The buzz about the Stinger
A T125 appears in Suzuki’s catalogue in 1967 but not in this format. The first to carry the name is a miniature Super Six with conventionally, gently, angled barrels and a conventional chassis. Supposedly only for the Japanese and/or SE Asian market the bike rapidly disappears from the model line up only to re-emerge as the Stinger T125 in 1969. The bike shares some running gear with the TC120 Trailcat which features a single cylinder two-stroke motor; the Stinger’s engine remains singularly unique and something that no else has sought to emulate. Insiders at Hamamatsu have said Suzuki was trying to produce what the American’s call a canyon racer, in Suzukispeak it was designed as a ‘creek machine’. The frankly outrageous engine layout militated the use of downdraft carburettors which was a first for the Japanese industry as a whole and Mikuni in particular.
There are officially three models; MKI, MKII and the Usa-only T125R. Across that trio of models and in the space of just four years Suzuki used three styles of tank, three different height handlebars, two different styles of knee pads, three distinct
variations of front guard, both chromed and satin black exhausts along a variety of decals. Just to add some spice to the mix there’s also a 125 version with conventional low level exhausts and a 90cc version which may or may not have been exclusively sold as the
Wolf. Oh and although the bike was known as the Stinger in most countries period advertising shows it marketed as The Flying Leopard in France and possibly Australia. Enginewise the Stinger shares precious little with any other Suzuki and about the only parts that cross over are the con-rods that appear latterly in its replacement, the GT125. Records suggest that some 4000 were imported into the UK where they had short and frantic lives. The iron barrels retained heat and the finning isn’t conducive to ideal heat dissipation to the airstream. Many nipped up or seized and once they’d exceeded second rebore they were cast aside as scrap. The five speed gear train is squeezed into a space intended for the TC120 three ratios so can get easily stressed if worked hard with insufficient oil .... and you wonder why there are so few out there for sale? Ahhh the Suzuki Stinger; an enigma wrapped inside a riddle... but you have to love them, right?