Colleda/Suzuki 250 T10
1963–1964

I have tried to tell the Suzuki Colleda 250 T10 model history on this page as I know it. I would be grateful of any contributions — sales brochures, magazine ads, magazine articles, pictures, specs, facts, corrections etc. Please scan the material in JPEG format (large enough that all the details are visible) and send them to me. Please tell me the source and the publication date if possible. If you send me pictures of your own bike, please follow these instructions.

Cover of an early Colleda 250T10 / Suzuki 250T10 Parts List from Japan. Both Colleda and Suzuki brand names were used of the T10 twin. This was the time when the old Colleda badges were no longer attached to new bikes, they became Suzuki bikes instead.

The Suzuki 250 T10 Crusader was available in Red, Black, White and Blue.

The 250cc T10 was the first Suzuki twin that was offered for sale in the United Kingdom. A couple of 250TB machines were brought to UK for magazine road tests but the first shipment of 250 Suzukis that ended up in shops came to UK in October 1963. In USA, the model name El Camino was used for the 250TC model, and the Suzuki T10 was given the nickname Crusador. It was marketed as a touring bike. The Colleda 250T10/ Suzuki T10 evolved from the Colleda/Suzuki 250TC with only minor changes. The models looked the same, with chrome plated fuel tank and side cover. The early versions of the domestic model of the 250TC had a deeper, painted front fender but the late version and the US export model with the chrome plated front fender looked practically identical with the later T10 model. Therefore the change from the 1962 250TC to the 1963 T10 was easy to miss. The Suzuki T10 featured an electric starter, 12 Volt electrical system, turn signals, baggage rack, gear-driven primary, tank fuel gauge and balanced engine. While the 250TA/250TB/250TC models had a rotary 4-speed transmission, the 250T10 had a return type gear box, again with 4 speeds. Just like its predecessor, the T10 was equipped with 17-inch wheels front and rear. The brakes were of internal expanding type. At first, hydraulic brake at the rear wheel and mechanical brake at the front. Later variant of the T10 had mechanical brakes both front and rear. The air-cooled 250cc 2-stroke twin engine used the same Mikuni VM20 twin carburetors but Suzuki had squeezed more 2 more horsies from the T10 engine, peaking at 22 hp at 8,000 rpm. The lubrication of the engine was still being done by premixing oil and gasoline. The CCI separate lubrication system came with the T20 model. The Suzuki T10 was the last of the Suzuki's twins using the pressed steel backbone frame. Its successor, the ”Super Sport” T20 with 29 hp peak power and 6-speed transmission, was a totally new bike that shared only a few, if any, parts with the T10. It was exported to many countries and was sold in the US and Europe during many years, even after the next generation of Suzuki 2-stroke twin was launched. In Japan, the T10 was replaced by the T20 in 1965.

The domestic Suzuki 250 T10 had White sidewall tires. Body color was Black.

1963–1964 Suzuki 250 T10 (Japan) Overall Length: 2 065 mm (81.3 in) Overall Width: 800 mm (31.5 in) Overall Height: 1 050 mm (41.4 in) Wheelbase: 1 338 mm (52.7 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry weight: 140 kg (308 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 246 cc 2-stroke aluminum parallel twin. 22 hp (16.2 kW) @ 8 000 rpm, 20.6 Nm (2.1 kg-m) @ 7 000 rpm. 4 speeds Click on the image for larger format.

1963–1964 Suzuki 250 T10 (USA) Overall Length: 2 065 mm (81.3 in) Overall Width: 800 mm (31.5 in) Overall Height: 1 050 mm (41.4 in) Wheelbase: 1 350 mm (53.2 in) Ground Clearance: 135 mm (5.3 in) Dry weight: 140 kg (308 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 246 cc 2-stroke aluminum parallel twin. 21 hp @ 8 000 rpm, 20.6 Nm (15 ft-lbs) @ 7 000 rpm Click on the image for larger format.

1963–1964 Colleda 250 T10 specifications (Japan) Overall Length: 2 065 mm (81.3 in) Overall Width: 800 mm (31.5 in) Overall Height: 1 050 mm (41.4 in) Wheelbase: 1 338 mm (52.7 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry weight: 140 kg (308 lbs) Engine model: T10 Engine: Air-cooled 246 cc parallel twin, 2-stroke Bore x stroke: 52 x 58 mm (2.047 x 2.283 in) Compression ratio: 6.3:1 Peak power: 20 hp (14.7 kW) @ 8 000 rpm Maximum torque: 18.6 Nm (1.9 kg-m) @ 6 000 rpm Carburetor: VM20 x 2 Starting system: Electric and kick starter Ignition system: Battery Fuel/lubricant mixture: pre-mix Lubricating oil capacity: 0.5 liter Fuel tank capacity: 10.0 liter Fuel consumption: 55 km/liter (at 40 km/h constant speed) Clutch type: Wet multi-plate Transmission type: Constant mesh, 4 speeds Gear ratios: 2.540 / 1.470 / 0.960 / 0.740 Primary reduction ratio: 3.290 Secondary reduction ratio: 2.500 Frame type: Pressed steel plate, back bone Caster: 28°00′ Trail: 92 mm (3.622 in) Brake type (front): Internal expansion, mechanic Brake type (rear): Internal expansion, hydraulic* *) 1964 model: Internal expansion, mechanic Front tyre: 3.00-17-4P Rear tyre: 3.00-17-4P Recommended retail price: 170,000 yen

1964 Suzuki T10, owned by Doug Mason who took this picture of his beautifully restored motocycle. You can find his comments and more pictures here.

More: SJK (Suzuki Jidosha Kogyo) and Colleda models

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