Barn-Find Suzuki, need help identifying

[Larkmachineco]

I'm new to the forum, but a long time jap motorcycle tinker. 

I was just gifted this bike bound for the junk yard ( I will post pics soon)

It has:

-an air cooled 250cc single with twin exhaust

-Looks like it is from late 1990's to early 2000s

-Owner passed away but says he had it shipped from japan to CA and could never get it titled

-Aluminum frame

-17" rear and front wheels

-Dual disc single piston front brakes with weird canisters between the banjo and the caliper

-Inverted forks

-18 miles on the odometer

-Back decals look to be under the clear coat and read "SRB250"

Engine code 172FMM  +80225547+

Vin code  +LSNMLJ70240700061+

[Larkmachineco]

[Tony Nitrous]

I know it says Suzuki but so much on that bike looks just like a 500/600 Cagiva River. 

Remember Cagiva used Suzuki engines in a few of their bikes. I don’t know if yours is a factory 250 version by either company or if someone has swapped out the motor? 

Edit to add…..

 

Edited May 28 by Tony Nitrous

[Larkmachineco]

GREAT DETECTIVE WORK!!!!!

 

It got it unstuck and compression tested, its got 180psi.

Probably not worth keeping if that's the case.

Might make a good shifter cart motor and toss everything else.

It does feel Chinese in its construction and one VIN lookup came up with only two points, 2004 and china.

 

Does anyone know what the small parts are between the caliper and banjo? seems like a portioning valve

Edited May 28 by Larkmachineco
make more positive

[Tony Nitrous]

If you were local I’d buy it just for the novelty value. It’s the first one I’ve ever seen. Hardly an historical beauty but still an unusual Suzuki powered bike. 

Edited May 28 by Tony Nitrous

[Safra]

The fact that it has stars on the beginning and end of the vin is a dead giveaway its Chinese I have such a chinese bastardized factory hybrid with a Suzuki Gn125 frame and 200cc H engine its a decent bike wish it was a Suzuki engine though

[Safra]

That is almost definitely a GN250 engine it is one of the most built chinese clone engines used in many models they even increased the capacity to 300 cc on some models

[Dezza]

The build quality of Chinese bikes has over the last few years impoved enormously, just as it has with their cars. And they're not Japanese clones anymore. Riding regulations there have been relaxed and there has been a mini-explosion of proper bikes on the roads, when prior to covid there were very few larger machines. The Japanese had better start thinking fast, before the Chinese target export markets or otherwise they'll end up like the British bike industry.

[Safra]

8 hours ago, Dezza said:

The build quality of Chinese bikes has over the last few years impoved enormously, just as it has with their cars. And they're not Japanese clones anymore. Riding regulations there have been relaxed and there has been a mini-explosion of proper bikes on the roads, when prior to covid there were very few larger machines. The Japanese had better start thinking fast, before the Chinese target export markets or otherwise they'll end up like the British bike industry.

South Africa's motorcycle market is terrible we have little variety and price brackets there is either a choice of a second hand motorcycle for exorbitant amounts which are scrap worthy or a commuter which cost the price of a decent second hand litre bike and 600cc bikes are so unrealistically expensive people end up buying big bikes with little to no riding experience

Or you go looking for a brand new mid to top of the range bike which barely anyone has the money for most people end up paying off on a loan to afford

[Poldark]

I briefly had a GZ250, it had belonged to a friend of a friend.  It had been a starter bike for his kids to learn on, then it sat outside for years, free for the taking.  The GZ250 was a small cruiser with the same engine.  I got it running and made a few custom modifications, then sold it to someone who wanted a starter bike for his family members.  Not hard to make some money off small bikes: get them for free or cheap, spend a little money and time to get it running/rideable, and sell.  Your bike looks like a good candidate for that.  Might market better with different paint.