Suzuki TM250 ”Champion”
1968—1975

I have tried to tell the Suzuki TM 250 Champion model history on this page as I know it. I would be grateful of any contributions — sales brochures, magazine ads, magazine articles, pictures, specs, facts, corrections etc. Please scan the material in JPEG format (large enough that all the details are visible) and send them to me. Please tell me the source and the publication date if possible. If you send me pictures of your own bike, please follow these instructions.

A detail from a 1972 TM-250 J & TM-400 advertisement. American motorcross champion The guys at the picture are John De Soto (left) and his brother Don. Click the image to view the full brochure page. I thank Gary Jesswein for providing me the brochure scan!

RH67/TM250 (1973) Suzuki’s first move into motocross started in 1964 with an experimental, twin-cylinder works machine that appeared at several 250 GPs. Suzuki had dominated 50cc and 125cc road racing in 1963 and felt they were ready to make an initial approach in motocross. Suzuki sent one of its road racers and two engineers to race the machine at select 250cc GPs. The results were dreadful, but Suzuki came back in 1965 with a single-cylinder model to test alongside an improved twin-cylinder model. By 1966, the twin was dropped and the factory focused on a single-cylinder model called RH66/67. The RH66 was heavily influenced by the 1964 CZ twin pipe that had carried Joel Robert to the 1964 250cc World Championship. The RH66/67 looked serious, but missed the mark by a wide margin. The power was peaky, handling poor, and the Suzuki was heavy compared to machines from Husqvarna and CZ. Despite this, in 1968 the factory decided to build 100 production bikes based on the RH67. The machine was called the TM250. Less than 50 were shipped to America, and the machines came with a complete parts kit that included pistons, rings, replacement clutch parts, gearing, and carburetor jetting. The '68 TM250 was raced in America by Preston Petty, Walt Axthelm and Gary Conrad. During that same season, Suzuki hired Swedish GP veteran Olle Pettersson to develop the machine. Literally overnight, Pettersson got significant changes made to the machine. The bore and stroke was changed for better low-end power. The engine was moved forward, and a single low pipe replaced the twin high pipes. Pettersson also recommended hiring Joel Robert—and the rest is history!

1968 Suzuki TM250, Silver / Blue

1968 Suzuki TM 250 Footpeg Height: 264 mm (10.4 in) Seat Height: 800 mm (31.5 in) Seat Width: 218 mm (8.6 in) Wheelbase: 1 340 mm (52.7 in) Ground Clearance: 218 mm (8.6 in) Curb Weight: 111 kg (243 lbs) Engine: 249.7 cc 1-cylinder 2-stroke, 32 hp @ 6 800 rpm. Top speed: 63 mph. 5 speeds Click on the image for larger format.

1972 Suzuki year code: J

TM250J (1972) The new TM250J and was knicknamed ‘Champion’, After the RH71 ‘works’ 250 ridden by World Champion, Joel Robert. It was based very much on the TS250 trail bike and shared many engine parts including the figure of eight type Magneto cover and clutch operated through a worm and push rod arrangement. The sprocket cover was fitted with three diagonal slits and all the cases were finished in a satin matt black colour. The compression ratio was 7.5:1 and had a fan type cylinder head; the piston bore size was 70mm. An exhaust system with no rear silencer certainly made the machine sound good and courtesy of a five-speed constant mesh gearbox it produced 30 bhp at 7,500 rpm. A 34mm Mikuni carburettor was fitted and foam air filter was boxed under the seat. Ignition was by PEI (pointless electronic ignition). Suzuki’s own Posi-Force lubrication system was used with the two-stroke oil tank being fitted under the right hand side number plate. Footrests were folding fabricated sheet steel type. The fuel tank was in yellow (Suzuki colour code 163, Aspen Yellow ! ), it had a black stripe following the outer shape of the tank and had Suzuki badges screwed on top of the stripe. The tank cap was a steel twist type with a breather pipe. The wheels had aluminium alloy rims with a 300x21 knobbly tyre on the front and a 400x18 fitted to the rear. The total weight of the bike was a very competitive 220 lbs dry.

1972 Suzuki TM-250 Champion Yellow

1972 Suzuki TM 250 J Champion Overall Length: 2 145 mm (84.5 in) Overall Width: 870 mm (34.3 in) Overall Height: 1 160 mm (45.7 in) Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.8 in) Ground Clearance: 216 mm (8.5 in) Dry Weight: 100 kg (220 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 246 cc aluminum 1-cylinder 2-stroke. 30 hp @ 7 500 rpm, 21.0 ft-lb @ 5 500 rpm Click on the image for larger format.

1973 Suzuki year code: K

TM250K (1973) Very similar to the ’72 model the K had the following changes. New type clutch cover with a rack and pinion type clutch operation, although the magneto and sprocket covers were still the same. The folding footrests were now the later type cast steel. Rear suspension units and swinging arm were the same as the predecessor. The fuel tank had Suzuki stickers instead of badges and a blue/white stripe went round the back of the tank where the letters TM appeared.

1973 Suzuki TM-250 Champion Yellow

1973 Suzuki TM 250 K Overall Length: 2 130 mm (83.9 in) Overall Width: 870 mm (34.3 in) Overall Height: 1 120 mm (44.1 in) Wheelbase: 1 420 mm (55.9 in) Dry weight: 102 kg (220 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder 2-stroke. Japan: 31 hp (22.6 kW) @ 7 300 rpm, 3.1 kg-m @ 6 000 rpm USA: 28 hp @ 7 000 rpm, 21.6 ft-lb @ 6 000 rpm Click on the image for larger format.

1973 Suzuki TM 250 K Overall Length: 2 130 mm (83.9 in) Overall Width: 870 mm (34.3 in) Overall Height: 1 120 mm (44.1 in) Wheelbase: 1 420 mm (55.9 in) Dry weight: 102 kg (220 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder 2-stroke. Japan: 31 hp (22.6 kW) @ 7 300 rpm, 3.1 kg-m @ 6 000 rpm USA: 28 hp @ 7 000 rpm, 21.6 ft-lb @ 6 000 rpm Click on the image for larger format.

1974 Suzuki year code: L

TM250L (1974) Much the same as the ‘72/’73 models the L had these few differences. Straight type finning in the cylinder head. Smaller type magneto cover and a sprocket cover peppered with seven holes to clear mud easier. A rear silencer was now fitted to the exhaust to lower the decibels. Front forks, suspension units and swinging arm were all uprated. The rear mudguard now bolted on to the rear frame loop. The fuel tank now had dark green/white stipes that did a U round the rear of the tank.

1975 Suzuki TM-250 Champion Yellow

1974 Suzuki TM 250 Champion Overall Length: 2 130 mm (83.9 in) Overall Width: 870 mm (34.3 in) Overall Height: 1 120 mm (44.1 in) Wheelbase: 1 420 mm (55.9 in) Ground Clearance: 205 mm (8.1 in) Dry weight: 102 kg (220 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke. USA: 27 hp @ 7 500 rpm, 20.9 ft-lb @ 6 000 rpm 5 speeds. Click on the image for larger format.

1975 Suzuki year code: M

TM250M (1975) Just a few changes over the previous models for the M model. The gearbox had some gears with different ratios. Suspension units were again different. The fuel tank was all yellow with the Suzuki logo written over a rising sun type design.

1975 Suzuki TM-250 Champion Yellow

1975 Suzuki TM 250 Champion Overall Length: 2 130 mm (83.9 in) Overall Width: 870 mm (34.3 in) Overall Height: 1 120 mm (44.1 in) Wheelbase: 1 420 mm (55.9 in) Ground Clearance: 205 mm (8.1 in) Dry weight: 102 kg (220 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke. USA: 27 hp @ 7 500 rpm, 20.9 ft-lb @ 6 000 rpm. 5 speeds. Click on the image for larger format.

More: Suzuki TM series

More: All Suzuki models

Sources: MXA Motocross Action http://www.crooks-suzuki.com/tm.html

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