OKC here in Oklahoma actually decided to bring some of these into their fleet this last time and people were really enjoying them as well over some of the older bikes in the fleet like the Kawasaki eleminators.

In Alabama

Sounds like you guys got the good stuff there before we wised up. My course was made of random grouping of bikes that ranged from Kawasaki eliminator 125s to Hyosung Aquila 250 v twins (which is what I had). Even a couple of duel sports from Kawasaki for the really tall riders. This is the first year they are trying to cut back on the differences and get down to like two. They had the Grom and TU250s on hand.

Okay, cull

Cool.. Lol

What do you have for a daily rider?

I'm starting off on a Yamaha vstar 650, buying one either this week or next. I was always told 650 was good to start out on. Not too fast, but you can still keep up with your buddies on the highways

Nice cruiser too and comfortable. Great way to enjoy the wind! Welcome to freedom!

+Rabid Hedgehog would you happen to know what maintenence is like on shaft driven bikes? just curious is all.

Depends on the manufacturer on recommended intervals. But in general there is gear oil that needs to be changed every 10,000 miles in the back where the pinion gears are. And then at the tire change intervals re-grease the drive splines. Some shafts have grease points in them at flex points that are good to hit every oil change with a couple of pumps from a grease gun, but those are increasingly becoming rare.

Oh heck yes it is better than the Rebel. Benefits from fuel injection no less, bigger fuel capacity, and roughly the same fuel mileage. As for highway it can handle 60-65 stock easily. But 70 is a very tall order. From what others have said some sprocket changes can help that. But I weigh 240 so I was a bit big for the bike so that may have hurt it as another much lighter rider had it next and they held 70-75 easily.

***** This was actually just a test ride that I took. But if I decide to get one that is something I would do for sure to give it a little more.

***** A sprocket doesn't make it faster, but it means you don't need to go up to 2nd gear before leaving an intersection after sitting on a light. For legal speeds this bike isn't slow, its just more comparable to cars so you actually have to plan things ahead of time instead of answering every situation with a full throttle.

Changed the sprockets and chain on mine. Slower on take off smoother in higher gear.less vibration. Lower rpm. I get 80 to 90 mpg now.72mpg on stock sprockets.my best was 320 mile ride in one day. I have an air hawk seat cover. Best riding 50 to 65 or 70 mph. Bike is too light when you get over that but have had mine to 85 once. Insurance only cost me 17.00 a month for full coverage.I'm 76 years old no tickets yet. Fun dependable bike.

V-Strom 650

mzuvin it would be a buzzy trip, but it would make it reliably. But your body will be on pins and needles and probably hate you for it.

In a manner of speaking, but I would not recommend anything more than fire roads or dirt roads. Change tires and make sure the case is protected.

That is the one thing about Suzuki in the aftermarket. There are not many players.

remove the air snorkel. you'll gain about 1.2hp. check out this video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/orR8n7qju7mVgZc.html

Break in is actually only 500 miles.

Rabid Hedgehog thanks. I love it!

Ride it safe out there and enjoy! It is a great machine.

+lexi Lara They kill mine! But some really don't bother them. I have a co-worker who loves sport bikes only and has had a 636 and a R6. Only thing he buys. But I don't like them for long hauls. RSMF

+Rabid Hedgehog yeah i guess its just some bikes....like my cbr600 i literally rode it for 3 hours stopped for a stretch an i was golden same with a 2003 zx7.however my buddies r6 i was done within 30mins. there is a guy selling a 2011 suzuki tu250 for. 1900 only has 3k miles I'm thinking about buying but it.

+lexi Lara That is a heck of a deal right there for a TU250. Perfect little city commuter. To note on the CBR they tend to be a little less aggressive than the R6. That maybe why.

There are not many mods out there to do so at least bolt on wise. Some have advised that cutting some holes into the intake system and drilling a bit in the muffler has aided them, but these are not worthwhile enough.

Around 75.

I swapped the front sprocket on mine, makes the highway a bit more tolerable. Top speed is about 80 if you're crouching into the bike to reduce wind drag

+Kirk Roberts Yeah, the lady who rode after I did was able to get into the 80s as well, since I am the size of a rhino it did not like me on its back :) But it is a great little bike still and I would still love to have one if I had that infinite money garage deal.

+Rabid Hedgehog I put a 16T gear on mine and that brings the high end RPM under control.

+StormTrooper 9 What speed are you able to obtain?

+Rabid Hedgehog It hits 85 without the engine begging for mercy. The wind at that speed however is something to contend with and will throw you around.

That's pretty good speed, but yeah wind on a light bike will be fun to play with. Here in Oklahoma we have days that the winds blow 50+ just because. I do still ride, but that 720lb Harley has a bit on the 380lb Tu 250X to keep from ending up in a different state. But you win the overall fun. Better mileage, long term reliability for sure.

WTFx thank you!

Giving it everything she has maybe 75, but a comfortable speed it can handle would be around 65 so it's not in a constant pegged out situation.

ok thx

Silver and black.

Bummer, I'm in Norman and looking to get a TU for my first bike and honestly just want an all blacked out version, do you know any good places to get a simple paint job here or about how much it would cost?

The 2017 versions are a darker gray color with more black on them than this year and 16s only came in orange. As for paint I am not sure of many of them out there that will paint the tank for no less than around 600-800.

Rabid Hedgehog Thank you!

The 2018 model is black with retro writing, so watch out.

But slow and steady wins the day.

That is correct!

haha hell yeah.

Keeps it at speed better than 5th gear actually. So there were times that yes I kept it in 4th. But most of the time the run-up to highway speeds was started in 2nd gear so yes it was also in 5th at some points.

With the Kawasaki W800 sneaking in... Maybe we'll see Suzuki respond with something this glorious

moofushu Groms are actually about 10 MPH slower than these. In the case here in Oklahoma the TU250X would be allowed on the interstates but the Grom would not be due to its small displacement.

Rabid Hedgehog I had a feeling this was filmed in Oklahoma! The Braum's and open fields gave it away

It is not a good place to be at all. However, it was where the ride captain advised us to wait until the group caught back up to us. And he was a Highway Patrol trooper and the other captain was as well. So we did as we were told.

+Capt Larry - Kind of hard when the mirror itself has loosened from its post from being abused and bounced around in a trailer.

Capt. Larry is jealous because he doesn't get to review. What a turd!