GZ125!?

[GZ Jess]

Wow I did not know these existed! I think that the 250 is close to the minimum that should be street legal. I can't imagine trying to do other than very light commuting in city traffic with a 125! Here's the link.

http://jandjcycle.com/pre_owned_detail. ... eh=1782605 (http://jandjcycle.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?sid=07422449X8K7K2010J10I13I1 8JPMQ1503R0&veh=1782605)

Jessica

[alanmcorcoran]

Back in the day, a 250 was a mid size bike. I remember kids in the neighborhood riding 50cc, 75cc dirt bikes and we thought a 125 was a "big bike." I rode a 49cc Peugeot moped for a few years - it would go 45 mph!

On the other hand, today you can get a 250cc Vespa that'll do 80.

[alantf]

In England, 125 GZs are more common than the 250. The test (for a driving licence) means that if you take it on a 125, that's the biggest you can ever ride. If you take it on a 250, you can't ride a bigger bike for the next 2 years.

[Viirin]

In England, 125 GZs are more common than the 250. The test (for a driving licence) means that if you take it on a 125, that's the biggest you can ever ride. If you take it on a 250, you can't ride a bigger bike for the next 2 years.

Same here in Ireland without the 2 year wait for a bigger bike....although that could have come in without me noticing

[mrlmd1]

Looks pretty nice and clean for an asking price of $895 - cheaper than a scooter for around town transportation.

[Sarris]

One of my first bikes was a 1970 Hodaka 125 two stroke. Wing-ding-ding-ding-ding.

For a 16 year old (1973) it was good basic transpo. It was a dual purpose and would do about 50 mph on the street.

My first big bike was a 1971 Norton 750 Commando. My pals thought it was the biggest bike they'd ever seen. Now a 750 is a small bike.

Things have changes dramatically over time.......kind of like my waistline.....

:poorbaby:

BTW, that's a GN 125. The GN series predates the GZ series.

[alantf]

I know we're talking racing tuned, & serious money, but the other night I was watching the 125 cc class racing, & the speeds they got up to was unbelievable. I wonder what would be needed for their mechanics to turn the GZ250 into a drag racer. :crackup :popcorn:

[dhgeyer]

My first was a Harley Hummer 165cc 2 stroke. It would do 50 on a good day. I was 16 (1963). My second was a Honda 150 Mini Dream (looked just like the 305 Dream but smaller). It would do about 60 or so, so it was a step up. It even had 2 mirrors and electric start. The chain was totally enclosed, so required minimal care. I rode it from East Aurora, NY (near Buffalo) to Far Hills, NJ and back when I was in college. Thought nothing of it. It wasn't till '66 that I got a 250 Ducati. I rode that all over NY State and southern Ontario.

Our sense of scale in this country is now definitely out of whack, and not just about motorcycles.

[alanmcorcoran]

dh,

Used to be a fellow upstater from '76-83.

I rode my Peugeot year round til it got stolen in Ithaca NY (roughly '78-'80). I had my license restricted and couldn't afford car payments/car insurance/maintenance/gas and it was the only way I could get to school and work. Still managed to get a ticket (as did a friend of mine) on its American made replacement (also about 50cc's) when we were riding TWO UP the wrong way on a one way (dead-end.) You do what you have to do.

[alantf]

we were riding the wrong way on a one way (dead-end.)

Mmmmmmmm ........ something strange here. If it's a dead end, how come it's one way? If it's one way in, how do you get back out? If it's one way out, how do you get in, in the first place? :??: :cry:

[alanmcorcoran]

Good question. Here's what I remember. It was in front of Willard Straight Hall at Cornell University. The road ends there (but perhaps you can turn left. We were actually riding on the sidewalk. My buddy did not have a helmet (he might have been ticketed for that.) We went to court to fight our tickets (I think I was making the claim that since I was on the sidewalk I should have been able to go in either direction.) I believe we both lost. I don't think alcohol was involved (although I wouldn't rule it out.) I'll take a look at a campus map. Although it's probably changed by now.

[alanmcorcoran]

I took a look. They've blocked off the former dead-end so you can't drive on it anymore. It's pedestrians only. I suspect I was going in the "wrong" direction on the sidewalk but the street was actually a two way dead-end with a loop in front of the building back then.

History Note: 1969 Parent's Weekend, black students took over Willard Straight Hall to protest a burning cross that was lit the night before in front of black women's coop. The perimeter of the building was defended by members of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society - lefty group headed at one time by Tom Hayden.) A few of the protesters left and returned armed. They ultimately negotiated a peaceful surrender but a photo of them coming out of the building with guns was widely circulated and won a Pulitzer Prize for an AP photographer. By the time I got there, a mere 7 years later, most of the freshman were Young Republicans.

[dentheman]

To see a new GZ125 (actually a Marauder) go to www.globalsuzuki.com (http://www.globalsuzuki.com).

[alantf]

a new GZ125 (actually a Marauder)

Marauder is the European name for the GZ. It comes with a 3D "Marauder" logo on the tank. I've seen one or two over here, & the only discernable way to tell it from the 250 is that it has only one pipe out of the engine. :2tup:

[Water Warrior 2]

I know we're talking racing tuned, & serious money, but the other night I was watching the 125 cc class racing, & the speeds they got up to was unbelievable. I wonder what would be needed for their mechanics to turn the GZ250 into a drag racer. :crackup :popcorn:
Not a problem. Easy way is to jack up the gas cap and install a V-Max under it. :lol:

[Water Warrior 2]

A few days ago we saw a couple 125 scooters headed north on the Alaska highway. Fully loaded with camping gear and extra gas cans.
A while back(1975 or so)I saw a coast to coast rider on a 125 kawasaki headed to the Rockies at full throttle in a rain storm. Everything covered with green garbage bags, including the rider.

[T-Selwyn-Davis]

I ride a 125, I dont really have any issues with speed, On the motorway i can quite easily achieve 80 if there is a wind behind me. Bearing in mind i only weigh 8 stone, thats abt 112 pounds to you Americans!
The restrictions mean that this is all i can ride until I'm 21. i think i made the right choice as the maruader has the best of both worlds looks chunky yet returns good MPG, people are often surprised when i tell them its a 125!

[alantf]

I ride a 125
The restrictions mean that this is all i can ride until I'm 21.

WRONG! :) I still ride on a British licence, here in Spain, & I've just renewed my licence, so I'm up on all the English regs. If you take your test on a 125cc, that's all you can EVER ride. If you take your test on a 250cc you need wait only 2 years before you can move up to ANY size bike. There's extra regs for over 21 yrs old, but what I've just told you is good for up to 21.

The leaflet INS57P is a bit ambiguous. It says "Learner riders can ride motorcycles with an engine size of up to 125cc and a power output of up to 11kW (14.6bhp)"
It then goes on to say that riders under 21 can take 2 types of test :-
(1) category A1, which allows you to ride bikes up to 125cc
(2) category A, which allows you to ride up to 25kW, & entitles you to ride bigger bikes after 2 years.
What it DOESN'T say, is how you're going to take a test for larger bikes when you can only practice on a 125cc :??:
If you need any further clarification, phone 0870 240 0009

[Water Warrior 2]

I ride a 125
The restrictions mean that this is all i can ride until I'm 21.


If you need any further clarification, phone 0870 240 0009
That is part of the test. You have to prove patience while playing telephone tag for 45 minutes.

[T-Selwyn-Davis]

Hmmmmmmmmm....

The DirectGov website says different:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Le ... DG_4022568 (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopeds/DG_4022568)

I quote:
"Full motorcycle licence

The practical test must be taken on a bike of between 75 cc and 125 cc. There are two types of full motorcycle licence:

* a light motorcycle licence (A1), which restricts riders to any bike up to 125 cc and a power output of 11 kW
* a standard motorcycle licence (A), is obtained if the practical test is taken on a bike of over 120 cc but not more than 125 cc and capable of at least 100 kilometres per hour (km/h per hour)..

After passing the standard motorcycle practical test, you will be restricted for two years to riding a bike of up to 25 kW and a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW/kg. After this you may ride any size of bike."

I have a standard motorcycle licence which I passed just over a year ago when I was 18 so I dont even have to wait till my 21st, I can ride anything around this time next year!

[alantf]

Isn't it just typical of the British Government to issue a pamphlet "for GUIDANCE" then tell you something completely different on the internet. This is a copy of the pamphlet that they sent to me when I renewed my licence (and where I took my information from)[attachment=1:1rqzxokn]img007.jpg[/attachment:1rqzxokn][attachment=0:1rqzxokn]img008.jpg[/attachment:1rqzxokn]

Silly me! I should have realised that part of being in government is to make life as complicated as possible, & never give a straight explanatio for anything. :cry:

[T-Selwyn-Davis]

I guess thats just England for you!
On another note, I have just purchased this Accessory for me bike.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0235194711 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360235194711)

Do you reckon it will fit?

[Water Warrior 2]

Did you not measure the diameter of your headlight first before ordering ??

[T-Selwyn-Davis]

Haha yes I did, I just wanted a second oppinion. :)

[blaine]

I guess thats just England for you!
On another note, I have just purchased this Accessory for me bike.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0235194711 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360235194711)

Do you reckon it will fit?

The G.Z has the smaller 5 1/2 headlight.The ad says that visor fits a 7 inch headlight.Unless your bike has a larger headlight than stock.
:??:

[T-Selwyn-Davis]

Just a quick update on the headlight visor.

It did fit! only with a tiny little bit of bending though. I will upload photos later! :)