What's this "Out growing a 250" thing?

[Graydog]

Am I the only one here that actually bought a 250 because it IS small, nimble, light, and a blast to ride?

I love bigger bikes. They're great for long road trips, highway miles, and who's is largest contest. I just sold one and plan to replace it ASAP so I can continue making road trips before I'm too old (day after tomorrow!). I've owned....well....LOTS of 750cc and up rides (and like most bikers consider a 750 a small bike).

Yes it is a great bike to learn how to ride on. As are most 250s, Rebel, Virago, etc. These bikes come with something that is easy to lose after a few years on a bigger bike. A smile. I rediscovered this by accident after over 40 years of riding.
Somehow over the years I had allowed peer pressure, more expendable income, and just plain greed (bigger is better!) to rob me of the reasons I loved motorcycles. They can make you happy. They can make you smile. I rediscovered this by accident when a friend of mine needed me to ride her bike home from work for her one day. It had probably been 25+ years since I had been on anything smaller than a 650-750.

The big bikes are nice. But after a while this happens: "Its just to the store....too much trouble to get the bike out". "It may rain...don't want to have to clean it again." "I would take the bike....but its just too much trouble." etc.

I stop in once a week looking at the bigger bikes. I think I will get another V Star. But I think I will leave the little thumper home when I go to buy it. No trade in. Believe me...at my age smiles are hard to come by!

[Sarris]

Nope. I love my GZ. Much easier than my 1450cc HD around town. You and I have experienced a bunch of bikes, but for some people their experience is limited to just the GZ and they want to experience a bigger bike (and/or can't have more than one, for whatever reason). I understand that. But at my age I'd rather have a bike for every purpose. As I've said more times that I can remember " It's not what you ride, it is the ride."

Cheap to drive and fun too. What more could you ask for?

+10 to Greydog's comments.

:2tup:

[primal]

I think the main reason that I will upgrade from the GZ is for comfort. Of course, there's the seat issue, but even with a 30" inseam, I feel a bit cramped after the 50 mile mark. True, I could mod the bike and put highway pegs on it, but I'd rather get a bike with just a little more oomph so that I can easily run the interstate when I need to. If I lived in town, then this bike would be PERFECT, and I actually hate the thought of selling it. However, I commute 50 miles round trip every day, and my commute will be twice as long by avoiding the interstate this riding season. When I do upgrade, I'm probably going to look for something in the 500cc range. But you still can't beat the GZ for speeds up to 60-65 MPH.

[Arkygs250]

You are not alone Greydog. I was looking for a way to beat the arrogant and greedy oil companies. I live only 10 miles from work and can take the Highway or the country back roads where the speed limit doesn't get above 40 MPH. I first looked at scooters. Just couldn't do it. I thought I could find a small used motorcycle for about the same price and same gas mileage as a new scooter and wouldn't get laughed at as much. I found a nice used GZ and got her for $1,300 and she gets me 75 MPG. More power, similar gas mileage, safer, and way better looking than a scooter. I think I made the right choice.
If I wanted to take long road trips or ride the interstates I would have gotten a bigger bike. I am a little tall for this bike but for what I use it for it is perfect. I may at some point up size a little for a little more comfort but still would look for something only in the 500- 650cc range. Gas mileage and plain old fun is what I ride a bike for. Not so much performance and power. But for now I couldn't be happier.

[jonathan180iq]

After two years and strictly bicycle commuting I decided that I could really use some assistance, as I was starting to wear down. I first looking into electric bicycles. The only way I would go that route would be to spend $1000 on one that could hill climb and keep up with the cars. It just didn't seem reasonable. Next, I looked at scooters and couldn't pull the trigger because they don;t offer the ability of gear selection and most of them are cheap plastic. The Japanese scooters are too expensive and don't offer enough grunt. So, I went with the least expensive bike that I could find which offered adequate gas mileage and gear shifting abilities. TADA!!

Gz250.

The only time I've ever wanted a larger bike was when I was riding up and down the mountain day to day. I stopped that and see no reason, save for interstate umph, when I would want more.

I've owned three bikes, four if you count my wife's scooter, all of them being 250cc or smaller and I have never seem a need for anything more.

[Easy Rider]

Am I the only one here that actually bought a 250 because it IS small, nimble, light, and a blast to ride?

so I can continue making road trips before I'm too old (day after tomorrow!).

[Raises hand....me too!] :2tup:

I passed that threshold a couple of days ago and, after 40+ years of riding bigger bikes, took my first road trip EVER on my GZ last month. Did 1,200 miles, never touched a freeway and loved every minute of it......except for the heat and the seat.
The seat is getting better with some tweaks and the heat is bearable if you start early and quit early.

If you never travel 2-up and don't carry a lot of gear and don't ride with other "speed demons".............don't count the GZ out. It will serve you well...........and encourage you to get OFF the Interstates on to the "good" roads where a bike should be. :tup:

[CMS]

Greydog , Your correct the small bikes are practical and fun. I've had and own 1000+ bikes but my favorite and most enjoyable bike was only 100cc. Went anywhere I wanted and enjoyed every minute of the ride. Presently own a DRZ400S and a GZ250, it's some times a real decision which one I want to ride [fun factor] Right know the GZ gets the most riding time due to the great fuel mileage, but the 400 is very good also. [mileage] The small bikes are just plain fun. :tup: CMS

[Dupo]

I out grew mine pretty quickly. I didnt think i'd get rid of it but it got too small for me very quickly. Comfort was an issue and i am very restless with things i own, i have to customize things. The GZ is not one of those customizable bikes so i needed to move on.

I still love the gz for what it is and was for me .... but i am so much more happier with the bike i have now. I can customize the hell out of it and make it mine and the comfort level is 100% better. Even with my 1" thick solo seat, it conforms to my butt perfectly making it more comfortable than the stock seat or any other seat ive been on including a $300 mustang seat believe it or not. Taking off the shocks and hard tailing it ... i guess that makes me a restless hardass too.

[bigwonton]

I think the biggest part of the GZ250 I outgrew was the braking. After riding my SV650, which the previous owner had upgraded to stainless lines and better pads, going back to the GZ250 was kind of scary. Even though I upgraded the GZ250 with SBS ceramic pads, there is a night and day difference between dual two-piston front disc brakes on drilled rotors versus one single-piston disc brake on a solid rotor. I also got used to not having to shift mid-turn as I had to with the GZ250.

I'll agree with the others that I never found the GZ250 to be boring.

[rusty rider]

I have owned several bikes over the years, but my largest was a KZ400. I love the small to mid sized bikes. I had been out of riding for 18 years when the itch became so strong I had to scratch. I have to say I was disappointed to find out that the manufacturers had done away with the 350's, 400's, 450's, 500's, and 550,s. Also, the fact that a street bike now looked like something out futurama. So I looked at the cruisers and found my GZ.

The fastest bike I owned was 1974 Yamaha RD350, I was 16 (isn't that scarey) that bike could hit 105 mph in the 1/8 mile. It was a 750 killer and now has a cult following because it could be customized so may ways and made to go even faster than mine would.

Finally to my point: my GZ is perfect for me, most of my riding is urban and rural. I prefer not to get on the super slabs, but 2 lane and 4 lane highways are fine. I can cruise for hours at 60 -65 mph, and I can get up to almost 80 if I want to. The seat sucks but I've been making different ones to find the right fit for me. Great gas mileage and I look good on it too :neener: .

[El Diablo]

I think I will eventually get a bigger bike for two up "Bike Nites" and some weekend travel. But I'll always have the GZ for commuting to work - can't beat the gas mileage and for running errands. Like someone else said, it's easy to walk out the door and jump on the GZ and go.

[Easy Rider]

I think the biggest part of the GZ250 I outgrew was the braking.

You definitely need a bike you feel comfortable with.

The FEEL of the GZ brakes is definitely different than some bigger bikes with more substantial brakes but there is a reason for that and it doesn't necessarily mean the brakes are defecient somehow.

The GZ is light. You don't need brakes to stop an 800 pound bike plus load.
The GZ won't go over 80.....except maybe downhill with a tail wind....so you don't need brakes that will stop you from 120 mph.

The GZ brakes feel soft but all the really means is that they require more effort to accomplish the same thing. Sometimes NOT having grabby brakes is actually better. I KNOW you can lock the rear wheel on asphalt because I've done it. I don't know about locking the front (and don't want to find out) but I know it will slow down right quick if you squeeze hard enough.

My daughter has a Honda Civic. For a small car, it has really good brakes. On rare occasion, she drives my car. She absolutely HATES it because of the different feel of the brakes. The pedal feels soft compared to what she is used to. I have no doubt, however, that my brakes are at least as good as hers because I've had occasion to test them a few times !!!

Point IS that riders in general really don't need to worry about the brakes on the GZ because they are more than adequate. Most can get used to the different feel; some can't. Different strokes and all that !! :tup:

[jonathan180iq]

New pads, new fluid and stainless steel lines will make them "feel" grabbier, if that's what you're after. I'm sure performance is improved a bit too.

I pretty much agree with Easy.

[bigwonton]

I think the biggest part of the GZ250 I outgrew was the braking.

Different strokes and all that !! :tup:


Yup, that's what it comes down to in the end. My other reason for selling the GZ250 is that my soon-to-be wife has expressed an interest in coming along on rides and the GZ250 simply won't cut it for the two of us to ride comfortably. The SV650 will be "my" bike and I hope to get a bigger cruiser for the both of us to enjoy. If only I had a 4 car garage to keep different motorcycles for each occasion...

[5th_bike]

I don't know about locking the front (and don't want to find out)
I found out last week when I was on the left lane of two lanes (going to the left turn lanes ahead), and a big black cadillac pulled up from the right, I though he had seen me, but he pulled out onto the roadway anyway, it looked like he was going to make a left and we were on collision course, so I braked. The front locked and the front wheel slid to the left and I let go of the the front brake, and the bike stabilized again ! I thought it would be a fall, what a great bike! The car meanwhile made a right turn onto the right lane anyway, so no collision after all. I did make a gesture intenting to mean "!#&*@ idiot!" when passing him. He was some diplomat from Africa, according to his car tag.

The main road has two lanes there, and cars from the right often make a right turn when the main road traffic is in the left lane only (towards the left turn lanes, ahead). Then, they move to the left lane to make a left turn. Mostly, they go 20-30, and I go 50 mph. In the car it's no big problem (air bags, seat belt, crumple zone) but on a bike it is scary. I also had another one do it this week, but now I was prepared and gave him a couple good long honks. He honked back, so I gave him a friendly wave in passing - thanks for noticing me !

So, when you lock the front, let go quick and the bike will straighten again.

Edit: oops, completely off topic ! Out growing the GZ ? I though I would in half a year or so but now after almost a year I have way not outgrown it. It is big enough for my commute, max. legal speed is 50, and no highway. Most other bikers just wave, every now and then there is one that seems to look a litle snobbish at me, from his expensive racer or Harley, whatever, bottom line is we all move in the same traffic at the same speed, so what. One day, I had a racer (wearing shorts and flip flops) speed away from me three times, and every time at the next traffic light I was in the lane right next to him again...

[john1096]

As a newbie, I have been a bit worried about all the "you'll outgrow that bike in a year" hype. I've also been told, "That's a girls bike, the salesman I talked to refused to even talk to me about one." That last quote was from a guy who has ridden his twice. Once a parking lot, where he dropped it, and once trying to get it from the trailer to his garage, where he lost control and hit a mailbox and ended up in the hospital for a while and missed several weeks of work. It still sits in his garage, not being ridden at all, but he sure is proud to be a biker! All I can say is, that salesman saw him coming a mile away. How do you even respond to that?

I have less than two hundred of my own miles on mine (only been riding a week), but I don't see how you could ever think this is not enough bike. It will do anything you can get away with legally in traffic, and then some. Like they say, "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow." Fighting the buffeting and wind that starts to get noticeable at around 50 is a blast. The only thing it lacks is top end for the rural high speed highways.

I did get blown away by a woman on her SCOOTER on the highway the other day. That was a little bit of a blow to my ego. I think I'm secure enough in my manhood to handle it.

MPG, MPG, MPG. Notice how many Harleys and big metrics are on Craigslist lately? We have sensible commuter bikes, they have expensive luxury items.

Unfortunately, most riders I know have the mentality mentioned above. If you don't have a liter or more, you're some kind of pansy. The same applies to riding gear, except less is better (more than shorts and a tee shirt is just stupid).

[Easy Rider]

How do you even respond to that?


I tend to be rather ....mmmm....blunt and would probably tell him what a dumb a** I think he is.
But that tends to get me into trouble occasionally too. :blush:

It is all pretty much about wretched excess and, in this country at least, people tend to get what they WANT (whatever the reason) and not what they NEED.

If you REALLY can afford it, none of my business, but recent history tends to indicate that most people can NOT afford the fancy toys they have.......but then they want ME (taxpayers) to bail them out when their "luck" runs out.......and pay for their health care.......and take care of them when they get old. This is getting too close to a political comment, and against the party I recently lean towards at that, so I'd better shut up but some things are just plain WRONG.

Buying big, fancy things that you can never hope to pay for is just a symptom of a much bigger disease.

:oops: Sorry for the tirade. Sometimes I just can't resist.

[jonathan180iq]

Unfortunately, most riders I know have the mentality mentioned above. If you don't have a liter or more, you're some kind of pansy. The same applies to riding gear, except less is better (more than shorts and a tee shirt is just stupid).

The guys I think are pansies are the snobbish big bike guys who stop riding as soon as the weather turns "sour" or it gets little cold. They're the "posers".
You don't have to explain you manhood to anyone when you show up to work or school after a 30 minute ride in the freezing rain and go about your business without a second thought. Don't expect any recognition for it. Just do it and mind your business.

Don't worry about anyone else. You ride your bike and you ride it how you want to, legally of course, and the biker "scene" can kiss your toozer. They are the ones who are misquided.

[Easy Rider]

You don't have to explain you manhood to anyone when you show up to work or school after a 30 minute ride in the freezing rain ............

Some might have a question or two about your sanity though!! :??: :lol:

[john1096]

My sanity they can question (and many often do).

I haven't had the privilege of riding in the rain, yet. I plan to, I just can't get my work clothes sopping wet and I'm not sure even if I got saddlebags I could keep everything wrinkle free if I toted my work clothes. I probably won't ride TO work in the rain, but I've taken my chances when rain was forecast for my afternoon trip, I've just been lucky so far.

I'm looking forward to cooler weather. Some have already complained about 65 degree mornings, but I'm well within the comfortable range with just my mesh jacket and gloves at that temp. I'm looking forward to getting a ski or snowmobile suit and some good gloves for those morning rides this fall (and maybe winter?).

Riding when no one else will (but still within my limits) will be my silent revenge.

[jonathan180iq]

You don't have to explain you manhood to anyone when you show up to work or school after a 30 minute ride in the freezing rain ............

Some might have a question or two about your sanity though!! :??: :lol:

Some people ride for looks and others ride for transportation. I'm the latter. Sometimes you get wet.

[Newbiker08]

My Sanity was questioned the other night. Fayhas been hitting SC pretty decent the last few days , so when I walked into the shop at work toting my helmet I got a few strange looks, but the best was the look on the "Bikers" ,who had thier Harleys parked at home. The ride home in the torential down pour with flooded roads sucked alot though. Not so much the dodging the huge lakes in the road, the sheeting rain, the constant trying to keep my helmet shield clear enough to see though, but the times when cages rolled by in the right hand more flooded lanes throwing a wake 4-5 feet high and right ontop of me. That sucked.