the GN250... Popular or Common

[pyrocam]

Ahh yes, the ol Red GN250
Im beginning to get a strong distaste in my mouth just thinking about em.
Its fascinating that the bikes are so many in number yet all the riders on them seem the same. not one GN250 rider has ever waved back or even looked at me when stopped at lights.

practically scooter riders!

but perhaps everyone on them is just a noob. you can get a new GN250 for only $3000 which is a pretty good deal I reckon, wouldnt buy one though, too common.


*edit is there a way to add a poll after its posted?

[Slipstream]

Ahh yes, the ol Red GN250

Not sure about the red ones, but I do like the black ones :yes:

Did a bit of riding on one .... *sigh* good times :D

[Pancakes]

I ride a GN and I wave but it's normally once experienced riders are over the horizon. I recon learners would be on GN's (just a theory but once you are confident why would you stay on one?) and two hands on is the best idea when your not so hot on 2 wheels. I try to nod too but right now I'm all about not hitting things or having things hit me. Keep waving though, it makes YOU a better person no matter what the response.

[Eurygnomes]

Hey Pyro...I wave at people if I have the opportunity. Otherwise I just nod. It might look like the wind is pulling my helmet though, so I kind of try to do more of a glaswegian kiss kinda thing. Which is probably why people don't wave/nod back. 'cos I just end up looking well-weird!!! :)

P.S. Not sure whether I'll be in London over NY or Edinburgh...

[Waylander]

Must be ex-scooter riders riding the majority of them nowadays.

For every one I see wearing propergear and a proper helmet there are another 10 that are in track suits and a bicycle helmet.:weird: They also seem to constantly stare at a point about 2 meters in front of them and don't look around at all.

[gamgee]

you have to start somewhere, and to be honest for rideability, when the gn's are working, (and yam sr's for that matter) they are a brilliant bike, there's no way i would have wanted to learn on my new bike (vt250f) as i probably would have killed myself, the sports style 250's have way to much power for someone who has never ridden a bike before to jump on and learn to ride in my opinion, so don't knock the gn riders, they are probably just getting the hang of riding right now, let alone having to concentrate on the 'look ma no hands' two handed wave, so to all the newbies keep your hands on the handle bars :ride:

[Sniper]

Common cause they are cheap. Riders may not ride back because
A) They are snobs or
B) They are new and dont feel comfortable with just one limb holding the bike

[Bonez]

Ahh yes, the ol Red GN250
Im beginning to get a strong distaste in my mouth just thinking about em.
Its fascinating that the bikes are so many in number yet all the riders on them seem the same. not one GN250 rider has ever waved back or even looked at me when stopped at lights.

practically scooter riders!

but perhaps everyone on them is just a noob. you can get a new GN250 for only $3000 which is a pretty good deal I reckon, wouldnt buy one though, too common.


*edit is there a way to add a poll after its posted?Common is good. LOT OF SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE!!!

[ManDownUnder]

I don;t like them too much personally - but they are one of the mainstays of Motorcycling in NZ. They've ben around for YONKS and must be pretty reliable, cheap as chips etc.

Not the flashest bike, but good value for money I'd say

[placidfemme]

eh I don't like them much either... and I've also noticed that GN250 riders don't wave or even nod back... had a guy on a GN behind me at some traffic lights... saw him looking at me in my mirrors so I lifted my visor so he could see my eyes, made eye contact and waved... while stationary... he just stared at me and still didn't wave... how rude... then later up the road I was pulling over to turn in my driveway... saw him still behind me... waved again and got nothing back... how rude again! And he was riding a Red GN with a Red helmet... at least he has colour co-ordination...

[Ixion]

They're OK. Mostly they'll be novices on them (not necessarily, but,as they're a good commuter as well), and the riders are unconfident about taking a hand off the bars, or just don't know about the waving thing. Everybody's got to begin somewhere. Just keep waving to them , it'll click "Gee other bike riders keep waving to me. Maybe I'm supposed to wave back"

Go the GN250 I say. Good little bike. :ride: :ride: :yes:

[Spaz]

I think it's the style and the crappyness. I rarely get waves from, shall we say more experienced riders who ride semi similarly styled bikes (I don't think I've ever received any recognition from an HD rider, other than a quick look), it is a bit disapointing when everyone I see on GSXR's give very noticable nods.
I myself leave the first nod to the whoever is on the better bike (every other bike on the road so far :oi-grr: ), I don't think it would be that great to be recognised by a guy on a GN250 that has great big dents on it, is losing side panels, has brake fluid scars across the tank and has a loud exaust when it really shouldn't! So those humble enough to nod or wave to me, top job, probably had a GN when they were learning.
Cheers.

[DEATH_INC.]

The last time i rode one of them I spent the whole time laughing hysterically,so I couldn't have waved to any one anyway.
Oh yeh,they do ok wheelies once you get 'em up :rofl:

[myvice]

There ok, my father in law road one for years, left his bigger, better, faster bike for misbehaving on the weekends.

[crazylittleshit]

there great bikes I want one.
I went all around the north island on the back of one when I was 10 with my mother.
There cool.. MY MOMMY SAID SOOOOOO :ride:

[Magua]

I don't know about Gn250 riders but I allways nodded on my GN125. Man I'd kill to have that 12hp beast back again. Just to sell it so I could buy a Gn250, I think they're nifty. 17 horsies, single cylinder, awesome commuter. Everyone knows a Gn when they see one. My friends are soo extremely anti bike but even they know a Gn when they see one. Not to mention the cheap as chips fuel bill.

[placidfemme]

There cool.. MY MOMMY SAID SOOOOOO :ride:

I saw a shirt in town once that said "My mom thinks I'm cool" lol how sad is that...

[crazylittleshit]

I saw a shirt in town once that said "My mom thinks I'm cool" lol how sad is that...
where is it I want it :rofl:

[sunhuntin]

i ride a black gn, and try to wave when i can. most of the time i dont get a reply though, so usually wait till they wave first. i usually nod though. i feel bad right now cos a guy waved, and all i could do was nod due top coming up to a roundabout [dude, if your reading this, sorry!] :no:

[Ixion]

i ride a black gn, and try to wave when i can. most of the time i dont get a reply though, so usually wait till they wave first. i usually nod though. i feel bad right now cos a guy waved, and all i could do was nod due top coming up to a roundabout [dude, if your reading this, sorry!] :no:

Good for you.

Nodding or a "hand flick" (not the nasty sort), I reckon counts as a wave.

Sometimes even for the most experienced rider, taking a hand off the bars just isn't practical .

I reckon the rider with a free hand waves , the other waves if possible, or nods etc.

Doesn't really make any odds how the greeting is expressed, it's the show of solidarity that counts.

And sometimes, especially on Dorkland motorways, by the time you notice a bike going the other direction they're almost past. 200 kph approach speed, and I don't tend to pay a lot of attention to what's happening 4 or 5 lanes over, on the other side of a centre barrier. More worried about the idiots around me.

But whenever possible, I wave to anything on two wheels with an engine. Scooters count too. If they acknowledge , that's cool, if not I'm not worried. Maybe they didn't see me, maybe they were otherwise occupied. If not, 'tis their loss.

[White trash]

Know what the average age of motorcyclists in NZ is?

46.

GN250s are the only affordable commuter for alot of younger riders in the market now.

They're getting young riders on bikes, brilliant.

[Zed]

Ahh yes, the ol Red GN250
Im beginning to get a strong distaste in my mouth just thinking about em.
Its fascinating that the bikes are so many in number yet all the riders on them seem the same. not one GN250 rider has ever waved back or even looked at me when stopped at lights.Lol, maybe in your lil' world they don't wave back Pyro, and only the red ones eh?? You can say "scooter" riders don't wave back but you can't really categorize a specific model of motorcycle like the GN250...I'm sure they've waved at me - I just wasn't watching.:rofl: jk


practically scooter riders!The GN250 may be the lowest of the low 'real' motorcycle but it's still gets my respect at the end of the day...scooters on the other hand are just a hinderance and frustration to me. :shutup:


but perhaps everyone on them is just a noob. you can get a new GN250 for only $3000 which is a pretty good deal I reckon, wouldnt buy one though, too common.I think it's well known that they're a noob bike, I'm worried that you even considered the GN as a possible upgrade from your 150??:weird:

[eliot-ness]

The GN250 is, like the BSA 250 of the 1950s and 60s probably responsible for getting more riders safely into biking than any other model. It's tough, foolproof, easy to ride and maintain, and cheap to buy and run. All the attributes of the perfect first bike and commuter. It's quite capable of doing long runs, if not fast, but comfortably. What more could you ask for $3000. As for not waving, who cares. Learners have other things to think about. Let em join the other fictitious ranks of HD. Triumph, Ducati etc owners who never acknowledge other riders. I'd much prefer they stayed safe.

[Trakxntrials]

Im a GN rider too - and yep I learnt to ride on it - and shes a beauty - keeps on ticking just fine - and if ya wave to me, I will wave and smile back at you. Nothing wrong with them - great for learners and In town commuting too! So please leave the GN's alone - and yes there are alot of them around - so cant be too bad a bike - right. And those of you who wave - keeping doing it - that is how I met my boyfriend :):) :) You will never know who will wave back at you :)

[zeRax]

aye nothing wrong with the old gn250, fucking great commuter, so cheap to run.
thou i am half way to a new cbr rr or gsxr still want to keep the gn just for the odd run to town etc,

fo i wave etc, if anything id find that other buggers dont wave Because im on a gn250 , how about that eh.

[Coyote]

I wouldn't mind one. Get some twin disks up front, some proper rims instead of the spokes, KX500 motor, a set of Diablos, renthals, Twin CF exhausts, Ohlins....

[Beemer]

Although I'm not into the cruiser styling of the GN250, I have to admit they are pretty good bikes for learners. You couldn't get new ones for $3000 when I started riding, which is why I bought a Suzuki RG150. I liked it because it looked like a real bike and it went well enough to keep up with most riders I rode with.

I also find the riders don't wave - not sure why, even when they are stopped at the lights with both hands on their knees they don't wave! And as for their clothing - two extremes only - full Cordura get-up with good boots, helmet and gloves, or a pair of (usually faded) tracksuit pants, sneakers (with long laces) and a helmet that even Cash Converters wouldn't sell. Oh, and ski-type gloves, if any.

[inlinefour]

I'm not sure if it was the worse bike I've owned, but it was definitely up there. As a final ride, I took it around a motorcross track (and it actually made it around after crapping off a few times). The frount fork seals blew, so did the clutch and both tyres went flat. I am certian that I will never own another one again. Heck, even the Sooki A100 was better than the GN250 (my opinion and thats based on running it on avgas :devil2: ). However in saying this, I think that the GN would make a good first bike for the novice rider. Like or not. :weird:

[Rashika]

yep, me too a exGN rider waaaay back in the beginning, before getting the Virago. Damn good bike, got traded round the whole family...me, sis, other sis, best mate of other sis, god knows where it is now.....mostly it done me proud!

.....and of course I wont forget the time the motor seized on me while riding to Timaru....thanks for checking the oil for me sis!
yep i know shoulda dbl/triple checked myself, but she had had it for 2 weeks beforehand and riden all over the sth island, so ya think she'd been good enough to top it up for me.
My excuse was it was dark, they have terrible oil windows, and I couldn't see a bloody thing, made an assumption all was good....damnit....all was baaaad.

Just as well rest of family was following 1/2 hour behind...poor wee me :crybaby: on the side of the rode.....nice farmers down there tho, cheers to whoever it was stored the bike for a week.

But yeah, good bike, and i reckon most of the riders would wave if they knew that it was okay to do so....they could be just worried about staying upright, and maybe some of ya big biker dudes scare them! :msn-wink:

Gwenda

[pritch]

Guy I worked with some years back took delivery of a new GN250 one Friday after work. Monday morning he had been to Auckland and back, done a 1000ks.

Not the ideal running in, but the guys at the bike shop would've been mildly surprised when he showed up first thing Monday for his first service :-)

The bike never missed a beat while I knew him.

[Beemer]

Our club had its economy run today and I saw two GN250s around the route (near Palmerston North) and NEITHER waved! Mind you, neither did the guy on the Harley (whoops, should have said GANG member on a Harley) and several other cruiser types. All but one of the sports bike riders waved.

[avgas]

to be honest i dont think they are common - i walk 5k in (and also out) of town each day to uni, following the roads (esp dom rd, 70k highway).
A majority of the bikes i see are the following : CBR/ZXR 2fiddys, CBR600F's, and the occasional triumph/zx636/GSXR.
Oh everyday i see a 'red bull' fzr400, 'DOCTR' the XJR, a green 636 and a zeal with some flames pained on it - any of you guys KBers?

[Bonez]

Our club had its economy run today and I saw two GN250s around the route (near Palmerston North) and NEITHER waved! Mind you, neither did the guy on the Harley (whoops, should have said GANG member on a Harley) and several other cruiser types. All but one of the sports bike riders waved.You guys where at Pahiatua Honda shop? The GB400 and Duc 500 that tooted was Doug and I doing a 230k curcuit.

[Lias]

I ride one, and wave at most everything on two wheels I see on the road. Sometimes even scootah riders in homage to my days spent on a streetmagic :Punk:

Incidentally In my experience I've found Taranaki riders seems to wave far more often than any others. Been as far north as Warkworth, and all the way down to Wellington a few times, and out of all the areas, Taranakai riders wave way more.. (I counted one day, something like 21 out of 23 riders waved at me between New Plymouth and Wanganui on one trip down to Welly).. Heaps more than any other region.

[Rashika]

You guys where at Pahiatua Honda shop? The GB400 and Duc 500 that tooted was Doug and I doing a 230k curcuit.


.......really is a small world ain't it

Gwenda

[Bonez]

Just had a good look at the co-workers GN front end the fork lowers brake calipers, triple clamps and tube sizes ( 35mm ?) look the same a whats on the GasAxe. Another sorce of donor bits by the looks. Oh goodie.

[GN1NiteStnd]

I have a 1985 GN250 and I think they are the perfect learner bike. In all my learning so far (since november) i have only smashed one indicater and created a couple of dents in the tank, one was with my knee!

---The damage done by the local theving bastards doesnt count. :mad: ---

And I try to wave, I usually wait for the other motorcyclist to wave first tho.

Anyway when Im confident enough I will move on from the trusty GN to something that doesnt sound like hell at 100km/h.