Have questions GZ250 or Rebel 250?

[alazar14]

This is the same post I made in the Honda Rebel forums. I wan't to get both sides. Yes If I put a post about a GZ vs Rebel in a rebel forum Im going to get a bias rebel answer, same here most likely. So I am putting the post on both and drawing my own conclusion from that. so here it is guys.

Just wondering which bike has the highest speed before the engine can get damaged.

I have seen a video of a Rebel doing about 80mph on the interstate which is impressive. Not much info out there for the GZ. Some reviews of it claim it can only reach about 70mph

I also think the Rebel is a bit smaller than the GZ, it seems like 6.0-6.2 are comfortable on a GZ while that size on a Rebel is quite cramped.

The GZ costs about $300-$500 or so more than a Rebel on average used.

From what Iv read they have similar estimated MPG, I am not sure how they calculate the MPG since it said 82MPG on the GZ but most people Iv spoken to who have had one say its more along the lines of 60-65MPG realistically. Is the 82 figure riding like 40mph tops?

Anyway so yeah I guess I'm just asking a list of comparison questions since there's not much info about Top speed and specifics about both bikes.

[Moedad]

Mine would do 75+, obviously on flat road with no wind in my face. I had a windscreen too. I wouldn't recommend running consistently at that speed all day however. I don't know what the Rebel site claims or doesn't claim, but the GZ isn't made ofr that kind of riding. It will do it, but you'll wear out your motor within 5000 miles or so, depending on how well you maintain it. I consistenly got 70+ mpg in stop and go commuting. I'm sure it would get 80 or better on a nice even (no big hills or headwinds) cruise at 55 mph.

[alazar14]

Well I would be going from Home to school every day and maybe around town. I live in the San Diego area and go to San Diego state University.

The daily commute would be around 50miles both ways 5 days a week. I could take surface streets but I want it to be able to get on the Highway if need be once in a while.

There's a video online about the "Honda rebel on the interstate" the guy is pushing his Rebel to around 80mph. Only real problem I have with the rebel is I am 6.0 so it is to cramped for me.

I don't plan to do MUCH Highway riding like I said but I would like to be able to do SOME highway riding if I needed to a few days a month.

Also does a GZ250 last? If You do good maintenance and take good care of it how long will the engine last?

Do they last alot less than cars? My Chev Camaro has about 200,000 miles on it and still feels strong but Iv herd of some bikes engines giving out around 10,000 miles so is a motorcycle a much lower life span engine than a car if properly kept?

[Water Warrior 2]

The Gz is the largest of the GZ, Rebel, Virago 250 group. Also the largest tank and best appearance. Probably the cheapest overall to maintain with only one cylinder as opposed to the Rebel/vertical twin and Virago/V-twin. The GZ has a sweet spot at about 60 mph and will do it all day long providing you aren't battling hills or headwinds. Have you looked at a S-40 Suzuki ?? Same appearance, just a bit larger with a 650 single for power. For your height and weight it might be worth a look just for fun.

[dannylightning]

i got up over 75mhp on mine.

the gz rides much better than the rebel tho. it is wider, bigger gas tank and it feels alot more stable in my opinion, and much more comfortable to ride.

i rode a few rebels and did not seem to like them, i got on a gz and it just felt right, neither of these bikes are going to be good highway machines, with a bike like this you want to get the one that feels best to you, not the on that will go the fastest. yes you can get up to 75-80 mph on one but your gonna be pushing the motor hard. not recommended for long periods of time. some gz owners on this board run 70mph all day long on their gz some report doing this and not having any kind of problems.

[music man]

If you are 6 foot tall then you need to forget about the Honda Rebel or the Yamaha Virago and go with the GZ, simple as that. None of the performance numbers even matter, you are just simply gonna be too cramped on the Rebel, and the Virago is built about the same as the Rebel.


And on a side note, I know someone who just bought a Virago 250, did you guys know that even though it "appears" to have two exhaust pipes, one of them is a dummy pipe, I thought that was a very strange idea.

[New GZ250]

I'm a six footer! The rebel felt like crap, no way could I ride it! The GZ fit was a lot more comfy, still I wish I had more... Sit on both bikes! You will go for the GZ!!!!!!!!!!!!
Besides the GZ looks better and I get 80 MPG or so!

[mrlmd1]

If you want to ride the highway at 70+ mph, get a bigger bike, 500-800cc's. You are big, these bikes are light, and will not be very comfortable, or as safe as a bigger heavier bike on the highway. These little bikes are great around town or on smaller roads going 60-65 all day, not 70-75. There's also no reserve at those speeds if you have to speed up or make some speedy evasive maneuver. Look for comfort and safety, not top speed.

[primal]

If you're wanting to be able to ride on the interstate, then sadly neither the GZ or Rebel will be the ideal bike. I honestly wouldn't get on the interstate on a GZ if my life depended on it, but many people on the forum here don't have any problems.

For interstate riding, I think the minimum would be the 750cc class cruisers (except the Vulcan 500, which is comparable in performance to the 750cc v-twin class).

[burkbuilds]

I put 12,000 miles on my GZ last year riding mostly back and forth to school, but only about 20 miles each way, not the 50 you are talking about. As for speed, well, I got it up to 82 downhill with a tailwind once for about 10 seconds, now I'm 6'1 and 210 lbs so someone lighter might do a little better but basically I've got to agree with what mrlmd1 told you about needing a bigger bike. I loved my GZ and it never gave me any mechanical problems, ran great easy to maintain, but it wasn't made to ride the highways. I took mine on a round trip to Atlanta two times (250 mile round trip) I was worn out and in pain by the end of that ride. Now some people have ridden a GZ from Florida to Alaska and WW's wife drove one across Canada a while back but for a 6 foot tall man, this just isn't the bike for highway/long rides. When I changed schools and started planning to ride back and forth to Atlanta once a week, I changed bikes too and I can ride that 250 miles no problem now but even with seat mods the GZ just isn't comfortable for a 6' person for rides like that. You are going to be better off buying a slightly larger bike for your driving needs and your frame, check out the Kawasaki Vulcan 500 (my new ride) or a Honda Shadow 600 or up size, or like WW said the Suzuki S-40 might be a good choice for your riding requirements but not a 250 of anybody's brand. As for mileage, I consistantly got 70 mpg on my GZ, the worst I got was on one of those Atlanta trips where I was wound out the entire time and I got about 56 mpg that trip, the best I did was about 78 mpg when I was riding around on local flat roads averaging about 45 mph. My current ride the Vulcan 500 consistantly gets 60 mpg combined driving mileage, so a little loss there but the comfort and power level for longer trips was a good trade off. I just came back from running to the beach in Florida and back over a 4 day weekend and the bike did great and I was fine with just stopping every 1.5-2 hours for gas and walking around a little before jumping back on it. Sorry to be so long winded, but I kinda felt like we had very similar situations and I just wanted to let you know my 2 cents on it from my experience. By the way, my Son in law rode with me on that trip on his Honda Shadow 750 and it performed flawlessly as well both bikes get within 5 mpg of each other on the road.

[alazar14]

The only problem with looking for bigger bikes is the fact they cost more money all around. Iv talked about this situation before hand on many other forums so ill say it here to. My budget is roughly $2600 for the bike used. I don't think I can get anything better than a 250cc with less than 20k miles used for that price. I would have $3200 but that would mean Id be riding with out any gear and only a helmet. I rather have the gear TBH. I basically don't even have the money to buy any tool kits, or even very good insurance. Basically bear bones $240 a year first time rider progressive stuff.

My money basically comes from Grants, Scholarships, and saved money in the last 3 years. I don't really work at all because I study full time and participate in my college's honors research program in psychology. Basically I'm stuck. Unless I can get lucky and find a Shadow or s40 for around $2500-$2600 used with low miles and in good conditions I'm kinda screwed as a student. I also have absolutely no credit to my name and no co signer. So I can't just buy from a dealership and make payments.

Also in California vulcan 500 is not sold so its near impossible to find used. And new.

As I stated before I'm not talking about LONG highway drives, I'm talking maybe 5-10min on the Highway at 65-70 mph. If the Rebel can do it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWfh8t3cZc Why couldn't this bike if its also a 250cc Is the engine weaker? Maybe the build quality is not as sturdy or full proof as honda's? Iv read many testimonials of people riding their Rebels at 75 mph for 50+ miles and still getting over 80,000 miles out of their bike.

[primal]

I found a 1998 Suzuki Marauder 800 for $1700 (talked him down from $2000). All you gotta do is look and be willing to try to negotiate price. The economy is making this a buyers market, so you have more power than the seller right now.

[dhgeyer]

I currently own a GZ250, and have owned a Honda Rebel, about 3 years ago. I have done fairly long rides on both. I think, to a degree, the top speed and mileage will vary a little from unit to unit. I am getting better mileage with the GZ than I did with the Rebel, 80's as opposed to 70's. The GZ will handle hills better. I think that is more important than top speed on flat ground. I am 6' 0" tall, and around 185. I didn't own these bikes at the same time, but to the best I can recall there isn't a big comfort difference between them. They both have fairly small, hard saddles. Being light, they both ride pretty hard on a bumpy road. Neither is ideal for long rides, but it can be done on either of them. Bottom line is, they are directly competing products, and are more alike than different. How long either will last probably depends more on how it is ridden and maintained than on any inherent differences between them.

There are some points in favor of the Rebel. Being a Honda, there are probably more dealers around for service if you don't want to do your own. They probably hold their value better, as they are very highly regarded.

There are some points in favor of the GZ250. It is far easier to service. The valves are easier to get to. The Honda has no oil filter to change, but it does have an oil screen that you are supposed to check and clean out. That oil screen is located such that you have to take a bunch of stuff off the bike to get to it. One piece of very bad design on an otherwise well designed bike. The GZ250 has an oil filter, located on the side of the engine. Easier to change than any other bike I have owned or know of. So, routine service on the GZ is very easy for anyone who can turn a wrench at all. The mirrors on the Honda are not far enough out. Depending on how you adjust them, they either give you an excellent view of your arms, or you can see out to the sides. You cannot see much behind you. The GZ has excellent mirrors, and they are well placed, far enough out that you don't have much of a blind spot and can see perfectly behind you. If there were no other differences at all, I would go with the GZ for that reason alone, as it is an important safety factor when riding.

Neither of these bikes is the fastest 250 out there. The Kawasaki Ninja 250 sells in the same price range used, at least around here. My daughter had one of those, and I got it up over 90mph one afternoon, on straight, flat interstate with no appreciable wind. It really will go that fast, and will cruise at highway speeds without straining, slowing down on hills, or risking engine damage. Even though the displacement is the same as the Rebel/GZ250, it's an entirely different kind of engine. It has dual carbs, and redlines at over 13,000 rpm's. At engine speeds over 10,000 you wouldn't believe it's a 250! Very fun bike to ride. Being a sport bike the riding position is different, and probably better for long hauls. It's fairly upright as sport bikes go, and it puts your feet under you for better control. The mirrors aren't very effective, though. They don't tend to be on sport bikes. The mileage on the Ninja can be in the 70's if you ride it like you would the Rebel/GZ. Out on the highway, or if you go out and have some real fun with it, the gas mileage drops into the 50's. Around here you can get a used Ninja 250 on Craigslist for a price that is well within your budget, depending on age and mileage.

Hyosung makes a couple of 250's, one a cruiser and the other a sport bike. Either is faster than either the Rebel or the GZ250. People tend to look down on the Korean bikes, but this is a mistake. They are very well designed and built, and are worth a look. Depending on whether or not there is a dealer in your area, they may be hard to find used, or to get parts for. Great bikes though, from all I have heard. I have not owned one, but a some of my friends have, and have had excellent luck with them.

Good luck!

[burkbuilds]

I understand your financial pinch, I'm a full time student as well. If I had to pick a 250, my personal preference at 6'1" and based on the lower maintenance cost and ease of doing a lot of the regular maintenance items yourself without having to be a mechanic, would be the GZ250 over the Rebel. However, don't give up on finding a deal on a bigger bike, here's a Vulcan 500 in your area (well California, not sure exactly where you are) with less than 2,000 miles on it, the starting bid on e-bay is $2200 and there are 3 days left with no current bidders, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki ... otorcycles (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-Vulcan_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4a9b6054daQQitem Z320434361562QQptZUSQ5fmotorcycles) I found this in just a few minutes searching, you should try to find a deal on a slightly larger bike before you settle for a bike that you might be fairly uncomfortable on and therefore unhappy with in the long run. Good luck.

[dhgeyer]

The Vulcan 500 is a great bike, and, apart from not getting as good mileage and being a little harder to work on, would serve better in the long run than any 250. The 250's are better starter bikes, though. If there are any Ninja 500's around in the same price range, they would be an even better bet in the long run. I've owned both of those bikes also. Redding (where that Vulcan 500 is being sold) is about 665 miles from San Diego on Google Maps.

[Easy Rider]

Just wondering which bike has the highest speed before the engine can get damaged.


If top speed is a significant concern for you, you are looking at the wrong bikes.....both of them.

The only one in the 250 class that can really "keep up" on the freeway is the Kaw Ninja 250. It is not really as much of a "sport bike" as it looks.

If you do much freeway riding, I would recommend a bigger bike, displacement wise that is.

[Easy Rider]

My current ride the Vulcan 500 consistantly gets 60 mpg combined driving mileage, so a little loss there but the comfort and power level for longer trips was a good trade off.

I love my Honda Shadow 600 but am kind of sorry I didn't ride the Vulcan 500 first. I think it may really be a better bike overall.

Mine has more chrome though.....and it looks "cooler" !! :neener: :biggrin:

[mrlmd1]

I like my S50 better, ha, ha. :poke2:

[Moedad]

As I stated before I'm not talking about LONG highway drives, I'm talking maybe 5-10min on the Highway at 65-70 mph. If the Rebel can do it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWfh8t3cZc Why couldn't this bike if its also a 250cc Is the engine weaker? Maybe the build quality is not as sturdy or full proof as honda's? Iv read many testimonials of people riding their Rebels at 75 mph for 50+ miles and still getting over 80,000 miles out of their bike.

The GZ will handle 5-10 minutes at 65-70 mph no problem. What we've consistently said it that running a GZ at 75+ all day long, day-in and day-out, will dramatically shorten the engine life. I rode mine on the freeway quite often, and 50+ miles at 75 mph a number of times. Many of the members here have taken them on multistate trips. One guy from the LA area just north of you rode his GZ to Death Valley and back on the same day.

The GZ is every bit as sturdy and fool-proof as the Rebel, if not more so, and has better ergonomics. And if you're talking about a first bike, you can't go wrong with a GZ. It will make you happy.

That said, we're not trying to talk you out of a GZ, or even a Rebel. We're just trying to encourage you to think outside the box a little. There are inexpensive larger bikes to be found. I have a '93 Honda Nighthawk CB750 that cost me $1800 last January. It's got high miles (near 38k) but it's been well cared for and should go another 38k and more if I take care of it. Insurance (Geico) is cheap. My only gripe about it is that it doesn't get 70-80 mpg like my GZ did.

[dannylightning]

bottom line from the general consensuses, the rebel has a top speed of 80mph and 75mph for the gz . when i had my gz i let off the gas when i got up to 75, felt like it still had more in it but the motor did not sound happy at that kind of speed so i never pushed it harder than that, and those kinds of speeds were only short burst

as moedad said running something full bore all the time is gonna shorten the life big time, so if you want to run it at full bore all the time your playing Russian roulette with you engine.

i now have a 800cc now, i try to keep that under 80mph, I had it up a little over 100mph once and it did fine and did not feel like it was running wide open yet but i would not run it like that constantly,

if speed is what you are looking for neither of these bikes would be the right application for you.

[dhgeyer]

I just watched the YouTube video of the Rebel on the highway, with the link posted above. It made me skeptical. For one thing, the rider/narrator was reading off speeds indicated by the speedometer. These are always suspect on any vehicle, and particularly on motorcycles in my experience. Also, that Rebel had a large windshield on it. Again, from my experience, a windshield, depending on its shape, size, and angle can either increase or decrease wind resistance.

I subscribe to a magazine called "Motorcycle Consumer News" (MCN). It is unique among such publications in that it accepts no advertising. All revenues come from subscriptions. They have an excellent technical staff, and do honest evaluations on any product they test. When something isn't worth the money, they say so. They also have a standard testing procedure for motorcycles. They treat them all the same, and do all of the same tests. They test the top speed by some means other than the speedometer. They do multiple runs on the same course, and take the highest speed they can get.

The last time they tested a Rebel was in 1996, and they got a top speed of 70 mph. That's about consistent with what I remember mine doing the one time I took it on a highway. I was unable to maintain 60 mph on a fairly significant incline on Route 89 here in NH. MCN got 62.2 ave. mpg fuel economy.

They tested a GZ250 in 1999, using the same procedures. They got a top speed of 78 mph, with combined fuel economy of 49.7 mpg. Not sure why the fuel economy was so low - everyone here gets much better than that. The top speed seems about right. More importantly, the GZ will maintain at least 60 in 4th gear, which will get you up virtually any hill you'd be likely to encounter, especially on the highway. That 60 mph figure may be low. I've never opened mine up fully in 4th.

The braking on the Rebel was much more impressive - 60mph to 0 in 115 feet as opposed to 123 for the GZ. The GZ had a little more HP and torque, measured at the rear wheel, and is a few pounds heavier.

They tested a Kawasaki Ninja 250R in 2008. To be fair, this is a newer model of Ninja 250, and used ones will probably be the older model. However, Kawasaki didn't change much that would affect performance. They got a measured top speed of 95.5 mph, with average fuel economy of 51.2 mpg. Again, this fuel economy is way below what we got with ours, but the top speed seems about right. 0 to 60 was 7.72 seconds, which is a little over half the time it took either the Rebel or GZ to do the same acceleration. The Ninja would be harder to maintain, since it would require removing body work, and the dual carbs would require synchronization. It also has twice as many valves.

Can't find any records of a test of the Vulcan 500. They tested a Ninja 500 in 2004, and got a top speed of 110 mph, with an average of 64 mpg. That's better fuel economy than what they got for the Ninja 250. That just doesn't sound right. Maybe a misprint somewhere. The Vulcan 500 has the same engine/transmission as the Ninja 500, with minor modifications to the cams and timing for better mid range torque at the expense of some raw horsepower at high RPM's. I don't think the Vulcan 500 would go quite as fast as the Ninja.

They tested a Honda Shadow VLX 600 in 1999, which presumably would be the newer model. Top speed of 90, average fuel economy of 40 mpg. We owned 2 VLX's at one point, one new model ('04) and one of the older models ('95). The top speeds seem about right to me, but we got a lot better fuel economy with both of them.

Points to ponder.

[New GZ250]

Here's a link from AMA, comparing four 250cc bikes!

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/sch/0 ... index.html (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/sch/01/gz250/index.html)

[oakies]

Bottom line...If your going to commute 50 miles per day, at any speed, You should have a bigger bike. At least 500cc. For around town the GZ is great, I use it all the time. But if I'm going anywhere farther than 20 miles, I ride one of my my Harleys.

[primal]

The MPG values you see in review should be seen as the low end of the range. IMO, they probably really flog these bikes when they review them and that results in poor gas mileage. For instance, reviews of my Marauder 800 place the MPG at around 39 stock. I've got one with an aftermarket exhaust and rejetted carbs and I'm getting 49 MPG. I don't really flog the bike, but I'm by no means easy on the throttle.

[dhgeyer]

I got my first bike in 1963. I had just turned 16, and gotten my driver's license. There was no such thing as a motorcycle license in New York State at that time. I bought a 1954 Harley Davidson 165cc Hummer for $110.00. On a good day it could get up to 50. Rode that for about a year. Next I got a new Honda 150cc. Not sure what they called it, but it was a mini version of the 305 Dream. I rode that bike from East Aurora, NY (near Buffalo) to Far Hills, NJ and back. Thought nothing of it. Back home from college for most weekends, 75 miles each way. For the first 6 years I rode I never could afford anything bigger than a 250 Ducati. I rode that thing all over, 250 miles in the rain one day that I can recall specifically. You can do that stuff when you're young. And if you're on a budget, sometimes you have to.

A bigger bike for commuting would be more comfortable for sure, but "Need" is a relative term. I think that starting out on a small bike (no bigger than 250) is also a good thing. Safer. There's something to be said, too, for buying a first bike that isn't exactly pristine, cosmetically. Mistakes happen. I hate being the first one to drop a bike. If you buy something not too new, not too shiny, and look around and buy it right, you can ride it for a few months or a year and sell it for most of what you paid. If you do a little fixing up you might even get more than what you paid. Then get the newer, bigger bike that you've been saving for in the meantime.

[Easy Rider]

Bottom line...If your going to commute 50 miles per day, at any speed, You should have a bigger bike.

He said the trip is 50 round trip; 25 each way. He also said it would NOT be on freeways.

That may be YOUR conclusion but I think a LOT of us would not share it. If you are riding roads where the speed limit is 55-60 mph, the GZ would be a fine choice for most people.

NOW because he is a fairly BIG guy, it might not be a good choice because of comfort but that's the only reason. Most riders can do 45 minutes or so on the 250 class bikes with no problem.....even with the crappy stock seats.

[JWR]

The daily commute would be around 50miles both ways 5 days a week. I could take surface streets but I want it to be able to get on the Highway if need be once in a while.




I think he is talking about 100 miles per day??

[alazar14]

25 miles each way

50 miles total per day

5 days a week

250miles a week

About 8/12 months a year


Surface street speed limit = 50mph for the most part. Never over 50mph. A lot of 40 mph roads.

Total time it takes me going at that speed to get to my campus = 40min on surface streets

Total time it would take going at 65mph on the Highway = 25min

I don't really mind not taking the highway like I said. Even If I did I would be going at around 65-70mph for maybe 15 min of the 25 total. This would maybe be 4-6 times a month. From what Iv read there should be absolutely no reason why the GZ250 can't go 70mph for about 15 min one day a week without causing damage to it.

I don't plan to make any trips longer than 100miles ever...on a GZ250.

I plan to use surface streets about 90% of the time I ride 10% being Highway use.

Basically 90% of the time the GZ will never go beyond 55mph, and the 10% times it does it will be 70mph.

Hopefully I made things a bit more clear.

Also about my Weight and Size I am 6.0 Tall but I only weigh around 175-180lb Im a semi skinny guy but my backpack alone is like 25 more lb lol

[burkbuilds]

Thanks for clearing up the proposed riding trip you will be making most days. With that information, I'd say you'd be fine with the GZ or the Rebel, but at 6' tall the GZ will be a better physical fit for your frame, unless you are mostly tall in the upper torso and short legged that is. I drove my GZ about 15 miles each way every week on I-75 to visit my mom and as stated previously I did two 250 mile round trips to Atlanta on it, so no problems going "highway" speeds for a while but you won't have much left at 65 mph if you needed to speed up to avoid anything which happens more than you might think. (Happened to me this morning when a pickup decided to turn left and broadside me, but I had enough power to gun it and he missed me! Barely.) Most of my riding to school was on Highway 27 (55mph speed limit). You weigh about 30 lbs less than I do, so I would expect that you could go a little faster on the GZ than I was able to do with a little less "strain" on the motor. It's a great motor, like somebody pointed out the only people we really hear about having any problems with the motor almost always drove it WOT all the time and didn't do squat for maintenance.

[JWR]

Any bike that you like will do that with no problem.

You did not ask, but......
The Yamaha 250 V Twin will out pull, out run, get better fuel mileage, and is smoother than the GZ.
This is based on my 1400 mile Blue Ridge Parkway trip.

The GZ is more comfortable and less money.

[Easy Rider]

From what Iv read there should be absolutely no reason why the GZ250 can't go 70mph for about 15 min one day a week without causing damage to it.

I don't plan to make any trips longer than 100miles ever...on a GZ250.


Absolutely right. When it comes to engine life, you can do more damage easier in the lower gears because there you can over-rev but in 5th that is almost impossible. Those who have damaged their engines were, by their own admission, punishing it in all the gears.

I took my GZ on a 1200 mile trip last year. You might be surprised where you will take it.

[dhgeyer]

I just remembered something relevant that I had forgotten. I took the course (9 days) to become an MSF Ridercoach (instructor), and did a very brief stint in that job. We used both Rebels and GZ250s in the training and in the course. Of course these training bikes took a beating, both in terms of getting dropped a lot and getting rough use. A lot of the students had never even driven a standard transmission car. A lot of the Rebels developed trouble shifting, particularly into first gear, and it was nearly impossible to find neutral on them. The GZ250s held up much better under this rough usage, and did not have any chronic problems that I can recall. That was a few years ago, and I had forgotten. The poor students that got stuck with those affected Rebels had a terrible time. Not all the Rebels developed this problem, but quite a few of them did.

I'm not sure if this has anything to do with real world riding or not. The training bikes were being shifted all the time in the lower gears, and never went over 20 odd miles per hour. But, due to its simplicity and the ruggedness I saw back then, my gut feeling is that I would trust a GZ more than a Rebel, especially if I was buying it used and didn't know how it had been treated.

The Rebel we owned (bought used) wasn't bad, although it didn't shift quite as easily or smoothly as the GZ, particularly in the lower gears. We had occasional trouble finding neutral. Never once saw that happen on any GZ250.

[Water Warrior 2]

A great number of Rebels come from the factory with the free of charge 1st gear hang up option. The easiest way to find first is apply normal downward force on the shifter and flip the kill switch. It will drop into gear. Restart engine and away you go. Of course this is meant for situations when you are already stopped. Lynda was ready to set fire to the Rebel she had in training until the instructor mentioned this trick. I lucked out with a Virago 250 with a very loud exhaust............ARGH !!

[New GZ250]

Gee I wonder what the Honda Rebel Forum is saying?
Be nice to have a web link.
:popcorn:

[alazar14]

Gee I wonder what the Honda Rebel Forum is saying?
Be nice to have a web link.
:popcorn:


This

http://www.rebel250.com/rebelforum/view ... hp?t=22489 (http://www.rebel250.com/rebelforum/viewtopic.php?t=22489)

To sum it all up there seems to be some agreement on the fact the GZ250 is better at lower speeds and can be faster on lower speeds but the Rebel can top out the MPH a bit more than the GZ.

[alazar14]

Any bike that you like will do that with no problem.

You did not ask, but......
The Yamaha 250 V Twin will out pull, out run, get better fuel mileage, and is smoother than the GZ.
This is based on my 1400 mile Blue Ridge Parkway trip.

The GZ is more comfortable and less money.

Can a 6.0 tall guy fit on the yamaha 250? Also is that the 250v star?


http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/pro ... /home.aspx (http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelhome/589/0/home.aspx)


How does that bike fit 6.0 tall guys? Anyone test one?

[Water Warrior 2]

Any bike that you like will do that with no problem.

You did not ask, but......
The Yamaha 250 V Twin will out pull, out run, get better fuel mileage, and is smoother than the GZ.
This is based on my 1400 mile Blue Ridge Parkway trip.

The GZ is more comfortable and less money.

Can a 6.0 tall guy fit on the yamaha 250? Also is that the 250v star?


http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/pro ... /home.aspx (http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelhome/589/0/home.aspx)


How does that bike fit 6.0 tall guys? Anyone test one?

You will be fine going in a straight line. Try to turn anymore than a wide corner and you will likely catch a knee with the handle bars. Sounds of a drop will follow. Don't ask me how I know. I am a little less than 6 ft so try one out just for your own hands on experince for fit and general size. The pic makes it look bigger than real life.

[alazar14]

I am going to ask around Vstar forums see what / if 6.0 guys are getting on a vstar and doing well on one. Maybe there are adjustments you can easily make kind of like how on the Rebel you could raise the handle bars. The ability of the bike to reach 85mph and hold 75mph for long periods of time is not a must have in my situation but it would be nice.

[burkbuilds]

I got some risers for my vulcan handlebars because I couldn't turn at parking lot speeds without hitting my knees and that made it very awkward for me, the risers got the handlebars out of range of my knees and even brought them to a more comfortable position. Bought mine from Scootworks. ($75).

[dannylightning]

i hate the 250 v star, it looks nice but it feels so akward and small. i set on one of those and i think how can any one ride this, especially with the swept back bars they put on it.

i would take the rebel over the v star any day, but i would take a gz over the rebel. all of this is personal opinion. they are both excellent bikes with well built motors. and both bikes are quite comparable in a lot of ways, only you are going to be able to tell witch one feels right for you. test drive or at least set on one of each and see what feels better to you, that should be the deciding factor if you are getting a 250.

i think what it's really gonna come down to is witch one feels the best to you. i really cant say that one is better than the other. but i sure can say witch one feels way better, to me at least.

[dhgeyer]

Well, alazar14, it certainly sounds like you're doing your research before buying. I have to admire that. I've always been more of an impulse guy myself. That's probably part of why I've been through so many bikes in such a short time. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.

Around here there are a couple of dealers that trade only (or mostly) in used motorcycles. They have large inventories. If you have any such establishments near where you are, you might consider finding them. They tend to allow test rides, as long as you have your motorcycle endorsement. You might luck out and be able to take each of the three bikes that you are now considering out for a short spin.

One suggestion I want to make based on something you said. Please don't start your riding career with a 25 lb pack on your back! This does not help your stability and balance in maneuvers one bit. Get some bungee cords and secure that 25 lb to the seat - and I do mean secure, as in absolutely secure. You can put small saddlebags on any of these bikes, and they will carry stuff safely and securely. What you can't get in the saddlebags, put in your pack, secure the straps completely, and bungee the pack to the bike. Your ride will much more pleasant and safer.

Surprising how few responses you got on the Rebel forum, and how much less real information, especially considering how popular that bike is. Makes me kind of proud to be a part of this forum! We seem to have a lot more collective experience here. A lot of that has to do with the fact that people who once owned GZ250s but traded up, still post here. Another thing you might want to notice is that many people who start on the GZ keep them, even after buying bigger bikes. I'll bet there's a reason for that. And then there's me. I bought my GZ while already owning two much larger bikes, including a full out 1000cc sport touring machine. When I want to go out and tool around the hills for an hour or three, guess which bike I go for?

[Water Warrior 2]

A big + 1 on the backpack suggestion/warning. If it weighs more than a quart of milk it is too heavy.

[alazar14]

Im even considering a Ninja 250r now. I mean it seems to actually be the overall BEST daily commute bike on the market. I wouldn't be surprised due to the fact its the most popular bike in the world today.

Big problem with the Ninja 250s is that they get stolen A LOT. And truth be told San diego county is not very different than New York DC in terms of theft. There are a lot of people who have lost their motorcycles this year. 1 person at my university lost their Ninja 250r. I mean there are about 300 students+ with Ninja 250s but only 1 (That I know of) has gotten it stolen. Another huge problem with the NEW Ninja250 (08+) models is the new cool look makes it so they never drop in price. You end up paying like $4000 for a Ninja 250 used with like 8,000 miles on it or something.

[bonehead]

Lo-Jack!!!

[Water Warrior 2]

Theft problems, just buy a Vstrom and leave it dirty. Problem solved.

[mrlmd1]

Go buy the Ninja. go buy a GZ250, get insurance and a big heavy cable lock, chain it to a tree or pole if you want and don't worry about it. If someone wants to steal it they have to pick it up, all 300#, and put it into a truck. By the time you decide on a bike, school and the riding season will be over. :poke2:

[dhgeyer]

I'm not sure about this, but I think the centerstand was standard on the older Ninja 250 but not on the new one. Of the bikes you are considering, the Ninja is the only one that even can have a centerstand. It makes cleaning/lubing the chain (you have to do that much maintenance yourself) much, much easier, as it gets the rear wheel off the ground so you can spin it in neutral and clean/lube away. Otherwise you can either:

A. clean/lube a few inches, then push the bike forward or backward to get to the next few inches

B. jack the bike up, using some kind of scissors jack from a car, with some kind of wood or equivalent buffer between the jack and the bike

C. Buy a bike jack specifically for that purpose.

I jack my GZ250 up with a car jack and wood pad to do the chain. It's a minor pain every few hundred miles.

The 250R that we had was an 01, and had the centerstand. I think the older model's seat was a little better designed for humans also. But, you're right, it doesn't look nearly as cool. Anyway, try to get one with a centerstand if you can. It really does make life easier.

As far as theft is concerned, get insurance. That brings up another point: sport bikes tend to be more expensive to insure. You might want to get quotes on all the bikes you are considering, and factor that into your decision, since you are researching this as carefully as you are. Around here insurance on any 250 is pretty low, but we're in a rural area. It might be quite different where you are.

I just did a little survey of the 250's for sale on Craigslist in my area (NH). The prices are low right now, as the riding season is about at an end. But, relatively speaking, and as a generalization, the Rebels, Ninjas, and GZ250s are all at about the same price points when age, condition, and miles are taken into account. The biggest difference is that GZ250s are much rarer, and Ninjas tend to have more miles for any given model year, as people actually ride them more.

The Ninja is a more functional bike than the others, both in terms of speed and comfort. Oil changes are about the same trouble on any of them (assuming you don't bother with the screen on the Rebel), but valve lash check/adjustments will be more time consuming, and thus probably more expensive to have done on the Ninja. Another thing to look into.

[burkbuilds]

None of my bikes have had a center stand and that would be great for maintenance but I found this little gadget at Harbor Freight tools and it works pretty well for chain lube and tire cleaning stuff. It's called a wheel cleaning stand made by Haul-Master, item # 98800 about $25 Basically it is an aluminum ramp up to a frame with two rollers mounted about 4" apart, that you simply put behind your tire, roll the bike onto it put it in neutral and you can spin the tire with your hands while you clean or lube it. Weighs a couple of pounds and is only about 1 1/4" thick and seems to hold up pretty well. It's not as good as a center stand, but it works pretty well and you can even use it on the front tire when you are cleaning it.

[alazar14]

bare bones basic insurance is $240 from progressive for the GZ250 and $280 for the Ninja 250r so the insurance is not a problem. Finding a good looking 08 model for $2600 or so with less than 15,000 miles is going to be the problem lol.

[dhgeyer]

Finding a good looking 08 model for $2600 or so with less than 15,000 miles is going to be the problem lol.

That could be a challenge. Around here there is one '08 for sale with 840 miles on it. It has been dropped and has some damage, and is priced at $2900.00. If they're asking that kind of money in October in NH, it will go for more in the Spring when people are actually buying 250s. Personally, I'd go for an older one that's been garaged and treated well and has a centerstand. We bought our '01 in 2006, and had no trouble with it save gunked up carbs from sitting too long. But that was our fault - we let it sit over the Winter with no Stabil in the tank. And a couple of tankfuls of Chevron Techron made it right as rain.

If you go for an older one, you can get a very acceptable starter Ninja for well under $2000.00 around here. Prices are probably a bit higher where you are.

[alazar14]

How long can the engine last on a GZ250? Assuming it was properly kept How many miles.

I'm really starting to also consider just buying a used older but bigger bike. Maybe a Honda shadow 600 or a Vstar 600 both of which iv seen adds for around $3000 with less than 10,000 miles 10,000 miles + iv seen as low as $2500. I had no idea sometimes they would go that low. There must be something wrong with them though. I have no friends who know a lot about motorcycles so I can't really ask for them to check it or anything.

[burkbuilds]

There's a post on this site somewhere called something like, "Who has the most miles on their GZ250" and it seems like one guy had around 60,000 miles on his. I still think that at your height you would do better finding a slightly bigger bike and as someone pointed out you can sometimes find a bargain on a well cared for bike that has 10-20K miles on it. If you don't have a friend who knows bikes are there any good Motorcycle mechanics that you'd trust to check one out for a fee?

[alazar14]

I am just now getting into motorcycling so I don't have any motorcycle mechanics in my area that can check one out. I have a cousin who is a very talented car mechanic though if that helps at all.

What I am thinking of doing is having the guy ride it to some where near my house including some interstate riding. I assume if it can ride on the interstate it shouldn't be in to bad conditions.

[bonehead]

How long can the engine last on a GZ250? Assuming it was properly kept How many miles.

I'm really starting to also consider just buying a used older but bigger bike. Maybe a Honda shadow 600 or a Vstar 600 both of which iv seen adds for around $3000 with less than 10,000 miles 10,000 miles + iv seen as low as $2500. I had no idea sometimes they would go that low. There must be something wrong with them though. I have no friends who know a lot about motorcycles so I can't really ask for them to check it or anything.
I would have no problem buying a bike with 10,000 miles on it. Hell, my gz is only a year old and has 14,000. Just go look at the bikes, make sure they start and run/sound good. Check for dents and scratches that may indicate a down or a wreck. Check the brake operation, and look at the condition of the tires. And if the owner is willing take them on test rides. Good luck. :rawk:

[mrlmd1]

Maybe I've missed something here. Have you taken the MSF course?, had any training in riding a motorcycle or any experience? Or are you just pondering what to buy to get into this? If you haven't already, taking an MSF course is the first thing you have to do, and the instructors can well advise you on what type/size/brand of bike to get for yourself.And after you ride a few of the different bikes they may have there, you may be better informed on how to make your decision.

[alazar14]

I am just waiting for the date now. I signed up for the MSF class last week. It starts on the 27th.

[dhgeyer]

There's a good chance you'll be assigned either a GZ250 or a Rebel for the course, especially if you want to and/or ask to. I'm sure they'll let you at least sit on the other bikes. And you'll run into lots of people with lots of opinions during the course. Do yourself a favor and try not to be assigned a Honda Nighthawk 250. Horrible clutch. Brakes aren't so great either. The shorter bikes are easier for the tight maneuvers also. They may stick you with one because you're tall, but try to resist.

[alazar14]

Well I seem to be finding GZ250s quite easily. So I may just end up buying one simply because they are so easy to find in my area. And cheap. Hopefully the MSF will have one I can ride and get a feel for. If I like it ill get one for my first year or so to learn to ride on. I don't want to drop a big bike....

[diffluere]

Try not to ride the Kawisaki Eliminator 125 either. I hated the clutch on that bike, and when the chain fell off when I was riding it they let me on the GZ. I was instantly in love. You're a lot taller than me though so you should be able to avoid this.

When I took the course they also had a Ninja 250 and a Suzuki supermoto. Maybe you can try one of those too. The two tallest guys got to ride these bikes.

[Water Warrior 2]

If the chain fell off the riding instructors are not doing a complete job of instructing. They should have been teaching students how to do an inspection of tire condition, tire pressure and chain slack/condition. This along with control functions and all lighting fixtures being in order. Oh yah, and tapping the spokes for the proper sound to indicate tightness. Many new riders really don't know a chain from a barn door and can just assume a bike is like a car. Not so by any stretch of the imagination.

[dhgeyer]

They don't maintain the training bikes very well here in NH, either. In all fairness, it's an almost impossible job, given the treatment they get. A chain can fall off any bike if it's too loose. They don't use Ninjas here either. They consider them too fast for training, and also don't want to have to keep fixing the bodywork. If you get a chance to try one of those, by all means go for it.

[alazar14]

Hey guys Im back again

According to many reviews

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadte ... index.html (http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/250cc_cruiser_comparison/index.html)

It seems like the GZ250 is not getting much love. Most underpowered according to the review but one of the most comfortable rides for taller folk Again I do plan it to take it on the Highway once in a while which would require the bike to go 70-75mph. I am also wondering if you guys have noticed that problem about the seat sinking in a lot on long rides? Does it stay sinked in or does it pop back up quickly? I wouldn't want it to be like those cheap $40 dollar office chairs where the seat flattens out after 2-4 weeks. The GZ250 is still my top choice though. The bikes overall look, cheap price, high quality of Suzuki, and reliability speak wonders. The biggest issue Iv seen the bike have is very poor brakes. Anyone experience this as well? Iv read a lot of people talk bad about the bikes brakes.

I am beginning to consider a Vstar 250. Have you guys ridden on one? Some claim it can hold 80mph no problem I am 6ft tall though so it seems like it would be a bit cramped. I am planning to go look at bikes sometime this weekend. I need to sit on all of these 250cc bikes to get a feel for them. Can you guys give me any advice just by sitting on the bike what I should look for? I know one thing is if my knees hit the handbars it is to small..anything else?

I am also not leaving the Hyosung GV250 out of the question...I mean yeah its a Korean bike and probably does not have the build quality or reliability of a Suzuki Yamaha or Honda but It did seem to be the most powerful one of the bunch... I get a lot of mixed opinions about Hyosung though. There are posts online saying it can hold 85mph without much problem.

You guys have been a great help so far, I hope I am not pissing anyone off by posting so much on here. I am just trying to make a very well informed choice because this will actually be the largest buy of my life to this point. Currently my largest purchase ever has been my $1400 dollar gaming desktop in early 08. I plan to buy the bike in Dec-Feb.

[alantf]

The biggest issue Iv seen the bike have is very poor brakes. Anyone experience this as well?

Weeeell........... Depends what you mean by "poor". The brakes stop the bike just fine. The problem (for me) is that, yes, the back brake doesn't do an awful lot, but it's made up by the front brake being fine, so, if you let the front brake do most of the work while realising that you really don't need the back brake all that much at normal (for the gz) riding speeds, you'll be fine.

MY major problem is that living in the mountains, every ride starts with 2 or 3 miles downhill, with a 30 mph speed limit & hidden traffic cops (got a €100 fine the other month for going 6 mph over the limit!) so my front brake pads only last around 2000 to 2500 miles (engine braking is worse than useless on the hills) :2tup:

[mrlmd1]

My seat never sank in, I have no problem with the brakes. If anything, after I replaced the front pads, they were very sensitive and the bike stops on a dime.
Those reviewers do not spend as much time on those bikes as we do, and they do not have the same experiences we do. Just do yourself a favor and get the GZ, or the next size up, the 650cc single cylinder S40, and you won't regret it.

[Easy Rider]

Again I do plan it to take it on the Highway once in a while which would require the bike to go 70-75mph.

The GZ250 is still my top choice though.

This is a critical point.....CRITICAL.

If your freeway use will be more than just a couple of miles, you are looking at the wrong class of bikes. The Ninja 250 is the only bike in this class that is really highway capable and it would probably not fit you too good.

You will be SORRY if you do not also look at bikes with 400 to 800 cc because you will be needing more power really soon.

NOW........if you can resist getting on the freeways at all for a year and plan on moving up after a year or two........then we are back to the GZ........but you keep coming back to the freeway use and living where you do I can easily understand that.

I fear that you are about to make a mistake here. If your intent is to buy a bike you can keep for several years, I'm pretty sure you are.

[Water Warrior 2]

The GZ has acceptable brakes and they will perform pretty well. The rear can be a little wooden feeling but that is normal on many bikes. The combo of front disc and rear drum is common to a lot of bikes that are larger or the same size as the GZ and will get bad reviews from folks with experience on bikes with 2 front discs and 1 rear disc or drum. The rear will slow you down but the front will stop you. Use both for best results.

[bonehead]

Again I do plan it to take it on the Highway once in a while which would require the bike to go 70-75mph.

The GZ250 is still my top choice though.

This is a critical point.....CRITICAL.

If your freeway use will be more than just a couple of miles, you are looking at the wrong class of bikes. The Ninja 250 is the only bike in this class that is really highway capable and it would probably not fit you too good.

You will be SORRY if you do not also look at bikes with 400 to 800 cc because you will be needing more power really soon.

NOW........if you can resist getting on the freeways at all for a year and plan on moving up after a year or two........then we are back to the GZ........but you keep coming back to the freeway use and living where you do I can easily understand that.

I fear that you are about to make a mistake here. If your intent is to buy a bike you can keep for several years, I'm pretty sure you are.
:plus1: Got to agree with Easy on this one. With the exception of the ninja, these bikes are at their Peak at 70-75.

[alazar14]

Iv also considered just waiting yet another year (Would be 4 years now) and buying a good condition used shadow when I have the $3200. I think I should be able to find a used shadow for $3000-3200 in very good conditions. I read online the Shadow 650 can top off at 95mph so its more than enough for highway use.
I have already found TONS of shadows around my area with about 15,000-25,000 miles for less than $2000

I am only worried that it may require a ton of repairs and very expensive ones at that. Considering I DO NOT have a steady income and I am basically blowing my lifes savings on this I hope it does not require a lot of repairs or insurance cost. As a student we tend to not have much money...

It's really to bad that no company can make a decent 250cc bike that can run some what fast. I mean yeah Hyosung can do it but it's really not built to last and repair wise will end up more expensive than actually buying a bigger bike within 2-3 years.

[Easy Rider]

I have already found TONS of shadows around my area with about 15,000-25,000 miles for less than $2000

I am only worried that it may require a ton of repairs and very expensive ones at that.

Listen to what YOU are saying......and think about it for a minute. :roll:
If you are afraid of getting a piece of junk, then don't buy a piece of junk. :biggrin:

Shop carefully. Look for a bike that not only looks to be in good condition (tires especially are expensive, and chains) but also runs and rides good too. Also one that is near 100% stock as far as the intake, engine and exhaust goes.

Some people take really good care of their bikes....right up until they sell them......and others don't. If you look closely and ask questions about service and repairs, it is usually pretty easy to tell the difference. If the seller says: "It doesn't run quite right but it ONLY needs........", then RUN away. If he really knew what it needed, he would have fixed it.

This time of year is a good time to be shopping; not so much in your area maybe but there should be some "winter" fall-out.

[alazar14]

If you were buying a used motorcycle from people on craigslist what are the questions that YOU GUYS would ask them?

[alantf]

The GZ250 is still my top choice though. these bikes are at their Peak at 70-75.

Suzuki says max speed (for the European version) is 110 km/hr. That equates to 69 mph. but the 70 - 75 mentioned is obtainable for SHORT periods of time, given the right conditions. The gz is still happiest at 60 - 65 mph. :chop:

[bonehead]

If you were buying a used motorcycle from people on craigslist what are the questions that YOU GUYS would ask them?
Service records would, by far, be my most important question. Without them, it's a crap shoot.

[burkbuilds]

"The biggest issue Iv seen the bike have is very poor brakes. Anyone experience this as well? Iv read a lot of people talk bad about the bikes brakes."


I had to replace front pads about evry 6000 miles, but they were easy to do and cost less than $20. The rear drum brake "helped" to stop the bike, but if it was your

only brake you'd smash into something in a day or two. The good news, I never had to do any work on the back brakes.

As to running 70-75mph, well, I had to get my engine pretty warmed up before it would do 75mph and no way is it going to maintain that speed in a head wind or up

any grade, that's pretty much all she's got right there. If you need to do 75 on the freeway, you need a bigger bike! I'd say at least a 400cc machine and you'd be

better off with a 500cc Vulcan or a 600+Shadow or something if you want to run on the freeway and expect to do 75mph. You would be well served to wait a bit and

try to find a deal on a well cared for slightly larger bike with a few years and not to many miles on it, and they are out there! Good luck!

[alazar14]

My local dealer said that they could quite possibly give me an out the door price on a Yamaha Vstar 250 of $3400 out the door and a $200 helmet of my choice. That is an awesome deal considering the bike MSRPs for $3800. This deal however If I pay all up front and all in cash.

[mrlmd1]

Quite possibly? Watch out for "hidden" charges, like setup fees and preparation fees, and other things they make up after they suck you in. Also there's taxes and license fees and their fee to do that for you. If the total for EVERYTHING is $3400, that's not bad. Remember they are hurting too and want too make a quick sale while they have you. You have the upper hand in bargaining, you have the money, there's a lot of dealers and a lot of bikes for sale. And lots of great financing on a new bike because the dealers want to sell them.
And don't rush to buy something just to buy something - seriously think about getting something a little bigger for yourself as many on here have advised you, for what you want to do. No sense in buying just a bike to have one that you won't be happy with or will outgrow real quick and then take a bath on a resale.

[Water Warrior 2]

My local dealer said that they could quite possibly give me an out the door price on a Yamaha Vstar 250 of $3400 out the door and a $200 helmet of my choice. That is an awesome deal considering the bike MSRPs for $3800. This deal however If I pay all up front and all in cash.

#1: it won't be any better than a GZ. My opinion only but I spent a week training on one.
#2: it is a smaller skinny bike with a peanut sized tank.
#3: 2 cylinders will cost more to maintain.
#4: you will spend a lot of time and money trying to make it fit you.
#5: is this deal on a 2009 bike ?? It may be new but 1 or 2 years old. Found that out the hard way once.
#6: for the $ involved, go looking for a larger slightly used bike that will fill your needs. For that matter go do a test sit on a S-40. You may be able to find a new in the crate 07 or 08 for a decent price. I think in Can. $ so I have no idea what the U.S. $ will really buy.

[alazar14]

My local dealer said that they could quite possibly give me an out the door price on a Yamaha Vstar 250 of $3400 out the door and a $200 helmet of my choice. That is an awesome deal considering the bike MSRPs for $3800. This deal however If I pay all up front and all in cash.

#1: it won't be any better than a GZ. My opinion only but I spent a week training on one.
#2: it is a smaller skinny bike with a peanut sized tank.
#3: 2 cylinders will cost more to maintain.
#4: you will spend a lot of time and money trying to make it fit you.
#5: is this deal on a 2009 bike ?? It may be new but 1 or 2 years old. Found that out the hard way once.
#6: for the $ involved, go looking for a larger slightly used bike that will fill your needs. For that matter go do a test sit on a S-40. You may be able to find a new in the crate 07 or 08 for a decent price. I think in Can. $ so I have no idea what the U.S. $ will really buy.


#1 It can easily reach 85mph when I need it. I think that is a huge plus imo and a big reason why I am considering it.
#2 You're right the tank is smaller than the GZ and has a bit lower MPG
#3 2 Cylinders will cost a bit more to maintain
#4 It fits me 100% perfect Iv been on it and surprisingly fits perfectly.
#5 The bike is a 2009 model
#6 I have been looking into that as well. However a brand new bike 250cc good MPG, for that price is not a bad deal at all. I am going to continue to look around but it seems to take the top spot for 250cc cruisers around on many reviews. I may go for a shadow also around $2600 used on craigslist plenty of them around.

[bonehead]

Are they telling you it can reach 85 easily or have you actually done it? My dealer told me that the GZ would do 70 all day long. It might with a 100# rider on it, but not with a 250# rider. I hit 70 ONCE. Just watch out for what they TELL you And what it actuall truth.

[alazar14]

Nah they did not tell me, but multiple online reviews of the bike have.

[alantf]

Nah they did not tell me, but multiple online reviews of the bike have.

White man speak with forked tongue! :jo:

[Easy Rider]

That is an awesome deal considering the bike MSRPs for $3800. This deal however If I pay all up front and all in cash.

What does "quite possibly" mean. Get all the details in writing up front.

AND it is quite possible that if you take that offer to other dealers, you might be able to get a similar discount on a LOT of other models too......GZ 250 included. Dealers are hurting. Showrooms are still FULL of '09 models.....and in some places I've heard, a few '08s too.

[bonehead]

Nah they did not tell me, but multiple online reviews of the bike have.
Do you realize how many people lie about how fast their bikes can go? I find it very hard to believe that the V-star 250 can go 85 without modification.

[alazar14]

You have a point but check these out.

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/mot ... 71139.html (http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/star-motorcycles/2009-star-v-star-250-ar71139.html)

http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/yamaha/ ... r/250.html (http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/yamaha/cruiser/2009/v-star/250.html)

You are right they could just be lying or trying to sell their product or getting a small fraction of money from Yamaha...however I am going to take the MSF next friday-sunday and hopefully get on one to try it out for myself. Ill also ask the instructors about it.

[Water Warrior 2]

Nah they did not tell me, but multiple online reviews of the bike have.
Do you realize how many people lie about how fast their bikes can go? I find it very hard to believe that the V-star 250 can go 85 without modification.

Also a lot of folks are disappointed when the bike won't reach the maximum indicated on the speedo. So a little fib now and again makes them feel better.

[Water Warrior 2]

That is an awesome deal considering the bike MSRPs for $3800. This deal however If I pay all up front and all in cash.

What does "quite possibly" mean. Get all the details in writing up front.

AND it is quite possible that if you take that offer to other dealers, you might be able to get a similar discount on a LOT of other models too......GZ 250 included. Dealers are hurting. Showrooms are still FULL of '09 models.....and in some places I've heard, a few '08s too.

And don't forget to include the TU 250 in the hunt. It might be a lot more comfy for a tall guy. But you will still be hooped on the interstates and faster highways.

[Easy Rider]

however I am going to take the MSF next friday-sunday and hopefully get on one to try it out for myself.

Somehow I don't think they are going to let you take it for a top-speed run !!! :roll:

Sorry; couldn't resist. :biggrin:

[alazar14]

[quote=alazar14] That is an awesome deal considering the bike MSRPs for $3800. This deal however If I pay all up front and all in cash.

What does "quite possibly" mean. Get all the details in writing up front.

AND it is quite possible that if you take that offer to other dealers, you might be able to get a similar discount on a LOT of other models too......GZ 250 included. Dealers are hurting. Showrooms are still FULL of '09 models.....and in some places I've heard, a few '08s too.

And don't forget to include the TU 250 in the hunt. It might be a lot more comfy for a tall guy. But you will still be hooped on the interstates and faster highways.[/quote:2o76gu1y]

Not available in california :(

[Sarris]

Bro, I've been riding for pretty close to 40 years. My take is that if you want a 250cc cruiser type bike, the GeeZer is the only way to go.

The next step for me would be the Vstar 650. They're comfortable to ride, cheap, reliable, and as common as dog shit so parts are easily available.

Sport bikes??? You can have 'em. I wouldn't touch one. Cruisers are a lot cheaper to insure as well.

That's my 2 cents worth.

:rawk:

[burkbuilds]

Good luck with the MSF course and getting an opportunity to actually ride a couple of different 250's will really help you make your decision more than anything we could say will. I noticed on that "link" you posted with the 250 V-star, the 85 mph was not put up by the writer, but instead was a "post your highest speed" place for anyone to put in what they had achieved. It is worth noting that motorcycle speedometers are notorious for being off by sometimes as much as 10%. My Vulcan is off about 1/10th of a mile for every 5 miles I ride which is really good for a bike, but that will constantly change as the tire wears down. If someone had a similar website for GZ-250's I could post 82 mph as my top speed achieved, once, going downhill, with a tailwind, for about 5 seconds, (if the speedometer was accurate) so keep that in mind when you see stuff like that, it doesn't mean that you will be able to get the V-star up to 85 and it certainly doesn't mean you will be able to cruise at that speed if you did get it there. You also need to consider that, as someone already pointed out, bikers often lie about how fast their bike will go! (I know, inconceivable isn't it.). My guess is that the Rebel, the V-Star and the GZ will all be within 5 mph of each other in top speed, and they probably all will be able to cruise on flat land without wind at 65 mph all day, but that's about it other than for short bursts and that's pretty close to WOT on all of them. When I did my WOT run to Atlanta with the GZ, I hit about 77mph a few times on the downhill slopes of some hills on I-75 and I dropped back below 60 on the uphill side of some hills, and I pretty much kept the throttle wide open the entire trip. Again, if you really want to cruise 75 mph on the interstate, you will need a bigger bike!!!!!! . . . !!!!!! I do it all the time on my Vulcan 500, I know the Shadow 750 can do it, and probably even Easy Riders Shadow 600. I'd bet the V-Start 650 could handle that all day and several others, maybe even a few 400cc bikes but other than the Ninja 250, I just don't think any of the 250's can cruise at 75 mph, they might be able to achieve 75 mph, but not cruise (maintain) at it.

[Easy Rider]

I do it all the time on my Vulcan 500, I know the Shadow 750 can do it, and probably even Easy Riders Shadow 600.

Indeed. I didn't know this until after I got the 600 but the 750 really isn't that much of a step up power wise. The 600 is a little lighter so the performance is similar......and I'm finding that I really like the 4 speed transmission and the ~ 60 MPG!

If you go back a few years and find a 600 with dual carbs, it actually has a higher rated HP than the current 750's.......assuming it is in good running condition.

[alazar14]

Which companies still make 600cc or 400cc cruiser bikes?

By the way the Vulcan 500 is not available in Cali

[Easy Rider]

Which companies still make 600cc or 400cc cruiser bikes?


'07 was the last year for the Honda Shadow VT600 VLX. That would be an excellent choice .....if you can find one that hasn't been "messed with" too much.

Suzuki still has an S-40 thumper (650).

Don't dismiss the Ninja 500; it's less a sport bike than it looks.

There are a few more; I'm drawing a blank at the moment.

I think you will find more "standards" in that range than cruisers.

[dannylightning]

Which companies still make 600cc or 400cc cruiser bikes?

By the way the Vulcan 500 is not available in Cali

don't think any one makes a 400cc or 600cc cruiser at the moment
you can get a nice 600cc honda vlx usually between 3 and 4 thousand,
Yamaha v star 650cc i have seen them between 3 and 4 thousand
suzuki s40 650cc i have seen these used in good condition from 2500-3500 or there is the savage, the older model of the s40
750 honda shadow i usually see these selling between 3 thousand and 5 thousand used.
883 harley sportster some times you can find a killer deal on one of these but not often.

not sure what any of these go for used in california, i hear every thing id more expensive there.


than there is the kikker 5150 hardknock bobber lol , that is more of a toy but they look cool you can get any where between a 49cc and a 200cc in that

[Water Warrior 2]

Just to get everyone's attention and then dash their hopes............Suzuki will be making a 400 V-twin for 2010 but I doubt we will ever see it in North America.

Oh crap, just went back to Suzuki Global and I told a lie. They will produce 2 V-twins in 400 cc displacement. A Gladius 400 with ABS and a 400 Boulevard cruiser.

[burkbuilds]

Wow, two 400 cc bikes from Suzuki, I'd love to see one here in the States, especially that Boulevard Cruiser! Maybe they are listening a little to all of us who don't want a really large cruiser but would like something with a just little more than the GZ 250.