European GZ250 rider

[alantf]

Hi there.
I came across this site by accident while trying to find an owner's manual in English. I'm English, but moved to Tenerife about 6 years ago. I'm 61 years old, but I've had a motorcycle driving licence for over 40 years. Tenerife is a small Island, so a smaller bike is ideal, & the GZ250 (Known over here as the Marauder) fits the bill perfectly. I bought mine, new, 18 months ago for 3000 euros (You'll have to convert this to dollars yourself as I don't know the exchange rate), & it's the least expensive 250 cc that you can buy here. With the year round warm weather here, I can ride it every day, in just a tee shirt & jeans. Unlike England, where I had to wrap up warm, most of the time. The only bad thing is that Tenerife is very hilly, so the front brake pads only last around 4500 kilometres (around 3000 miles) but apart from that I've had no problems in 9000 kilometres (around 5500 miles.
Ride safely,
Alan (known as MadMax)

[alanmcorcoran]

That's about $3800 at today's exchange rate. Less than I paid for a 2008 but more than most of the bargain hunters on here paid for theirs new (and a lot more than waht they've paid for used ones.)

I am also an Alan. And I also live in a hilly area so I will be paying attention to the brakes. I'm at about 1800 miles.

Is Tenerife in the atlantic or mediterranean? My Spain travels were limited to Barcelona, Tarragona and Aventura(?) Lots of beautiful girls and British tourists. Barcelona is one of my favorite places in Europe.

[alantf]

tenerife's in the atlantic, off the coast of Africa. It's one of the 7 Canary Islands.

[Easy Rider]

The only bad thing is that Tenerife is very hilly, so the front brake pads only last around 4500 kilometres (around 3000 miles)

Might I suggest that more engine braking (downshift) might help the front pads last longer ?? :)

[Sarris]

Welcome Brother!

[theneanderthal]

"Might I suggest that more engine braking (downshift) might help the front pads last longer ??"



Might I suggest that front brake pads are way cheaper than clutch packs, engines and transmissions. :whistle:

[5th_bike]

Welcome to the forum Alan !
Me and my wife and two little (back then) kids were in Tenerife once on vacation, I forgot what the place was called, near the southwestern tip of the island. There is a tourist supermarket just west of the resort, but when you walk a little further and go left around the corner there is Supermercado Manolo, with much better prices. Hope it's still there.
It was beautiful. Very volcanic. I would love to live there and cruise the island on my GZ250 !
Have fun and drive safe ! (and thanks for bringing back the memories) :2tup:

[Easy Rider]

"Might I suggest that more engine braking (downshift) might help the front pads last longer ??"



Might I suggest that front brake pads are way cheaper than clutch packs, engines and transmissions. :whistle:

You might.....but, like your unusual quoting style, it would miss the mark just a bit! :biggrin:

Seriously, I can't remember the last time I needed to use the brakes to slow down just because I was coming down a hill. Even in the mountains of western Tennessee, I used the brakes very little. Engine braking causes extra wear on exactly NOTHING. Done properly, the same is true for a downshift. If you don't believe that, your riding skills need some improvement.

[alantf]

Hi to the guy who came to Tenerife on holiday.

The island's only about 80 miles from top to bottom, but I live in the north, near the town of La Orotava (if that means anything to you) It's like being on a different island up here. Down south it's hot & arid, but where we live (amongst the fields & vineyards) they call it "springtime all the year round". As for the south, it's just a "concrete canyon" of high rise hotels for the tourists. Unfortunately it's got a reputation (well deserved) for ripping off the tourists. If anyone is thinking of coming here, & doesn't want nightclubs every night, & burgers every meal, you should try Puerto de la Cruz (Port of the cross). It's around an hour and a quarter up the motorway from the South Airport (Reina Sofia) but it's a much more relaxed, laid back, & unspoiled resort.
If you want to see where I live, get on "Google Earth". (Do you have that in America? It's part of the search engine "Google.co.uk" then go to "Tenerife - La Perdoma" & it'll bring the map up.

[alanmcorcoran]

Google being a silicon valley company, yes, we have Google Earth. (you can see it on some of my ride reports... shhh!)

[theneanderthal]

"Might I suggest that more engine braking (downshift) might help the front pads last longer ??"



Might I suggest that front brake pads are way cheaper than clutch packs, engines and transmissions. :whistle:

You might.....but, like your unusual quoting style, it would miss the mark just a bit! :biggrin:

Seriously, I can't remember the last time I needed to use the brakes to slow down just because I was coming down a hill. Even in the mountains of western Tennessee, I used the brakes very little. Engine braking causes extra wear on exactly NOTHING. Done properly, the same is true for a downshift. If you don't believe that, your riding skills need some improvement.

DOH!, Just found the quote tab. I expected to find one when I posted but somehow
overlooked it.

I disagree as to wear and tear due to down shifting but won't argue the point. Mechanics all have opinions and ......

Be well and ride safe brother.

[theneanderthal]

Hi to the guy who came to Tenerife on holiday.

The island's only about 80 miles from top to bottom, but I live in the north, near the town of La Orotava (if that means anything to you) It's like being on a different island up here. Down south it's hot & arid, but where we live (amongst the fields & vineyards) they call it "springtime all the year round". As for the south, it's just a "concrete canyon" of high rise hotels for the tourists. Unfortunately it's got a reputation (well deserved) for ripping off the tourists. If anyone is thinking of coming here, & doesn't want nightclubs every night, & burgers every meal, you should try Puerto de la Cruz (Port of the cross). It's around an hour and a quarter up the motorway from the South Airport (Reina Sofia) but it's a much more relaxed, laid back, & unspoiled resort.
If you want to see where I live, get on "Google Earth". (Do you have that in America? It's part of the search engine "Google.co.uk" then go to "Tenerife - La Perdoma" & it'll bring the map up.

So, are you a native, expatriat from elsewhere or using a really good translation program? Just curious. Welcome to the "GZ250 Rules" forum. If I may be so bold,
being a noob myself.

[theneanderthal]

doh!. sheesh! I just read the opening post, again.

MEA CULPA.

Sigh!

Ducking and stumbling off to bed, while muttering missives about age and cognition.

[Easy Rider]

Ducking and stumbling off to bed, while muttering missives about age and cognition.

For future reference: I think you can DELETE your own posts.....if nobody has replied to it yet.
Handy feature! :biggrin:

(It's the little star * down in the lower right hand corner.)

[alantf]

Engine braking? I've looked under "pigs might fly" but still can't find this ellusive phenomenon! Are you sure we're talking about the same bike?

[Easy Rider]

Engine braking? I've looked under "pigs might fly" but still can't find this ellusive phenomenon! Are you sure we're talking about the same bike?

:crackup :haha2:

No, actually not. I have my idle set pretty low AND I have a 16T front sprocket. The latter had a BIG effect on that.

[alanmcorcoran]

I've almost "engine braked" myself right into a face plant. Downshifted to first absentmindedly making a down hill left turn with the clutch in. I was still moving at a pretty good clip when I let the clutch back out and laid a little rubber before I snapped out of it and pulled the clutch back in. I live on top of a 2 mile climb. When I'm headed out I will leave it in third in the areas where there are stop signs. It may be more psychological than practical, but it definitely seems like the engine and the transmission is exerting some drag. I suppose you need to be careful about redlining it, but I keep an eye on the speedometer and I don't think I've ever been close.

[Easy Rider]

I've almost "engine braked" myself right into a face plant. Downshifted to first absentmindedly making a down hill left turn with the clutch in. I was still moving at a pretty good clip when I let the clutch back out ......

Not quite what I had in mind with the term "engine braking". :roll:
That might be more properly called engine stopping.......and crashing.

[alanmcorcoran]

Just one of yer basic "whoop-shits." That first gear sure slows ya right down.

[theneanderthal]

I've almost "engine braked" myself right into a face plant. Downshifted to first absentmindedly making a down hill left turn with the clutch in. I was still moving at a pretty good clip when I let the clutch back out and laid a little rubber before I snapped out of it and pulled the clutch back in. I live on top of a 2 mile climb. When I'm headed out I will leave it in third in the areas where there are stop signs. It may be more psychological than practical, but it definitely seems like the engine and the transmission is exerting some drag. I suppose you need to be careful about redlining it, but I keep an eye on the speedometer and I don't think I've ever been close.

Oh man, been there done that. I was approaching a left turn at a light, running
60 or so, light was red. I tapped the gears down to first, still running 60 or so,
and the light changed to green for my left. It didn't take but a micro second or
so to realize I had seriously ficked up by letting the clutch out. :shocked:

[Easy Rider]

It didn't take but a micro second or
so to realize I had seriously ficked up by letting the clutch out. :shocked:

And now when downshifting, do we match the gear with the speed ?? :)

[alantf]

Don't know if this'll interest anyone, but for what it's worth, this is the view of the mountains that I get from our terrace.
http://www.postimage.org/gxVlr2A.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxVlr2A)

[music man]

That is a beautiful view you have there!