Modern Vespa

Well, I'll be darned, Suzuki came out with a 250 motorbike that rocks. They put fuel injection on the venerable GZ250 motor and wrapped it up in a retro-styled motorcycle. Interesting...

Cool....

That's really sharp looking... A much nicer seating position than the GZ250 cruisers that were provided to the majority of the students in my MSF class. The seating postion on those is like an overused couch that you can't get out of.



Link to the brand-new 2009 TU250:
http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/TU250XK9/Default.aspx

Its sibling, the GZ250:
http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/GZ250K9

Very Nice
Late 70's style & comfort with modern brakes and a warranty


I'd buy a 750 4 cyl version.

Yeah, that GZ looks hideous...

Finally, now they just need to finish it and collect all their money on selling the aftermarket leg shields.

http://redlabelmoto.com/details.asp?srID=262

Yep, very nice. I think I may have found my next bike.

that suzuki will be a great reliable ride, just a good basic bike.

Neat, this was sort of what I was looking for myself too - I'm still on the fence between small MC or biggish scooter to upgrade to. However I'd still prefer discs F&R regardless as I prefer the feel and ease of maintenance that discs offer.

Finally,
They are coming back with the sub-500cc machines. I just hope it has a good suspension and brakes.


Seth

The '09 Burgman 400 is now offered with ABS, but it's nearly twice the price of this one and won't win you any style points....

Awesome. Bravo, Suzuki. Take a lesson here, Honda.

I smell a cheap modern/reliable cafe racer project in my future...

Excuse me while I go shop for Clubman bars.

Forget about t-shirts, you could make a mint selling cafe racer kits and leg shield kits for these bikes. Just be sure the cafe racer kits include these totally boss tank grips. Come to think of it, you might want to import some of those leg shields, too.


The pic is from the link in BGK's post above.

Are you kidding? I need to sell more t-shirts so I can buy the bike!

That bike in the photo is so sexed up I'm drooling.

I'm completely serious. You should go register ModernTU250.com and start something.

around 400.00 from Japan. I don't recall the company. But I have it bookmarked somewhere.

Honda has always offered a bike in the similar engine class. It's just that the nighthawk 250 was always a bit dated in terms of style and had a frond drum. Just missing the mark. A front disc and a minor redesign of the plastic and the same bike would get the same ooohs and aaaahs as this suzuki.

Fwiw, the new US model Suzuki TU250 does not appear to be a restyled GZ250. The GZ250 has a four-valve head and two exhaust ports.



The new TU250 seems to be the domestic model Suzuki ST250 with the single-port head.

Honda's lost the ball and are out of fouls. They're too focused on the CBR1000, CBR600, Goldwing and the silly-expensive DN-01. I think they still believe it's 2005 and we're all still drinking the cheap gas and easy credit kool aid.

Suzuki has got it right, IMO. FUEL INJECTED. FTW!

Dummy me always wished that Modern Harley came that size.
I have no need for that much steel vibrating.....

Not so dumb at all. What you're looking at is a 1961 Harley Davidson Aermacchi Ala Azzurra 250 made in Italy. Inspiringly beautiful, is it not?

It is quite beautiful....but what makes it a Harley? Does it use an HD powerplant?

Mehh.....I like em but a 250?....screw that
(Unless we are talking Honda NSR250 or RG250 Gamma but a 250 4 stroke single?....blech...that is a kiddie bike)
They lost me with the seat...what the hell is that supposed to be from?


And Fuel injection?....what fun is that if you cant throw a big flatslide on it?

They are on the right track though....Still haven't beat Yamaha's SR400 which looks slightly more "right"




Not sure about the steering angle on either bikes....as clubman bars alone do not make a cafe racer.........or at least one that works well.


More retro please......

Love the Aermacchi.....the greatest thing ever besides Evels bike to wear the Harley name.

Harley-Davidson bought 50% of Aermacchi, Italy in 1960. The bike pictured above was the first fruit of the jointly owned company, the 1961 model. The bikes were sold in the 1960s and into the 1970s in the United States by Harley Davidson. On CycleTrader from time to time, you will still see a "Harley Sprint" offered for sale. It's an Aermacchi.

In fact... here's a 1962 example that's being offered on CycleTrader right now.

The brilliantly simple design of the Honda 250 Nighthawk is what appeals. It has a strong following, checkout the forum.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/CB250_Nighthawk

The Honda CB400SS single is on the mark. Unfortunately, still a Japanese domestic model.

That is a good looking bike....But it looks as if all the retro they have offered are small displacement singles.


would love to see an inline 4 remake of the CB400F SS...


THAT....is a Super Sport......




I love this bike.....a prototype? Honda CB1100R....look past the goofy paintwork....

Well, you can always swap a small displacement single out of a vespa. Get a CVT too...(probably too much work on the swingarm though)

Seth

Seth -- wouldn't it be less work to buy a Q-Link Legacy 250 motorcycle?



http://www.qlinkmotor.com/product.php?id=63 (it has a CVT)

Suzuki makes a great bike, I love my Savage, which is now the S40 blvd. Its a 650 single cylinder ride.

That 250 does look nice though.

Huh?...gross....if I am going to any trouble it wouldn't be for a CVT....or a shitty vespa motor
My complaint is they are tiny underpowered singles in (albeit all very similar) very cool retro chassis.

At least offer some straight ahead bikes in 650 & above garb...(Not just anemic cruisers either...something with a normal or sporty steering angle.)
with the exception of the CB1100 R.


As much as I don't care for the Duc GT's I have to give it up that Ducati at least offers a straight ahead naked bike.....and a quarter faired version.




Some of us old farts do enjoy a standard bike with a bit of an edge.
(I would ride the shit out of the CB110R)

If the 250 does well, maybe Suzuki will come out with a fuel injected version of the Savage motor in a retro pkg like the TU250. If they could bring that in at the right price point, I think they would sell. I'd sure like to have one. Can you say, "thumper?"

FI would be nice for sure

They made this one for a while with the LS400/650 engine, but no EFI.

It would have a bigger following if it was like that 400. I like the simplicity of any bike. But to ask the same price and offer less, it's hard to find love. Except maybe when picking on up on craigslist for 1300.00 and under 2K miles.

The paint work is the best part. It really belongs on a V4 of some sort. Either an NS400R, a VF1000R or the original inspiration on Freddy Spencer's NS500

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Honda_Freddy_Spencer.jpg

Less is more, my friend, less is much more.

Well, I'll be. What market(s) did they sell that in?

> What market(s) did they sell that in?

As far as I know, only in Japan. It had the LS engine, but with chain drive. In Japan there are displacement restrictions, so it was under-bored to 400cc.

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.

That will work, how to convince the wife I need another pair of wheels in an uncertain economy. Mmmmm........
No.. Harley first, a little more style, not held together with tupperware..