1978 Suzuki TS250 - 5-Page Vintage Motorcycle Dirt Road Test Article

Description

1978 Suzuki TS250 - 5-Page Vintage Motorcycle Dirt Road Test Article
Original, Vintage Magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
THIS YEAR DUAL-PURPOSE MOTORCYCLES
enter their second decade of production.
The 1968 introduction of the Yamaha
DT-1 marked the beginning of this hybrid
type, and only one year later Suzuki de-
buted the TS250.
In this ten-year period the 250 Suzuki
has been developed in spurts. There were
no major changes in the bike until 1971.
At that time, the bike weighed nearly 350
pounds with a tankfui of gas. Plastic fend-
ers replaced steel ones, electronic igni-
tion replaced the conventional points
system and various minor weight-reduc-
tion measures were undertaken. The ma-
jor result: a 40-pound weight loss. From
1971 to 1975, the only change, other than
cosmetic refinements, was the replace-
ment of the steel fork sliders with alumi-
num ones.
In 1976 Suzuki produced another
technological jump forward. Borrowing
from the advances made by the Suzuki
factory motocross effort, the TS gained
crankcase reed-valve induction (trade-
marked by Suzuki as Power Reed), and
KYB gas/oil shocks were mounted on the
swing arm in the lay-down position. Then
the TS250 entered another dormant pe-
riod; after 1976 only paint and striping
were changed.
There are two reasons for this Suzuki
stasis. First, the engine and chassis pack-
age is established, and it functions about
as well as it can. given the machine's
intended function. Coaxing more power
from the 246cc unit would produce relia-
bility problems, expensive headaches for
consumers. Altering the suspension dra-
matically might make the bike more suit-
able for either road or dirt use; but
assuming the rider wishes to ride both
places, the suspension needs refinement,
not a major shift in type. Further, the TS
remains unchanged because the future of
the two-stroke dual-purpose bike in gen-
eral is uncertain.
Could two-stroke street trail machines
be technically outlawed? The key word
here is ''technically.” Legislators are in the
midst of proposing laws to establish noise
and emission standards. Manufacturers
can meet the technical standards, but the
question is whether or not the price—paid
for in performance loss—is too high. In
Japan today, Suzuki 360cc and 550cc
two-stroke automobiles are meeting ever-
tightening emission standards without
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