2013 TU250

Since the forum/ subject is moved?where?

Here is my update on purchase of new 2013 Suzuki TU250

Simple bike, performace maybe a little more than 250 Helix, maybe a 250 Reflex would run away from it.

Not sold as complete bike!! NO CENTERSTAND!! and I find no after market stand available. Tools only to remove rear wheel, no dry place to store paperwork.

At 40 miles, warranty claim---front tire unround, rim not true, warped brake disk---Suzuki paid---bad parts Dept, 8 days out of service----part guys drive pickups, so had no interest in ordering parts OverNite service. Selling dealer in my neighborhood.

As this is not really big volume seller had to figure out how to round up parts needed to use bike----Paperwork holder/waterproof=Aerostich Luggage rack from Cyclerack.com, Givi box won't fit retaining rear seat, OrtLeib waterproof magnetic tank bag works, CB750 (early) mirrors wonderful.

Throttle stop from AeroStich---front/rear/swing arm cross over mud flaps cut from Yellow Plastic cans.

Riding position=good. Subject to fine adjustments. Suspension ok, probably better than Maxi scooter, Fr and Rear.

Now the big point---NO BUFFETING!! with National Cycle Street Shield EX--fits, a little diddle time required to get it right--great Look Over...after 23 years with Maxi Scooters near 300,000 miles of buffeting (SilverWing can be made comfortable, much better than the others--TMAX/ReFlex/Helix/Burgman 400 I bought)Note in this 23 years I also had Voyager/Concours/K-75 BMW,2 CB750 Honda Nighthawks/NT700V/GS500E(64,000 miles)

So is this new bike going to be fun? Yes, if stays together for 50,000 miles----so simple to work on, I used some tools bought in Japan 50 years ago!.

Now one last thing---many old farts like auto trans, have low skills old and probably never had young...get trikes, etc---my take , 74 in a couple of weeks----small displacement bike, to ride smoothly and safely, requires high skill level to make work-----and to keep skills sharp...and remain alive TU250-----As I want Utility Bike, but hate no centerstand--Honda CBR250 might have better use of $$ with CenterStand/ABS...but but no nose level windshield scared me off.
Still working on the ideal rear box---have built toolkit for wheel removal/tire repair. I need box to carry weight low/room for rain gear/rubber boots, etc/water.

Have you driven it far enough to get any idea of your fuel economy?

I don't drive motorcycles...I ride them----60-65 mpg will be my overall average----I always go by overall average...not one time top, ex.My silverwing=50mpg, my current burgman 400, about 55 mpg for 24,000 miles, as I recall 175,000 Helix miles 55-60mpg---wide open all day they sucked lots of gas