Piston for SL 250

[VKMS54!!]

I have acquired a 77 250 SL that will be a frame off resto. It is my understanding a Suzuki TS 250 piston will work. What year TS?

[olddogs]

I rebuilt a number of 250s and am pretty sure it was the wiseco #380, but double check. I think the #171 was similar but used a dyke ring on top.

[michael_perrett]

1969 to 1975 will work, later ones had, as I am told, reed valves (holes in the piston).

[viclioce]

Was the SL 250 not reed valved? Wow. I thought all the bikes from 1975 in were reed valved. Interesting to know! So neither the 250’s nor the 175 were reed valved. What’s it take to do that mod? Are there resources available? Just curious. Victor

[olddogs]

That beeping sound you hear is the money truck backing up to take all of your cash. To add a reed valve to a Hodaka 175/250 requires a custom made V=Force manifold and extreme cylinder machine work beyond all but the best specialty machinists. Then to make it even more expensive, carb and exhaust fabrication work are required to get the most out of the reed setup. After all that what you end up with is a really fast motor in a very heavy bike, The two just dont mix.

[viclioce]

I remember having a really fast motor in a really heavy bike! This one!!! Same scenario. And this had a rotary valve, which was even worse! This one weighed in at about 225 ish. Victor