The ST250E-type was a fuel-injected version of the ST250, a 250cc motorcycle in the neo-classic category released by Suzuki in 2003.
It was equipped with an air-cooled SOHC single-cylinder engine and had a simple, motorcycle-like design integrated into a compact chassis.
It all started with DR250S and GN250E
The engine used in the ST250E type is based on the one used in the DR250S off-road motorcycle and the cruiser-style GN250E, both of which were introduced in 1982. The ST250E type was manufactured until 2017, which means that this engine has been in service for 35 years, which is not as long as the SR, which was manufactured from 1978 to 2021, but more than 30 years of service is long enough. This engine was a basic air-cooled 4-stroke SOHC 4-valve engine, but it employed a TSCC (Two-Stroke Combustion Chamber) with two separate combustion chambers to improve fuel efficiency and produce easy-to-manage torque characteristics.
Introduced in 1982 as Suzuki's first 4-stroke 250cc off-roader, the DR250S was a high-performance model given the latest equipment at the time, including a 4-valve TSCC engine and a rear link-type full-floater suspension.
The GN250E was a cruiser model that debuted at the same time with the same engine as the DR250S.
This frame and engine would be carried over for more than 30 years to the ST250E type, while undergoing a series of improvements.
Arrival of the neo-classic motorcycle boom
The pioneer of the 250cc class neo-classics was Honda's GB250 Clubman, which had been produced with a series of model changes since its introduction in 1983.
At the time of its introduction, high-performance multi-cylinder engine motorcycles were on the rise, leading to a boom in racer replicas, and the single-engine GB was treated as for old men. It was not until around 1990 that the GB, which had been an isolated entity, caught up with the times, triggered by the neo-classic bike boom that began with the customization of the SR. Companies began to focus their attention on this category of motorcycle and began to put effort into the development of 250cc models.
Honda introduced the GB250 Clubman in 1989, Yamaha introduced the SRV250 with a V-twin engine in 1992, and in the same year, Kawasaki introduced the Estrella, inspired by the Meglot Junior series. In 1994, Suzuki released the Bolty, a classic-style road model equipped with an air-cooled 4-stroke SOHC 4-valve engine.
Launched in 1983, the Honda GB250 Clubman stood alone in the 250cc class during the heyday of racer replicas.
In the 1990s, the neo-classic boom caught up with it.
Kawasaki introduced the Estrella in 1992, a modernized version of the Meglo Junior's design, and the initial model with a separate-type seat was the catalyst for the 250cc neo-classic model boom.
Bolty, who has established a unique position
The Bolty was based not only on the engine but also on the frame and suspension of the GN250E. The design was unique, combining a European taste with a uniquely shaped fuel tank and seat. The fact that many of the body parts were based on the GN250E enabled the company to achieve a low price of 298,000 yen, compared to Estrella's new car price of 450,000 yen. The Bolty's compact chassis and comfortable position made it a successful model in the neo-classic category, as it was also accepted by female riders.
The production version of the SW-1 concept model presented at the 1989 motor show also used the GN250E series frame and engine, and the cruiser-type Marauder 250 introduced in 1998 was also based on this frame and engine.
Furthermore, when the street trucker boom hit at the end of the 1990s, this engine and frame were also used for the Grass Tracker/Big Boy released in 2000.
The Suzuki Bolty, launched in 1994, was almost directly adapted from the frame and engine of the GN250E.
Its unique design with a European flavor and compact, easy-to-handle chassis made it a longtime favorite among a wide range of riders.
The SW-1 appeared in 1992, wearing the design of the concept bike presented at the motor show, and although it used the frame and engine of the GN250E, its new price was 688,000 yen, which was very expensive for a 250cc bike at that time.
The cruiser-type Marauder 250 is the ancestor to the GN250E and is perhaps its most legitimate successor.
It was manufactured in Japan from 1998 to 2010, and was in the lineup for overseas markets until 2012.
In 2000, riding the street trucker boom, the Voltie-based Glass Tracker/Big Boy appeared on the market.
It was finished with an image completely different from that of the Bolty, and with a new car price of 384,000 yen, it was well accepted by the young people of the time.
ST250 series loved as standard motorcycles
The Bolty was discontinued in 2004, and its position was taken by the ST250, which was launched in 2003. In the 2000s, the neo-classics were established as a category and had a certain number of users as basic motorcycles. The model change from the Bolty to the ST250 included a major exterior design change and a change in engine specifications from four valves to two valves. The change to a 2-valve engine enhanced the bike's ease of use in the practical range rather than its power at high rpm, and the engine shifted from a sports-oriented engine to a more practical engine. The two exhaust pipes were replaced by a single exhaust pipe, giving the engine area a cleaner look. The engine itself has also undergone major modifications, such as the use of high-speed plated cylinders (SCEM) with improved friction resistance and heat conductivity. The wheel size, which was 18-inch front and 17-inch rear on the Bolty, was changed to 18-inch front and rear, and together with the slimmer tank and seat area, the overall impression was sleeker.
In 2004, the ST250E type was introduced with plated parts and a Kickstarter.
In addition, the ignition system on the ST250E type was changed from full transistor to CDI to use both the self-starter and kick-starter.
The ST250, introduced in 2003, adopted a more standard European design based on the Bolty.
Later, the ST250E type with a kick pedal was added to the lineup to fight the neo-classic bike boom.
In 2008, fuel injection was adopted to comply with stricter emission regulations, and the muffler was changed to one with a catalyst. The kick starter used on the ST250E type was discontinued and the ignition system was changed again to full transistor, and the ST250E type became the only model.
The ST250E type was discontinued along with its siblings, the Glass Tracker/Big Boy, without complying with the emission regulations that were tightened again in 2017.
The GN250E lineage came to an end this year, ending its 30-year-long journey.
The fuel-injected ST250E type is the final form of Suzuki's air-cooled 250cc single-cylinder engine. The engine and chassis have matured over a long history and are easy to handle, making it a good choice for beginner riders.500rpm
With the tightening of emission regulations, the ST250E type was converted to fuel injection and became the ST250E type only. There were no major changes in appearance or equipment, but maximum output was reduced from 20 PS to 19 PS, and the kick starter was eliminated.
The engine, which was converted to a 2-valve configuration when mounted on the ST250, has a single exhaust pipe. 19 PS at 7,500 rpm, the simple air-cooled single cylinder engine makes its presence felt in the center of the compact chassis.
Originally developed as a sports engine, this engine continued to be used as a basic engine for more than 30 years. There are only a few motorcycle engines that have remained in service for such a long time.
The meters are of the monocular type, with speed only, creating a cockpit with a minimal and practical design. Simplicity was considered a virtue of neo-classic bikes of this era.
The fuel tank, which gives a sleeker impression than the Volty, has the same 12L capacity as the Volty. This 2009 model uses a blurred paint job, giving it a luxurious finish.
The separate front and rear seat, inherited from the Bolty era, has a design that shows off the rear ends of the loop-shaped seat rails. The design of each part, which incorporates such trends, makes the ST250 look one rank higher.
The extremely simple footpeg design has been inherited from the GN250E. Suzuki is good at cutting costs wherever possible and creating vehicles that are also attractive in terms of price.
The front wheels are 18-inch spoke wheels with plated rims that create a luxurious look. The brakes are disc brakes with 2-pot calipers, providing sufficient stopping power when needed.
The biggest difference from the Volty is that the rear wheel size is now 18 inches, but the brakes are still drum-type. The exhaust is a chrome-plated megaphone type and is equipped with a catalytic converter and 02 sensor.
ST250E Type (2009)
Length x width x height: 2070 x 750 x 1075 mm
Wheelbase: 1375 mm
Seat height: 770 mm, vehicle weight: 132 kg (dry)
Engine: Air-cooled 4-stroke single cylinder SOHC 2-valve 249 cc
Maximum output: 19 PS/7500 rpm
Maximum torque: 2.1 kgf/m/5500 rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 12 L
Transmission: 5-speed return type
Brakes: F=disc, R=drum
Tires: F=90/90-18, R=110/90-18
Price: approx.2737 USD (excluding tax)
