Wasp test rides the GN (and gets new tyres)

[Wasp]

On Tuesday morn my bike went into the shop for 2 new tyres and a few other bits and bobs (FORK SEAL FORK SEAL FORK SEAL - happy Bend-It?)

So, its drop the bike off, fill out the paperwork for borrowing the GN and off I go for the 5-10 minute commute from the bike shop to work.

Get a call after lunch saying "whoops - we forgot to order the front tyre" - oh well, these things happen and I don't really mind :wait: then I hear "You can keep the GN for the night if you want" - sweet, I get to properly test ride it now! :innocent:

So I take it about the suburbian hills here a bit then down onto the motorway along to my hill then up the hill and home.

So...... what do I think of the GN you ask.....

Well first up I don't entirely agree that its a gutless peice of crap - its just not as powerful as other bikes. Other than that it goes fairly well - even managed to make me grin a bit and it's reasonably comfortable once you get used to it too.

After hearing people saying the engine in it was useless I was expecting that to be the case HOWEVER I found that the HANDLING was more of a problem than the power, it was as unstable as a coke can sitting on top of a fridge that was balancing on one edge with that edge sitting on a 40 degree hill covered in TEFLON.... ok so it wasnt THAT bad but you get my point.

So would I agree with those who say that the GN is the best learners bike? Hell no, I learnt on a Honda VTZ 250 - sure it was heavy but it was alot smoother, handled better and was a more enjoyable ride, or take a fxr 150 for example - good, cheap, reliable and realitively fast.

Anyways, a big thanks to the guys down at TSS in Alicetown - cheers for the great workshop work, the new leathers and all the help, advice and just generally friendly chatting. You Guys Rock! :first: :rockon:

[phoenixgtr]

Hmmm, I think I'll stick to the FXR. Slightly faster and waaaaay better handling. Nice post though Wasp. You'll be becoming an expert on 250cc cruisers.

[RantyDave]

big thanks to the guys down at TSS in Alicetown
Oh, I wonder if that's *the* GN. Hmmmm....

Dave

[Str8 Jacket]

Oh, I wonder if that's *the* GN. Hmmmm....

Dave

Hmmm, thats where my old GN went after I worte it off....

[GR81]

i had a GN loaner overnight once... i thought it went better than what most people say, but yea the riding position wasnt all that flash.
none the less... coulda been worse.

[Maha]

I agree about the GN not being the best bike to learn on, but i did, and mainly cos' of the price at the time, $2995 for a new bike?.... hell yes....:yes:
Good write up anyway wasp....

[Flyingpony]

Had a GN loaner once. Power was okay, ride position confortable but handling was terrible, especially when braking - gave me no confidence.

[RantyDave]

Hmmm, thats where my old GN went after I worte it off....
Really? IIRC Dreamer's bike was traded in for a Hyosung in much the same fashion. Perhaps TSS have not one but two sh!tter GN's to loan to people when they forget to order tyres.

Dave

[The Pastor]

gns are the good.

[Wasp]

The GN in question was an 86 and according to the guys there its more powerful than most.

[The Pastor]

The GN in question was an 86 and according to the guys there its more powerful than most.


LOL im sure thats an oxymoron!

[Bend-it]

I agree about the GN not being the best bike to learn on, but i did, and mainly cos' of the price at the time, $2995 for a new bike?.... hell yes....:yes:


Learning on a new bike? hmmm... :doobey:

250 bandit's magical to learn on! plus some room to grow into! :blip:

[Bend-it]

On Tuesday morn my bike went into the shop for 2 new tyres and a few other bits and bobs (FORK SEAL FORK SEAL FORK SEAL - happy Bend-It?)


Again?? Still?? Yikes man! Tell ya what I have a great fork seal, which comes with the rest of the bike... Want it? :blip:

[Bonez]

A GN owner got a gsf1200 as a loaner at work.......................:wait:

[madboy]

A GN owner got a gsf1200 as a loaner at work.......................:wait:Did they shit their pants on the way home?

[kro]

The thing I don't get about the GN is that no GN I ever rode went as well as my DR, and they have basically the same engine. I guess there's gearing, and a bit of a weight diff, but they really seemed sluggish, whereas even the DR with shot rings would take off better than any GN I rode.

[kensuem]

Just got to stick up for the Gn 250.I bought mine about 2 months ago,now have 1800 klm on the clock and the engine seems to be settling in nicely.OK,its no race horse[good thing actualy,stops me getting speeding tickets],but it gets me to work at a steady 100,I can now keep ahead of the logging trucks,and is quite fun to throw through the bends of the ATHENREE GORGE.Cant say I find the handling that bad either,the only problem I have had was at low speed in the yard at work,but that was because the boss had just had a layer of loose road chip spread 3 inches deep!
Yes,I would like to have another bike like the Royal Enfield Constellation I road in my teenage years,but the bottom line is that I cant afford it,but i could afford a new GN at $3600 on the road.I dont care what anyone says,for what it cost ,its darn good value.

[Bonez]

The thing I don't get about the GN is that no GN I ever rode went as well as my DR, and they have basically the same engine. I guess there's gearing, and a bit of a weight diff, but they really seemed sluggish, whereas even the DR with shot rings would take off better than any GN I rode.Personnally I think the rear tyre is way too big for them for starters.

[Bonez]

Did they shit their pants on the way home?Neally lauched the thing into the airport fence on the first corner. :gob:

[Bonez]

Just got to stick up for the Gn 250.I bought mine about 2 months ago,now have 1800 klm on the clock and the engine seems to be settling in nicely.OK,its no race horse[good thing actualy,stops me getting speeding tickets],but it gets me to work at a steady 100,I can now keep ahead of the logging trucks,and is quite fun to throw through the bends of the ATHENREE GORGE.Cant say I find the handling that bad either,the only problem I have had was at low speed in the yard at work,but that was because the boss had just had a layer of loose road chip spread 3 inches deep!
Yes,I would like to have another bike like the Royal Enfield Constellation I road in my teenage years,but the bottom line is that I cant afford it,but i could afford a new GN at $3600 on the road.I dont care what anyone says,for what it cost ,its darn good value.Certainly are. A skinnier back tire and different bars may sort the handling in the yard out.

[far queue]

On Tuesday morn my bike went into the shop for 2 new tyres and a few other bits and bobs (FORK SEAL FORK SEAL FORK SEAL - happy Bend-It?)So, you've blown a seal then?

[MidnightMike]

I hate the seat the worst, the power is alright, nearly as good as the volty :nya:

Handling is a shocker, also the volty is better at that too. :rockon:

[Fub@r]

For me the GN was the best option.

Got a 2005 with 1000km on it for $2500. Admittedly I replaced the standard front tyre last week as they are shit in the wet. As for the handling I cant comment only got my learners 5 weeks ago :yes:

Its no rocket, but doing the suburban streets from West Auckland to the city during rush hour power isn't an issue. And at a cost of 1ltr per 30km I'm laughing all the way home at all the cagers filling up every day at the gas station and stuck in traffic jams whilst I filter past.

Sure other 250's have a bit more go but at least the GN wont be getting me in to trouble in a hurry .......... quite literally :scooter:

[madboy]

It's all about fit for purpose, isn't it. It's a basic piece of machinery designed to do a pretty simple job. The brakes, power, handling etc are all crap compared to any sportsbike produced since 1923. But that's like saying a dirtbike on knobblies is crap around Manfeild, and Rossi's Yamahaha is crap up a firebreak. Well of course it fucking is! GNs take a bad rap I reckon. They're a very basic thing designed for a very basic purpose.

[dhunt]

A mate and I rode one back from Wellington a while ago (125 version) and it was quite a laught. The challenge was to try not to slow ever and keep/get the bike at the speed limit (about 500 rpm below redline) cause it took sooo long to get up to speed.

Earlier this year my brother rode the same bike round a couple times and was able to keep it at a steady 95km/h but then he welded up the hole in the exhaust and it dropped to 85km/h.

[Str8 Jacket]

Mine used to get the speed wobbles at 110, if I hit a downhil it would get to 130 at a push and the speed wobbles got quite bad!

[Hawkeye]

I've only ever ridden a GN once but before I would go praising the machine, I would at least ride something else to compare it with. I agree that for the price and the general purpose, a GN fills the niche. But until you have ridden other machines, it's easy to say ' they are the best for learners' when in reality, compared to other 250's on the market, they may turn out to be a dog. (I am not in a position to comment, so won't).

As WASP has stated in his post, he is comparing the GN to other machines he has ridden and I'm sure there are others on here who have ridden a number of 'learner' bikes and are more able to put a objective view on various pro's and con's of the different bikes.

Great post WASP:2thumbsup :clap:

[Wasp]

Cheers Hawkeye, I havnt written that much (or that well) since I left school - im glad you and some others enjoyed it!

As you say, yes I have ridden a few bikes (vtz250 gsf250 fxr150 and that GN) but I wouldnt really say that I have enough knowledge to assess wether its good for lerners or not, all I can do is share my opinions.

Also one thing I never took into considerations is the price.

EDIT: forgot that last time the bike was in the shop I rode a BRAND NEW Hyosung Aquilia GV 250, which I sort of enjoyed, theres a post round ere somewhere with what i thought about it...