Attention GN250 riders

[varminter]

A personal question if you please. If I ride my GN for more than about twenty minutes my arse goes numb and sore (before you ask, no one is sitting behind me). I'm about six foot and the best riding position for me is with the base of my butt almost on the rear seat bit. This puts preassure on my lower spine/butt. Todays ride, about an hour and a half had me thinking about a buttectome. Now, I do suffer from a bad back (who don't) and the base of my spine/bum crack is super sensitive (hope I'm not giving you too much information) and I'm seriously thinking of getting a different style of bike, a Ninja or Hornet, where it's a more lean forward riding style. I have tried this on the GN when no one is looking and it seems ok. Anyone else get this problem.

[Zealnz]

While I'm only a small guy myself, I used to have a GN250 and it did feel a little cramped up - I can only imagine what it's like for a 6 footer!

Maybe a change of bars on your GN could do the trick instead of changing bikes altogether?

[varminter]

A change of bars ? you mean I should drink somewhere else. Thanks for that, I might try it, I suppose part of me just wants another bike. How to break it to the boss?

[Rockbuddy]

what on earth ever posessed you to buy a gn250 in the first place. get the ninja and all your problems will dissapear

[Jantar]

If you already have back problems then you probably don't want a cramped sports bike. Try a medium to large size sports tourer, or a dual purpose/adventure bike. Don't worry about sticking to 250 cc when you are trying them for size. Once you find something that suits your seating preference, apply for an exemption and go straight to a larger bike.

[PCTC]

A personal question if you please. If I ride my GN for more than about twenty minutes my arse goes numb and sore (before you ask, no one is sitting behind me). I'm about six foot and the best riding position for me is with the base of my butt almost on the rear seat bit. This puts preassure on my lower spine/butt. Todays ride, about an hour and a half had me thinking about a buttectome. Now, I do suffer from a bad back (who don't) and the base of my spine/bum crack is super sensitive (hope I'm not giving you too much information) and I'm seriously thinking of getting a different style of bike, a Ninja or Hornet, where it's a more lean forward riding style. I have tried this on the GN when no one is looking and it seems ok. Anyone else get this problem.
I too started out on a GN250 I had to sit right at the back, Moneybags took it for a ride told me it was shit!get rid of it!get a bike you fit I now have a SV1000 Women are always right:love:

[quickbuck]

what on earth ever posessed you to buy a gn250 in the first place. get the ninja and all your problems will dissapear

Yep, what he said.

The riding position is completely different....
The Hornet is also a good choice.

[Lucy]

A personal question if you please. If I ride my GN for more than about twenty minutes my arse goes numb and sore (before you ask, no one is sitting behind me). I'm about six foot and the best riding position for me is with the base of my butt almost on the rear seat bit. This puts preassure on my lower spine/butt. Todays ride, about an hour and a half had me thinking about a buttectome. Now, I do suffer from a bad back (who don't) and the base of my spine/bum crack is super sensitive (hope I'm not giving you too much information) and I'm seriously thinking of getting a different style of bike, a Ninja or Hornet, where it's a more lean forward riding style. I have tried this on the GN when no one is looking and it seems ok. Anyone else get this problem.

Putting straight bars on the GN would probably help a huge lot and be a lot cheaper than a new bike.

[fatzx10r]

If you already have back problems then you probably don't want a cramped sports bike. Try a medium to large size sports tourer, or a dual purpose/adventure bike. Don't worry about sticking to 250 cc when you are trying them for size. Once you find something that suits your seating preference, apply for an exemption and go straight to a larger bike.

i have a bad back and find a sport's bike all good, mind you it probly doesnt help it at all

[McDuck]

get a new seat made that is uniform alng the length

[stevewederell]

I had my GN for about 6 months and used to get a sore back, although i am only about 5'6". Moved to a Hornet and was worried that the slightly more forward type would make it worse - but no. I've had no back pain at all.


Not sure this will help but just my 2 cents

[varminter]

Went out on the GN today until my back and arse started giving me gyp, then went to the local dealer and bravely took out a Suzuki GXR/ABC whatever it was, too many letters for me to remember, anyway I loved it. The riding position seemed to be better for my back, although with more weight on my hands it felt like it does on the push bike, get a bit of tingling (well, I am over 60, just). Nice to be able to overtake things too:msn-wink:

[The Lone Rider]

Honda VT250C Magna

No sore wrists, no sore back, plenty of space, can take quite a few of the aftermarket bigger bike parts. Engine sounds nice if you change the pipes. I have ridden to greymouth and back in an afternoon & evening, and ridden arthurs pass back to christchurch two up on one. No problems except a leg stretch every now and then which isn't much to be complaining about. Plenty of speed to be passing. 200km before hitting reserve tank.

[LardEmbargo]

are you going to be sticking with a 250cc bike? you'll have a lot more to choose from (and so a lot of choice in riding positions / seats / getting your back comfortable on longer rides) if you can upgrade to something bigger.

otherwise just try riding some different ones (maybe something a different style too - more cruisery, more lean-forward sports position etc) and see how you get on.

I sat on a GN when I was trying out first bikes but couldn't get comfortable on the seat either, although for me it was more cos it seemed an awkward shape - it was low enough for me (short legs) but wide in the wrong place and I couldn't see me sitting on it for any length of time. Failed the ar5e test, basically.

[Dean]

hi varmitter i have a gn250 and i am 6foot .the main problem is roughly what you are stating unfortunately with the mighty gn250 it was made for the rather smallish people and i mean smallish.i find my bum hurts but mostly my crouch.but mainly the balance is hard because of the cramped position and the small handlebars so at slow speeds i find it quite harder to keep it straight many may argue its just me the rider but many other 6 footer mates have tryed my bike out and they said it is terrible.cornering is not good at 80 plus kph through corners and at slow speeds.i hope you make it out and escape from the gn250 , im still stuck selling mine help me :no: i see gn250s:no:

[varminter]

Thanks for all the help and advice guys, I'm still on a restricted for at least the next five months so if I do change it will be another 250. I really would like to upgrade to a sports bike style as I feel the cruiser won't work for me. Anyway I'm sure trying different bikes is a good idea. Wife not too keen, she wants something that accommodates a few suitcases, thats what cages are for.

[hayd3n]

why not try a sheepskin under ur arse

[varminter]

Good idea, do I leave the sheep inside it or is that still illegal.

[YAMASAKI]

How about a GPX250(old ninja)? pretty comfy riding position and a good step up in power from a GN (doesn't take much i know :D). they make a good cruiser but still fun

[Mikkel]

I'm thinking that while all the details regarding bum crack pain etc are very entertaining - two things, that could be important, are missing:

Age and state of fitness.

We're all built differently and have different comfort levels. As such, what works for one person may not work for another. I suspect we all have an idea what a few extra kgs may change - I sure as hell do. And while we may grow tougher with age we also get less flexible.

Best of luck with getting it all sorted - hopefully both cheaply and quickly.
There is always the Chopper Read option as well. ;)

[McDuck]

Age and state of fitness.

We're all built differently and have different comfort levels. As such, what works for one person may not work for another. I suspect we all have an idea what a few extra kgs may change - I sure as hell do. And while we may grow tougher with age we also get less flexible.


I agree, at the moment i am quite happy on a smaller framed 250/400, and i can see myself staying like this for a few years but not that many.

[varminter]

Age is the wrong side of 61...just. Fitness, I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, walk or cycle with the wife (so thats a bit slow) and hump stuff around for a job. Tall and skinny 6ft 77Kgs, and think clean and righteous thoughts....sometimes