What is your avg riding distance?

[Red_bike]

Just wondering, when you guys take off for a nice ride, what kind of distance from your home do you guys ride? At what speed do you run it at when the bike is still stock? I guess I am asking if you just use it for around town or do you take 100 mile trips on it.

Duck

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Red_bike

I guess I am asking if you just use it for around town or do you take 100 mile trips on it.

When I still had one, it was mostly used for "trips" under 50 miles. It is, however, quite capable of road service......if you aren't in a big hurry and can stay off the Interstates.

Last year, I took mine to Atlanta; 600 miles each way, all on US 41. Took 3 days one way; 2 days coming back.

[alanmcorcoran]

As has been posted elsewhere, the bike is perfectly capable of doing 100 mile trips. One guy rode his 10,000 miles to Alaska (from TN I think.) The part that usually "breaks down" is the rider. Many of the riders on here have complained about severe cases of GZ250-ass, a numbness and loss of feeling below the waist brought on by the crappy seat. I was used to long rides on a crappy seat from my bicycle days but I found that my neck/shoulder blades started to cramp up at about 3 hours of riding.

There are numerous threads about homegrown and after market seat improvements. Personally, I think if you plan on doing a lot of trips where the total mileage exceeds 100 miles, you probably want to plan for a bigger bike in the future. Particularly if the longer distances involve highways or hills.

I haven't done too many long trips on my larger bike, but a lot of my rides are on multilane, high-speed highways and I enjoy them much more on the larger bike. The GZ is well suited to what I call "country roads:" single lane, low traffic, rollers with true 50-55 mph speed limits, preferably without any steep climbs. It's actually very fun riding in those conditions.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

you probably want to plan for a bigger bike in the future. Particularly if the longer distances involve highways or hills.

Be advised, however, that the "seat problem" really is about 50% having your feet out in front of you all the time (cruiser riding position). Unless you get a REALLY bigger bike, like Mr. Alan did, you are likely to still have a similar problem (although probably not as bad) if you get another cruiser that is "feet forward" and has no "floor-boards".

I'm currently debating some floor-boards or a $450 replacement seat.
Not too happy with either option.

[Red_bike]

I got the GZ250 for my son to use and last Sat we rode almost 100 miles and only stopped then because it was starting to rain. After we got back I was thinking that was a lot of miles for that size bike. We ran about 50 – 60 all the way. I have an 800 that I ride so it’s not a problem for me. I have done a couple Iron Butt rides on my 1500 Intruder when I had it, and having the legs out front and a good seat is a must. I don’t think I would do one on the 800 but you never know. I DO LIKE TO RIDE.
Just wanted to know if others do 100 milers offten.

Duck

[burkbuilds]

When I still had my GZ I only did two trips of about 250 miles in a day. They were pretty grueling rides! Mostly I rode from home to school (about 15 miles each way, and about once a week I went to see my mom which was about 25 miles each way. The need to ride a lot of highway miles was my only reason to trade in the GZ though. For shorter trips and around town, even on I-75 for brief periods it did fine but I rarely went over 60 mph. By the way, I just put floorboards on my new bike and it really made the biggest difference in comfort of anything I've done. My legs, and for that matter, my entire lower body are so much more relaxed and comfortable it's hard to believe. Modifying the seat on the GZ and on my current ride were also very helpful, but the floorboards allow me to put my feet down flat without any muscle "tension" holding foot positions now at all. I don't know if they make floorboards for the GZ but if they do I'd recommend giving them a try if you want to ride on longer trips.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by burkbuilds

By the way, I just put floorboards on my new bike and it really made the biggest difference in comfort of anything I've done. My legs, and for that matter, my entire lower body are so much more relaxed and comfortable it's hard to believe.

Oh, crap. You just HAD to say that, didn't you !?!?!? :skull:

Now I'm gonna have to shop for floorboards for a Shadow 600.

Did a 200 mile ride today and was convinced I was going to have to shell out $400+ for a Mustang seat. It was bearable with the stock seat but just barely.

[JWR]

I do a lot of 100 to 320 mile day rides.

Did 175 Saturday and 110 today.

I really don't have any problems riding either two lane or interstate roads.

Jerry

[BusyWeb]

Hello, there.
IMHO, the rider's height might contribute some differences on the long distance riding with GZ250.
I think that all about the riders riding habbits and body position.
I usually got rest about each 100 miles or an hour riding with GZ or other bike, for both me and bike to be rest.
The butt/neck/back problems might be depends on the how fast you ride or how the road/traffic/weather conditions are???
For example; when I ride on highly concentrated muscle/nerve system; like night ride, I get tired faster than regular day-light riding.
^^;

[New GZ250]

20 Miles
:neener: