My 2005 GZ 250 Pictures

[burkbuilds]

Wow, lots of questions, I wasn't really expecting that, but I'll try to answer them at least briefly.
The Seat: I bought some Super cell foam from Sargent Cycle Products in Jacksonville, FL. I got a 1' x 2' x 1 1/2" piece and a 1' x 1'x 1/2" piece of foam so I'd have enough to "experiment" with. It cost me $60 delivered. I took the covers off both seats, re-shaped the main seat and added about 2" of height to it. (Which Sargents really tried to discourage me from doing when I told them what I wanted to do). I shaped the new foam using my wife's electric kitchen carving knife and smoothed out the shape with some surform files I purchased at Lowe's for less than $10. ( I used a contact cement to glue the new pieces to the old foam and it has held up well.) I covered it with some clear plastic and tried it out a few times before I came up with a shape that I liked, then I had a local shop cover it for $100. I've ridden to Atlanta and back a few times, about 250 mile round trip for me, and it's a lot better than stock, but it's not as comfy as my pickup truck. Overall, I ride about 30 minutes each way every day, and I'm happy with the comfort level.

Heated Grips: I bought these from CAXMAN motorcycles in Edwardsville, PA www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com and they cost me $67 delivered. They were simple to install, the toughest part being removal of the old grips, and wiring it up, which I routed through the headlight housing because there is an extra wire there for accessories. As to what they draw, I don't know, I've not had any problems with them overloading anything, they do have an in-line fuse and I talked with a friend who was the service manager for a local Suzuki dealer before I did it and he said it wouldn't be a problem, and it hasn't been. They really make the most difference when you are riding with thin leather gloves and it's between say 40 and 70 degrees. They actually get uncomfortably hot if they are on the high setting and it's in the 60's. If it's colder than that, I'm wearing really heavy insulated gloves or mitts and I don't know if it's really helping that much, but my palms never get cold just my fingertips.
The Exhaust Pipe: I bought this on e-bay, you can find it by searching for GZ 250 on e-bay and look for the add. It cost me $80 delivered, and it's a "Screamin Eagle Style Tapered Muffler for the Suzuki Marauder GZ250". It's loud, but Harleys are louder, so I don't know if it's "legal" or not. It did require the use of a sawzall to cut off the old muffler, and a grinder to get rid of a mounting spot for the old heat shield that was in the way. Otherwise it was a pretty easy and quick install. I had to find the idle mixture screw and back it off 2 1/2 turns to prevent backfire at idle, but that was easy once I found the screw. I like the sound, and the motor is much more responsive now! I don't have to gear down as often when I want to accelerate, and it just feels a lot more "peppy" than before, but maybe some of that is just in my head because I actually hear the engine now. Top speed is still about 77 mph for my 210 lbs, so that hasn't changed, and I haven't checked the mileage yet, but I was getting 70 mpg around town, so I will be interested to see if it goes up or down or stays the same.