Why I bought a ginny

[xwhatsit]

I like Ginnys -- they look like they'd be fun, just like an old Volkswagen Beetle or a Landcrab or something. I wrote somewhere else that the flaws in a bike are what makes up its character, and often it can be fun riding around those flaws.

I like the engine, too. I have a 250 single, but it's like Deviant's NZ250 -- high revving, high-ish (for its time) compression, makes most of the power up in the rev range. The GN250 has more of a `classic' small capacity single, with torque right from the word go, just twist the throttle and it'll gently `tick tick tick tick' wind itself up. Very relaxing.

Quite a pleasant little bike, I know they can be used for blatting around the open roads if you're keen, but if you see them for what they are there's no reason to slag them off. Every bike has its niche, the GN250 has his, although unfortunately it doesn't line up with the views of many of the GSXR-toting crowd that lurk around here so it cops a beating.

[breakaway]

The GN250 is a fantastic bike (well all the GN's are).
Don't worry boss - its almost never the bike, always the rider. NO one talked shit about a friends GN125 when i rode it home for him weaving in and out a traffic at 120 leading a friend on a CBR250.

fark, you must be good

[Drum]

No reason to be ashamed of a Ginny. You ride one until you get your full license and then move on.

I can't understand why people knock them all the time.

[delusionz]

Why does GN250 have two into one exhaust when it only has one cylinder?

[Shadows]

Why does GN250 have two into one exhaust when it only has one cylinder?

Two exhaust valves

[delusionz]

hmm

[delusionz]

I was gonna get 1 of them, I never saw myself on a sports bike, just the thought of it scared me. Then I got to thinking about it, if I have to have it for atleast a year maybe a year and a half I probably wont be happy with it for that long as I love to ride for fun and do very little commuting. Now I'm glad I got a sports bike

[rideNroot]

Not sure why I wanted a bike.. bit of getting around & a bit of cruising..
Don't feel the need to speed, only allowed to do 70km/h anyway, so I bought a ginny. Never felt comfortable sitting on / riding sports bikes being a big fulla.

Yeah, could have spent the same amount of cash buying a better bike, but I don't mind.
Just plan on doing my time till I get my full.

[jrandom]

GN250s are just fine by me. I'd have one, if only so that I didn't have to feel so guilty about commuting 10km to work on the GSX-R750, like I did this morning. Tomorrow I shall be good, and use the pushbike like I should.

I have plenty of respect for anyone sensible enough to ride a ginny during their restricted licence period.

[xwhatsit]

Two exhaust valves

Not necessarily true, plenty of four valve thumpers out there with a single exhaust. However they do have an exhaust from each exhaust valve, Honda's XR/XL series have had that set-up for years. Supposedly helps breathing, but I think it's mostly to do with marketing. I do like the twin exhausts on my bike though, they look pretty.

[delusionz]

yeah I quite like having a tail pipe on each side, quite like dual carbs too.

[Shadows]

Two exhaust valves

Not necessarily true, plenty of four valve thumpers out there with a single exhaust.

Agreed, I am aware of that... I fail to see how that makes my statement any less true for a single with two headers though. Unless by some bizarre stretch of the imagination it had more than two exhaust valves.

It is just the difference between the designer choosing to join the two exhaust flows inside the head or choosing to do it with pipework.

[xwhatsit]

Agreed, I am aware of that... I fail to see how that makes my statement any less true for a single with two headers though. Unless by some bizarre stretch of the imagination it had more than two exhaust valves.

It is just the difference between the designer choosing to join the two exhaust flows inside the head or choosing to do it with pipework.

Sorry, didn't mean to come across like that, was just pointing out that singles with single headers needn't be just two-valve heads, which was not something you disputed but I just wanted to add.

[Shadows]

Sorry, didn't mean to come across like that, was just pointing out that singles with single headers needn't be just two-valve heads, which was not something you disputed but I just wanted to add.

Well I wouldn't exactly call what I was saying clear to begin with.

[swbarnett]

I bought a GN250 primarily because I was shit scared of getting back on a bike after a 13 year absence (although I needn't have been) and the GN seemed like a safe option. Other 250s just seemed too expensive.

My particular GN has a straighter set of bars that mean I'm not sitting on the pillion seat and I've just put a set of Avon Roadrunners on. Combine that with a small top box and soft side bags and the GN makes an excellent commuter/shopper and is still a lot of fun. The rounder tyres mean that I'm no longer feeling it doesn't want to go round corners and it changes direction in the blink of an eye when lane-splitting.

When I can afford it I will move up to something bigger but until then I'll be quite happy to stick with the GN.