Suzuki GT250A 1976, the best in the UK (maybe)

Suzuki GT250 1976
2 stroke
immaculate

[@nickwelder9602]

I had one of these in silver when i was 17, girlfriend on the back picked up from Witney to Oxford, Many happy memories , lovley bike. Soon as you started it up I was 17 again. now 62. Where did those years go.

[@mcmechanic864]

Great little story 🙂👍

[@bradleys378]

Beautiful GT. Reminds me of my early 20s as a student (a long time ago !) when I had a GP100, happy days !

[@choco4677]

I have a question, would this GT 250 exhaust fit on a GP 125?

[@fengpo]

I purchased a 'brand spanking new' GT250c, in 1979, on a T plate...same colour blue, but different decals. Loved it. 💙

[@MrTPF1]

I bought a used GT250 in 1979. Very reliable, very nice bike for my first one. I rode it all around San Diego with my girlfriend on the back. Great memories!

[@tubewayarmy2]

A GT 250 was my first bike. I rode it slowly for half an hour getting used to it, then opened it up and whoa!! Just great fun.

[@muckle8]

The entire Suzuki GT range was so classy and just looked stronger than all the others back in the day - older brothers first bike was a 250 hustler and then picked up a Gt 250, and then a kettle - great days the 70’s

[@factorylad5071]

The Suzuki TS range were snappy singles bikes.

[@slider3215]

Fantastic example of a bike I had at 17

[@Endrjo]

When I was 17 I could only dream of a bicycle at most 😆

[@memememe2674]

Me to, straight from a DT50 after passing test at 17.those were the days. Friends it the mire modern super dream but not better looking

[@tomhopper6646]

Nice bike Had a gold 1973 M reg way back when, was a nippy bike for it's day 🙂

[@musiclover5023]

My friend Ron had one in 1977 on the R registration, same colour, I was 15 at the time, Ron would take me out on it as a passenger down to the Cotswolds and that bike was so fast. I never forgot the speeds because I nearly crapped myself !

[@pp2021]

I always wanted that bike, could never afford it. Had a ride on that very model in 76, was very impressed.

[@earnie6511]

I had 2 when i was younger same colour and they were great, thanks for that mate.

[@timspeed163]

i was born in 1962, so seen the from British to Japanese of the 70s, i still like them all, you said Barry sheene remember at the finish everyone stormed the finish line the riders had to dodge the crowed. times have changed

[@martintingey7702]

What a lovely bike! I had a red GT250B that I bought brand new in 1977 for around (I think?) £650. This one (like the B model) would put out 32 BHP. Great to hear and see yours going - great memories, great fun!!!!

[@susheergovindaraj5842]

Fantastic bike. It's so well put together and looks like a brand new bike coming out of its factory.

[@mcmechanic864]

Thanks

[@rodgercostello9814]

Gorgeous machine, memory tells me the gt 250 was just under 100mph top speed, then the x7 came out which was lighter version breaking 100mph. Good ole memories with them all

[@stormytempest6521]

Had an X7 my friend, 99 all day !🙂

[@rodgercostello9814]

99 isnt a ton lol

[@TheLeylander]

What a beautiful example just like the one my brother had in the 1970,s sounds amazing too , thank you for sharing , made my day 👍 .

[@mcmechanic864]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@ianh.6825]

I always liked the GTs, particularly the 380 and 550 triples. They just look so much sturdier than the Kawasaki KH. I had the little GT125 myself with the cool-looking Ram Air System cylinder head. I'm not sure how effective it was at keeping things cool, but it looked good.

[@stormytempest6521]

Lovely Sound! Takes me back🙂.

[@halethewhale]

Beauty, my dad owned one of these in his younger days said it was the most fun he's ever had on 2 wheels.

[@mcmechanic864]

Yes...they were great fun

[@halethewhale]

@@mcmechanic864 it was when you went from a fizzy 😂 I will show him this for sure he misses that sound.

[@Martindyna]

@@halethewhale A lot of FS1Es at college back in the 70s but one guy had a Fantic Motor 50 with a 6 speed gearbox.

[@roberthumphreys1316]

The motorcycle is spectacular, and I did enjoy the video, thanks much from Washington State, USA.

[@mcmechanic864]

Thank you very much 👍😀

[@SBKPete]

Most of us had RD’s in 78, but my mate had that same bike, in that very colour. Stunning bike 👍🏻

[@bradjarrett4756]

Lovely bike mate....thanks for sharing. I had one many years ago 🙂

[@norseman5041]

what a bike, amazing, yes the exhaust from these 2 strokers are just perfume in the air. Now I want one more 🙂

[@Team-fabulous]

Beautiful, my chum had one back in the day with a set of Serval expansion Chambers... Sounded fantastic.

[@mcmechanic864]

Thanks 👍

[@jasonmcmanus6169]

Brings back Nice memories

[@neilhutchison3338]

Lovely bike. Looks like new. The sound when you started it up took me down memory lane. I bought a gold one in 1977: 400 miles on the clock and I got it for £400. I suspect this one cost a bit more than that!

[@Area51dog]

Nice bike and vid. Helped me figure out some loom routing as well!

[@michaelreid5307]

Two friends had these back in the late 80s.

[@gordonturke4171]

Just awesome

[@mickgarbutt3553]

A '73 GT250K in Green was my first bike. 🙂

[@emeraldviking3637]

Beautiful sound

[@peterdebullion1211]

I had a gt 250 Blue one then got the gt380 Red one then got the gt 500 blu one . I loved the 3 of them then i wnt on to Honda CBR1000 F And than a Fireblade then more bikes than i can remamber . Big part of my life

[@petervdveenmuis]

I owned a T20. One hundred mile an hour. The first six speed motorcycle. A little rocket.

[@richardzollinger4750]

Gorgeous

[@stevehackett3576]

bought one new in 1975 cost £650 it was gold when i bought it had it painted black lovely bike rode from london to barry island wales on her rode like dream all the way

[@nigelandpaulamarsha]

Absolutely mint, I love it. My best mate had an orange one, back in '78, was always a bit jealous if I'm honest. This video tells me time does not change thing's, I'm still jealous......haha!

[@buddy1065]

I had the GT185 but my friend bought the GT380 Ram Air and that triple was the smoothest bike I've ever ridden.

[@mcmechanic864]

I've never had a 380 but I did have a 550 and a 750, also very smooth. I now have another 750.. check it out on one of my other videos 🙂

[@ianbrown5486]

My favourite time 70t for motor cycles style looks still the best sounds fantastic I still want one lucky man

[@derekbond3512]

Must say this is outstanding a real cracker the sound and the smell of 2 stroke oil is absolutely mmmmh, i had a T20 supersix (the earlier version of this), the motor is virtually the same then got a T350( actual 315cc) which was a lot more rapid. Your bike is an awesome example, great all rounder, i'm envious. Beautiful Suzuki sound.

[@michaelfirth1075]

Great video.

[@anthonygebala1198]

They were great bikes

[@bsa_brummie7775]

Thanks for posting that is a great example. Past my test on one in 1974. I still have the receipt from Copes Motorcycles - Happy Days

[@RodWebb]

Thanks 👍😊

[@RodWebb]

Excellent...how much was it... about £425 ?

[@jasonscott5932]

That thing is awesome.

[@chrishorst6993]

I had one back in the mid 80’s when I was in High School. Never had it running didn’t have a key. Mine was Gold and had a knob for the steering to make it harder to steer at speeds

[@soulman1419]

Had a gold one back in the day👌racing my mate on his 250 yds7🤣🤣 your bike is lovely 👍

[@mcmechanic864]

Thanks 👍

[@geoffsample5273]

just the same as my first and only brand new vehicle bought it on tick think it cost me about £600 with finance R REG i was 20 at the time in my last year of my apprenticeship great bike went many miles in all weather.Miss the freedom it gave but life moves on.

[@CZ350tuner]

The T20, T250 & GT250C had 2mm. larger carbs than the GT250K/L/M/A/B models. The stock GT250C was 2 MPH (97 MPH) faster than the stock X7 (95 MPH). This was exposed in MIRA test results, by Bike Magazine, in 1978. The T250's / GT250's laughably feeble 12 Volt 47 Watt half wave rectification electrical system can be easily improved to 12 Volts 75 Watts full wave rectification, by installing an all in one regulator & rectifier unit from a Honda CB250RS, CB250N or CB400, etc. Because the GT250 only has a 2 phase alternator,, only 2 out of the 3 input wires, to the unit, are required. I've undertaken this upgrade on a customer's GT250A, back in 1998. This mod also stops the infamous Suzuki T250/GT250 bulb blowing trick, if the battery becomes disconnected when riding with the lights on. Boring out the cylinders to take the pistons from a T350/GT550J/K/L increases the cylinder capacity to 305cc. This is exactly the same method that Suzuki used to create the T305 Raider. The main jets will require increasing. Best check the carb settings in Roger Bacon's "History of Suzuki Motorcycles" book, for the T305 Raider. Technically, this creates a GT305 Raider,, which would have happened if Suzuki hadn't dropped the whole T305 Raider line in 1972.

[@kennycroft9152]

Hi Andy . My 75 GT250 M also has alternator fault , it blows bulbs and overcharges at some 16.8 volts !! My Haynes manual says it's a full wave rectifier type........which is a problem because it doesn't regulate the voltage to around 14 volts max which would be ideal . Is it an easy swap for the Honda rec/regulator you mention ? My original Suzuki rectifier has 6 wires total including earth , 3 wires go to the alternator? And do I need to make a bracket to fit the then larger rec/regulator .??....many thanks in anticipation.... Ken

[@philnoel5839]

Awesome

[@schzx14]

My first motorcycle was a 76 GT-250. I burned a lot of holes in pistons and would limp home on one cylinder until I finally jetted it rich enough. And my sister still reminds me of burning her calf on the pipe. I remember the gear ratios were super tight with the exception of first to second which was way to wide for the hill I lived on. Miss that bike.

[@mcmechanic864]

Good story, happy days 👍

[@stevemull2002]

Wow, i thought it was just me burning pistons out, i did 3 in one year, and limped home in 125 mode, !! mine was an N plate, so think 74? i could change a piston in about 15 mins, and even contemplated taking a spare in a pocket

[@mred7030]

ditto you nailed it

[@bananabrooks3836]

Gap between 1st and 2nd was too wide to keep it in the powerband.

[@nigelhall1961]

Amazing I had a white 250C 1978

[@peterjerusalem761]

This was my first Bike. I bought it in 1976 when i was 18.

[@mcmechanic864]

Excellent 👍😁

[@steaks652]

I had this model in 1979, thought I was great on it, seemed a big bike then , I was 18.

[@mcmechanic864]

Yeah they did seem like a big bike 👍

[@waynegodfrey8565]

I learnt on this bike.Wish I had it now!

[@markroach8419]

i had an R reg one in orange when i was 17 that was in 1979 i bought it second hand for £200 it had 3480 miles on the clock and was a very good bike i had lots of fun on it i remember the first ride on it and thinking this has a lot of power my bike before was a fs1e so it was a big jump

[@christinelittle1259]

Well cared for how it should look

[@markadams2767]

You just don't get all that lovely chrome on bikes these days...stunning bike

[@robertrosicki9290]

In 1979 my brother bought one of these in the reddish orange color . It was a trade in a the local Honda dealer . It was bone stock and just mint. We both rode it and it kind of sickens me now to think of how we treated it . After a few years of abuse the big end of a connecting rod snapped and a couple of years later it went of to the crap yard . I'd like to have it back now in the condition it was when my brother bought it . A sad life and death for a nice fun motorcycle . One thing that lives on from that motorcycle is the motorcycle license I got with it back then .

[@mcmechanic864]

Great story 👍

[@kelljah]

My 1st bike in 1979, the ram air version, bought 2nd hand for £95!

[@piano40s]

I had a silver one joined the Army in 77 covered it in grease and left it for 6 years in the old air raid shelter in the back garden, 6 years later flat battery half flat tyre's I kicked it over and it started, under the grease it was near perfect condition no more than 8000 on the clock probably much less can't remember, we were moving house and I had a car so gave it away to a friend, just to be rid of it, what a fool I was wish I had it now.

[@gazwit1603]

Had one in 93 owned motocross bike in the 80s first bike I had with left side kickstart

[@georgeallen7101]

Ah mine was that colour . But it hAd the all important air ram on the cylinder head . Yes a piece of aluminium that did nothing more than make the engine look bigger . Very hairy front brake in the wet . Did nothing while the disc was wet , but when the friction dried it out it came on solid .

[@ry491]

Yes those early discs were lethal . They even put a warning sticker on the front forks. I had a new one but had so many near misses in the wet , I exchanged it for a Honda 175 with drum brakes . I also preferred the torque of the Honda. Less gear changing to stay in power band .

[@ronbottitta7437]

Rode one for Mercury Despatch in the winter of ‘79. Death trap.

[@petershepherd6889]

My first new bike was a Suzuki T250J which cost me £359 .sold it 12 months later for £300 to a dealer. They were so popular he couldn't get them into the showroom quick enough

[@ClassicTrialsChannel]

A made had 1 in Gold. it was a nice bike

[@TheMilford99]

My second bike after Gilera 50cc and before my Kawasaki KH 500. bought new in 74 forgot to put the 2 stroke in, and burnt out the plugs. But seem to remember didn`t have the poke of the equivalent Yamaha RD 250.

[@marknorris5269]

You dont get that burble fron a four stroke. or the smell. ...love it

[@robbie2447]

Sold my gold coloured one in 1991 for £10 I got fed up with exhausts coming loose from the engine.

[@petershepherd6889]

Bought one of these for £25 in the mid eighties. Had been sat outside someone's house for some time so made an offer which he accepted. Got it home and got it running within a day so tidied it up and used it as a hack.for getting to work.

[@rogerpartner2648]

I had this model gold colour . It was so great solid amazing fast for a little bike. It would say 100mph. But never really went over 79mph These early models didn’t have the ram head. But still said ram AIR. There was fins in the head but not giant like later ones

[@davesandall4530]

Had an fs1e at 16 and a P reg suzuki gt 250 at 17, 👌

[@Pokemongold88]

Love the bike but also the led zep poster on the we are men of a certain age cheers

[@bobbythompson3544]

I had the older SUPER SIX, I wonder does anyone these days still have one?

[@garyhuart7042]

Distinctive sound i remember it well

[@terrybeechener5992]

I had one,not sure which model,mine had the Ram Air head cowls,on an 'R' plate!stuck mark one Micron's on it,boy were they loud.

[@six-pack1332]

Sweeeet

[@LabRat6619]

My brother had a GT 380 and I had a GT 185. Both were past their best and belched 2 stroke smoke lol

[@ScragNath]

Passed my test in 1977 on my new GT250a. The left cylinder kept shutting down because the points were getting wet. The examiner wanted out of the rain and passed me in around 5 minutes.

[@mcmechanic864]

Great story 👍😁

[@rogerpartner2648]

With all my old Two Strokes Regardless or the CCI. Or wat ever 2stroke oiling pipes. I’d always add 10 caps of 2stroke oil per full tank. Yes but smokie. But never Seized one ever.

[@gordonyoung3668]

My first bike when i was 17 gold in colour, passed my test on it NJE16R where are you now?

[@barnbersonol]

I bought a gt250 in 1988 for £160. It went like stink for a whole day then I holed a piston and flogged it as scrap. Problem was, my other bike was a 250 superdream and nobody told me that most other bikes were incapable of being revved up to 12 thou in every gear without exploding. Oh dear.

[@petergerritgroen3157]

I owne in the 70 en 80 the 125,250,380 550.750. What a time. ,

[@pa.laubel3696]

I went through a few rectifiers.🙂

[@brakenoodle105]

The GT two strokes did drink heavily. My GT550 did 27mph if you gave it the beans.

[@kennycroft9152]

Hi.....I've had a 1975GT250M from new! I restored it yrs ago now . The alternator overcharges at 16.8 volts , can you tell me where you got yours rewound ? , I've bought an aftermarket rectifier/regulator with same 6 wires to improve the poor basic rectifier it's had from new , but need to make a plate to mount it as too big , but am thinking of just getting alternator rewound might be safer lol !! Thanks in anticipation ......and fair play that's a fantastic example in your great video 👍😁..........Kenny

[@mcmechanic864]

Hi Kenny, all alternators overcharge, they can't put out a steady voltage so an alternator will always put out far more than a battery needs, the more you rev the bike the more volts it pumps out (around 70 volts at around 6000/7000 rpm) so it will be the regulator/rectifier not doing it's job properly. The regulator does exactly what it say on the tin, regulates the voltage to a steady 13 volts and the rectifier changes the voltage from AC to DC. A lot of these pattern regulator/rectifiers are not very good, see if you can get hold of a genuine Suzuki one, I'm pretty confident that will be your problem. good luck 🙂 BTW I had my alternator rewound at a place called West country windings

[@kennycroft9152]

@@mcmechanic864 thanks for quick reply , I'll try rectifier first maybe from a Honda CB 250 as an improvement to standard Suzuki rectifier ......as mentioned by a biker in the comments section . Thanks for informative videos, and love the zinc plating one too 👍

[@marcofilipazzi5359]

Bellissima 😊👍 quanto puo' costare una moto cosi' se si decidesse di acquistarla?

[@garydunn3037]

My brother bought one identical to this around 5 years ago, and I went with him to to collect it in Penryth somewhere near the lake district. The only thing I could fault on it, was a weak return spring on the kickstart, as they are a swine to replace, being on the left hand side, and required an engine strip to change. It was blue, just like yours. You didn't buy it from a guy in Hartlepool did you?

[@mcmechanic864]

No I'm in Bedfordshire and bought it from a guy in Maulden 🙂

[@garydunn3037]

@@mcmechanic864 Well the one my brother had was every bit as good as yours, in fact it looked like new. You just don't see bikes in this kind of condition these days. He kept it garaged, and it just stood'until he finally sold it to some guy down south.

[@bananabrooks3836]

They rattle even when well within clearances. 1st to 2nd gap is worst feature narrowly beating a high speed corner weave, usually prompted by a bump. This can be calmed with better shocks and flat bars, unfortunately the latter is at odds with the std footrest position. RDs are more sophisticated with better handling and brakes but the 'A' model remains a worthy enough propositionand entertaining for your money.

[@nigelsmith8727]

1976 had electric start and a huge padded seat that didn't sink

[@mcmechanic864]

None of the GT250's had electric start...you must be thinking of a different bike 🤔

[@martinowl]

The GT185 had electric start but not the 250’s.

[@keithdawson4804]

I expected the GT250 had a normal gravity feeding mechanical fuel tap, not a vacuum fuel tap.. has it been changed?

[@mcmechanic864]

No not been changed, they come with a vacuum tap as standard 🙂

[@keithdawson4804]

@@mcmechanic864 Wow. I didn't recall that on my X7.

[@mcmechanic864]

@@keithdawson4804 No you're right, the X7 had a normal manual tap 🤷

[@jensgerdes45]

Just beautiful! Do you have children? If not, you can adopt me 😂

[@tonystoakley5816]

my GT250 was the best bike iever had

[@tombartram6842]

Imagine you could still buy bikes like that BRAND new. Well, you can. Jawa 350.

[@mickymac6571]

Nice bike but I always thought they were lesser to an RD or a KH, terrible for electrical problems,.

[@dannywest7587]

You don't know much mate,is it for sale ??

[@mcmechanic864]

No sorry

[@yamajams]

Restore an old motocross bike next 👌 and i can race it 😅

[@mcmechanic864]

🙂👍

[@Motorhead225]

Hi matey. What is the normal tick over speed. Cheers

[@mcmechanic864]

Between 1000 & 1200 rpm

[@Motorhead225]

@@mcmechanic864 wow mines currently at 1800-1900,seems to cut out when it's that low any lower

[@mcmechanic864]

@@Motorhead225 sound like might have a blocked pilot jet, give the carbs a good clean out

[@Motorhead225]

@@mcmechanic864 yeah I thought, so have done that haha

[@mcmechanic864]

@@Motorhead225 it may be low on compression, that would give the same symptom. You may need to rebuild the engine completely with a reconditioned crankshaft, that's what I did to mine 🙂

[@ClassicTrialsChannel]

looks to have the Wrong grips, Suzuki had those hard ones

[@mcmechanic864]

No the grips are correct, this is the “A” model don’t forget. The earlier models had hard grips, but not this one.

[@jimcowley330]

Hi I bought my 250gt in 1975 brand new for £800 new I wish I didn't sell it to get married god I wish I was seventeen again 😢.

[@grafzahl9745]

Sweet bike! Bought one 2 years ago as my first vintage bike (I am 24). Such a blast to ride