So I checked out a used GZ for the first time...

[Thorag]

This was the Craigslist ad:

Originally Posted by craigslist

2005 Suzuki GZ 250 with 4968 miles. Great bike, black metal flake paint, electric start, garage kept and adult riden. 80mpg. $1500.00. obo.
Please email for information.

Apart from the particular bike: I am 6"4 210 lb. I didn't feel cramped. I have short legs though. I was a little disappointed about the acceleration. I rode a friends 200cc Vespa for some time and that seemed to have a little more pep. I even the think the GN125 i rode at the MSF a couple of weeks ago was at least as fast from a standstill to 20mph. Anyhow, I am sure for around town it's OK. Maybe it will improve when it's used more?

I never had a motorbike before, so I didn't really know what to look for. The guy had told me before hand that his son used to ride the bike, before he moved away after school. They supposedly had it checked every spring. I looked up his phone number and found his house and google maped it. Had a Mercedes in the driveway. I figured they would take care of the bike so his son would have a safe ride.

However when I was there, he told me the bike was stored for 1.5 years. I told be he rode it for 10 minutes every month though. However, it didn't look like a really well maintained bike. There was a little rust underneath the back seat (should have unscrewed it. Don't know how it looks underneath it) More rust (again, a little) at the tank. Well not in the tank, but at the circular "seam" around the "tank hole". The inside looked spotless though. Chain was a little rusty. Obviously wasn't lubed in a long time. Couple of bolts were rusty. A little oil/grease on the left side of the motor. Didn't seem to increase after I took it for a 10 minute ride.

Neither the neutral nor the turn indicator worked. Half an inch was broken off the throttle lever, it had been laid down once. I discovered no other signs of the crash though. One of the big chromish looking bolts at the engine was missing though, Im not sure how that would happen.

Original tires which I definitely like to change.

It sounded good, but when I arrived another but just come back from a test drive, so it was warmed up. Shifted through all gears without a problem. Brake squeaked a little but worked good without pulsating.



From my amateurish description, what do you think of the bike? How much should I worry about the rusty spots? Particular around the "tank hole" I dont really care about cosmetics, I just want the bike to last 3 years as my daily driver to school. What about the oil/grease at the left side? A little is normal, right? It did NOT look like he washed the engine to hide a big leak.


I am planning on eventually maintaining it myself. I did quite some home improvement and am kinda handy, never really worked on a car, let alone a bike though. So I guess I'll bring it to a dealer to get it tuned up. How much do you think that would set me back? Would it potentially hurt if I ride it home 70 miles without having it serviced first? I guess I would lube the chain :roll:

What would a fair price be?

Wow, that was a lot of text and a lot of questions. Sorry about that, I am just so excited and disillusioned art the same time.