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View Full Version : Hi from England.


Shamus
04-24-2012, 11:51 PM
Hi all.
First of all may I congratulate you on a truly fantastic forum. I've spent many hours trolling through the goldmine of information and anecdotes on the forum and have to admit that I'm totally addicted to GZ250BIKE.COM.
This second paragraph will have me admitting that I don't even own nor have I ever owned a Geezee......So you may ask "what the hell is he doing in here?". Well it all started a couple of years ago when my girlfriend Pam ("Spamulaspam" in this forum) bought herself a GZ125 and absolutely fell in love with it (btw. A 125 is the largest capacity motorcycle that a learner rider in the U.K. is permitted to ride)....She rode the 125 for two years on L plates......It's a requirement for all U.K. riders to display L (learner) plates on their machines until they move on from a "provisional" licence and pass the test for the "full" licence. I'm not certain if you have a similar learner system stateside, perhaps someone could enlighten me on that one.
A couple of month ago Pam achieved her full licence and started the hunt for a larger capacity bike she loved the GZ125 so much that she very much set her heart on its bigger sister that this forum is based upon. "No problem there" I hear you say, "just go out and buy one!".......It ain't that simple in the U.K. as the 250 has never been sold here and the few GZ250s that are in Britain have come mainly through grey importers that have brought them from over the big pond from Stateside way.
Anyhow, to cut a long story short (that's if you ain't all fell asleep by now anyway lol) we did manage to trace a 2006 model just 80 miles away in Cheshire that had only done 1200 miles. We went down, had a look at her and graced the vendors hand with many pound notes and rode away on her, because Pam was totally besotted with it.
The forum has been a great help to us as the bike came with a few carb problems wich we have sorted out and she now runs like a dream.
We both ride bikes and niether of us have a car. My own bike is a suzuki GSF600 and after riding Pam's new bike I'm looking at getting a TU250 for myself.
I myself have been riding for 37 years and do all servicing and repairs at home hence why I've brought myself in this wonderful forum.
Thank you for the help we've already recieved and I do hope I can contribute to it myself in the near future.
Apologies for the long winded intro, but once I get on the keyboard..............Well I think ya know what I mean!
Many thanks again.......Regards.......Shamus.

blaine
04-25-2012, 12:11 AM
Welcome to the family. :) :cool:

OGC
04-25-2012, 02:04 AM
Enjoyed the story, hi from new zealand.

alantf
04-25-2012, 05:10 AM
It's a requirement for all U.K. riders to display L (learner) plates on their machines until they move on from a "provisional" licence and pass the test for the "full" licence. I'm not certain if you have a similar learner system stateside, perhaps someone could enlighten me on that one.

I believe I've read that in some states you just have to go to the office & say "Hey, I've gotta bike", & they'll give you a licence to ride any crotch rocket you like. :crackup

When I took my test, in Sheffield, in 1965, we could ride any bike up to 250cc as a learner, then move up to whatever we wanted. I know the English test's got much more complicated since then. :)

jonathan180iq
04-25-2012, 09:29 AM
Cheers, Shamus!

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/resources/images/1926328/?type=articlePortrait

Rookie Rider
04-25-2012, 11:58 AM
Howdy !!

PimpS
04-25-2012, 01:35 PM
Welcome Shamus! You are already enjoying, keep up the good work! ;)

Water Warrior 2
04-25-2012, 09:53 PM
Shamus, welcome from the GWN(Canada). Glad to hear Pam found her 250 fairly close to home. If you do get a TU250 be sure to tell us. They will be more common in the future and likely a GZ replacement for many markets. We might have to start a TU subsection which might be a grand idea.

blaine
04-25-2012, 10:05 PM
They will be more common in the future and likely a GZ replacement for many markets. We might have to start a TU subsection which might be a grand idea.
I agree,a great idea!!! :) :2tup:

bpdchief
04-25-2012, 10:30 PM
Welcome Shamus, with the exception of the "nose bleed from speed" the TU250 will do everything your 600 will and do it more economically.

Alantf - that was Oklahoma 30 yrs ago. I would hope they have joined the rest of the world in requiring proper training. Odd that in all my years in Law Enforcement this never crossed my mind.

greatmaul
04-26-2012, 04:28 PM
Hi and welcome! I also would be interested in any TU250 news as I have yet to ever set eyes on one. That's also great that you have so much experience with riding and repair! Look forward to hearing your insights.

Bonanza7
04-26-2012, 06:17 PM
In Arizona, you can get a learners permit with no problems. The license requires a screw-ball written test and either a motorcycle school graduation certificate, or you take the driving test at the DMV. Sorta dangerous riding here in AZ, all kinds of crazies from all over come here. For years I wore black, and had endless encounters with people who didn't see me and nearly hit me. Now I wear a neon yellow First Gear jacket, and for the past year, nobody has come anywhere near hitting me. it may not be as cool as a black jacket, but sure helps keep you alive!

Water Warrior 2
04-26-2012, 07:36 PM
Hi and welcome! I also would be interested in any TU250 news as I have yet to ever set eyes on one.
I am assuming you mean up close and personal but if you have never seen a pic you can find one at "Suzuki.ca" They are listed as a standard.

mole2
04-27-2012, 03:55 AM
Welcome to the forum from South Carolina, USA. Ride safe.


:)

Shamus
05-06-2012, 05:15 PM
Thank you all for the kind welcome.
@ Alan.......I passed my test back in '76 in the good owd days of the 250. I had a MZ TS 250 Supa 5 that I bought with 2000 miles on the clock and sold two years later with 40 k on her with ne'er a missed beat.
I was never off that bike and actually cut mi' motorcycling teeth over near your owd stompin' ground. I live over in Oldham and pretty much every night me and the lads would be flying about around the 'old Snake Pass' and it's wonderful surrounding areas. We were truly blessed to have such great roads to learn our craft on. At the weekends we were off to a rally. It didn't matter where that rally was in the U.K. coz we were young and just wanted to ride forever. Four hours in the saddle these days and mi arse is cursin' mi brain!!!
@Water Warrior and bdpcheif.......I'm liking the TU a lot. I love the style and am very impressed with the economy reports of the bike and with petrol prices over here at £6.40 (about $10) an imperial gallon it's time to look at something to replace my trusty old Bandit with.
Thanks again all.

alantf
05-06-2012, 06:15 PM
me and the lads would be flying about around the 'old Snake Pass'

Never liked the snake much. Always tried to use woodhead whenever I could. :) (that'll not mean much to our American friends :) )

(They're the two passes through the pennines, on the way to manchester)