I don’t know how it’s possible, but after all the motorcycles we’ve seen, we have never seen a Suzuki TS250 here on Barn Finds. Let’s fix that now. This 1976 Suzuki TS250 Savage is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and they’re asking $1,800. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
You could already see in the opening photo that this bike needs work, at least cosmetically. The rear turn signals are missing, although the seller does have one of them. eBay or some other source will have to provide the other, along with a new seat cover. Otherwise, it looks like it could be cleaned up pretty well. I don’t know if having the tank and side covers repainted would be worth the money, but a person could always give it a shot themselves.
The Suzuki TS250 “Savage” was made from 1969 until 1981, and Marble Scarlet is the name of this beautiful red color, although then again, some sources say it’s Laredo Red. Maybe it depends on the country. Suzuki offered a TS50, TS75, TS80, TS90, TS100, TS125, TS125R (liquid-cooled), TS185, TS200R (liquid-cooled), TS250, TS250X (liquid-cooled), and a TS400. Hagerty is at $1,800 for a #4 fair-condition example, exactly what the seller is asking for this one.
It’s hard to tell, but it looks like the mileage is 10,681. The seller doesn’t list the mileage, and the photo is a bit pixelated when I enlarge it to see the miles. With a 5-way adjustable rear suspension and semi-double cradle frame, proven in Suzuki’s race heritage, this 250 should be up for riding both on the street and on the trail.
I really like the black engine and especially the cylinder head with ground-edge fins; that’s a cool look. This photo is an enlargement of the second photo, just to have a bit closer look at the engine, pixelated or not. This is Suzuki’s 246-cc two-stroke oil-injected single-cylinder with 23 horsepower and 19 lb-ft of torque. Power screams through a 5-speed manual transmission, and the seller says it starts with a few kicks (like me) and really rips, unlike me. The “carbs” were rebuilt, but there’s only one carb on this bike, of course. This would be a fun one to own and tinker with during the week and then let’r rip on weekends.
Got one of these used as my first dirt bike. Took off the signals and hit the dirt. It was a fair performer but was heavy and not up to the level of my friends’ bikes. I sold it and picked up a TM250. Was suddenly leader of the pack on the dirt. Sure wish these old bones of mine could do it all over again, most fun I ever had on a motorcycle.
I agree wholeheartedly with Azzurra, a neighbor asked me today during another of our all day power outages( coming to an area near you) and he said, “when was the last time you had fun”? That’s easy, when I had my DRZ riding back in the hills, 4 years ago. He said, why don’t you get another one? Sigh,,I just don’t know. Temptation is extreme with SG at the helm, this would be perfect. Keeping in mind, no long highway rides, just enough to get to a trail or back road. These will do 55, but not much more. After my “fainting spell” on my bicycle, I’ve never regained that confidence on a 2 wheeler gave the bike away, and just as well.
None of my posts would be complete without some sort of bummer. In CO., motorcycle crashes are at an all time high( no pun intended) I always read them, and so many times, the “operator” was 71, or 68, or 80. Where a younger person might fly and land okay, us old farts, one good zeitz, and it’s curtains. For those that want to “die with their boots on”, it’s a great find.
You’re making my buddy crazy, SG. He owned one of these (“1st new bike I ever bought! I loved it!) and when I sent him the RZ350 piece he really went sideways LOL.
He paid me back, though-he sent me a Craigslist ad for a Bultaco Sherpa S, almost identical to the one once in my garage..
SG,these water cooled enduro bikes you listed couldn’t be two strokes,are they? I know they made the “water buffalo”,but not enduro bikes too,I hope.I had a 72 250 Yammie dt-2 for 10 years.Sold it with 70,000 miles. Two rebuilds. Great bike
I had a TS185 early on. A good, if not inspirational bike, unlike the Can Am 250 that followed it. Now that bike had power in prodigious amounts. A fact that I learned with accompanying pain when it launched itself and me vertically off a cliff at a series of gravel pits that we rode at regularly outside of Emporia, KS. I rode it to Lake Afton (Goddard, KS) for their Grand Prix weekend (glorified SCCA races). It had no problem keeping up with the traffic on I-35 between Emporia and Goddard, KS.
TS was the on/off road version. TM was the motocross version. The TM 400 is universally regarded as one of the worst, most dangerous motocross bikes ever made, with a frame that made wet noodles seem stiff.
This is a good bike, maybe worth $400-$500 at best. It’s not really a collector bike, unless someone has a personal experience from “back in the day” that they want to relive.
20 odd years ago I was without a workshop and was buying/restoring/selling vintage enduros to keep myself busy. Back then you could still find running machines for $400-$600. I went through a number of DT/ITs, TSs and a few SL/XLs. All can be tough to find parts for, but the Zooks (Suzukis) were the hardest due to an almost total lack of factory support. The aftermarket has most wear items, like chains, brakes, bearings, and most cables covered, but things like gauges, chain guards, kick starters, switches, seat foam, etc. can bring a Zook resto to a standstill in a hurry. I still have a pop green 71 TS250 project that I really wanted to build for myself, but I’ll probably never finish because of lack of parts. Fortunately, the feature bike looks pretty complete.