gsx250

[drafted]

Hi everyone, Ive just joined up here, because Im looking at buying a bike. I owned a GN250 a couple of years back, and im looking at another bike. Can anyone shed any light on the 2003 gsx-250. Are they cheaper than most other 250s in relation to their year because they are only a 2 cylinder? Is there any other reason why? Can any owners here give me some feedback? Im not after a superfast bike, something thats reliable, will get me to tauranga, or auckland easily from Hams. Any feedback or recomendations on other like bikes would be appreciated.

[SARGE]

Hi everyone, Ive just joined up here, because Im looking at buying a bike. I owned a GN250 a couple of years back, and im looking at another bike. Can anyone shed any light on the 2003 gsx-250. Are they cheaper than most other 250s in relation to their year because they are only a 2 cylinder? Is there any other reason why? Can any owners here give me some feedback? Im not after a superfast bike, something thats reliable, will get me to tauranga, or auckland easily from Hams. Any feedback or recomendations on other like bikes would be appreciated.

they are nice bikes man.. good luck finding one though.

[WildBoarMouse]

They're not a bad bike... and originally retailed for around the $6k mark. There are usually one or three of them on sale on trademe for between $3500 and $4500. I picked up a 2004 model with 5200km for $3600. They were made in china and are an inline two. Very economic on the fuel, and fairly comfortable to ride. They're quite a large 250 in comparison to something like a CBR. But this isn't a bad thing if you're not a small person. They're about 180kg (which is fairly heavy), but this isn't a bad thing either when making long distance rides.

They have a gear indicator, and a fuel meter. Both are very useful.

They're not the fastest bike on the road, but they fair better than a GN250 and are nearly half the price of the racey 250cc bikes that are 10 years older with 6-10 times as many kms on the clock.

Getting hold of the service manual is next-to-impossible as they've been discontinued. Same goes with the owners manual... I've had one on back order for about three months.

Hope that helps...

[gamgee]

why the hell have they been discontinued thats madness what are they replacing it with, and i hope your not going to say more gn's i'm so sick of the rediculous 250 market, it's basically expensive old sports bikes or new gn's, can't wait to get my licence so i can start buying proper bikes at proper prices

[drafted]

They're not a bad bike... and originally retailed for around the $6k mark. There are usually one or three of them on sale on trademe for between $3500 and $4500. I picked up a 2004 model with 5200km for $3600. They were made in china and are an inline two. Very economic on the fuel, and fairly comfortable to ride. They're quite a large 250 in comparison to something like a CBR. But this isn't a bad thing if you're not a small person. They're about 180kg (which is fairly heavy), but this isn't a bad thing either when making long distance rides.

They have a gear indicator, and a fuel meter. Both are very useful.

They're not the fastest bike on the road, but they fair better than a GN250 and are nearly half the price of the racey 250cc bikes that are 10 years older with 6-10 times as many kms on the clock.

Getting hold of the service manual is next-to-impossible as they've been discontinued. Same goes with the owners manual... I've had one on back order for about three months.

Hope that helps...

Yeah ive been looking around, there usually seems to be a couple avail in auck on and off, you certainly got a good deal from the prices ive seen, im allowing up to $4500, im not the biggest dude but i prefer the heavier 250s, the gn wasnt exactly light and it worked well for me.

[GR81]

I purchased one about 6 weeks ago.
2004 with 6000kms on the clock.
paid $5995 from a dealer tho but they gave me a reasonable price for my trade so i wasnt bothered too much.

The reason i went for the bike was i didnt want a thrashed CBR with 40,000kms on the clock. I wanted new and reliable and thats what the GSX has been so far. Its also quite a big bike which suits me fine as im 6foot2.

The bike isnt the fastest thing on the road but its definately not slow and a great bike to ride. A HUGE stepup from a GN250 !!! haha

If you're in auckland at any stage, contact me and take mine for a blast if you want, see what you think.

[Aaron]

Getting hold of the service manual is next-to-impossible as they've been discontinued. Same goes with the owners manual... I've had one on back order for about three months.

I brought my 250 new earlier this year so got the owners manual with it. Can scan it for you if you're keen?

[GR81]

I brought my 250 new earlier this year so got the owners manual with it. Can scan it for you if you're keen?

yes please!

[Aaron]

Will get on it tomorrow after work.

[WildBoarMouse]

Don't know if you got my PM, but i'm sure there would be some very eager people... Thanks for the offer! Any chance of a hi-res pdf? Of course anything is better than nothing though!!!!!

[Aaron]

I've uploaded some samples, the cover, some text and a couple of pages showing detailed graphics. They seem to come out alright.

Good suggestion re the PDF, I'll sort that out once I've finished scanning.

That's not ink transfer but txt/gfx showing through the pages. The manual paper is kinda glossy and quite thin. Also I've not properly cropped the images yet.

(BTW: No PM was received).

[GR81]

looks good...

[Salival]

I bought a new 2004 model GSX-250 in May of this year, paid $6,400 incl. ORC. Two year warranty was definitely a good selling point.

It's nice bike. Not exactly quick in bike terms, seems to handle pretty well though I don't have a lot to compare it to. It is large for a 250 as the chassis is from a 400cc model (so I am told).

Only problems I've had is a little rubbing on the front brakes, which isn't exactly ideal but doesn't seem to affect it too much, and if I haven't used it for a week or so it can get quite upset about starting. Need to hold the Start button for ages to get the fuel through, I think.

I don't find it particularly economical. My Starlet uses less petrol than the bike does, by miles. This is probably because I do quite a good chunk of my riding at 100ks, which is about 8,500-9,000 RPM, and I'm pretty certain that will suck the juice more than my 1300 Starlet! I've done about 4,500ks on it, as I ride quite a bit, and it's just starting to 'pink' above about 11,000 RPM, which is a pain as the bike's only starting to make power there. (This will probably be fixed when I take it in for a service soonish.)

All in all I'm pretty happy with it, even if it is slow. It's comfortable too, although riding for a couple of hours still gives me a sore ass. That might be my n00bness more than anything, though.

[Aaron]

Hi and welcome to the board

It is large for a 250 as the chassis is from a 400cc model (so I am told).

Yeah, parked mine next to an spanking new R1 at the gym tonight and saw that it's taller and longer than the R1.

Only problems I've had is a little rubbing on the front brakes, which isn't exactly ideal but doesn't seem to affect it too much

I've also had this from new. Mine's going in for the 6k service next week and this is being looked at specifically. The guy had a quick look when I booked it in and said the front discs are suppose to be floating and the 'rubbing' sound could be if one of the wee whoosits is a bit tight. He showed me on another bike nearby and there is definately a difference, no travel in my front disc vs about 1mm in this other bike.

All in all I'm pretty happy with it, even if it is slow.

Can still lose your licence on it...

[GR81]

Only problems I've had is a little rubbing on the front brakes, which isn't exactly ideal but doesn't seem to affect it too much, and if I haven't used it for a week or so it can get quite upset about starting. Need to hold the Start button for ages to get the fuel through, I think.

I have the same problem with the front brakes... took it in for its 6k service 3 weeks ago and they said the very minor rubbing is fine.

As for the slow starting... i found that out last night... 2 weeks between rides due to the bad weather and it took a bit to get started... the FXR was also a bit like that too.

I like the large chassis size... works well when you're 6foot+