Suzuki GN250

**kensuem** · 6th December 2006, 18:40

Since I joined Kiwibiker some months ago i have seen many negative comments about the GN250. I have now owned mine for 6 months now,so thought I would write a report on how I have found it.
I bought the bike new,and have done 6500klm in 6 months.My main reason for buying it was that it was the only new bike that I could afford.You have to accept that a GN isnt fast,not even as fast as the sales brochures claim.So far the fastest it has done is 125klm/hour.I think that on a long enough straight it would do more,as at 125 it is well below the red line,but as 5th is an overdrive,it will only creep up slowly.
I have seen lots of comments about bad handling,but havnt found it a problem.My bike is my transport to work,and is therefore ridden whatever the weather.Heavy rain,highwinds,frosts,it has coped with them all.Being blown 2metres sideways by a very strong gust was my worst experience.A patch of black ice in the Athenree gorge one morning,caused a slight twitch of the back wheel,which warned me to slow down.A few minutes later a couple of cars went in the ditch at the same spot,so I think the GN did well!
Cornering is no problem.Corners marked at 75 can be taken easily at 110,and the sharp corners in the gorge,marked at 45,slow me down to about70 at the tightest point.
I have seen comments on excessive chain wear.Yes,I have had to adjust the chain about every 1500klm,but applications of a spray on lube seem to have prevented any wear.No sign of any sprocket wear.People have commented on tail lights blowing.I have had one blow,but bought a replacement in my local gas station for $2.70.Not a great problem.
My main problem was a sqeaky front brake,cured by the Suzuki agent grinding radial grooves in the pads to help clear brake dust away from the disc. I also had a crack in the clamp at the lower end of a fork leg.this was replaced under warranty,so now I have one Chinese leg and one Japanese leg! Fuel economy has been good,although riding consistently at 110,does increase consumption.At $12 to fill up, and over 200klm on a tank it isnt going to break the bank.
All in all I am very pleased with the bike.I do wish it had a little more top end power for overtaking,and it is a bit on the short side for my 6ft and extra long legs,but it is still great value for money,and as I am almost 63,it may well outlast me!

**gijoe1313** · 6th December 2006, 18:48

Go the mighty Ginny! I've met heaps of riders who have them and they all have a special fondness for them - people have stories about them that are unique only to those on 'em! And 'sides they got two wheels! All good, so

**sunhuntin** · 6th December 2006, 20:29

i myself have a high respect for the gn....tis what i learned to ride on [and had my first and last bins on, lol]
i learned on an 86 that had been thrashed...and i thrashed it some more. only problem was the carb would occasionally get blocked and the bike would jerk the front wheel upwards involuntarily. i got that one hit by a car last year...when we got her home, dad even managed to get her started [though he nearly rode into the wall due to the brake lever being gone]
i then bought a brand new from the crate gn.
i had endless trouble with that. coming back from paeroa, it took out the whole speedo, so i was riding with no clue how fast i was going. the dealer where i bought the bike took 5 weeks to get the part...and it wasnt warrentied either. the chain came loose twice, and the second time jumped off on a corner, needing replacing and destroying my chain guard [again...not under warrenty] neutral bulb in dash went basically before we got a chance to ride it.
went through one headlight and 2 tail lights. the last problem i had was the regulator shit itself, meaning the battery wasnt charging. i nearly got stuck some 20k from town, and was almost late for work a few times. by then, id had a gutsful of crap from a bike that was brand new and shouldnt have had half the trouble it had.
and on another note, the dealer was crap and treated like some brainless female who didnt have a clue.
i traded the ginny in and bought a virago instead. i had just over 10,000k on the gn. i have a lot of respect for them, but the quality could be 100 times better...if they keep it up, people will stop buying them. just because of the crap quality, they end up being a lot more expensive than needed, cos hardly anything is covered under the warrenty.

**rookie** · 6th December 2006, 20:40

[Kensuem:]
Man awesome post.

I'm guessing you used to review bikes in the past.

Good to know that they go round corners...I havent heard any of the younger KB GN riders mention their cornering abilities before.

[sunhuntin:]
**violin begins playing morbidly in the background**

Thats a real hard luck story that one.
I checked out the pic of your bike...that seat is like a couch!!

**riffer** · 6th December 2006, 21:35

Does anyone have any information about a rumour I heard that the Government has legislation coming that will effectively make it impossible to VIN any motorcycles coming from China?

In particular, the impact this will have on GN250 owners, with a potential problem being the inability to get a WOF?

I find it difficult to believe that they would introduce legislation that would effectively outlaw NZ's best-selling motorcycle...

**Fub@r** · 6th December 2006, 21:45

Originally Posted by riffer

Does anyone have any information about a rumour I heard that the Government has legislation coming that will effectively make it impossible to VIN any motorcycles coming from China?

In particular, the impact this will have on GN250 owners, with a potential problem being the inability to get a WOF?

I find it difficult to believe that they would introduce legislation that would effectively outlaw NZ's best-selling motorcycle...

From what I have heard in recent days Suzuki has stopped production of the GN250, its 25 year rein has come to an end

**limbimtimwim** · 6th December 2006, 21:57

Originally Posted by Fub@r

its 25 year rein has come to an end

Reign of TERROR!!

Nah, just kidding. GN250s are fun bikes.

Sounds like you kensuem have been smiling, and that is what matters.

**Lissa** · 6th December 2006, 22:14

Originally Posted by Fub@r

From what I have heard in recent days Suzuki has stopped production of the GN250, its 25 year rein has come to an end

Yep.. no more GN250.. got one of the last! Only had her three weeks.. I think, but enjoying it. A good little starter bike.

**gijoe1313** · 6th December 2006, 23:03

You mean the Ginny will become a collectible one day?

**xwhatsit** · 6th December 2006, 23:19

In terms of chain wear, it's a single-cylinder four-stroke bike (affectionately termed a `thumper'), so it will chew through chains more than other bikes, due to more... well... thumping.

In terms of people complaining about GN250s, well, I think that is mostly to do with how common they are. Sort of like a Corolla -- mass-produced, but high quality. Because they're so common people don't see a whole lot that distinguishes them so tend to bad-mouth them. Add to that that they're sort of a cruiser-style (but not quite) and all the sports bike riders will of course think they're shit. I personally think they are very good bikes -- they must be to have been around this long. I rode one and it did all the things I expected it to do, without me (as a beginner) having to think too hard. It was also exceedingly comfortable

. I wouldn't have one myself, as I'm not a fan of the style, but I do think they are great bikes, and almost certainly destined to become something of a collectable in a decade or two.

**sunhuntin** · 7th December 2006, 12:02

Originally Posted by rookie

[sunhuntin:]
**violin begins playing morbidly in the background**

Thats a real hard luck story that one.
I checked out the pic of your bike...that seat is like a couch!!

heheh cheers mate. the seats ok for the first few hours. gets a bit tough after a while though.

the gns were awesome bikes back in the 80s/early 90s. but now they originate from china where the quality is pathetic. my 86 was a jap built one [of course] and even after being hit by a car, she still ran [is used now as a farm bike.] had it been the 05 that got hit by a car, i have my doubts on whether it would still run or not.

**lukelin250** · 7th December 2006, 20:59

i love gn's and have lots of respect for them. it was my first bike and ill always have my fondest biking memories on my gn. you cant knock a gn, there a noveltie almost reminiscent of the mini cooper, not somthing spectacular but everyones had one and likes them!! they are what they are.
anyway they run fine cheap on gas and do go round corners very well with lots of confidence. i miss ron burgundy (my burgundy colored GN)

**Mom** · 7th December 2006, 21:08

The mighty GN has to be my all time fav learner bike. When they were released back in the eighties they were something special, the tear drop tank and the slightly high rise bars were so different from what we had available to sell before then they were amazing..........the fact that they develop power in an ever so controlled way made them safe as to learn on.......fantastic bike!

Your post says it all really........one thing tho I did not like the "plastic tyres" that these new GN's come with......got to hate a bike that flicks it's tail out at the sight of a cats eye..........grrrrrrrr