2004 Suzuki GSX 250

[s1mple_m4n]

Hi all. Long time lurker, first time poster. Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth on this bike.

My story so far ... rode a few bikes as a teen, got a car, got married, had kids, got a scooter which I had been riding the last few years. I decided earlier this year my mid-life crisis would be a motorcycle (safer and much more fun than screwing around!).

Trawled the shops for second-hand (expensive!), finally found a bike I liked on TradeMe (the GSX250) and followed that model for a few months while I arranged finance. Finally made contact with a seller and arranged a meet to test the bike.

After a quick 10-minute ride around the block I was hooked! So, my first real ride in around 20 years was the trip from Whangarei back to Auckland - what a ride!

I've read a lot of haters' comments on this bike - it's big, heavy, slow, gutless, etc - but I'm really enjoying this bike. I'm 5'10", 85kg, so it feels just right for me - not cramped or stretched out. For me, heavy means stable and sure-footed on the road - it handles really well. And I'm not a racer, I'm a commuter who goes for weekend rides - so it goes just the right speed for me without feeling like it's revving its' guts out.

My only issue with this bike is the gearing - it's very close and quite low. I'm barely going before I need to change to second.

Look forward to any other positive comments on this bike from owners, otherwise keep safe.

RoyJ

[quickbuck]

Good on you man.

I bought one new for the other half to learn to ride on.... Great little machine.

I can tell you, once the experience level gets up, you can keep up with anything on the open road.... At the end of the day, top speed of 150 is licence loosing speed.... The low gearing disguises that it is heavy, BUT as you say, it;s weight works in its favour at times.... Shame there is little power to handle cross winds properly.... But that is another skill that you will get to master.

The suspension is simple...boardering on... you need to have a load on the rear at all times (at least when it was new). But in truth, it is no race bike anyway.

Keep the rubber side down and the oil changed frequently, and it will give you years of service... unlike that fling on the side ;)

[woodyracer]

actauly loss of licence speed is 140km/h now!!!......:angry2:


the gsx250's are cool, they arnt too grunty but they have enough power to get you around and blow off the odd harley....:innocent:

[trailblazer]

they are a good bike i was looking at them before i got my hyosung. :yes:

[Buster]

A good choice of bike. I bought a new one for fuck all. A good package for getting back into riding. Trail the rear brake to stop it going wide through corners though..

[Kingfish]

I had a GSX 250 for around 18months while learning to ride and found it a great starting point.
Has centre stand
Has Gear indicator
Even a kick start
Riding position is good
Dam i miss that little toy but not enough to give up my SV1000s

[crazyhorse]

I'll give it the thumbs up!

My son had a fxr150 when he was 15. He was 6 ft tall, and made the bike look a dwarf.

So I bought him the GSXr250. It was much better suited to him and he felt very secure on it. He loved it and we never had any problems with it at all. This is one bike I would certainly recommend.

They are not supposed to be race bikes, so I wouldn't expect huge speed and take off power from it. It is only a 250cc. Anyway, my son certainly had 160 out of it, and he couldn't wait to get his full, and jump on my SV650.

Good on ya :niceone:

[Addict]

I had one of those before a car forced me off the road - I thought it was a great bike. I would reccommend tho that you tape over the gear indicator in preparation for your next bike. Great bike to learn or re-learn on but as soon as you ride something a little more powerful you might find the bike spoiled for you.

[s_devo]

Hi Roy,

I have a 2004 Suzuki GSX 250 also and love it. It's very forgiving, particularly around corners and yes it is heavier and slower.

I agree about the gearing and to be honest I haven't used the 1st gear since the first week I had the bike. Have a go at taking off in 2nd and see if that makes life any easier. I find no need for 1st gear.

It's certainly a great learner bike for taller (and heavier) people like me (6" and 85kg).

Essentially the bike is a build of an earlier GS500E with fairings and a 250 engine - most likely an easy idea to meet the graduated licencing restrictions here in NZ. I believe the greater weight comes from the chassis being both built for a bigger engine and constructed of steel rather than aluminum (you will notice the front left engine mount on the gsx is even packed out to allow fitting the narrower 250 motor!).

The good thing about that is if you do have a spill it'll just be the plastic, indicators and mirrors that will need replacing as the chassis is pretty solid.

FYI there's more on the bike specs on this posting:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/2473-2004-Suzi-GSX250?highlight=gsx250+standing+flying

Take care,
Stevio

[quickbuck]

I believe the greater weight comes from the chassis being both built for a bigger engine and constructed of steel rather than aluminum (you will notice the front left engine mount on the gsx is even packed out to allow fitting the narrower 250 motor!).

Stevio

Well, actually the story goes that they used to be 155kg or so, BUT at that weight they used to get blown around a bit, so they beefed them up.. for the American market I think?
To be honest, they would have been a bit of a rocket if you lost 30kg off it!

[s_devo]

To be honest, they would have been a bit of a rocket if you lost 30kg off it!
Yeah I hear that the lighter 90's GSX250RR was one of the fastest 250s around! my friend used to call his 'the bullet'. I haven't seen one around for ages.

I do get blown around a fair bit too as you say. Though I find if I shift my weight forward I get more stability. When it's gusty and coming from all directions is the worst.

Not bad little bikes, as you say.

[quickbuck]

Yeah I hear that the lighter 90's GSX250RR was one of the fastest 250s around! .
Nope, it was actually the 2002 version. It only got here in 2003 after the weight gain.

Not sure where I read about it now, but it was in a mag somewhere.

The GSXR250 of the 90's was a bit of a rocketship, agreed.
$5999 from memory, and Black with Gold wheels. Wanted one, but the job I had didn't quite pay enough at the time.....
Plenty of 1989/90 imports around now.

[Slifer]

Ah i love my gsx250, lost my license in january getting it back in april and can't wait to ride my gsx again. even though they are fairly heavy etc, etc you can still pull the front wheel up pretty good.
pic related:

[Hiflyer]

lost my license in january getting it back in april

Demerits or all in one?

Good luck getting insurance though! (Not being mean, I'm actually saying good luck)

[Slifer]

Demerits or all in one?

Good luck getting insurance though! (Not being mean, I'm actually saying good luck)

Demerits and cheers i guess

[sapperj]

Yeah I have ridden a GSX250R... not for me but after reading your story, good on ya for getting a bike and doing it... bit like me. I like what I have now, not the fastest but sounds nice. Keep in mind what you would like to move on to from here. For me it will be a bigger V Twin, I like the sound and the feel of it. kinda like a V8 on 2 wheels. I have had a few twins in the past and drive a 5.7L Holden SS when the missus lets me... on a 250 for the licence thing then 650 > 1000.
Enjoy!

[Scorp]

I was thinking of having a closer look at the GSX for my first bike, and after reading this thread I'm even more interested. Sounds like a great learner bike. But I'm interested in what you guys might think of the ergos/ride position. I'm 5'8" and about 80kg, and though I quite liked the upright ride position of the Ninja, my feet felt pretty cramped, especially on the brake peg. Is the GSX as upright as the Ninja and what are the foot controls like?

Thanks for any help!

[SMOKEU]

What kind of speed do those GSX250s top out at in 1st gear?

[s1mple_m4n]

Scorp > I'm 5'10" and really enjoy the riding position. You can sit quite upright without being over-extended in your arms, or you can shift back on the seat and get quite low without being cramped in the legs.

SMOKEU > I usually let it get up to about 25 before changing, but it'll do more if you let it rev. And the GSX does like to rev!

[quickbuck]

I was thinking of having a closer look at the GSX for my first bike, and after reading this thread I'm even more interested. Sounds like a great learner bike. But I'm interested in what you guys might think of the ergos/ride position. I'm 5'8" and about 80kg, and though I quite liked the upright ride position of the Ninja, my feet felt pretty cramped, especially on the brake peg. Is the GSX as upright as the Ninja and what are the foot controls like?

Thanks for any help!
I'm 6'1" and it used to fit me perfectly.
The biggest of all the 250's at the time.
The othewr half is 5'7" with 34" legs.... (Same as mine), and she never had any issues with cramped legs either.
She did feel she had a lot of weight on the wrists, but remember her body is really short for her height.
And it was her first bike, so she was most likely holding on too tight.

Foot controls are perfectly placed for my size ten boots too.

[sidecar bob]

We've gone up one tooth on the front sproket (from 14 to 15) with our '04 GSX250.
Its brought the gearing closer to what it probably should have left the factory with.
Its still happy around town two up in top, so for solo with a medium sized rider you could probably go to 16 teeth.
Both swaps can be done by moving the back wheel & no alteration in chain length.
Im going to make some alterations to the jetting & cv carb springs to libertate a bit more power & tune out the big hollow in the mid range, as its waay to lean.
Will post up what i do & how it goes here after im done

[sidecar bob]

Stage one. I have so far left the air intake restrictor in place for various reasons.
I have taken the main jet from 107.5 to 115 & raised the needle one position & the CV slide springs have been carefully stretched 1cm.
It has considerably more mid range & a little more top end.
A run without the intake restrictor resulted in very poor & messy mid range, but vastly better top end.
For stage two i wil remove the restrictor, move the needles another position up & stretch the springs by about 2.5 CM & go to 120 or 125 mains.
Will keep you posted.

[s1mple_m4n]

bob, keep up with the updates, I'm keen to hear how you're doing with it. Interested in a 15 tooth sprocket now.

[sidecar bob]

bob, keep up with the updates, I'm keen to hear how you're doing with it. Interested in a 15 tooth sprocket now.

Im going to leave it alone for now, its a girls commuter bike & is now heaps better than stock, but the other work I described would make it considerably swifter again.
The sproket was $23 aftermarket & took about half an hour to fit, including shifting the rear wheel & re ajusting the chain.
If youre not a paticularly big fella with a bit of expierence that rides mainly solo, id go straight to a 16 tooth,
Otherwise 15 is ok.
Also, i forgot to mention, The front suspension was saggy so I put aprox 20mm of stainless metric fender washers on top of each spring to give it a tad more preload.
I may put a few more in yet, its still quite soft.
The whole idea was to improve on stock without spending much, & we've definitley done that.

[quickbuck]

Was thinking a 15 tooth sprocket would kill the acceleration..... BUT, it is a twin after all, and all (what there is of it) the torque is quite low down....
So, makes a bit of sense.

I guess they were short geared to stop learners doing speeds above 100mph down the interstate...

As for soft front end, it may be worth looking at heavier front springs rather than preloading the typically soft factory ones?
Just thoughts.... May be there are none that fit, bit i would be supprised at that.

[sidecar bob]

Was thinking a 15 tooth sprocket would kill the acceleration..... BUT, it is a twin after all, and all (what there is of it) the torque is quite low down....
So, makes a bit of sense.

I guess they were short geared to stop learners doing speeds above 100mph down the interstate...

As for soft front end, it may be worth looking at heavier front springs rather than preloading the typically soft factory ones?
Just thoughts.... May be there are none that fit, bit i would be supprised at that.
These things are extremely short geard from new, one poster earlier in this thread claims to never use first gear & we found it screamed its ring out at 120k.
As far as the springs go, im sure a set of aftermarket ones is really what it needs, as the standard ones are total crap, but we're trying to improve it for nothing or very little if we can.
If anyone has any leads on a spring we could obtain, id be keen to hear.

[quickbuck]

These things are extremely short geard from new, one poster earlier in this thread claims to never use first gear & we found it screamed its ring out at 120k.
As far as the springs go, im sure a set of aftermarket ones is really what it needs, as the standard ones are total crap, but we're trying to improve it for nothing or very little if we can.
If anyone has any leads on a spring we could obtain, id be keen to hear.
Fair point Re Gearing.
I remember you could literally drop the clutch and it would tootle off at 2km/hr....

"Acquiring" a pair of heavier springs would be the way to go I agree....

[Wickmyster]

Bob....What revs did the 15 tooth sprocket give the gsx at 100kmph? What do you think the 16 tooth would give. I would like to drop my gsx from over 8000 rpm to 7000rpm. Which sprocket should it use?? Or go for a 39tooth rear sprocket which I have found?? Any ideas on ration would be appreciated :D

[sidecar bob]

Bob....What revs did the 15 tooth sprocket give the gsx at 100kmph? What do you think the 16 tooth would give. I would like to drop my gsx from over 8000 rpm to 7000rpm. Which sprocket should it use?? Or go for a 39tooth rear sprocket which I have found?? Any ideas on ration would be appreciated :D

We have sold the bike a while ago & I cant remember exactly (have a 675 Daytona now) Dont worry about the back sproket, just go straight to a 16 on the front, its cheaper & easier to change & it will be about spot on. Thats what I would have done if I re geared our one knowing what I know now.
The front sprokets are the same spline & chain size as YZ 450 Yamaha, so a range of sprokets is easily avaliable cheaply.

[Wickmyster]

Cool thank you Bob :D Just bought 16 tooth front front today for $28.

Will probably pay for itself in gas saving in a month!!

[Wickmyster]

16 tooth front sprocket transformed my bike, I ride using the torque rather than just the revs now, an it is a lot quicker XD

Going from a 14 to a 16 tooth front sprocket dropped m revs 1000rpm at 100ks :D

[Fast Eddie]

yea I never thought of going up a sprocket size lol..

always went down to increase accel but it ruins fuel economy on the open rd actually

[boycey]

can anyone divulge where they got their 16 tooth sprocket from

[The Singing Chef]

can anyone divulge where they got their 16 tooth sprocket from

A shop...somewhere.

[quickbuck]

A shop...somewhere.

A Suzuki Shop.... Or any other bike shop will be able to get them... may be.

[The Singing Chef]

A Suzuki Shop.... Or any other bike shop will be able to get them... may be.

Possibly...maybe any shop will do, but who really knows?