Newbie from TN

plskthompson1 · 02-09-2010, 05:10 PM

Hi, I just picked up a 2006 GS250 for the wife to learn to ride on and hope to get a few pointers about the bike as time goes along.

alanmcorcoran · 02-09-2010, 06:01 PM

Welcome to the site. You picked a good bike to learn on. Hows the riding weather in TN? Our number one pointer about the bike:

1) Locate and make sure you know how to use the On/Prime/Reserve fuel petcock. (hint: it can be confusing and you don't want to have it on reserve by accident or when you run out of gas, you are completely out. Most of us also zero out the trip odometer when filling it with gas.)

Have fun!

Mercutio57 · 02-09-2010, 06:16 PM

Welcome! You can't go wrong with the GZ.

burkbuilds · 02-10-2010, 01:05 AM

Welcome to the forum, enjoy the new ride!

mole2 · 02-10-2010, 02:09 AM

Welcome to the forum from another newbie.

alantf · 02-10-2010, 06:40 AM

Hi there,
The biggest "fault" (if you can call it that!) with the gz is the temperamental carb. Be sure to go out & buy a bottle of carb cleaner, & keep it somewhere handy, so that at the FIRST signs of the engine running rough, you can add it to the petrol in the tank. :2tup:

plskthompson1 · 02-12-2010, 01:37 AM

Riding weather is awful right now. I did take her out for a little run Tuesday when I got her home, and was surprised at how well it carried someone my size. It should be perfect for the wife. Any suggestions on where to get a sissy bar for a decent price?

plskthompson1 · 02-12-2010, 01:41 AM

Hers the only pic I've got of it. More to come later.

mrlmd1 · 02-12-2010, 09:50 AM

Watch out for the right side saddlebag. The exhaust is going to melt/burn a hole through the bottom. You may want to search on the forum for various heat shields that members here have been fabricated out of aluminum or similar and have pop riveted or bolted to the bottom of bags.

burkbuilds · 02-12-2010, 11:32 AM

I'll second mrlmd1's caution on the exhaust. I did a number on a set of bags I had with this same issue. Resolved it by riveting some checker plate aluminum to the bottom around the exhaust area, but you still want to have some clearance for air to cool things off there!

02-09-2010, 05:10 PM	#1
plskthompson1 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Goodspring, TN Posts: 26	Newbie from TN Hi, I just picked up a 2006 GS250 for the wife to learn to ride on and hope to get a few pointers about the bike as time goes along. __________________ People ask us why we ride a motorcycle. For those who have experienced the joy, no explanation is necessary; for those who have not, no explanation is possible. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-09-2010, 06:01 PM	#2
alanmcorcoran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,926	Re: Newbie from TN Welcome to the site. You picked a good bike to learn on. Hows the riding weather in TN? Our number one pointer about the bike: 1) Locate and make sure you know how to use the On/Prime/Reserve fuel petcock. (hint: it can be confusing and you don't want to have it on reserve by accident or when you run out of gas, you are completely out. Most of us also zero out the trip odometer when filling it with gas.) Have fun! __________________ [hr:5yt6ldkq][/hr:5yt6ldkq] http://alanmarkcorcoran.com Motorcycles, Music, Musings and More…
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02-09-2010, 06:16 PM	#3
Mercutio57 Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: New York Posts: 95	Re: Newbie from TN Welcome! You can't go wrong with the GZ. __________________ "What are you rebelling against, Johnny..?" Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-10-2010, 01:05 AM	#4
burkbuilds Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shannon, Georgia Posts: 1,268	Re: Newbie from TN Welcome to the forum, enjoy the new ride!
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02-10-2010, 02:09 AM	#5
mole2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Longs, SC Posts: 1,469	Re: Newbie from TN Welcome to the forum from another newbie. __________________ 2009 V-Star 650 Silverado Pearl White 2007 Suzuki GZ250 Black (sold) Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-10-2010, 06:40 AM	#6
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Re: Newbie from TN Hi there, The biggest "fault" (if you can call it that!) with the gz is the temperamental carb. Be sure to go out & buy a bottle of carb cleaner, & keep it somewhere handy, so that at the FIRST signs of the engine running rough, you can add it to the petrol in the tank. :2tup: __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.
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02-12-2010, 01:37 AM	#7
plskthompson1 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Goodspring, TN Posts: 26	Re: Newbie from TN Riding weather is awful right now. I did take her out for a little run Tuesday when I got her home, and was surprised at how well it carried someone my size. It should be perfect for the wife. Any suggestions on where to get a sissy bar for a decent price? __________________ People ask us why we ride a motorcycle. For those who have experienced the joy, no explanation is necessary; for those who have not, no explanation is possible.
	0

02-12-2010, 01:41 AM	#8
plskthompson1 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Goodspring, TN Posts: 26	Re: Newbie from TN Hers the only pic I've got of it. More to come later. __________________ People ask us why we ride a motorcycle. For those who have experienced the joy, no explanation is necessary; for those who have not, no explanation is possible.
	0

02-12-2010, 09:50 AM	#9
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Newbie from TN Watch out for the right side saddlebag. The exhaust is going to melt/burn a hole through the bottom. You may want to search on the forum for various heat shields that members here have been fabricated out of aluminum or similar and have pop riveted or bolted to the bottom of bags.
	0

02-12-2010, 11:32 AM	#10
burkbuilds Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shannon, Georgia Posts: 1,268	Re: Newbie from TN I'll second mrlmd1's caution on the exhaust. I did a number on a set of bags I had with this same issue. Resolved it by riveting some checker plate aluminum to the bottom around the exhaust area, but you still want to have some clearance for air to cool things off there!
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