GZ250 top speed, more info

[Chris]

I've been reading the conversation about top speed.

My 2000 now has 3400 on it. I ride about 1000 miles a month, had it three months now. Bought it in mint condition with 350 miles on it.
Mine will run 76mph flat out on normal roads. Going down a slight downhill I hit 81 and it was still going, but that was enough for me. So I can run 70 on the interstate, but it cuts my gas mileage down from 75mpg to 62mpg. Really prefer cruising on the country backroads at 45-55mph, but sometimes you just have to get on the interstate to get somewhere.
About overrevving: a close friend is a national maintenance expert for Yamaha and I asked him about my screaming engine. Above 60mph it really screams!
He says that rev limiters are built into all bikes and have been for a long time. Especially in the top gears he says it is not possible to over rev the engine. These engines are susposed to really be bulletproof.
Chris
200lbs of Vet in Atlanta

[alanmcorcoran]

Chris,

I forgot... windshield? (Never mind, I will check your member info...)

[Chris]

Hi, Alan,
I don't remember what I put on member info. How does it look? I need to look at it myself.
I'm the guy that has recently been asking windshield questions. I have a small windshield, but need a larger one. Maybe Santa will bring one to me soon.
I've been out of town hiking in the mountains (won't do that one again!) and want to ride, but I am sore, it is 47 degrees and wet so I think I'll wait until another day.

Chris, retired guy in Atlanta

[alanmcorcoran]

Click User Control panel at the top. Currently says you don't have one.

[GZ250]

How on earth you can go 75 and 80mph and still manage to get 62mpg. i can barely touch 65mph and manage to get 65mpg at the best. i am 6 ft and 240lbs.

do you wear leather suits and jackets. i do not wear such stuff. my jacket is also the usual jacket and i know in winter in puts a lot of drag and in my area wind is always against me.

[jonathan180iq]

I averaged 67 mpg over the life of my bike and I could hit 75+ without a problem.

You're a good deal heavier than me, so that probably has something to do with it.

[Chris]

I have no secrets, but mine usually runs about 75mpg and top speed is about 75mph. I'm 6' and 200 lbs, by the way. On interstate trips I get 62mpg: most of my riding is the county backroads of north Georgia.
I dress heavy, even in the summertime. Just after I bought the bike four months ago a hour long show came on TV on motorcycle safety. Good timing!!
They said something I can't get off my mind: You don't dress for the ride, you dress for the slide!!!!
They said the day will come when you go down. And, if keeping your skin in most of the right places is a priority, then dressing heavy (leather) is recommended so that is exactly what I do. I dress heavy even if I am running around the corner to the grocery story.
Since I was about to buy a helmet, their long segment on helmets was of high interest. They said a full face helmet is by far the best.
I asked my Yamaha expert friend about the price of helmets. He said "It depends on what you think your head is worth." So I bought the best one I could find.
At Walmart they sell a terrific Bell full face helmet for under $100 ($300 at a shop) and I love mine. Really makes you feel safer having it on.
Not all Walmarts have them. Calling around saved me a lot of driving.

Big Headed Chris

[alanmcorcoran]

I'm not 100% sure about mpg because I'm not religious about record keeping. I've gotten more consistent on my "fill" methodology (usually can get it right up close the the tippy top with the bike on the stand.) I ride mostly non-freeway "super-streets" (45-50) and I get about 62-64 mpg. Currently weigh about 173 (going up!)

[dkw12002]

I owned a 2007 and a 2009 GZ250. They are very good bikes, excellent value, and dependable, but I think some folks are exagerating top speed. Mine were winding out at 68 mph and that was just too fast for the bike. If you came to any slight rise, it would slow considerably too. I would say the bike is designed to cruise at 55, not 65 and certainly not full throttle at 68. At 68 the bike is also unstable. Definitely NOT for interstate travel unless you want to just go for a couple of minutes and stay in the far right lane with the trucks, which is what I did.

[JWR]

I don't understand the 68 mph part??? Is that all it will run, or all that you are comfortable riding?