Forum Newbie

[UH40]

Hello - all

I just bought a GZ250 a few days ago and found this forum looking for like minded bike owners. I hope to be a very active member, and even tried the Chat room but no one was there. It is nce to see what appears to be a very active Forum with lots of members!

-UH40-

[Water Warrior 2]

Welcome newbie. You will enjoy this group and soon be a little bent and twisted as the rest of us. That's a good thing of course.

[blaine]

Welcome to the madness. :cool: :)

[Palaka]

welcome and we have a chat room?

[Water Warrior 2]

welcome and we have a chat room?
Yes but I think it is rarely ventured into.

[UH40]

Thanks guys!

Yes you have a Chat room :) a nicely done one at that! Anyway - I just bought this GZ250 and I will post pics soon... I also took her across country 1200+ miles in 3 days... she performed AMAZINGLY well for a bike that is not at all designed for that kind of riding.

FYI: I am already BENT and TWISTED!! so I guess I am in GREAT comnpany! - hahahaha

I will start a new Thread soon about my trip if anyone is interested, after my fanny feels better... 3 full days of saddle time on a GZ250 is enough to hurt even the strongest of men ! hahahaha

-UH40

[Viirin]

welcome

thats quite a ride home - i do that much distance in about a year

where is this so called "chat....room" everyone speaks so highly of?

[Palaka]

where is this so called "chat....room" everyone speaks so highly of?

It is right at the top of the page in middle of all the links. I found it right after posting.

[Water Warrior 2]

UH40, please do a road report on your trip cross country. The GZ will do a long ride if not ridden beyond it's limitations and abused. Lynda rode her GZ 5000 kms(3100 miles)on a trip 2 years ago with nary a problem. It is a solid little performer.

[UH40]

Water Warrior

I would be happy to do a road report! would everyone like me to make it a new thread with a new title in a more appropriate part of the Forum? or here in the introduce yourself part of the Forum?

Yes - I agree that she is an AMAZING performer for her size. Having owned several bigger bikes through out the years I was very pleased. I did learn some hard lessons about over heating - but that I will save for the road report :) There was a learning curve for me with regards to air-cooled engines, and I wound up in trouble a few times trying to get that extra 15 miles in.... anyone who has done a long ride knows what I mean :)

I will write something up tonight since I finished the trip just yesterday evening so it is fresh in my mind. I will post it after some feedback as to where to post it...

Also as an FYI to anyone who cares - I will be hanging out in the "rarely used" chat room while I am logged in... Maybe we can change it to an "Often Used" chat room - hahahaha

- UH40

[Water Warrior 2]

Go to Ride Reports and Meet-ups. I will be waiting for your report.

[Easy Rider]

There was a learning curve for me with regards to air-cooled engines, and I wound up in trouble a few times trying to get that extra 15 miles in.... anyone who has done a long ride knows what I mean :)

That doesn't sound good.

Quite the contrary, in fact, I don't think we have had even ONE report of overheating. I rode mine to Atlanta and back when the temp's were around 95 and the bike fared far better than I did.

I think we would like to hear more about that for sure.

[alanmcorcoran]

I have an air-cooled 1859cc V-twin and recently rode it 564 miles in one day - mostly in high heat, if not desert conditions, some of which including waiting in line at the Yosemite entry gate and I had no overheating issues. If your bike is in proper condition and you are (mostly) moving, it shouldn't overheat just from riding long distances. I've heard of Harleys from a few years back getting pretty hot, typically when not moving, but even that was mostly a rider discomfort issue - I don't think the bikes actually overheated. Sarris?

[Water Warrior 2]

I managed to overheat my first bike. I must admit though I was mistreating it a bit and was lucky it did not seize up completely. As it was the poor little 2 stroke was wide open on a hot day and there was very little air flow due to some mods on the bike. It was acting like it was running out of fuel intermitantly and then would continue for a while before acting up again.

[mole2]

Welcome aboard! Ride safe and keep the shiney side up. I would very much like to read your road report - just don't post it here in the introductions.


:)

[UH40]

Hi guys,

Well maybe my issue was not an overheating issue - however that is how I interpreted the problem I was facing. I blew the main power fuze (20amp) 3 times, however only while I was in 98-102 degree heat and had been running the bike at close to 67HPH as an average speed for 2 or so hours straight throttle time. I am not sure of the concurrent running time as I looked at my trip in terms of miles not time. I started looking for fuel every 150 miles. I blew 3 fuzes then up'ed the fuze to a 25amp to finish out the trip and slowed my pace to 55MPH for the final 130 miles. I also performed a side of the road blood transfusion (oil change) to help with engine cooling...but I dont want to give away my story I am going to post today in the "Road Report" section of the Forum. :)

On the Fuze issue - I am assuming that with the super heat from the blacktop, combined with the heat of the enginge caused a super heated electrical system, which will inturn draw more amps and caused the fuze to blow? but that was my thinking on the road.

-=UH40=-

[Easy Rider]

Well maybe my issue was not an overheating issue -

On the Fuze issue - I am assuming that with the super heat from the blacktop, combined with the heat of the enginge caused a super heated electrical system, which will inturn draw more amps and caused the fuze to blow? but that was my thinking on the road.


A component failing due to heat is not the same thing as "overheating".

If you did have an electrical component failing due to heat, it will be back later.

Leaving the larger fuse in there long term is NOT a good idea......unless you have added electrical accessories to deal with. While that was a reasonable solution while out on the road, you should put the proper fuse back in to see if the problem happens again.

You haven't done anything to restrict the air flow over the heads or the regulator, have you ??

[UH40]

Hey there Easy... :)

No and No - there is no air flow restriction.. but high heat will induce a situation for the bike to draw more amps. I agree with you on the fuze and have already replaced the 25 with a 20. I was simply worried about popping a fuze in the middle of going through downtown Dallas in rush hour traffic, and I was at the end of the day and had been riding her all day. but it all turned out well, and I took a ride early this morning and she runs like a top!

The GZ250 is a great little performer - I can not say enough how surprised I was during the trip! She will not ever really be in that kind of long haul hight throttle situation again - so I dont really see me having that problem anymore, and I may have pushed a little harder then I should have trying to feel out the bikes limits.

I am very interested in picking everyones brain on a few mods - for one I would like to install a Tach maybe, and I am 6'4 so possibly some kind of peg and shifter mod if one exists, however I am kind of a purist so I want to keep the overall look of the bike as original as possible :)

[Sarris]

UH40, where in Floriduh are you? I'm in New Port Richey, a bit NW of Tampa.

:)

[UH40]

Hi there Sarris,

I am from the Downtown Fort Lauderdale area.. I am familiar with the NPR area - I used to spend a great deal of time in Tampa and even more in St Pete... I am currently spending some time on the west coast of the US with some friends right now and may be here through out the winter.

OK everyone - as I read back on some of my posts already I have come to realize that I have not properly introduced my self.... So here it goes.....

I am 41 - Male

I just recently pruchased a 2005 GZ250 in perfect shape from an extended family member for $300.00 The bike had not been ridden in over a year - Never rained on - or even spent the night outside.

I installed a new AGM battery (Absorbed Glass Mat) and tried to clean the Carb myself with Seafoam (however that proved to be unsucessfull)

I had the bike towed to a shop and the Carb reworked (Cleaned via ultrasonic cleaning machine) and then rode her around for a few days before starting my road trip..

I am 6'4 and 210lbs so I am at the bleeding edge of what I would say is the size limit for the bike. I am extremely happy with the purchase and the overall performance and have affectionately named her "Bella"

I have around 15 or so years of motorcycle riding experience and have taken 2 motorcycle saftey courses in the course of my lifetime - one when I was in the military and one several years after that as a civilian.

I love a good active Forum - I am a horrible speller! and I will constantly refer to my bike as a "She" or a "Her" so please no one get offended by that because I mean it with the utmost affection for my bike...


-=UH40=-

[Easy Rider]

and tried to clean the Carb myself with Seafoam (however that proved to be unsucessfull)

If you have searched the threads here, you will already know that you should give it a shot of carb cleaner every 500 miles or so to prevent future problems.

When the Seafoam is gone, get some Berrymans; about 1/3 the price.

[alantf]

I managed to overheat my first bike. I must admit though I was mistreating it a bit and was lucky it did not seize up completely. As it was the poor little 2 stroke was wide open on a hot day and there was very little air flow due to some mods on the bike. It was acting like it was running out of fuel intermitantly and then would continue for a while before acting up again.

I know exactly what you mean. When I first came to the Island I picked up a really cheap Peugeot 125, 2-stroke scooter (all I could afford at the time) Let's just say that I spent as much time with it in my workshop as I did on the road. One VERY hot day I was riding down the Autopista at full speed (70 km/hr, 45mph) when the engine just cut out. After trying to push it to the next exit (after trying to start it several times, cleaning the spark plug etc) I was nearly passing out with the heat, so I just sat down to wait. Half an hour later & one push of the starter, & the engine was back to life. I learned that this particular engine didn't like being pushed hard in the heat. :cry: