Suzuki TS250 model history
1969—1981

I have tried to tell the Suzuki TS 250 model history on this page, as I know it. The page is still under construction. 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.

The 246cc air-cooled two-stroke single TS250 was introduced in 1969. It had 23 bhp, five speeds and high-drawn exhaust pipe. It was based on the TM250 production motocrosser but the TS had less powerful engine and it was built as a dual purpose machine, being street legal and having the Posi-Force fuel/oil mix system. The TS250 was called Savage in America, Hustler in Japan. The Japanese version had a slightly weaker engine than the export models. The initial models had 18,5 hp, increasing to 22 hp from the 1971-year's model.

TS 250 1969 Overall Length: 2 115 mm (83.3 in) Overall Width: 880 mm (34.6 in) Overall Height: 1 125 mm (44.3 in) Seat Height: 820 mm (32.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 370 mm (53.9 in) Ground Clearance: 240 mm (9.5 in) Dry Weight: 127 kg (280 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. CCI, kick starter. Pointless PEI ignition. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm (with kit 31 hp/ 7,000 rpm), 2,71 kg-m (19.6 lbs-ft)/ 5,000 rpm. 5 speeds.

TS 250 1969 Overall Length: 2 115 mm (83.3 in) Overall Width: 880 mm (34.6 in) Overall Height: 1 125 mm (44.3 in) Seat Height: 820 mm (32.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 370 mm (53.9 in) Ground Clearance: 240 mm (9.5 in) Dry Weight: 127 kg (280 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. CCI, kick starter. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm (with kit 31 hp/ 7,000 rpm), 2,71 kg-m (19.6 lbs-ft)/ 5,000 rpm. 5 speeds.

The brand name Suzuki was added to the fuel tank under the company's logotype. Apart from the graphics, there were some more differences between the first two model years. The rear mudguard, rear light, speedo and tachometer, exhaust and heat shield are all significantly different. Both the 1969 & 1970 models have points, not PEI that debuted on the model R.

TS 250 II 1970 Overall Length: 2 115 mm (83.3 in) Overall Width: 880 mm (34.6 in) Overall Height: 1 140 mm (44.9 in) Seat Height: 820 mm (32.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 370 mm (53.9 in) Ground Clearance: 240 mm (9.4 in) Dry Weight: 121 kg (266 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. CCI, kick starter. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm (with kit 31 hp/ 7,000 rpm), 2,71 kg-m (19.6 lbs-ft)/ 5,000 rpm.

1971Suzuki year code: R

New graphics, longer wheelbase, less weight. PEI pointless ignition system.

TS 250 R 1971 Overall Length: 2 140 mm (84.3 in) Overall Width: 890 mm (35.1 in) Overall Height: 1 125 mm (44.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 417 mm (55.8 in) Ground Clearance: 249 mm (9.8 in) Dry Weight: 115 kg (253 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm, 2,68 kg-m (19.4 ft-lb)/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format.

1972 Suzuki year code: J

New graphics.

TS 250 J 1972 Overall Length: 2 140 mm (84.3 in) Overall Width: 890 mm (35.1 in) Overall Height: 1 125 mm (44.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 417 mm (55.8 in) Ground Clearance: 249 mm (9.8 in) Dry Weight: 111 kg (245 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm, 2,68 kg-m (19.4 ft-lb)/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

1973 Suzuki year code: K

Mikuni VM28SH carburetor. New graphics, tail light and exhaust pipe guard.

TS 250 K 1973 Overall Length: 2 185 mm (86.0 in) Overall Width: 890 mm (35.0 in) Overall Height: 1 100 mm (43.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in) Ground Clearance: 247 mm (9.7 in) Dry Weight: 111 kg (245 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. Kick start. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm, 2,68 kg-m (19.4 ft-lb)/ 5,500 rpm. 75-80 mph. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

TS 250 K 1973 Overall Length: 2 185 mm (86.0 in) Overall Width: 890 mm (35.0 in) Overall Height: 1 100 mm (43.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in) Ground Clearance: 247 mm (9.7 in) Dry Weight: 111 kg (245 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. Kick start. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm, 2,68 kg-m (19.4 ft-lb)/ 5,500 rpm. 75-80 mph. Click on the image for larger format.

Detail of the quite pretty picture of a TS250K published in a 1973 "Cycle Guide" magazine. Click to see the whole picture. Sent to me by Scott Andersen, USA.

1974 Suzuki year code: L

TS 250 L 1974 Overall Length: 2 210 mm (87.0 in) Overall Width: 890 mm (35.0 in) Overall Height: 1 130 mm (43.3 in) Ground Clearance: 250 mm (9.8 in) Dry Weight: 111 kg (245 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. Kick start. 22 hp / 6,500 rpm, 2,60 kg-m (18.8 ft-lb)/ 5,500 rpm. 75-80 mph. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

TS 250 L 1974 Overall Length: 2 210 mm (87.0 in) Overall Width: 890 mm (35.0 in) Overall Height: 1 130 mm (43.3 in) Ground Clearance: 250 mm (9.8 in) Dry Weight: 111 kg (245 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. Kick start. 22 hp / 6,500 rpm, 2,60 kg-m (18.8 ft-lb)/ 5,500 rpm. 75-80 mph.

In the Suzuki parts book (99000-91474) it shows the tank colour as  #293 (Marble Scarlet) with tank graphics as (lower stripe) #742 Silver Metallic and (upper stripe) #002 light blue.

1975 Suzuki year code: M

TS 250 M 1975 Overall Length: 2 185 mm (86.0 in) Overall Width: 890 mm (35.0 in) Overall Height: 1 100 mm (43.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in) Ground Clearance: 247 mm (9.7 in) Dry Weight: 111 kg (245 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. Kick start. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm, 2,68 kg-m (19.4 ft-lb)/ 5,500 rpm. 75-80 mph. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

1976 Suzuki year code: A

Mikuni VM28SS carburetor, new aluminum rim wheels, new exhaust pipe guard. Black engine.

TS 250 A 1976 Overall Length: 2 210 mm (87.0 in) Overall Width: 890 mm (35.0 in) Overall Height: 1 130 mm (44.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in) Ground Clearance: 249 mm (9.8 in) Dry Weight: 109 kg (240 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. Kick start. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm, 2,68 kg-m (19.4 ft-lb)/ 5,500 rpm. 75-80 mph. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

TS 250 A 1976 Overall Length: 2 210 mm (87.0 in) Overall Width: 890 mm (35.0 in) Overall Height: 1 130 mm (44.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in) Ground Clearance: 249 mm (9.8 in) Dry Weight: 109 kg (240 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder 2-stroke. Kick start. 23 hp / 6,500 rpm, 2,68 kg-m (19.4 ft-lb)/ 5,500 rpm. 75-80 mph. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

1977 Suzuki year code: B

New frame with a double down tube (in front of the engine) and Reed valve engine. Laid down gas-oil rear shocks. New exhaust pipe.

TS 250 Hustler 1977 Overall Length: 2 180 mm (85.8 in) Overall Width: 855 mm (33.7 in) Overall Height: 1 130 mm (44.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 400 mm (55.1 in) Dry weight: 128 kg (281 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke. 23 hp / 6,000 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format. These (Japanese) measurements differ some from the numbers on the U.S sales brochure (see below).

TS 250 1977 Overall Length: 2 160 mm (85.0 in) Overall Width: 850 mm (33.4 in) Overall Height: 1 110 mm (43.7 in) Wheelbase: 1 400 mm (55.1 in) Ground Clearance: 239 mm (9.4 in) Dry weight: 118 kg (260 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke. 23 hp / 6,000 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format.

TS 250 1977 Overall Length: 2 160 mm (85.0 in) Overall Width: 850 mm (33.4 in) Overall Height: 1 110 mm (43.7 in) Wheelbase: 1 400 mm (55.1 in) Ground Clearance: 239 mm (9.4 in) Dry weight: 118 kg (260 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke. 23 hp / 6,000 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

TS 250 1977 Overall Length: 2 160 mm (85.0 in) Overall Width: 850 mm (33.4 in) Overall Height: 1 110 mm (43.7 in) Wheelbase: 1 400 mm (55.1 in) Ground Clearance: 239 mm (9.4 in) Dry weight: 118 kg (260 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke. 23 hp / 6,000 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

TS 250 1977 Overall Length: 2 160 mm (85.0 in) Overall Width: 850 mm (33.4 in) Overall Height: 1 110 mm (43.7 in) Wheelbase: 1 400 mm (55.1 in) Ground Clearance: 239 mm (9.4 in) Dry weight: 118 kg (260 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke. 23 hp / 6,000 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

1978 Suzuki year code: C

TS 250 C 1978 Overall Length: 2 180 mm (85.8 in) Overall Width: 855 mm (33.7 in) Overall Height: 1 130 mm (44.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 400 mm (55.1 in) Ground Clearance: 239 mm (9.4 in) Dry weight: 118 kg (260 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke. 23 hp / 6,000 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format.

1979 Suzuki year code: N

TS 250 N 1979 Overall Length: 2 180 mm (85.8 in) Overall Width: 855 mm (33.7 in) Overall Height: 1 130 mm (44.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 400 mm (55.1 in) Ground Clearance: 239 mm (9.4 in) Dry weight: 118 kg (260 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke. 23 hp / 6,000 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 5,500 rpm. Click on the image for larger format.

1980 Suzuki year code: T

The ER model with more plastics. Totally new design.

TS 250 T 1980 Overall Length: 2 220 mm (87.4 in) Overall Width: 870 mm (34.3 in) Overall Height: 1 165 mm (45.9 in) Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in) Dry Weight: 119 kg (262 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder two-stroke. 22 hp / 5,500 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 5,000 rpm. Click on the image for larger format.

1981 Suzuki year code: X

New graphics. As far as I know, the Suzuki TS250 was discontinued after 1981. The model reappeared in 1985, with a liquid-cooled, more powerful engine and a new model name, TS250X (actually the 1981-year's model was also called TS250X, the X pointing out the model year and nothing else). The new model was also called RH250 in some parts of the world.

TS 250 X 1981 Overall Length: 2 220 mm (87.4 in) Overall Width: 870 mm (34.3 in) Overall Height: 1 165 mm (45.9 in) Wheelbase: 1 415 mm (55.7 in) Dry Weight: 119 kg (262 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 246 cc single cylinder two-stroke. 22 hp / 5,500 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 5,000 rpm. Click on the image for larger format.

More: Suzuki TS series

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