Hello!

[Jenny]

I just got my GZ250 last month. I was very excited to find it. 250cc bikes are extremely hard to come by used in my area, and to manage to get the same one that I used during the MSF class was extra exciting to me because I'd already spent two days in the saddle and knew that it was a very comfortable bike for me to sit on and ride.

I'm having a great time learning to move around town on my bike. Every time I find another reason to hop no the bike is another reason to smile. I've started looking for excuses to go to the drugstore and the hardware store since they're the only two stores I can get to without leaving the residential section of town. I still haven't managed to learn to QUICKLY shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd from a stop into a turn, and that's necessary for the higher traffic areas in my town since my bike can't get above 20 mph in 2nd and can barely move in 1st (it's very, very choppy).

I can't wait to learn how to do that, though, so that I can start going more places on my bike. I can't take any of the "fun rides" out of town as long as I'm slow moving!

[Sarris]

Welcome to the forum.

Ride safe and keep up the practice!!

:chop:

[rusty rider]

Welcome to the forum. It will be easy in no time, and you'll laugh about how you started. I like you try to think of an excuse every chance I get, besides going to work to go for a ride. 1 mile or 50 they all make me smile. See you out there :cool:

[Jenny]

Originally Posted by rusty rider

Welcome to the forum. It will be easy in no time, and you'll laugh about how you started. I like you try to think of an excuse every chance I get, besides going to work to go for a ride. 1 mile or 50 they all make me smile. See you out there :cool:

The weather is incredible today. I left the house 20 minutes early just so that I could take the "roundabout" route to work and drop off my library books.

This weekend I'm going on my first "out of town" ride. We're going to go a few miles down the road early in the morning. I'm going to go 55 mph! I'm very excited and very nervous :-) I can't wait - I want to go for a real ride and not just an errand across the 1.5 miles of residential area in my town.

[Magnar Infectus]

Welcome and congrats on your purchase.

Originally Posted by Jenny

I still haven't managed to learn to QUICKLY shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd from a stop into a turn, and that's necessary for the higher traffic areas in my town since my bike can't get above 20 mph in 2nd and can barely move in 1st (it's very, very choppy).

Check out this thread on the 16 tooth sprocket. It may solve your issues.

[Jenny]

Originally Posted by Magnar Infectus

Welcome and congrats on your purchase.

Check out this thread on the 16 tooth sprocket. It may solve your issues.

Thanks! Once I find some sort of stand, I'll take a look at doing that.

[5th_bike]

Originally Posted by Jenny

I still haven't managed to learn to QUICKLY shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd from a stop into a turn, and that's necessary for the higher traffic areas in my town since my bike can't get above 20 mph in 2nd and can barely move in 1st (it's very, very choppy).

I can't wait to learn how to do that, though, so that I can start going more places on my bike. I can't take any of the "fun rides" out of town as long as I'm slow moving!

Welcome Jenny !

Shifting from 1st to 2nd; and shifting from 2nd up to 5th eventually, are two different beasts. From 1st to 2nd you have to switch 'through' neutral, it's kind of a 'double shift.'
From 2nd to 3rd, and further up, is 'easier'. Sooo, when starting to drive, after a second or so, and you bike has some speed, you task is to get it into second. and once there, it gets easier to go up. Don't worry if you hear 'clunk' or maybe even 'clonk' when doing this shift, it happens to all of us.

When shifting further up, it is the coordination of two hands and one foot - you can have you foot already gently press up against the shift pedal, then when you squeeze the clutch a bit and give the throttle a little twist with your right hand, it will just slide into higher gear. These shifts can go very smoothly.

For downshifting to a stop, I recommend to hold the clutch in and downshift to neutral without having the clutch 'grab' every gear on its way down. A little clunking when doing this, is normal. A big "CLUNK" usually means that you pushed a bit too hard going down from 2nd, and you're in 1st. NEVER let go of the clutch when you are still going faster than say 10 mph and you're in 1st gear....
I usually count down in my head "4, 3, 2, gentle tap", and then, usually, the neutral light is on. If not, you could have missed a gear, too - give it another tap down, or two, increase the force a bit, then if nothing happens, you're probably in 1st gear.

Bottom line: Practicing is the only way to learn. So, out on the road !

[Jenny]

Originally Posted by 5th_bike

*some snippage*

Shifting from 1st to 2nd; and shifting from 2nd up to 5th eventually, are two different beasts. From 1st to 2nd you have to switch 'through' neutral, it's kind of a 'double shift.'

For downshifting to a stop, I recommend to hold the clutch in and downshift to neutral without having the clutch 'grab' every gear on its way down. A little clunking when doing this, is normal. A big "CLUNK" usually means that you pushed a bit too hard going down from 2nd, and you're in 1st. NEVER let go of the clutch when you are still going faster than say 10 mph and you're in 1st gear....

Bottom line: Practicing is the only way to learn. So, out on the road !

The shifting through neutral isn't usually a problem for me. My main problem is that the bike itself is sluggish when I start which means that I need to shift from 1st to 2nd immediately or it's sluggish and a bit stilted. This is a problem when I need to turn immediately upon starting (turning right at a stop sign, for example). It is a problem occassionally when it gets "stuck" in neutral, but that's only happened once or twice.

I practice every day. I look for excuses to hop back on the bike!

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Jenny

My main problem is that the bike itself is sluggish when I start which means that I need to shift from 1st to 2nd immediately or it's sluggish and a bit stilted.

There's several possible solutions for that. Learn to rev the engine higher in each gear (not a good idea until it's broken in) or (if you aren't a large person and you aren't pointed up hill) start in 2nd gear. This is not a good thing to do all the time but as you gain experience, you should try it a time or two because that skill can come in handy sometimes.

I was almost hating my new (to me) little bike for it's low gearing until I came here and found out about the 16T "miracle".
Best 65 bucks I ever spent (I'm lazy. The shop did it for me.)

[Jenny]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

There's several possible solutions for that. Learn to rev the engine higher in each gear (not a good idea until it's broken in) or (if you aren't a large person and you aren't pointed up hill) start in 2nd gear. This is not a good thing to do all the time but as you gain experience, you should try it a time or two because that skill can come in handy sometimes.

I was almost hating my new (to me) little bike for it's low gearing until I came here and found out about the 16T "miracle".
Best 65 bucks I ever spent (I'm lazy. The shop did it for me.)

I am definitely considering the 16T "miracle" :-)