My baby 125.....

[Spamulaspam]

http://s18.postimage.org/bdk20ehhh/297919_10150824779810403_541520402_20955717_109757 1197_n.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/bdk20ehhh/)

.... Hopefully to be a 250 by the end of the year :)

[Gz Rider]

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[Water Warrior 2]

The easiest might be a whole engine transplant. If all the engine mounting tabs are the same it might be a simple R+R.

[alantf]

Mmmmmm.. I reckon the best way is to part ex the 125 for a 250. It's not just the engine that's different, the 250's got a twin manifold, so it'll need a new exhaust. Also, if you get a 250 from a dealer, you'll get a 12 month warranty.

[Spamulaspam]

Yeah, it will be a complete engine transplant hopefully... Easier said than done no doubt :whistle:

Cannot buy 250's over here Alantf.. They are like budgie teeth.

[Water Warrior 2]

That being the case it might be possible to pick up a wrecked 250 with an intact engine and exhuast system. You would then have the carb, air box and any other odds n ends that would need to be switched over. That is assuming wrecked 250's are not in high demand.

[Gz Rider]

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[Spamulaspam]

That being the case it might be possible to pick up a wrecked 250 with an intact engine and exhuast system. You would then have the carb, air box and any other odds n ends that would need to be switched over. That is assuming wrecked 250's are not in high demand.

If only that were the case Water Warrior, even salvage companies cannot get hold of them because all 250's over here are all imported. They are incredibly rare and very few are ever sold.

In the US, I would think an engine swap like this would make a mess at the DMV and with your insurance. Rules must be different in the U.K.?

It is a matter in the Uk of having the vehicle inspected and then re-registering it with the DVLA asa 250.

[Water Warrior 2]

That is a bit of a dilema. Are there any other 250 bikes that are more common that would suit your riding purposes ?

[Spamulaspam]

There are not many 250's over here that are to my taste really. The only one I have really considered is the Hyosung Aquilla 250. Mulled it over for a while but would really like to keep hold of my own if possible.... Plus im kinda looking forward to the challenge a little.

[Water Warrior 2]

What are your options for bumping up the displacement ?

[blaine]

There are not many 250's over here that are to my taste really. The only one I have really considered is the Hyosung Aquilla 250. Mulled it over for a while but would really like to keep hold of my own if possible.... Plus im kinda looking forward to the challenge a little.
That been said,The Hyosung is a great little bike.
:2tup: :)

[mole2]

There are not many 250's over here that are to my taste really. The only one I have really considered is the Hyosung Aquilla 250. Mulled it over for a while but would really like to keep hold of my own if possible.... Plus im kinda looking forward to the challenge a little.

I don't know if they distribute them in the UK but maybe you check out a V-Star (Dragstar) 250. A friends wife has one and it's a great bike. See the link below (for the US model).

Yamaha V-Star 250 (Dragstar in Europe) (http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelhome/589/0/home.aspx)

http://imageshand.yamahamotors.com/img.jpg?id=14854&class=med640


:)

[Water Warrior 2]

The V-Star is a pretty decent bike. A wee bit smaller physically than the GZ but still a good forgiving small bike. The 2 cylinders and pipes makes for a nice sound. I spent quite a bit of time on one during a training course and found it fairly comfy.

[jonathan180iq]

I love the V-star and it always rates higher for low-end grunt compared the other 250s out there, but if you're anywhere above 5'9", you're knees are going to feel cramped with that back swept bars. It's almost like a toy the way your knees will stick up and out over the tank. It's worse than the Rebel, and that's pretty bad.

[Water Warrior 2]

I love the V-star and it always rates higher for low-end grunt compared the other 250s out there, but if you're anywhere above 5'9", you're knees are going to feel cramped with that back swept bars. It's almost like a toy the way your knees will stick up and out over the tank. It's worse than the Rebel, and that's pretty bad.
Ah yes, the sweep back bars. That was my only complaint during the time I spent on the bike. I actually dumped the bike when my knee connected with the bars during low speed practice sessions.

[Gz Rider]

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[Spamulaspam]

I must admit they are a lovely bike and being only 5 foot 5 the height isnt really an issue for me. They are available also in the UK but they are very, very expensive and highly sought after.

[Water Warrior 2]

[quote="Water Warrior":23pkiv3a]Ah yes, the sweep back bars. That was my only complaint during the time I spent on the bike. I actually dumped the bike when my knee connected with the bars during low speed practice sessions.

:jawdrop: Damn, I was not aware of that issue at all. I just thought the GZ looked heavier duty than the yammer or the rebel.[/quote:23pkiv3a]
The Yammer appears quite narrow compared to the GZ with it's smaller tank and tires/fenders. Sort of not enough feed and nurishment while it was growing up. The GZ is by far the best looking with a more grown up appearance until you put it beside a full size cruiser. The Rebel 250 is the most popular but I fail to see why. The styling is just so so and the tranny has always been a sore point with riders.

[jonathan180iq]

The Rebel is really a pitiful leftover from the early 80s and sorely needs an update.
Good motor and decent power. But the styling is just absurd and given the size of people today, it's just way too small.

The GZ and Hyosung 250 cruiser are made for slightly larger people. But even I will admit that the GZ is just a touch short for people 6' and taller. At least the width of the GZ and the size of the tank keep it in the same ballpark with the bigger bikes.
All you have to do is sit on one of the aforementioned bikes and you'll see what I mean. They just feel like.....toys. (Granted the Yamaha has a better overall fit and finish. I'm not knocking it there. But it's just weensie)

Suzuki did good by making the GZ beefier than the competition.

[Gz Rider]

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[Water Warrior 2]

I would imagine the GZ is still in production for the 3rd world market. It has proven to be reliable and cheap. It serves as a workhorse and family limo when needed. Our North American smog requirements are probably the reason for it being unavailable. Hopefully the TU 250 will make it's presence felt and prove to be another winner in N.A. We do need to have smaller bikes for training, first bikes and something a family can keep for the kids.
If the GZ had 5 more ponies under the tank I doubt Lynda would have upgraded. It was her 1st bike and served her well.

[Gz Rider]

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[alantf]

Looking on the bike sale sites, it seems that North America won't allow the sale of any new bike that doesn't have FI. All the carb bikes seem to have disappeared from the sites for 2012.

[jonathan180iq]

Looking on the bike sale sites, it seems that North America won't allow the sale of any new bike that doesn't have FI. All the carb bikes seem to have disappeared from the sites for 2012.

Yeah, I was going to mention this.
The good news for us small bike enthusiasts is that everything from now on will have F.I.
The bad news is that we won't have to worry about piddling with jet changes and things like that......

Wait a minute! That's not bad news! That's awesome!
:)

I think once they transplant the TU FI to the GZ, then she'll pop back up, maybe even with a re-design to boost sales. That would be something to see! Or maybe they can produce a real standard instead of the cruiser style with standard rider position.
We'll just have to wait and see.

[Gz Rider]

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[Water Warrior 2]

The real trick is to build a standard without raising the seat height. Not an easy task.

[jonathan180iq]

You could lift the seat of the GZ about another inch or two, which is alot in the motorcycle world, and still keep the same bucket design and it would retain easy access for the vertically challenged.

[Water Warrior 2]

You could lift the seat of the GZ about another inch or two, which is alot in the motorcycle world, and still keep the same bucket design and it would retain easy access for the vertically challenged.
Yes and no. Some of our vertically challenged would be between a rock and a hard place. They would finally have a standard bike but really be uneasy with the tippy toe syndrome. Having the option of raising the front forks an inch and lowering the rear an inch would negate a taller seat. A 5ft 4in person can easily live with a GZ wearing decent protective footwear with a thicker soul and be a flat footer at stops. Uneven road conditions would be the problem. Stopping on the crown of the road between the tire tracks can be a hazard.
I suppose we could talk this to death for a long time if we decide to. The bottom line is buy what fits or modify until it fits. The other option is a sidecar rig with a much larger displacement engine.

[alantf]

The thing that tipped me towards the Gz was price. I knew that a lightweight 250 was the way to go, given the riding conditions I would encounter. Being on a fixed income (pension) I went for the cheapest option, bearing in mind that all the 250 options (cruiser style) were, broadly speaking, the same. At the time, I knew nothing about the geezer. It was pure chance. If Suzuki can keep undercutting the opposition, they may increase their sales. If the US of A only allow sales of new bikes with FI, then maybe Suzuki will be forced to bring out a low cost 250 FI to keep hold of the market. Who knows? :)

[Water Warrior 2]

Suzuki as well as the other manufacturers certainly have the technology for FI but will they do it? Dropping their North American GZ production is probably much more cost effective while continuing to make carbed bikes for the rest of the worldwide market which is huge compared to NA.
I think the TU250 is actually a very common bike in other markets and easily converted to FI just for NA.