Howdy from New Mexico

[vanion2]

Hello Folks. I've been reading up on the GZ250 here for a couple of days as I just bought my wife a 2008 Silver as an upgrade from her 86 Rebel 250. She didn't want to go up in size just yet as she has only been riding since last July but the stealership had a great deal on the 08 with only a 1000 miles and not a scratch and having done so much work to the Rebel I was happy to make the bail to make my life easier and her smile a bit bigger.

Thanks for the service manuals. That just saved me some money right there. I do have questions though:
1. Are there rims that I can put radials on out there? The reason I ask is we have grooved highways here in Abq and the bike tracks noticeably and I strongly suspect this is due to the tube/tire configuration as my VFR doesn't even notice the grooves. I did a site search and google search but am coming up with nada. The Rebel has the same problem and I want her to feel as comfortable as possible when driving under all conditions.

2. Any good on-line parts stores for the GZ250? Always good to know where one can get a good deal on parts should the need arise. I haven't done a search on this one yet so I apologize in advance if this one has all ready been covered.

Thanks again and this site has been pretty well organized with good community support from what I have seen so far. Keep up the great work. :2tup:

[Easy Rider]

I strongly suspect this is due to the tube/tire configuration as my VFR doesn't even notice the grooves.

The Rebel has the same problem and I want her to feel as comfortable as possible when driving under all conditions.


I have no real proof of this but I think it has more to do with the tread pattern. IIRC, the GZ has a straight rib/groove that goes all the way around the tire. I'm betting the Rebel does too and the VFR doesn't.

That center rib gives it a little extra tendency to track straight......but it also makes it more prone to following the grooves. You might be able to fix the problem just with new tires without that tracking rib around the center.

Note that if you DO change to tires with a different tread pattern, the handling will likely feel different and may shock your 250 rider if you don't warn her ahead of time..........and assure her that it is nothing "wrong" and she will adapt to the different feel quickly.

I don't think anybody has come up with any different style replacement wheels yet......but we are learning about "new" overseas models almost daily so maybe it will happen eventually.

[vanion2]

Good point. The VFR has sport touring radials that indeed don't have a center groove. I will keep this in mind when it comes time to replace the tires. And no worries on keeping her informed. I like living. ;)

[Water Warrior 2]

Welcome Vanion2. Your wife will really learn to like the GZ. Just like the Rebels they are the best for developing riding skills and confidence. My SO (Lynda) was a little freaked out with her GZ dancing on grooved surfaces for a while. I just said stay loose and let it dance, it will stay upright. She did, it did. Lynda sucessfully rode on grooved surfaces, steel decked bridges, muddy gravel roads and never had a fall. Let your wife ride and gain saddle time.

[alantf]

Welcome Vanion2. Your wife will really learn to like the GZ. Just like the Rebels they are the best for developing riding skills and confidence. My SO (Lynda) was a little freaked out with her GZ dancing on grooved surfaces for a while. I just said stay loose and let it dance, it will stay upright. She did, it did. Lynda sucessfully rode on grooved surfaces, steel decked bridges, muddy gravel roads and never had a fall. Let your wife ride and gain saddle time.

:plus1: plus cobbled streets (especially nasty when wet)

[vanion2]

Thanks for the information. I will suggest she read this thread and hopefully it will help her out on the "patterned" road experience.

[alanmcorcoran]

Water is right about the "let it dance" and over time you learn to accept that death is not imminent (despite all indications to the contrary) but the constant bouncing around on the freeway was one of the factors that motivated me to upgrade. Unless I'm taking it somewhere for service, I stay off grooved, highspeed, and mulitlane roads with the GZ. It's no fun being tense. I actually really enjoy riding on the same roads with a bigger bike. I find the GZ is best for around town where 50 is efffectively the max and I'm only on what we refer to out here as "surface streets." The GZ does excel at lane splitting but I don't think that is legal in NM.

[Water Warrior 2]

:plus1: plus cobbled streets (especially nasty when wet)[/quote]
Cobbled streets are even hard to walk on.
Another dangerous surface is very smooth well finished concrete with a layer of dust.

[Water Warrior 2]

Thanks for the information. I will suggest she read this thread and hopefully it will help her out on the "patterned" road experience.
Ask her to join up. We have some new and experienced Lady riders who she can talk to on a more personal level. You know, stuff the guys would never understand.

[Maggie]

We have some new and experienced Lady riders who she can talk to on a more personal level. You know, stuff the guys would never understand.

That's right!!! Biker chick stuff. :yes:

[Water Warrior 2]

Exactly Maggie.