When Suzuki first hit the U.S. market in 1963, it was just another link in a growing chain of new — and often forgettable — companies from the Land of the Rising Sun. Three years later we got the Hustler, and Suzuki got remembered.

Suzuki chose three models to headline its 1963 U.S. lineup; the S31, powered by a 124cc 2-stroke twin, and the S250 Colleda (a transcription of “Kore-da” or “that one”) and TC250 El Camino, both powered by a 248cc 2-stroke twin. Like Honda and other Japanese manufacturers, Suzuki hoped to cash in on U.S. riders seeking a smaller, simpler machine than the booming twins coming from Milwaukee or Great Britain at the time.

1964 saw those models phased out in favor of a new trio consisting of a 50cc single, an 80cc single and a new 246cc twin, the T10. More new models were announced  in 1965, including the highly anticipated T20 X-6 Hustler, although it would be 1966 before the new model finally hit U.S. showrooms.

New frame, new engine
The X-6 made quite a splash when it hit dealers’ floors. With the T10 from 1964 leading the way, the X-6 set new standards for style in the rapidly expanding field of mid-size bikes from Japan. A 247cc, 2-cylinder engine was bolted to a tubular, duplex frame, a first for Suzuki. All previous Suzuki models had used a pressed-steel frame, making the steel tube frame of the X-6 a step in the right direction.

Suzuki tapped Masanao Shimizu to create the X-6’s engine. Masanao, previously in charge of Suzuki’s racing program, had already earned an enviable set of records under the Suzuki banner and quickly turned his talents to the design of the X-6 engine.

In the world of motorcycles, Suzuki’s AC50 Maverick is a relative unknown. But when it comes to small displacement bikes — often referred to as “tiddlers” — these smart and sunny bikes stand proud with their pint-size stature and surprising sophistication. Don’t let the scaled-down looks fool you. Yes, you can fit on it; yes, you can keep up with traffic; and yes, you’ll have fun riding it.

Tiddler tidbits
The term tiddler could be viewed as being derogatory, or at the very least slang. But then again, what better term to describe a class of machines that have scaled-down dimensions and near thimble-sized power units? Famous tiddlers include such note-worthy bikes as Honda’s vintage Cub C110 as well as Yamaha’s YJ and YG series. Combined with lesser-known examples from Kreidler, Yamaguchi, Aermacchi and DKW, to name only a few, there are hundreds of bikes that fall into the tiddler category.

The Sixties and Seventies proved to be the heyday for small bikes, as manufacturers tried to capture the blossoming youth market while also offering machines that would slot into small-displacement European tax categories, which rewarded smaller bikes. And the Suzuki AC50 Maverick — and its A50, AR50, AS50 and K50 derivatives — proved a success both in sales numbers and with customers, thanks to its standout features and surprisingly peppy performance.