Bike Related FAQ

[jonathan180iq]

It seems that we receive several duplicate questions in this general section. In order to keep this site from clogging up, which happens all too often on most forums, it's probably time to get one started. This can be a running FAQ, with fairly continuous updates so it can eventually become a go-to for all basic questions.

That being said, I'd like to get some opinions on what should be included in the GZ250 FAQ

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Modifications:
Are there any after market parts available for the GZ250?
What tires are available if I want an upgrade?
What gearing options do I have?
Are there any suspension upgrades for the GZ250?
How do I jet my GZ250 without a Jet-kit? (I'm working on this)
How do I improve my seat?

Basic:
Am I too big for the GZ250?
What is the top speed of the GZ250?
Can the GZ250 carry a passenger?
What kind of gas mileage can I expect?
What other options are out there in the 250cc class?


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Please feel free to add any suggestions to the questions list. You may also submit your answers, if you are so inclined, to my PM inbox, as I am planning on preparing a complete file (maybe a linkable PDF or other userfriendly format) before submission to our omnipotent moderators. :tup:

Thanks,
Jonathan

[Easy Rider]

That being said, I'd like to get some opinions on what should be included in the GZ250 FAQ


I think this is an excellent idea......sort of.

In keeping with the whole general concept here, I think there should be a FAQ area with individual forums, much like what you listed. That way user input could be continuous and new topics could be added fairly easily. Even if this is done, new folks will occasionally still jump right to a general forum and post a question covered in a FAQ; people are just like that. :roll:

Then you, or anyone else for that matter, could capture the contents of the FAQ section and make it available in PDF, Word or whatever format........assuming there are no copyright issues.

Now for the down side:

I do ***NOT*** think anything should be included in the FAQ section that requires a destructive operation to accomplish, like welding, cutting or drilling of critical parts so that it can't be easily un-done if it goes bad. Those kind of things are best left to the "regular" forums.

This might be one example:
How do I jet my GZ250 without a Jet-kit? (I'm working on this) :)

Unless the answer is: Find a friend in Europe and buy a whole carb!

[Badbob]

A FAQ would be nice to have. For those interested enough to look for it it could be very useful. They can be a real bear to maintain.

Are you volunteering to maintain it?

Unfortunately you are still going to get questions from people who don't know how to use the search and don't read the FAQ. Actually I don't find it a problem. Sometimes its good to rehash the same question over and over again. Sometimes you get a new/different answer.

[jonathan180iq]

Yeah, I'm volunteering to write it and maintain it. This is the ONLY useable forum on the net for our bike. It needs to be a go-to place for everything related to the GZ. From basic maintenance to vapor mods like upgraded displacement...

In response to the post from Easy, I'll say that rejetting without a jet-kit is not going to require any type of destruction. larger stock jets and pilot jets are available from Suzuki for about $2.89. I don't know why people have been drilling parts out. It isn't required. This is what I am working on. I'm making sure I have all of the correct part numbers for factory parts. Thus, if something goes wrong, all one has to do is replace the larger facotry parts with the original stock parts. Like I said, before I post anything, I'm making sure that nothing has to be destroyed and that the process is as straight forward and accurate as possible.

As far as people not using the FAQ, it's really up to the poster. If a FAQ comes up, the questioner can simply be referred to the FAQ list. Like I said, with this being a constantly updated FAQ, eventually the information and usefulness will eventually outweigh the necessary maintenance time.

Keep the helpful ideas coming.
Jonathan

[Easy Rider]

Sometimes its good to rehash the same question over and over again. Sometimes you get a new/different answer.

Which is why it should be a "regular" forum instead of "read only", IMHO.

[jonathan180iq]

The only problem with a forum is that it too can get clogged with extra posts, which makes finding the useful information difficult, and misinformation, essentially negating the whole purpose of the FAQ.

[jonathan180iq]

The only problem with a forum is that it too can get clogged with extra posts, which makes finding the useful information difficult, and misinformation, essentially negating the whole purpose of the FAQ.

[cleensmoke666]

im new to all this what is a jet kit?....does it make gz faster and also will it void warranty

[jonathan180iq]

Is that a suggestion?.... :??:

[Badbob]

Sometimes its good to rehash the same question over and over again. Sometimes you get a new/different answer.

Which is why it should be a "regular" forum instead of "read only", IMHO.

I'd have to agree with that.

[Badbob]

The only problem with a forum is that it too can get clogged with extra posts, which makes finding the useful information difficult, and misinformation, essentially negating the whole purpose of the FAQ.

Google is your friend. Try this.

site:gz250bike.com custom seat

If this is such a problem why are the very best forums the ones with thousands of members and topics that are hundreds of pages long. Take a look at advriders.com for an excellent example of this.

[jonathan180iq]

Well, you guys are the bosses. IF you open a regular forum with and FAQ title, we'll get started.

I've spent a lot of time in advrider and I agree that the best sites have tons of members. They usually also have a FAQ because of the problems listed above.

[jonathan180iq]

Well, you guys are the bosses. IF you open a regular forum with and FAQ title, we'll get started.

I've spent a lot of time in advrider and I agree that the best sites have tons of members. They usually also have a FAQ because of the problems listed above.

[Badbob]

Well, you guys are the bosses. IF you open a regular forum with and FAQ title, we'll get started.

I've spent a lot of time in advrider and I agree that the best sites have tons of members. They usually also have a FAQ because of the problems listed above.

The only thing I can find there are forum topics with FAQ in the subject. The few I looked at were just like any other forum topic where everyone has write access. This is not a FAQ.

[Badbob]

To produce a good FAQ someone needs to:

1 - Read every posting and get some sort of tally sheet of which questions really are asked repeatedly.
2 - Determine how many times it takes to make it a frequently asked question and compile a list of these questions.
3 - Get correct and verifiable answers to the questions.
4 - Organize and write the FAQ.
5 - Review at least monthly and post the new FAQ.

I may have left something out but you get the idea. To be useful its a lot of work for a very dedicated individual.

Set it up as an open topic you just have a another topic where we all get together and BS.

We only have 143 members. Many of them have never posted and do not actively participate. There are 2729 messages much of which are fluff of the your bike looks cool variety. If you pare this down to the serious discussions we might be talking about 20% of the messages. IMHO this is not near enough of a base to write a good FAQ.

Not that I'm against having a FAQ but if we have one it should be a real FAQ that should be required reading for every GZ250 owner.

[Water Warrior 2]

I like the idea of an open topic and just getting into a discussion about whatever. Seems friendlier and more personal even if we are a great distance apart physically. This forum is still relatively young and we don't have a massive knowledge base like more established forums with 1000's of members. I think the forum will evolve at it's own pace as it grows.

[Badbob]

I hope you are right.