[spuriousgrowth]

This morning I was reading the merits and reviews of the various 250s on the market. The day prior I had test-driven a used GZ250 that someone in my neighborhood was selling (for a song), and although the bike seemed reasonable at the time, the numbers and comparisons were beginning to cloud my vision. The GZ250 with it's single cylinder, was the lowest performer in most reviews, but usually being credited with having a 'bullet proof' engine. I had to continue to remind myself that, as a begining rider, I didn't really have much of a perspective on the performance or merits of a particular vehicle. The majority of my riding to start out with will be at neighbourhood speeds, with the potential necessity for higher speeds at longer distances. That the reason for me for getting this bike was to really learn how to ride. When I test rode this bike, I liked the ride. I'm tall, mostly arms and legs, and was thinking that this bike was going to be uncomfortably small. It wasn't. I had originally thought that the styling of the bike was kitschy in an attempt to look _classic_. I had liked the looks of the TU250 or the older GZs -- more Spartan. Looking out the window at it now, I couldn't be happier. The more I look at the styling, the less I see it as being overdone and flashy, and more as being functional comfortable, without being covered in excess plastic. As for power, it happily pulled away from traffic heading over a railroad bridge. Top speed? Well, I haven't gotten there yet, so no complaints from me. So here's to not listening to the reviews and being very satisfied with my new bike.

Regards,
SG