Suzuki Stirs Up Minithumper War

SUZUKI STIRS UP MINITHUMPER WAR

ROUNDUP

SUZUKI HAS LET IT BE known that it will fight hard in Japan's new mini-Thumper war.

It has just introduced a new DR250R Dual Sport for a late 1995 release in Japan. Specs suggest the DR, targeted to compete against the Yamaha TT250R, Honda XR250R (now available in a D-P version) and Kawasaki KLX250, will be a contender for best-in-class honors.

Suzuki's latest DR features more power and a smaller, lighter chassis. The 249cc double-overhead-cam motor is a wet-sump design with an oil-cooler mounted on the frame downtube. It is claimed to produce 31 horsepower, up a bit on its Japanonly competitors. Seat height, 35.5 inches, is nearly an inch lower than the new XR250R. Suzuki apparently asserts a clear advantage in the weight department. With a claimed dry weight of 244 pounds, the DR is 9 pounds lighter than the street-legal XR.

Also evident on the new machine is a swingarm, linkage and shock similar to those used on the RM motocrossers. The front fork, similar to that of the Honda, is a new-style unit with a two-piece lower leg.

A U.S. Suzuki representative says there are no plans to sell the DR250R in the U.S., nor are there any plans of a 35()cc version.

Jimmy Lewis