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General Category >> The Cafe >> TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
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Message started by PerrydaSavage on 06/16/10 at 03:30:41

Title: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by PerrydaSavage on 06/16/10 at 03:30:41

Lately there has been a bit of "Cafe vs Bobber" chat goin' on here at Suzukisavage.com ... I don't see it as "one vs the other", as I love both styles very much!

Which leads me to the Suzuki TU250X ... a truely beautiful motorcycle which luckily you can buy in the U.S., but unluckily not here in Kanuckistan :( ... the TU, with it's Classic British influenced styling, lends itself to the Cafe treatment while it's cousin, the Cruiser inspired GZ usually gets the Bobber make-over. In stock form, the TU wins the "beauty contest" hands down AFAIC!

A Cafe'd TU250X
http://s1.postimage.org/1q4nZA-7471ffdcac8b772640f8941a972e9f7a.jpg

A Bobbed GZ250
http://www.gz250bike.com/forum/download/file.php?id=836&mode=view

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by babyhog on 06/16/10 at 05:38:54

526770707B6663516374636567020 wrote:

I prefer the GZ... (but that's one strange looking pipe!)

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by earlytimz on 06/16/10 at 11:11:30

The TU pic seems to be missing, or is it just for me?

I'm kinda diggin the homemade primer flames on the GZ tho...

There's a GZ on the Nashville CL for $500, needs engine. If I had the extra scratch, it would be my next project... An EV conversion bike

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by mick on 06/16/10 at 11:32:37

It's even pretty on it's own,just the way it is.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr311/mickrowe37/1069_0_2_3_tu2025020xv_Submitted20b.jpg

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by Spiff on 06/16/10 at 11:44:49

We use GZ 250s in the MSF BasicRider Courses I teach at the local community college most weekends. They are quite nice bikes.

There is a lot of fun to be had on a bike you can throw around a lot due to its light weight.

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by mick on 06/16/10 at 11:57:05

67445D5252340 wrote:

Spiff, what kind of performance do you get with them ,handling ?
speed ? etc,

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by babyhog on 06/16/10 at 12:11:35

484C5F4154594440572D0 wrote:

Yea, the TU pic didn't show, but if you click on the link in my quote of his post, it will open.

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by bill67 on 06/16/10 at 13:33:04

767278706F737E7772767E621B0 wrote:

It's even pretty on it's own,just the way it is.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr311/mickrowe37/1069_0_2_3_tu2025020xv_Submitted20b.jpg

Nice looking bike but theres guys here that could screw that up pretty quick

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by BurnPgh on 06/16/10 at 22:47:32

The TU reminds me of a baby camel or a hunched over little old man or something. That humping , fat egg shaped tank ...eh. I like the cafe setup on it a whole hell of a lot better than the stock look. I too rode the GZ250 for the MSF course and liked it quite a bit. Its a good looking little bike IMO. Since I never was able to get it out of 3rd on the course I cant speak to its credentials.

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by PerrydaSavage on 06/17/10 at 03:06:59

I'm also a certified MTP (Motorcycle Training Program) Instructor ... with the Canada Safety Council and our local Training fleet is made up of close to 40 Bikes; GZ250 Marauders, CMX250 Rebels, DR200 Dualies and Brazilian-spec Honda Titan 150's ... the GZ250's seem to stand up to Novice Rider abuse better than the Rebels for some reason ... that little 'Zuki 250cc single cylinder power plant is literally bullet-proof.

Personally, I'd love to see the TU (and more smaller displacement Bikes like it) come to Canadian market ... many similar versions in displacements from 250 to 650cc are available in Asia from the Big-4 Japanese manufacturers ...

BTW, that stock TU250 pic'd above must be an older Asian-spec model ... here's a pic of a stock 2010 North Am. spec unit ... note the different tank and 2-piece saddle ...

http://www.suzuki-motorcycles.info/model_pics/2009-Suzuki-TU250X.jpg

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by mick on 06/17/10 at 08:09:09

much better Perry,thanks

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by Spiff on 06/17/10 at 08:38:19

797D777F607C71787D79716D140 wrote:

[quote author=67445D5252340 link=1276684241/0#4 date=1276713889]We use GZ 250s in the MSF BasicRider Courses I teach at the local community college most weekends. They are quite nice bikes.

There is a lot of fun to be had on a bike you can throw around a lot due to its light weight.

Spiff, what kind of performance do you get with them ,handling ?
speed ? etc,[/quote]
In addition to what PerrydaSavage wrote (which I agree with), the TUs are very easy for the newbies to ride. If you can't do two U-turns in the U-turn box with these babies, you are hopeless. In other words, they handle quite nicely.

I've never found any student to be intimidated by these bikes ... they don't kill easily even if you let the clutch out a little too fast. They can stop on a dime, too.

They are very stable, right off the bat, so students are very confident about getting their feet up on the pegs soon after take off.

And the women who take the BRC think they are the cutest little things, and instantly take to them. And the low seat height helps for the inseam impaired (both male and female).

Title: Re: TU/GZ250 Cafes & Bobbers
Post by PerrydaSavage on 06/17/10 at 08:59:49

The GZ's get the same response our our Course as well ...

Aside; a pal's wife a few years ago owned a pristine '82 Honda CM450 ... typical standard UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) and it has to be one of the most comfortable, well balanced Bikes I have ever Ridden ... too bad the "Standard" motorcycle is such an endangered species here in North America ...