[AzCal Retred]

https://www.cycleworld.com/sport-rider/sportbikes/2015-suzuki-tu250x-first-look/

https://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/2006-suzuki-boulevard-s40-motorcycle-road-test-savage-turns-20/

[axman88]

I saw this machine on a Bart U-tube video about Retro motorcycles and found it interesting.

https://youtu.be/MShJWmEiR2E?t=127

The late version of the Tempter was a air cooled single of 396cc.   It was never imported into the USA.   The engine looks very much like what was installed in the Suzuki LS650 ( "Savage", "S40 Boulevard") which was imported into the USA, and has a very good reputation among those who own them for durability and undemanding reliability.  Unlike the 650's "chopper styling", the Tempter had a "standard" configuration, with moderate rake.

https://www.globalsuzuki.com/motorcycle/smgs/digital-archive/2_bike/ss4_055.php

With weight and horsepower in the same range as the Yamaha SR400, this Looks like a very practical, fun machine to me.  Another desirable bike that I'll likely never own, or even see, except in pictures.

[Richard230]

My brother owned a twin-cylinder Suzuki GR650D Tempter. It had a weird engine design that resulted in an internal failure at some point and he discovered that parts to repair the engine were not available. He managed to unload it somehow, perhaps to a salvage yard. I think that model came out sometime in the mid-1980's.    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_GR650

[AzCal Retred]

It had a flywheel with a "weight clutch" in it. Under hard acceleration the weight would freewheel so as to not impede acceleration. They looked pretty good, better than the 650 Twin Yamaha IMHO. Sadly a more complex design is more prone to failure. I've only seen one on Craigslist, and that was a few years back.

[Karl Childers]

My 99 1200 Bandit back in 2000 riding "The Devil's Backbone" in southern NM. They were nice versatile motorcycles. It was the 1100 GSXR motor bumped up a little in displacement but tuned for mid range. I did a lot of touring on it. I've owned two over the years.

[Leofric]

My 99 1200 Bandit back in 2000 riding "The Devil's Backbone" in southern NM. They were nice versatile motorcycles. It was the 1100 GSXR motor bumped up a little in displacement but tuned for mid range. I did a lot of touring on it. I've owned two over the years.

I had an early model 1200 Suzuki Bandit with the half fairing. It was the only bike I have had where the original screen didn't cause turbulence/buffeting.

[him a layin]

i've owned two suzukis over the years, both of them geo metros. good little cars.

[AzCal Retred]

My take on Suzuki is that they generally gave customers what they needed, but maybe not what they "wanted". To me the GN400 was a good example of that. About 25-28 HP, 5-speed, kick start, electronic ignition & carburettor, good fuel economy, decent handling as it was light & skinny, cast wheels, specs sound familiar? Not a big seller, but was perfect for the guy that actually rode to work everyday. Just not enough contact-magic "pizazz". The engineering was there but not the marketing savvy.

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gn400e%2080.htm

[Karl Childers]

I have a soft spot for Zukes. I've had one first gen and two second gen DR650's. I always got a kick out of them being called Bush Pigs in Oz. My last one was the most tricked out of the three.

[AzCal Retred]

Tough, adaptable survivors! 

[Richard230]

I bought a 2006 Suzuki SV650 for $5,450, and then later gave it to my daughter who still rides it. I don't think they have done much of any servicing to the bike for the past 10 years and it still starts and runs as well as ever. A really nice little motorcycle.

When my daughter went to UCSD, I bought her a 1990 Suzuki GS500EL for $2,800 as transportation while she was going to the University. She really got a lot of use out of that little bike. She would sometimes ride it from San Diego to my home near San Francisco, leaving on a Friday afternoon, arriving here early Saturday morning and leaving on Sunday afternoon for the ride back to Southern California. At times she would have to split lanes for a hundred miles to get through LA traffic. After she graduated and moved north of Seattle, she would ride the Suzuki from her home to my home on a weekend and return nonstop, except for gas, a 900 mile ride.

When the bike had 80K miles on the clock, her husband borrowed it and forgot to check the oil level. He ran the bike out of oil and the engine froze up. He borrowed a car from some friends in Portland, took the Suzuki apart and drove back home with the parts in the trunk and back seat. After arriving home, he reassembled the bike, poured oil in the crankcase and it started right up - although it did have a knock from the bottom end. My daughter rode the knocking GS for another 6,000 miles before finally selling it to a Mexican fellow for $800 who planned to ride it back to his home in Mexico City. Now that was a tough little sucker.

[him a layin]

very clean lines. i like it.

[Leofric]

I recently had a 2020 suzuki sv650, a great all round basic road bike,apart from the seat.