Allow Myself to Introduce ... Myself

cspan37421 · 09-08-2009, 09:25 PM

Hi from Chattanooga.

I just acquired a 2007 GZ250. I hope to do some of the maintenance items myself - certainly oil changes, but valve clearances too. I just ordered the valve adjustment tool from my local dealer. I used to have a CB250 and checked those - but got lucky, they didn't need adjustment.

Bringing back my new GZ I found it to be pretty underpowered on the highway, even compared to the CB250. Perhaps this is just the difference between twins and singles, in that the latter trades a bit of its higher end power for some lower end power. OTOH perhaps I need a valve adjustment - who knows.

Anyway I'm sure I'll be posting questions now and then in the various other forums. As background, I have ridden the Dragon and the Cherohala (both on the Nighthawk) and my other prior bikes include a '74 CB200 and a Ninja 500r.

cspan

alanmcorcoran · 09-08-2009, 10:29 PM

Welcome. Have at the valves, but I don't think any amount of adjustment will change your opinion of the highway suitability. If you do figure something out, there's quite a few on here that will want to know your secret. You didn't mention why you acquired the GZ....?

alantf · 09-09-2009, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cspan37421

back my new GZ I found it to be pretty underpowered on the highway,

Hi, cspan

Should've bought the European version :whistle: The carb's set up richer, so it's faster than the American version. O.k., it's no crotch rocket, but it doesn't need the carb mods that the American bikes do. :2tup:

Water Warrior 2 · 09-09-2009, 04:45 PM

I rode the Dragon a couple years ago on a rented KLR 650. I think I would have been better off with a GZ.

cspan37421 · 09-10-2009, 09:48 AM

Hello again,

Well, I bought the GZ because I hadn't owned a cruiser before and wanted to try one. Having had a 500 before, I felt it was too much power - so I returned to 250s, even though for me (at 6 foot 1, 175 lbs), a 350 twin would be ideal in terms of power, weight. But of course there's a pretty big gap. The Rebel and Virago 250 just feel too small, the GZ felt roomier. I'd also not had a single before, so I thought that would be worth a try. I did look at the TU and seriously consider it, but I decided a low-mileage GZ might be a better test, plus it's a cruiser. The ergos of TU just lacked novelty for me, and I was keen to try the different styles so I could know what's right for me.

The KLR is a great fit for me, but since I found the 500r too top heavy, I figured the KLR would be even worse in that department, with its huge, high fuel tank.

cspan

cspan37421 · 09-10-2009, 09:49 AM

ps I didn't care for the Dragon. It was just a lot of work. The Cherohala was much more enjoyable.

Sarris · 09-10-2009, 10:39 AM

I rode the Dragon, the Hellbender and the Cherohala Skyway last year on my Harley Streetglide.

I was a helluva lot of work and some of the most intense riding I've ever done. Got my Dragons on my side covers.

The Cherohala was the most relaxed ride except for the corkscrew.

Welcome aboard.

:cool:

alantf · 09-11-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarris

I rode the Dragon, the Hellbender and the Cherohala Skyway last year on my Harley Streetglide.

Talking about rides ............... Hey, WW, I was watching a programme (on English tv) last night, called "Billy Connolly at the edge of the world". He's riding all over Canada. One of the things they showed was the Cabot Trail. I think that it was in the NE of Canada, but, anyhow, they said it was one of the top 5 rides in the WORLD! Have you tried it, or is it too far away? The views of it from the helicopter looked good.

Water Warrior 2 · 09-11-2009, 02:47 PM

The Cabot Trail is many thousands of kilometers away. Think Eastern Canada and I am on the West Coast. Would be a real trip though. Would love to ride there some day. I never thought of it a few years ago when I drove to Newfoundland just to stand on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. So far I have been as far East as possible in Canada(Spear Point Nfld), as far West and as far South(Peele Island in Lake Erie) as one can travel. Don't think I will be able to do the Far North trip though. Have been up to the Yukon Territories but still not close to the real Far North. With the right amount of money anything is possible and a chartered aircraft would be the real deal. There are Northern areas no one has ever walked on or explored. I think I need a winning lottery ticket just to really explore Canada. A pension only goes so far.

alantf · 09-11-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

A pension only goes so far.

:plus1: I'm with you on that one! :poorbaby:

09-08-2009, 09:25 PM	#1
cspan37421 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chattanooga Posts: 15	Allow Myself to Introduce ... Myself Hi from Chattanooga. I just acquired a 2007 GZ250. I hope to do some of the maintenance items myself - certainly oil changes, but valve clearances too. I just ordered the valve adjustment tool from my local dealer. I used to have a CB250 and checked those - but got lucky, they didn't need adjustment. Bringing back my new GZ I found it to be pretty underpowered on the highway, even compared to the CB250. Perhaps this is just the difference between twins and singles, in that the latter trades a bit of its higher end power for some lower end power. OTOH perhaps I need a valve adjustment - who knows. Anyway I'm sure I'll be posting questions now and then in the various other forums. As background, I have ridden the Dragon and the Cherohala (both on the Nighthawk) and my other prior bikes include a '74 CB200 and a Ninja 500r. cspan Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-08-2009, 10:29 PM	#2
alanmcorcoran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,926	Re: Allow Myself to Introduce ... Myself Welcome. Have at the valves, but I don't think any amount of adjustment will change your opinion of the highway suitability. If you do figure something out, there's quite a few on here that will want to know your secret. You didn't mention why you acquired the GZ....? __________________ [hr:5yt6ldkq][/hr:5yt6ldkq] http://alanmarkcorcoran.com Motorcycles, Music, Musings and More…
	0

09-09-2009, 04:45 PM	#4
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Allow Myself to Introduce ... Myself I rode the Dragon a couple years ago on a rented KLR 650. I think I would have been better off with a GZ.
	0

09-10-2009, 09:48 AM	#5
cspan37421 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chattanooga Posts: 15	Re: Allow Myself to Introduce ... Myself Hello again, Well, I bought the GZ because I hadn't owned a cruiser before and wanted to try one. Having had a 500 before, I felt it was too much power - so I returned to 250s, even though for me (at 6 foot 1, 175 lbs), a 350 twin would be ideal in terms of power, weight. But of course there's a pretty big gap. The Rebel and Virago 250 just feel too small, the GZ felt roomier. I'd also not had a single before, so I thought that would be worth a try. I did look at the TU and seriously consider it, but I decided a low-mileage GZ might be a better test, plus it's a cruiser. The ergos of TU just lacked novelty for me, and I was keen to try the different styles so I could know what's right for me. The KLR is a great fit for me, but since I found the 500r too top heavy, I figured the KLR would be even worse in that department, with its huge, high fuel tank. cspan Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-10-2009, 09:49 AM	#6
cspan37421 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chattanooga Posts: 15	Re: Allow Myself to Introduce ... Myself ps I didn't care for the Dragon. It was just a lot of work. The Cherohala was much more enjoyable.
	0

09-10-2009, 10:39 AM	#7
Sarris Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Port Richey, Florida USA Posts: 1,348	Re: Allow Myself to Introduce ... Myself I rode the Dragon, the Hellbender and the Cherohala Skyway last year on my Harley Streetglide. I was a helluva lot of work and some of the most intense riding I've ever done. Got my Dragons on my side covers. The Cherohala was the most relaxed ride except for the corkscrew. Welcome aboard. :cool: __________________ Prudent riders live longer than moron riders.
	0

09-11-2009, 02:47 PM	#9
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Allow Myself to Introduce ... Myself The Cabot Trail is many thousands of kilometers away. Think Eastern Canada and I am on the West Coast. Would be a real trip though. Would love to ride there some day. I never thought of it a few years ago when I drove to Newfoundland just to stand on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. So far I have been as far East as possible in Canada(Spear Point Nfld), as far West and as far South(Peele Island in Lake Erie) as one can travel. Don't think I will be able to do the Far North trip though. Have been up to the Yukon Territories but still not close to the real Far North. With the right amount of money anything is possible and a chartered aircraft would be the real deal. There are Northern areas no one has ever walked on or explored. I think I need a winning lottery ticket just to really explore Canada. A pension only goes so far.
	0