Rear break issue, HELP!!!!!!!

[Krazy Kraut]

:rawk:
Hello Everyone! I'm Ramona from Wichita, KS and i just recently bought a 2009 Suzuki 250.
I love the Bike, but i am having some slight "ISSUES" with it. It's factory new and the break seems to get my food cought CONSTENLY! I have lost my balance a few times and embarrest myself infront of other bikers, that helped me up. Is there a way i can adjust the rear break (foot part), so it's not so steep? Any help would be appreciated, it's a great small bike and perfect for me (128lbs) LOL.
Here is me and my bike, proud new MAMA!!!!!
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5527/51896636.th.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx6qkur)

[Sarris]

Is this an easy adjustment? Similar question regarding the shift: easy adjustment?

Yes, both are relatively easy. I commented somewhere just yesterday, maybe in another forum, that if you can't figure out those two things, you shouldn't be messing with your bike at all !!

The shifter adjustment is done by loosening a nut at each end of the long connecting rod (one nut turns "backwards") and then turning the rod to move the pedal; re-tighten the nuts.

The brake is a 3 step proceedure......well 4 actually if you are adjusting the pedal height DOWN.
Back by the rear brake is a lever attached to the hub and a rod attached to that. The rod is threaded and has an adjusting nut.
1) Loosen that adjusting nut until there is a LOT of slack.
2) Move to the actual brake pedal. Operate it a time or 2 with your hand and notice what stops it when it springs back up. The stop is a bolt that is adjustable, after loosening a lock nut.
Adjust the pedal stop so that it is barely below your foot....or barely touching....in your normal riding posture.
3) Go back to the back and "tighten" the adjusting nut until the brake is almost applied but not quite. Easier to get this right with the wheel OFF the floor; adjust until it just barely drags and then back it off 1 or 2 clicks unil it just barely DOESN'T drag.
4) Lastly, check the operation of the rear brake light. The switch is about half way between the pedal and the back wheel, down by the operating mechanism and is attached to a little spring. If it doesn't operate/release the light properly, you adjust it by turning the big plastic nut that holds it into the bracket......(I think that's how the GZ adjustment is. On some, you turn the actual switch body.)

Good luck!

If you get all that right, then you are qualified to fix ANYTHING on your bike !! :roll: :biggrin:

The Search Engine is your friend.
:)

[Easy Rider]

Is there a way i can adjust the rear break (foot part), so it's not so steep?

Sarris provided the answer to the question that you asked......so I will take a slightly different approach.
[Edit: Just noticed that it was MY answer that he provided. Good job, Sarris!! :tup: ]

Why don't you take it back to the dealer where you got it for a warranty adjustment ?? That is one of the things they should have done BEFORE they let you leave the lot. Since they already know how to do it, it takes only a couple of minutes......AND THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE THEY LET YOU RIDE IT AWAY.

Does the shifter side feel about right? They should have adjusted that fit your riding posture too.

Oh, and WELCOME to the forum. :2tup:

[Water Warrior 2]

Welcome Krazy. Glad to have you join us in our insanity. LOL. You will find lots of info and helpful hints about your new ride. Oh, before I forget. When you do the shifter and brake peddle adjustment wear your regular riding boots. That way you get the best fit.

[mrlmd1]

Welcome to the club. The more you ride the bike, the more you will love it, not only for it's ride, but for it's reliability and simplicity.
I agree with ER - since the bike is new, take it back to the dealer and have them adjust everything to fit you, including adjusting the angle of the brake and clutch levers to fit your grip so you can easily apply them
And glad to see you're all dressed up in your protective gear. Nice!

[Krazy Kraut]

Thank you everybody!
I am glad i jioned the crazy club, fits my personality! LOL
Iwill defenetly take all the answers in consideration and choose the best one for me.
You guy's are awesome!!
looking forward to more topic discussions.
Krazy Kraut

[alantf]

That is one of the things they should have done BEFORE they let you leave the lot. Since they already know how to do it, it takes only a couple of minutes......AND THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE THEY LET YOU RIDE IT AWAY.



What cloud do you live on? :roll: These days (especially when they realise you don't know any better!) don't they just say "Here's the key - g'bye"? In an ideal world, they'd do everything correctly. These days - unfortunately - from what I've heard from other Americans on the site, all they're interested in is money, money, money. :cool:

[Easy Rider]

What cloud do you live on? :roll:

from what I've heard from other Americans on the site, all they're interested in is money, money, money. :cool:

I live on the "Take care of yourself 'cause nobody else will." cloud. :neener:

Just because people try to short you all the time doesn't mean that you have to let them get away with it. Just like a new suit, a new bike should "fit" you before you "wear" it. :biggrin:

[Easy Rider]

I will defenetly take all the answers in consideration and choose the best one for me.


Sounds like a wise thing to do.
Please let us know later which way you go and how it turns out.

[burkbuilds]

Welcome to the forum, looks like you are already getting some good advice here. My 2 cents, if I dropped the money on a new bike, I would expect the dealer to help me with some minor adjustments for no additional charges. If, like a lot of us, you buy it used that is a different matter. By the way, great looking bike!

[alantf]

if I dropped the money on a new bike, I would expect the dealer to help me with some minor adjustments for no additional charges.

Yes ...... I agree 100%. The point I was trying to make was that newbies don't know what adjustments need to be made to a new bike, so they can't ask for the adjustments before leaving the shop. It's about time the dealers were educated in customer service - to help & advise their customers, without them having to ask.
Unfortunately, until it makes financial sense for them to do so, they'll do as little as possible (i.e. NOTHING), & there's no way it'll make financial sense for them to do something for nothing. It's o.k. for us, more experienced riders, to know what wants doing, & insisting that the dealer does the necessary adjustments, but a newbie just doesn't know what needs doing. :cry:

[Easy Rider]

It's o.k. for us, more experienced riders, to know what wants doing, & insisting that the dealer does the necessary adjustments, but a newbie just doesn't know what needs doing. :cry:

That's true BUT that's no excuse. When was the last time you saw a bike salesman with people lined up waiting to complete the paperwork for their sale ?? Maybe on Sat. mornings early in the season but I doubt even then.

The should KNOW they have a newbie in hand and go over some of the basic set up items: brake pedal, shifter, clutch lever adjustment, and maybe even bar and lever position. We have had at least 3 new riders come here and ask IF those things are adjustable. That is sad.

I have the opposite problem with new car sales-persons. It should be pretty obvious to them that I'm not a new driver but they seem to feel some kind of obligation to point out EVERY control on the dashboard and how it works.

[burkbuilds]

You are right Easy Rider, they should offer more information to new riders and offer to set up the pedals and such to fit them, and Alan is correct in pointing out that new riders don't even know to ask for that stuff. I'd say that's one of the great things about a forum like this, more experienced riders getting to share that kind of information for the benefit of new riders. I really like this forum, I joined a Vulcan forum when I bought my new 500, but it can't touch this one! I rarely ever go there, and when I do I don't think much of the format or the average posts on there compared to this one, this feels like a community of people who enjoy their bikes and aren't just trying to one up each other but instead are offering their best advice to each other. Two thumbs up to the GZ250 Bike Forum and Dupo for starting it!

[mrlmd1]

I'd say that's one of the great things about a forum like this, more experienced riders getting to share that kind of information for the benefit of new riders. I really like this forum, I joined a Vulcan forum when I bought my new 500, but it can't touch this one! I rarely ever go there, and when I do I don't think much of the format or the average posts on there compared to this one, this feels like a community of people who enjoy their bikes and aren't just trying to one up each other but instead are offering their best advice to each other. Two thumbs up to the GZ250 Bike Forum and Dupo for starting it!

You are so right about this place. I too belong to and frequent other forums but none can compare to this one as far as the knowledge of it's members, the willingness to pass it along, the friendship and camaraderie (most of the time, the rest of the time it's misunderstood), the oldtimers who keep coming here back again and again along with the newbies who keep joining. It's a growing family and we all benefit from it and each other. We all seem to have some vested interest in each other, we have developed a real sense of community and true friendship over the years. Keep it up, keep it going! :2tup: :2tup:

[Water Warrior 2]

When Lynda got her 2006 GZ it was a shambles for foot controls. I rode it home and compensated for the brake pedal and shifter being way out in left field. I knew what it should feel like and how things should work. First thing was getting the bike adjusted for Lynda and then checking over the rest of the bike for everything else on the list of TO DOs.
Her M-50 was pretty well set up but not for a 5 Ft 3 In woman. WW to the rescue of course. The bike is a near perfect fit. The GZ was a perfect fit and Lynda never had a complaint.
One of my riding and coffee buds started to hate his 1100 Yamaha cruiser and wanted another bike. After 3 years a local dealer tipped his handlebars down and he is in love again. Even the most minor adjustment can mean so much.

[Krazy Kraut]

Hello1
Wanted toi thank Easy Rider and everybody else, that replied to my HELP call. I actually adjusted my break pedal myself!!! :whistle: it was super easy and the ride ist sweet now. I havn't layed it yet! LOL
Also, i am taking a Motorcycle safety course to get my REAL lisence (riding w/ a permit). I recommend it to all the NWEBies!
Thank you agaiHave a nice ride!
krazy kraut :2tup: :roll: :ride: :chop: :??: :??:

[Val]

Any references above to American dealers, I have found applicable to Canadian dealers as well. Nothing was adjusted, and nothing was even said about making adjustments. I didn't know my clutch control wasn't adjusted until I needed to clutch and horn at the same time and couldn't reach the horn because of how far forward my hand was to hold the clutch. (The guy I was gonna toot at was moving into my lane unaware of me, and with no horn I ended up booting his passenger door, which was very effetive at getting him to move back!) Just be sure you pass on the info to any new riders you will ever meet - adjust your bike!

[burkbuilds]

I love it! You booted his door! I've wanted to do that before but didn't. Way to go!

[bonehead]

Nuts and bolts work on tailgaters too.

[Water Warrior 2]

Nuts and bolts work on tailgaters too.

Modulating HyperLight LED brake lights are very effective and much safer. Both for you and the next rider who may catch a stray nut or bolt flipped up by a cage tire. But wouldn't it be nice just once eh ?? But in reality we should not be doing stuff that will lead to road rage because we stand to loose badly if things get out of hand.
The next rider could loose badly though. A bolt, same as a nail will get flipped up by the front tire and puncture the rear tire on a bike. Been there done that. Also read of a Vstrom rider in Australia who had the engine holed when a bolt flipped up from the front tire. The pics were quite interesting to see. Luckily it was a well insured bike and almost brand new so the engine was replaced rather than writing off the bike.

[bonehead]

That was really in my younger days-would'nt think of it now.