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"   MALIBU, Calif.\u2014Modern motorcycles use all manner of technological trickery to extract maximum performance from minimum engine displacement. It&amp;#039;s astounding that the most advanced bikes today develop as much horsepower as some fairly powerful cars did not that long ago. But every now and then a manufacturer goes against the grain and decides to keep it simple: the TU250X from Suzuki is one of those bikes. Built with subtle modern touches and a big nod to the past, the $3799 retro-style TU250X (available in every state but California for 2009) takes an atypical approach, offering a fresh, hip bike for beginner riders or those who simply yearn to get a taste of the past without huge horsepower\u2014or a huge outlay of cash.  The Specs  Externally, old-school touches like a chrome-plated headlight nacelle and wire wheels give the TU250X the look of a 1960s-era Universal Japanese Motorcycle, a style of bike typified by the CB-series Honda. This unassuming standard is powered by a four-stroke, single-cylinder engine that&amp;#039;s internally plated with SCEM (Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material) for lighter weight and more efficient cooling. The powerplant displaces just 249 cc, so it&amp;#039;s tame enough for first-time riders. Suzuki doesn&amp;#039;t release official power figures, but the air-cooled engine likely produces rear-wheel horsepower in the teens.   Despite its low-tech looks, the engine is fuel-injected and uses an electric starter. The exhaust is routed through a single pipe with a catalytic converter and an oxygen feedback emissions system. And the little TU250X is paired with a five-speed transmission. Fuel capacity is 3.17 gallons, and the saddle measures 30.3 inches high.   The TU250X uses a steel-tube frame, and is equipped with a dual-piston front brake and a rear drum unit. Up front, damping duties are handled by telescopic coil-spring shocks, while the rear suspension uses old-school dual coil springs. Don&amp;#039;t look for thick rubber on this ride: the 18-inch front wheel wears a skinny 90-mm tire, while the rear comes in at just 110 mm\u2014perfect for the nostalgic look.  The Ride  Swing a leg over the TU250X and you&amp;#039;ll find a nice low seat, with a decidedly welcoming feel from the saddle. The TU250X offers only basic motorcycle controls, and a small speedometer is surrounded by a few warning lights, including neutral gear and low-fuel indicators.   An electric starter fires up the small single without hesitation, and fuel injection translates to little or no wait for engine warm-up (unless ambient temperatures are unusually low), yet it takes some throttle to keep the small bike from stalling off the line.   Once at speed, the TU250X&amp;#039;s mild acceleration couples with quick, nimble direction changes. But this is not a bike that inspires the rider to twist the throttle in any gear and expect to squirt through traffic on a wave of torque. Nope. This Suzuki requires the rider to plan ahead and choose the right gear and entry speed to negotiate a pass or a high-speed corner.   We tested the TU250X across a series of Malibu canyon roads including Topanga, Mulholland and Latigo, and had a tough time wiping the smiles off our faces at the end of the day. How can such an underpowered bike be so fun? Well, it all comes down to the bike&amp;#039;s 328-pound curb weight, which made it very tossable and a joy to fling around the tight curves. However, this is a small bike. So larger riders might find the ergonomics a bit too compact for their frames. Low seat height sometimes leads to boot dragging on tight turns, and the soft ride is geared more for urban riding than for aggressive canyon carving. But the TU250X holds its own when piloted across challenging roads; the brakes are strong enough to inspire high speeds, and the shifter clicks into each gear with little effort.   Predictable power delivery also makes riding the Suzuki a relatively stress-free experience. With straight-line top speed approaching an indicated 85 mph on flat roads, the TU250X won&amp;#039;t win any drag races. But an oft-said maxim states that it&amp;#039;s more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow, and this Suzuki makes it clear why the clich\u00E9 is so often true.  The Bottom Line  The TU250X isn&amp;#039;t the only retro-styled ride on the market\u2014Triumph&amp;#039;s Bonneville and Ducati&amp;#039;s SportClassics also come to mind in the nostalgic two-wheeler category. But the Suzuki is one of the few that is appropriate for first-time riders. Thanks to its sub-$4000 price tag and fuel-injected engine, the TU250X should be on any rider&amp;#039;s short list of first or beginner bikes, not to mention lists of those who believe it&amp;#039;s more important to enjoy getting from A to B than it is to get there in record time.   For more Suzuki news and test rides, check out Hell For Leather      "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/motorcycles/a4667/4333691/>