small bike
 

I think the gz250 is a small bike relative to a harley elctra-glide or Kawa Vulcan or ....
but it is also not a small bike for someone my size 5'6" / 160 lbs.
It is the same size as any 1970 era 250-500 machine in dimensions and weight even triumph 650 bonnevilles were only slightly heavier @ 375 lbs.
In my youth most guys chopped bike to make them lower and lighter.
I guess it is all a matter of perspective.
My 6 ft + buddies consider my 250 physically small relative to their Harleys and Vulcans
I consider their bike physically way too big and heavy.
We both however consider our respective bikes right-sized.
We all can ride at the posted speed limits here in Ontario which are 80 , 90 , 100 km/hr.
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Size ? It is all a matter of perspective.

Re: small bike
 

Hi Mike,
Yes,well, I'm 5'9"/160 lbs, & the gz is right for me too.
Firstly, it's the right height for my legs (32" trouser legs) & the right weight for comfortable handling.
Secondly, over here (Tenerife) there is so much traffic that the gz is PERFECT for nipping in & out of snarled up traffic, with enough punch to shoot out onto roundabouts with traffic coming from all directions.
Thirdly, parking is no problem. If there's nowhere to park on the road, then just park it on the pavement (or do you call them sidewalks ?) The Spanish police don't seem to worry about that sort of thing.
I must admit that if I did a lot of motorway (freeway?) riding, I'd like a faster bike, but since 99.99% of my riding is on normal roads with a limit of 50km/hr , the top speed of the gz means that I'm over the limit anyway.
I've been riding for many years now, & I don't "need" anything bigger to show off my virility, unlike a lot of the younger riders.

Re: small bike
 

I drive a stretch van for work and a dually with 34 ft trailer for rodeo. I tuck my GZ
into a stall on the horse trailer for rodeos and drive a 2300lb MR2 for recreation.

Smaller is better! You don't throw a truck or a big cruiser around but the smaller gear
loves to be *flicked* through lane changes and twisties.

Joy is and lumbering along takes, uh, joy away.

Re: small bike
 

I think the GZ 250 is just right for me. I am 5'1" and weigh 118 lbs. I feel very comfortable riding on it in traffic. I think it's quick and nimble. My motorcycle boots allow me to more or less flat foot the ground on even pavement. I do plan on eventually making the step up to a Suzuki Boulevard S40 in the next year or two and still keep my GZ 250. :rawk:

Re: small bike
 

Fossil, if I were you I'd look at the S50 instead. I don't think the move up to an S40 is all that much of a move power wise. Plus, the S50 gives you that nice v-twin exhaust note. :)

Re: small bike
 

The S 40 is a proven big single and probably a good step up for a person of your height and weight. A 27.6 inch seat height, 352 lbs dry or about 375 fueled up. We did talk to a little gal earlier this year who had one and she loved it. As suggested the S 50 is an option but here are the numbers. Seat is 27.6 inchs, the same as a 40. Dry weight is 443 with another 26.4 lbs for fuel. A test sit will never hurt but do you want a bike 4 times your weight ?? The S 50 is a better bike in my opinion and only you can/will decide when the time is right and which bike is right. In a year or 2 there will be more experience and skill in your riding career, you can dream about your next bike like the rest of us.

Re: small bike
 

And you would be dead wrong. The S40 weighs only about 50 lbs. more and has an ADDITIONAL 400 CC's. More than enough power for any "normal" rider.
I drool over the S50 every time I go through the showroom but I know it is too much bike for me......as it is for MOST people who tip the scale at only ~120. :cool:

Re: small bike
 

Those additional 400cc's really only amount to +10 horsepower vs the GZ. Thats really not that much of an increase. Especially on a bike thats almost the same size as the GZ. I added 10hp to the shadow with new pipes and hypercharger. Its peppier .... but the additional HP really didn't make it 'more bike' for me at all.

I did the jump from the GZ to the shadow (additional 200lb and 35hp increase), now thats a jump. At first it felt like going from driving an escort then getting in a mustang. I now throw that shadow around like its nothing. Took a few days and i was very used to its weight and HP increase.

Just as the S40 would feel to some .... its not that much 'more' bike than the GZ. It'll hiway cruise better and probably get up hills easier. But in the long run, i will agree with Primal - its not that much of a move power wise.

The only time you feel the difference in the weight, is when you drop it :)

My buddy has a VRod ... and sitting on that and balancing it feels no different than the GZ (mostly due to its low center of gravity). I was floored at how 'light' it felt because of how well a balanced bike it is. And his bike is heavier than mine!

Re: small bike
 

After watching the Ride Like a Pro V DVD (I highly recommend it, btw) and watching 120 lbs women man-handling big Harleys, I just don't agree that anything more than the S40 is too heavy a bike for someone under 120 lbs.

No doubt the S40 is peppier at city speeds, but from what I've read the top speed on a stock S40 is only 85ish MPH. I stand by my opinion that the move to the S40 isn't much of a move at all. But, if the shoe fits, who am I to argue?

Re: small bike
 

Right, i too have seen very small framed women riding anything from a sportster to a road king (local employee at Cycle Gear). Its all about confidence level.