Suzuki NZ250 that has me beat...

[FROSTY:Me]

Ya know given the extent you have gone to to sort this Im seriouslly wondering if theres a fault in the lectrics somewheres.
Maybee try swappin the CDI over then at a gifferent time swappin the coil over.

[pzkpfw]

would another suzi engine fit??

Jim2 has told me a Goose engine will/might (350cc).

The NZ250 motor is based on the DR of the time, so I figured there might be some DR engine that would go in without much hassle.

[I'm keen on doing something like this, as my NZ would not sell (for what I wanted, anyway) so plan to "fix it up" one day as a "project".]

[mark247]

Couldn't you get the bottom end off the motor that needs new valve shims and the head off the motor thats shooting flames and see what happens?

Wouldnt that mean you have tried a different frame with different electrics, different carbs, different head, different piston and barrel etc, err basically different everything??

[Conquiztador]

The motor I have been building up was completed yesterday and fitted to the bike. We started her today and runs like a dream. No strange noises or "shooting". So that solved it.

Now I just have to figure out what in the motor is causing it. As head with valves and all electrics were swapped on the old one with no change the problem must lie down in crank, conrod or something I have not even considered. So one day when I have nothing on I strip the thing and have a look. Maybe...

Thanks for all the advise guys.

[Deviant Esq]

Good stuff mate. I bought nudemetalz' old NZ250S and have had it over 18 months, totally reliable so far, and pushing on towards 100,000kms. Great little bikes

Pic of mine in my profile.

Let us know what happens with that problem, would be interested to know. Any common issues you know of with NZs - apart from parts being next to impossible to source?

[Conquiztador]

Good stuff mate. I bought nudemetalz' old NZ250S and have had it over 18 months, totally reliable so far, and pushing on towards 100,000kms. Great little bikes

Pic of mine in my profile.

Let us know what happens with that problem, would be interested to know. Any common issues you know of with NZs - apart from parts being next to impossible to source?

Trying to think...As you say, parts hard to find. Best bet is to have spare bikes/engines. I have a couple of the NZ's, but apart from this problem and not being able to find shims for the valves (had to have mine machined down) there has only been "normal" bike issues like side cover connectors breaking off, leaking tank etc. Had one motor that seized (son did not check oil...) and another one that someone had put together wrong that smashed piston in to valves with serious damage as result. Touchy with the carbi float level setting. But apart from that I recon brilliant little bike. Any idea why she was discontinued when the GN is still made?? Would have thought that the NZ was a bike ppl would have preferred.

[gammaguy]

But apart from that I recon brilliant little bike. Any idea why she was discontinued when the GN is still made?? Would have thought that the NZ was a bike ppl would have preferred.

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So one day when I have nothing on I strip the thing and have a look. Maybe...

it obvious-it was discontinued because mechanics hated working on it in the nude....especially in winter

[JimO]

Trying to think...As you say, parts hard to find. Best bet is to have spare bikes/engines. I have a couple of the NZ's, but apart from this problem and not being able to find shims for the valves (had to have mine machined down) there has only been "normal" bike issues like side cover connectors breaking off, leaking tank etc. Had one motor that seized (son did not check oil...) and another one that someone had put together wrong that smashed piston in to valves with serious damage as result. Touchy with the carbi float level setting. But apart from that I recon brilliant little bike. Any idea why she was discontinued when the GN is still made?? Would have thought that the NZ was a bike ppl would have preferred.

i prefer the NZ to the Gn

[xwhatsit]

i prefer the NZ to the Gn

I think because aesthetically it wouldn't/hasn't aged well. It was designed to look sporty in its day, whereas the GN was designed to be a `classic cruiser' style bike, which tend to look the same in any era.

That said, the most important thing is how it rides, and those people with NZs seem to have a lot of fun.

[Conquiztador]

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it obvious-it was discontinued because mechanics hated working on it in the nude....especially in winter

And I agree. I hate trying to get grease and oil of the nuts and balls. ;-)

[Conquiztador]

I think because aesthetically it wouldn't/hasn't aged well. It was designed to look sporty in its day, whereas the GN was designed to be a `classic cruiser' style bike, which tend to look the same in any era.

That said, the most important thing is how it rides, and those people with NZs seem to have a lot of fun.

Maybe the design of the plastics could have a little work done to them. But if U leave motor, frame and wheels and change the rest U still have a very decent bike with a fast and well running one cylinder motor. 40 something Hp as is and can easily be taken higher. 140K/h is normal as is. And she leaves most other 250's in the dust.

So go figure.

[Deviant Esq]

I think because aesthetically it wouldn't/hasn't aged well. It was designed to look sporty in its day, whereas the GN was designed to be a 'classic cruiser' style bike, which tend to look the same in any era.

That said, the most important thing is how it rides, and those people with NZs seem to have a lot of fun.

Yep, they're a little under rated IMO, but that's because not too many people know about them in the first place. I believe the bike was only produced between 1986 and 1989 and not many made it to New Zealand (this short lifespan and low availability means parts are near impossible to source), so I don't really think that the bike had a chance to actually age cosmetically! Maybe today the S (my one) has aged somewhat, but the naked version doesn't look too dated IMO... but that could be something to do with the current style trends, I don't know. Maybe it didn't sell well due to a high cost? Purely speculation, information is difficult to come by.

I'd choose an NZ over a GN or SR anytime, but the NZ is a different machine, it shares no parts with the GN. People think the motor is a tuned GN mill, but it isn't. It's a modified version of a DRZ engine according to nudemetalz, but others have said it was unique to the NZ. At any rate it produces nearly double the power of the GN, and is a higher & faster revving mill. There's no point even going into the handling and maneuverability compared to a GN or SR... there is no comparison, the NZ leaves them for dead. Over the twisty Dyers Pass Road, I've pulled away from SVs, both 650s and 1000s, on my NZ. Granted if you popped a brisk rider on an SV it'd be a different story... but these guys said once we stopped that they couldn't stay with me. I was just having fun, wasn't exceeding about 90km/h, but the NZ's just so chuckable for a little bike it's excellent in the tight stuff.

The brakes could do with more stopping power, they're a bit weak, but that's one of the few grizzles I have about it. If you're mean to it you can get it over 150km/h... I don't like doing that to mine. Let's face it, it's an old bike with high kms, and doing that sort of speed places heavy stress on the engine. It has excellent fuel economy, nearly 30km per litre if you use 91 octane (I find it gives more power and economy than 95 or 98), and is easy to maintain. It's great to commute on, the 4 stroke single has good torque for around town, and it's narrow and light - good for filtering and parking... though the side stand could use a bigger foot.

[Conquiztador]

Yep, they're a little under rated IMO, but that's because not too many people know about them in the first place. I believe the bike ... ... ... to commute on, the 4 stroke single has good torque for around town, and it's narrow and light - good for filtering and parking... though the side stand could use a bigger foot.

Well said, totally agree with the whole posting!

[xwhatsit]

It makes me wonder why not more sporty 250 singles aren't produced currently. They have so many benefits, Deviant listed quite a few, and you only have to see how loved still these bikes are today. CB250RSs are being picked up by older bikers in the UK and fixed up for the commute on weekdays and country lanes in the weekends; SRX250s are still being thrashed around, and customised into flat trackers in Japan; and the few NZ250s around seem to have very happy owners.

A good, solid, high-revving single can make for a very balanced, very light, and very useable bike. It's a shame there's just commuters like the Scorpio being produced (and myriad chook-chasers).

[Deviant Esq]

People seem to want more comfort it seems. There are more higher capacity scooters around now than there used to be... and no more sports 250s like the CBR250RR and ZXR250. Anyone know why they stopped making those? They were quite possibly one of the NZ's problems too... bikes like those were water cooled and multi cylinder and faster than the NZ, though I can keep up with them up to about 110km/h before they start pulling away. Still, I'm told NZs sold in pretty large numbers in Japan... but yeah, not popular here. Pity really, they're justabout the perfect learner bike. I'd like more power now but yeah. Had the NZ for 18 months already... can cope with another four! I hope..