First time on the road, on my brand new first bike

[Ice_Monsta]

Haha Pimping it could be quite fun, i mean, it already has a reasonable amount of chrome to work with

Thing i'm confused about, when im engine breaking it sounds like the pistons are going to pop out through my fuel tank...is this because the bikes new, because it's a GN, or because thats a bike thing?

[sunhuntin]

yep, keep a good check on chain, all electrics, speedo set up and watch the tyres. they are good looking bikes, and great to learn on. see if you can get along to a basic maintinence night as well... screw the warrenty... that thing covers so little they may as well have typed a 2-line list of what it DOES cover [frame and engine, basically.] everything else is listed as expendable and therefore not covered.

i had an 06... racked 10,000k in a year. in that year i went through the following:

2x chain
3x tail light
2x headlight
1x speedo set up [which took 5 weeks to replace]
1x regulator [which prevented the battery from charging correctly, often leaving me stranded]
1x speedo bulb

it was the regulator that did it for me... too many hassles for a new bike. sold it and bought a yamaha. put almost the same amount of k on the yammy, and nothings broken yet except the speedo [the desert road hates me!]

[Ice_Monsta]

The other thing...and I know that it's been covered many times, but i need something to stop my visor fogging up...no matter how i breathe, or how fast i go, my helmet fogs up (and yes the vents are all open :-P). I have learnt not to buy the cheapo HJC helmets anymore...no problem noise wise though, a lot of people have said it'd be noisy, i've had the visor open the whole time and its fine....but it would be nice to be able to close it AND see where im going.

So what I'm really asking, in the East Tamaki / Manakau area where can i go to get a cheap decent anti fog for my helmet that works

[sweetp]

I have a really neat insert that is stuck on my visor, it is slightly tinted but doesn't hamper visability (even at night). Cost me $30 from the bike store. I think there are a number around, cant remember the brand of mine but go to a store and they should be able to help. One thing though - which I learnt from experience is that if your visability fogs up after you get it, and you are wearing glasses, it isn't the visor that is foggy....

But well done on your first ride, nothing like trial by fire to get you over some fears. Just watch out for slippery patches / road markings.

[HTFU]

apart from my lower back getting a bit sore, but thats where the other handlebars come in i guess? (also after the warranty runs out)

If you get the shop you got the bike off to fit them then warranty wouldn't be an issue.

I had same lower back problem, tried a back rest and cruiser pegs to help make it more comfortable which they did, but didn't need them once I got the $40 venturer flat bars fitted.

[HTFU]

apart from my lower back getting a bit sore, but thats where the other handlebars come in i guess? (also after the warranty runs out)

If you get the shop you got the bike off to fit them then warranty wouldn't be an issue.

I had same lower back problem, tried a back rest and cruiser pegs to help make it more comfortable which they did, but didn't need them once I got the $40 venturer flat bars fitted.

[rainman]

I am glad, happy, and really excited about riding my bike around a lot more, I can't wait to get it out on the weekend and go for a decent ride.

Great stuff . Hope you have a long, safe, and happy Motorcycling career. I stopped riding for a decade or so and got back into it via a GN. Although I love my current bike, the GN will always be kinda special.

...keep an eye on those chains. They need constant lube and tightening to be on the safe side. Those tyres are crap so ride them carefully until you can change them.

What he said, although more about the chain than the tyres. The tyres are crap but you gotta remember the GN isn't a sporty so isn't good in a big lean anyway. I rode in wet, wind and dry on mine and only lost traction once (going upright and straight, in the pissing rain).

Only thing is, im not too sure that a mighty GN will keep up with the "real" bikes in the Motorcycle world

Never know, one of us crusier types may come along so there should be some company at the back of the pack

Well the downside is I can't do the oil and stuff myself without spoiling my warranty.

As others may have pointed out, the warranty on a GN is not too all-encompassing. Either way, it doesn't stop you doing basic care... I lubed my chain on the GN regularly (ok, fairly regularly) but still had to adjust it between services. Think of it as being part of cleaning. A regular wipe and shine (check under the exhaust and on the mounting bracket for the exhaust - rust got mine there first), some kero to gently clean the road crap off the front of the pipes and the rims, bit of Autosol to shine the chrome, and you may also find use for some WD40/CRC/silicone spray. Search the forums, there's a heap of useful info in there about what to clean and lube, with what, whom, and when... some of it even applies to Motorcycles

Oh, and Cat Crap (not literally what comes out of a cat - but little jars of stuff you can buy from a bike shop - is rumoured to be a good visor anti-fogger. I just use a teeny spot of liquid soap and a lint-free cloth, but I have eyeballs of steel

[The Lone Rider]

The other thing...and I know that it's been covered many times, but i need something to stop my visor fogging up...no matter how i breathe, or how fast i go, my helmet fogs up (and yes the vents are all open :-P). I have learnt not to buy the cheapo HJC helmets anymore...no problem noise wise though, a lot of people have said it'd be noisy, i've had the visor open the whole time and its fine....but it would be nice to be able to close it AND see where im going.

So what I'm really asking, in the East Tamaki / Manakau area where can i go to get a cheap decent anti fog for my helmet that works

You know what the solution is? Get a skull cap. I just got one and went for my first ride today with it. Nothing like watering eyes, and a cold face and screaming pipes to make your ride enjoyable

Ok.. dont get one.

[FJRider]

WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD OF MOTORCYCLING. It IS a real bike. It can do the same things any other bikes can do, just not as well. Try not to go any faster or further than your OWN abilities / confidence allows you to.Push the the boundries of your ability with CARE. They WILL come / improve...with time(miles). (in)famous quote...Get off AFTER you stop,NOT before. Keep the rubber side down.

[Ice_Monsta]

Went for another ride today. Out to Beachlands and to the Pine Harbour marina. It's quite easy for me to do trips like that because I start out at Twighlight road :-) Love the corner from Brookby road to twighlight road, such a nice cambered curve and i'll get to ride that every time i come home

AND DAMN, is it boring driving the cage to work in the mornings now....wish i was allowed to ride the bike to work, damn parents!

[jafar]

Went for another ride today. Out to Beachlands and to the Pine Harbour marina. It's quite easy for me to do trips like that because I start out at Twighlight road :-) Love the corner from Brookby road to twighlight road, such a nice cambered curve and i'll get to ride that every time i come home

AND DAMN, is it boring driving the cage to work in the mornings now....wish i was allowed to ride the bike to work, damn parents!

Give it time , you will get there, little & often is the idea when starting out. Daylight saving next week so going for a squirt after work won't be a problem

[howdamnhard]

The Gn 250 is a good little bike ,I use mine to commute everyday to work come rain or shine.Keep an eye on the chain,streches amazingly fast.The tyres aren't the grippiest either.Get them to lube the speedo drive at the front wheel at its next service as mine failed due to lack of proper lube on assembly.Welcome to motorcycling,take it easy and enjoy.I'm in the area and if you ever want to go for a ride send us a message.There also the Wednesday night newbie practices and the Ride safe ride right courses to improve your skills.

[90s]

The other thing...and I know that it's been covered many times, but i need something to stop my visor fogging up...no matter how i breathe, or how fast i go, my helmet fogs up (and yes the vents are all open :-P). I have learnt not to buy the cheapo HJC helmets anymore...no problem noise wise though, a lot of people have said it'd be noisy, i've had the visor open the whole time and its fine....but it would be nice to be able to close it AND see where im going.

So what I'm really asking, in the East Tamaki / Manakau area where can i go to get a cheap decent anti fog for my helmet that works

OK, you know this has been covered, so it is up to you to test stuff out. For example, if your visor is in A1 mint nick its worth doing the insert thing as per another post. Cycle treads $25 and its a one-off solution. Visor has to be perfect though.
I got from cycle treads a $2 "magic" cloth that you rub on the inside of the helment. Its impregnated with something and seems to improve things.
And there's the whole debate about other stuff, ie. rain-x anti-fog, which I am currently trying. Not meant for use on plastic although many people are using it, and it seems to work.

Riding around with the visor all the way open is fine - until something hits you in the face. Which it will eventually. Esp. around the tamaki area with all the trucks and stuff.

As far as HJC goes, even some of the cheaper ones carry both dot and snell, so why they are no good is a mystery to me. And you can't get a better helmet than their carbon one. As long as they feel good to you and meet the safety standards helmets are all pretty much as good as any other (search on the site and you'll find links to reports that test high-end shoeis etc against the cheap crap and find in fact the cheap crap does better in tests sometimes).

[Deviant]

Great learner's bike!

I got mine from there too, black with gold/blue trim on the tank stickers. 3 months ago, been riding it to work and back for over a month (I work on the shore and live in Newmarket, it was a big step up from practicing in my street :S ).

I haven't touched the chain yet, might take it in there tomorrow and ask the guys to go over it with me.