Hello from South Texas
 

Hello,

I just bought a 2002 Suzuki GZ250 yesterday and I love it. I passed the MSF course a few months ago and finally saved up enough cash to buy a bike. I went with the GZ250 for three reasons: 1. Cheap! 2. Same bike I rode on the MSF course so it has a special place in my heart 3. Figured it would be a good place to start since I'm new to motorcycles.

I've only ridden about 20 miles so far because of work and I'm not comfortable taking it out on the highway but it's been a blast so far. Hell, I'm still getting the hang of downshifting when slowing down (felt the rear tire skid a little once). I can't wait for the weekend so I can get up early and get some riding time to practice more.

I stumbled onto this site when I was searching for a place to find a panel that covers the battery. It was missing when I bought it. I found a thread on here discussing just that topic, but ended up finding many other interesting topics. Well, I look forward to meeting some fellow GZ250 owners! Peace.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

Welcome to the family.Lots to learn from this site and lots of people willing to help.Take your time don't get in a rush.If you haven't already,invest in some gear,jacket,boots & gloves.Any questions,just ask.Ride safe.
:) :cool:

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

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Re: Hello from South Texas
 

You should engage the gears as you down shift,that way you are in the proper gear for the speed of the bike.Also engine compression helps to slow the bike,less wear on the brakes.Also imagine needing to accelerate in a hurry in a panic situation,and letting the clutch in the wrong gear,your going to be in a world of hurt.Motor & transmission should be engaged till your coming to a stop.
:) :cool:

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

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Re: Hello from South Texas
 

Check this out. :cool: :)
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3855&hilit=Downshifting

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

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Re: Hello from South Texas
 

The main error that I see with riders is the fact that they don't ease the clutch out they just let go slamming the fast moving clutch to the slow engine speed and get jolted forward in a rude manner

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

i do the same thing. if i see im gonna have to stop i start down shifting and let the engine slow me down engaging the clutch each downshift. i dont usually hit the brakes till i have to come to a complete stop.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

To avoid a jolt when letting out the clutch for engine braking you can just blip the throttle to bring up the RPM a bit. With practice your down shifts will be very smooth. Don't worry about wearing out the clutch, it is very robust and cooled and lubricated by oil. Engine braking will save your brake pads and brake shoes for when you really need them. The Vstrom has over 56,000 kms on the original brakes with this method.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

Welcome to the forum from South Carolina.

Yup....use the slip zone to start the slowing and let the clutch out easy. I don't brake until I have to in order to come to a stop. I will use downshifting and brakes in some situations but if I have the room I'll downshift all the way and then brake to a stop.

To GZ Rider - you really should check out the MSF BRC (Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course). It's one of the best investments in your safety you can make. You'll find you have some bad habits and correct them and build good habits. In the grand scheme of things it's really not much money and you may get a discount on your motorcycle insurance.


:)

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

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Re: Hello from South Texas
 

Don't argue. Most rider training courses are based on the writings and experience of David Hough. He is a tough act to follow.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

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Re: Hello from South Texas
 

[quote=Gz Rider]I won't do things that don't make sense to me. If it cannot be explained to me I start to wonder what's going on. I read the books and that's more than many do. A friend of mine took the beginning and adanvced courses years ago. He wrecked two months after the advanced. On the other hand I am completely self taught with no problems in three years. What does that prove? Nothing. Just saying.[/quote:1iyrdzc1]
I won't try to find fault with your logic. I also was self taught and rode for close to 50 years before taking a good riding course. No crashes or mishaps on the street in all that time. After the course I am a safer, more comfortable, confident rider with a lot of better safer habits to rely on. My bike is a lot easier to ride due to getting rid of bad habits that were always waiting to bite me. You really should try it to see and experience the difference. A good instructor makes a world of difference with the small things that make a bike fun or a bit too much work at times.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

Let me ask you something, Gz. Do you ever downshift to power through a turn? Do you ever downshift because you find yourself in slower traffic? Shifting down to a stop is just an extension of this. If you always let out the clutch when you shift, even for a moment, you will always be ENGAGED in the right gear to either engine-brake or speed up. Like several others here, I don't use my brakes much in a lot of my riding.

Coming up to a side-road and you want to make that sharp 90deg turn? If you plan it right (like you should, anyway) you don't need brakes.
Sometimes I'll just tap my brake lever a couple of times to let the cager behind me know I'm slowing down. Besides that, I leave the brakes alone and work the gears. I think it's easier.

just my $.02

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

[quote=Water Warrior][quote="Gz Rider":1d5cwsfi]I won't do things that don't make sense to me. If it cannot be explained to me I start to wonder what's going on. I read the books and that's more than many do. A friend of mine took the beginning and adanvced courses years ago. He wrecked two months after the advanced. On the other hand I am completely self taught with no problems in three years. What does that prove? Nothing. Just saying.[/quote:1d5cwsfi]
I won't try to find fault with your logic. I also was self taught and rode for close to 50 years before taking a good riding course. No crashes or mishaps on the street in all that time. After the course I am a safer, more comfortable, confident rider with a lot of better safer habits to rely on. My bike is a lot easier to ride due to getting rid of bad habits that were always waiting to bite me. You really should try it to see and experience the difference. A good instructor makes a world of difference with the small things that make a bike fun instead of a bit too much work at times.[/quote:1d5cwsfi]
There, I fixed my bad wording.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

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Re: Hello from South Texas
 

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree with our respective methods.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

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Re: Hello from South Texas
 

Ask Rookie Rider what ? Lol. I engine break most of the time now, but i dont really feel it slow down much when going fast, like when shifting down from 5 th to 4th and so on. I really feel the slow down from 3 to 2 then to 1st gear.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

Believe it or not the bike will be more stable and planted when engine braking as opposed to coasting with the clutch pulled in.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

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Re: Hello from South Texas
 

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Re: Hello from South Texas
 

No problem, i had a feeling you were gonna say that story. I do flicker my breaks when engine breaking/blipping. Its almost a habbit now, (almost). My break lights were on because i was at a complete stop and holding the break, as i was still in first gear. My friend looked away for a second.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

Welcome to the forum red mosquito.

Re: Hello from South Texas
 

Thanks everybody for the interesting input. I've been taking the GZ250 out daily and learned a lot on this forum so far.