Differences between GN250 & Volty

[klingon]

I have a Suzuki Volty, which is basically the same as a GN250. But I'm gradually discovering some differences and I thought it might be useful to share them as I come across them.

My latest discovery is wheel size. My Volty still had its original tyre from 1995, so I decided to get a new one last week. To my surprise I found that the Volty has a 17" diameter rear wheel (I think the GN is 16").

The old tyre was a 120/80/17 whch is apparently pretty rare and gives you limited choices of brand etc. On the advice of Chris at Haldane's I replaced it with a 110/90/17. He reckons there's no disadvantage to the change, and the advantage is lots more choice.

So I replaced the hard old tyre with a Bridgestone Battleaxe. (I'm going to enjoy living up to the name.) For a minute there I was tempted to get a Pirelli, but changed my mind when I discovered that brolly boys don't come as standard. I would have rather enjoyed pointing out that my little Volty was riding on pirellis.

[Ixion]

BT045? In fact, a 110 in place of a 120 should give you sharper handling with (on that bike) no real downside. I'd guess the GN had a small diameter fat tyre for the cruiser look.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Your TU 250 is also Japanese built.....it's of a far higher quility than the latest GN 250's.

[Quartermile]

Volty's are alot better than GN's for 3 reasons:

*They have more class in their look

*They aren't mass produced chineese rubbish

*And there aren't a thousand of then on the road!!!

[MidnightMike]

Wasnt expecting that quartermile.

Voltys are far superior IMO. :rockon:

[klingon]

Volty's are alot better than GN's for 3 reasons:

*They have more class in their look

*They aren't mass produced chineese rubbish

*And there aren't a thousand of then on the road!!!

Well... I couldn't possibly comment because of course I'm biased... but you're absolutely right! Voltys have that curvy retro style thing going on...

[klingon]

BT045? In fact, a 110 in place of a 120 should give you sharper handling with (on that bike) no real downside. I'd guess the GN had a small diameter fat tyre for the cruiser look.

Yep, it's a BT045. And that's exactly what Chris said about the handling. She'll be a demon on the twisties now. :rofl:


Your TU 250 is also Japanese built.....it's of a far higher quility than the latest GN 250's.

I've been following some of the unfortunate stories of the de-chroming new GNs. I'd be so mad if I bought a new bike and it started doing that! The only sign of rust on the Volty was on the mirrors - which weren't original anyway. The rest of the chrome seems to be in really good nick.

So what other differences have you discovered, fellow Volty owners?

[MidnightMike]

Adjustable rear supension. Do the GN's have that?

[Lissa]

Adjustable rear supension. Do the GN's have that?

Yep mine does :)

I had a question... I have the standard GN Tyres that came with the bike when I brought her, should I replace these... (as I have been told they arent very good) and if so, what do I replace them with?

[MSTRS]

Yep mine does :)

I had a question... I have the standard GN Tyres that came with the bike when I brought her, should I replace these... (as I have been told they arent very good) and if so, what do I replace them with?

Yes you should. Will transform the handling and improve your confidence. 16" rear & 18" front??

[Lissa]

Yes you should. Will transform the handling and improve your confidence. 16" rear & 18" front??

Yea... I have NO confidence with my bike.. esp when its wet. I have no idea about what tyres to get, will go into my local bike shop and ask them I think. I am pretty bad at maintence as well, I havent even checked my tyre pressure... but will do this tonight.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Yea... I have NO confidence with my bike.. esp when its wet. I have no idea about what tyres to get, will go into my local bike shop and ask them I think. I am pretty bad at maintence as well, I havent even checked my tyre pressure... but will do this tonight.

It's smacked bottom time for you Love!

Tyre pressures MUST be checked regularly.....low pressure make any bike handle like a wheel barrow with fucked wheel brgs......not safe!

[MidnightMike]

It's smacked bottom time for you Love!

Tyre pressures MUST be checked regularly.....low pressure make any bike handle like a wheel barrow with fucked wheel brgs......not safe!

SHIT anyone know what pressure the tyres on my bike should be, Ive never checked it :dodge: :shit:

[Crasherfromwayback]

SHIT anyone know what pressure the tyres on my bike should be, Ive never checked it :dodge: :shit:

32/34 will be just fine for you mate

[Lissa]

It's smacked bottom time for you Love!

Tyre pressures MUST be checked regularly.....low pressure make any bike handle like a wheel barrow with fucked wheel brgs......not safe!

Ohhhhhhh Ive told off! :shit: hehe. Ok checked my manual I think they are suppose to be 25/29 going to run out to the garage and TRY and check them now.... Thanks Pete!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Ohhhhhhh Ive told off! :shit: hehe. Ok checked my manual I think they are suppose to be 25/29 going to run out to the garage and TRY and check them now.... Thanks Pete!

That's the story!:sunny:

[Lissa]

That's the story!:sunny:
Lucky I did... front wheel was 20 and back wheel was 18 :shit: I should notice the difference tonight on ride.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Lucky I did... front wheel was 20 and back wheel was 18 :shit: I should notice the difference tonight on ride.

Without doubt......and that's why you gotta check them at least once a week!

[Pwalo]

Get yourself a foot pump from Repco (or where ever) and you can check it at home. Means you can do it with the tyres cold and at your own convenience (weekly at least).

[Sieffe]

32/34 will be just fine for you mate

I need more info mates . . . .which one quoted would be best?
I now am the proud owner of a Volty as of last Thursday . . .
and which way around are those pressures? The first one is the front wheel?

Cheers, Sieffe

ps . . . .anyone wanna buy my old GB 400? Stopped 2 years ago . .*sigh*

[Crasherfromwayback]

I need more info mates . . . .which one quoted would be best?
I now am the proud owner of a Volty as of last Thursday . . .
and which way around are those pressures? The first one is the front wheel?

Cheers, Sieffe

ps . . . .anyone wanna buy my old GB 400? Stopped 2 years ago . .*sigh*

For your Volty anywhere between 28-32 front and 30-34 rear will be fine

[klingon]

For your Volty anywhere between 28-32 front and 30-34 rear will be fine

I second that! (I know Crasher doesn't need any seconding because he's the expert but you know...)

After riding my Volty for three years now (happy birthday for November, Volty!) I can feel a huge difference if one of the tyres has managed to get a bit soft. It feels like I'm riding in mud and the bike feels like it's hinged in the middle - and that's only with a few psi difference in pressure!

I have also now got a centre stand on the Volty - pinched off a GN. I have to really heave the bike to get it up onto the centre stand - I assume because of the different wheel diameter between the Volty and GN. But gosh it makes it so much easier to have a centre stand! It makes things like lubing the chain much easier. I recommend this modification for every Volty!

[Crasherfromwayback]

I second that! (I know Crasher doesn't need any seconding because he's the expert but you know...)

After riding my Volty for three years now (happy birthday for November, Volty!) I can feel a huge difference if one of the tyres has managed to get a bit soft. It feels like I'm riding in mud and the bike feels like it's hinged in the middle - and that's only with a few psi difference in pressure!

I have also now got a centre stand on the Volty - pinched off a GN. I have to really heave the bike to get it up onto the centre stand - I assume because of the different wheel diameter between the Volty and GN. But gosh it makes it so much easier to have a centre stand! It makes things like lubing the chain much easier. I recommend this modification for every Volty!


hehehe...shucks...thanks!

As for getting it up on the centre stand...don't try and 'lift' the bike onto the stand...use your foot pressure pushing back and down on the centre stand leg to get it up. Also makes it much harder than it should be if you don't have both of the centre stands 'feet' touching the ground when you start the proceedure.

Hope that helps!

Pete

[klingon]

hehehe...shucks...thanks!

As for getting it up on the centre stand...don't try and 'lift' the bike onto the stand...use your foot pressure pushing back and down on the centre stand leg to get it up. Also makes it much harder than it should be if you don't have both of the centre stands 'feet' touching the ground when you start the proceedure.

Hope that helps!

Pete

Nah you see that's the cause of the problem - the stand is on totally the wrong angle for the Volty, so I do have to 'lift' the rear end of the bike while also standing on the stand. It would be different if the stand was actually designed for the bike!

I've had a variety of more experienced riders have a go at it, and they all have to use the same technique. But it's worth the effort to make lubing the chain so much easier!

[BASS-TREBLE]

On my GN Replaced them both Pirelli City Demons.
Loved them, scraped pegs in wet too.

The equivalant for the rear is a 120, I went up to a 130. Mainly to see what it looked like. I don't think you'll notice much diff, any tyre is better than the square stockie

[Crasherfromwayback]

Nah you see that's the cause of the problem - the stand is on totally the wrong angle for the Volty, so I do have to 'lift' the rear end of the bike while also standing on the stand. It would be different if the stand was actually designed for the bike!

I've had a variety of more experienced riders have a go at it, and they all have to use the same technique. But it's worth the effort to make lubing the chain so much easier!

I see! I'm so lazy with chain maintenance that I'd simply fit a Scott Oiler and be done with it!!

[FROSTY]

Nah you see that's the cause of the problem - the stand is on totally the wrong angle for the Volty, so I do have to 'lift' the rear end of the bike while also standing on the stand. It would be different if the stand was actually designed for the bike!
Funny you should mention that. last time I saw you I wondered about welding "extentions" to the feet of the stand.

[The Everlasting]

I second that! (I know Crasher doesn't need any seconding because he's the expert but you know...)

After riding my Volty for three years now (happy birthday for November, Volty!) I can feel a huge difference if one of the tyres has managed to get a bit soft. It feels like I'm riding in mud and the bike feels like it's hinged in the middle - and that's only with a few psi difference in pressure!

I have also now got a centre stand on the Volty - pinched off a GN. I have to really heave the bike to get it up onto the centre stand - I assume because of the different wheel diameter between the Volty and GN. But gosh it makes it so much easier to have a centre stand! It makes things like lubing the chain much easier. I recommend this modification for every Volty!


Yeah I'm annoyed mine doesn't have a centre stand.


I wonder if it's possible to put one on my bike,like you did on yours??

[klingon]

I see! I'm so lazy with chain maintenance that I'd simply fit a Scott Oiler and be done with it!!

Hmmm... I wonder if anyone would like to sponsor a ScottOiler for my Volty? :whistle:


Yeah I'm annoyed mine doesn't have a centre stand.


I wonder if it's possible to put one on my bike,like you did on yours??

Almost certainly would! Just take a look under the frame and you'll probably see that it already has brackets there. It's just a matter of cannibalising some poor, innocent GN250!