Post Listing Update: This TS250 did not get any interest at the asking price of $3,750. It was relisted at $3,250 and it suffered the same fate.
Suzuki produced the Savage 250 from 1969 to 1981 and I missed it. I didn’t actually miss it, I ignored it. Completely. By 1974 I had bought a TM400 (the start of yellow paint for Suzuki race bikes) and simply couldn’t be bothered with a pretend dirt racer. I’d walk right by the Savage to get chains, sprockets and tires for my 400. While I spent 8 years trying to ride “the most dangerous motorcycle ever built” (Motocross Magazine) Suzuki had a perfectly rideable alternative in the TS250 Savage.
The Suzuki Savage was in at the start of the trail bike scene in 1969 and by 1973 was a very established player in the market. Claimed to be a little brother to the ‘works’ bikes, they were actually a completely separate design. The Savage used a 246 CC two stroke air cooled single cylinder motor with auto lube that pushed 23 HP (up from 18 in ‘73) through a 5 speed transmission to a reliable 80 MPH top speed. A relatively heavy 245 LBS with over 9 inches of ground clearance made for a predictable on/off road ride.
This particular TS250 Savage is in Corona del Mar, CA and is a 3,167 mile original owner bike. It has new tires, battery and gaskets, and the headlight and hi/low switch do not work. It’s a very good looking example of a good motorcycle, and you can find it with a Buy It Now price of $3,750
Personal Note: That foul riding TM400 did not kill me, although it certainly tried a couple of times. It was completely addictingly fast, and the truth is, I learned some skills on (and off) that beast that still serve me very well, even on the street. Truly a love/hate ride.