"Suzuki is rumored to have first made the T-20 in 1965, but problems kept its release date postponed until, 1966. the first model sported downpipes. Suzuki called it the Hustler. Its technical designation was the T-20. For the American market it was nicknamed the "X-6", proclaiming its 6 speed transmission loud and clear. The movie "The Hustler" came out in '66 with Jackie Gleason. The Bell X-1 had broken the sound barrier. Obviously the X-6 stood for, Experimental, Six speed. Ooohh.
Jack McCormack, Vice President and General Manager of US Suzuki commissioned Jack Krizman and Dave Ekins to create a sporting off-road model based on the T-20, Even though it never got a cute nickname, it did get sent back to Hammamatsu, and in 1967 the American buying public got the TC-250, X-6 Scrambler. In 1968 Suzuki released three new twin cylinder engine groups, the T-200 X-5, the T-305 Raider, and the T-500 500/5, Cobra in the UK/Titan in the USA. the T-20 was still sold but with improved styling. This included a fiberglass tank and seat combo, along with other small changes, such as painting the cylinders black. It wasn’t until 1969, when Suzuki quit making the T-305 after only one year, they began making the T-250 to replace the T-20, and the bigger T-350. Its interesting to note the T-350 was only 2mm bigger bore than the T-305, making it only 315cc, but in the cycle world road test it was only slightly slower than the peaky Kawasaki 350. It was capable of beating (in a drag race) a half dozen other bikes in the 350 cc market , with larger displacements.
The X-6 was quickly overlooked as many new models were coming out of Japan, by 1969 Honda had released the CB-750 Dream, and Kawasaki the Blue Streak 500 H-1. Who wanted a 250? Its importance of design, is seen in many areas of construction. the addition of the revolutionary oil pump, robust clutch mounted on the forward transmission shaft, Six speed transmission, 54/54 mm bore/stroke, piston port induction. A handsome bike with clean lines and simple easy controls. And of course, amazing performance for a 250cc twin.
Compare its Cycle World 1/4 mile time of 15.3 seconds, faster than many English twins of more than twice the displacement. Peppy, easy to use fun to ride, some say if it wasn’t for the X-6 there would only be the big 3."
Courtesy of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle World Mailing List
