New GN250 owners

[samnz]

Sorry all - I've had to amend this post. Very genuine reason until I can find out more details on this bike.

In due course, I hope to have this matter resolved and will be able to update this thread.

Thanks

Sammy

[samnz]

LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN - shall we???

Greetings everyone. Sammy here and new to the forum - new to the 'speak' and - new to riding.

Picked up a bargain 84 GN250 two days ago. Learners coming up soon and caaaaaaaaan't wait to start clocking up some miles.

Had a mission trying to track down the validity of the sale and make sure everything with the bike was squeaky before I carried on with the thread. Suffice it to say, IT'S ALL GOOD! With the help of another forum member (thanks spud ) we were able to eliminate some suspiti-suspiscio-susp ----- "dodgey crap" and everyone's happy!

Anyway - we had a mate look over it today and he was impressed! He said it was a great buy and the only thing needed was a front fork seal which is just starting to clap out so he's going to put it in for us - and he popped in an inline fuel filter thinking there might be crap in the tank from being stored for so long. Put in a new battery - took it for a spin and was over the moon with how it performed.

Then we put it back on the trailer and headed home So I'm a goody-good plenty of time for riding I say

COUPLE OF Q'S:
Bought us new HJC helmets and teknics gloves. Pants and jacket are next. Could I get away with just getting a touring jacket and wear jeans? Or is this not the done thing? I see alot of bikers do this but my mate frowns upon it saying "never skimp on gear" - "there's no substitute for safety" etc etc.

How do you stop the helmet from fogging up? As soon as that visor's clipped shut, it's panick stations! Do those vents (push to open/close) actually work?

I've got plenty of other questions but I'm starting to write a book here.

Oh - ANY tips about riding open road would be great!

Cheers everyone

Sammy

[Gubb]

COUPLE OF Q'S:
Bought us new HJC helmets and teknics gloves. Pants and jacket are next. Could I get away with just getting a touring jacket and wear jeans? Or is this not the done thing? I see alot of bikers do this but my mate frowns upon it saying "never skimp on gear" - "there's no substitute for safety" etc etc.

How much do you value the skin on your legs?

How do you stop the helmet from fogging up? As soon as that visor's clipped shut, it's panick stations! Do those vents (push to open/close) actually work?

There's a de-mist solution called 'catcrap' which works wonders for me, others put a film on the inside of the visor, I can't remember the name of it though

I've got plenty of other questions but I'm starting to write a book here.

Oh - ANY tips about riding open road would be great!

Relax, avoid the 'newbie death-grip' pay attention to what's happening around you, and enroll on a ride course.
Cheers everyone

Best of luck to you.

Sammy

-Nick.

[Terminated]

I've got plenty of other questions but I'm starting to write a book here.

Welcome. Take your time, and take it easy. Writing a book, you know is not a bad idea - record your own riding experience, keep it as a personal journal, or indeed post up a blogg. Take a moment to read through some of the entries in the links below.

Heads Up and Take It Easy

[MaxCannon]

A while back when I was walking the dog I went past a guy in his garage with a rather beaten up VFR400.

Got talking about what happened. From a 30kph off on gravel his arms and legs were torn up like he'd been attacked with cheese grater.

Jeans are better than shorts but proper gear offers much better protection.

In terms of fogging keeping the visor open just a tiny crack usually does it for me.
If your's won't stay in a good position (and I mean just a tiny little opening) then you can stick a wad of tape in place so it can't close completley

[Nagash]

Ah brilliant,

YOu're at the stage when you have a bike but no license to ride it bit..

I loved that bit haha.

I asked other riders like a million questions, some of them quite ridiculous that you can only experiance from actually riding. You just gotta relax and wait and be patient.. as soon as you start riding all your questions will be answered.

As Gub (I'm digging that nick-name man) said, catcrap helps with the visor, but also as soon as you start driving the visor will clear up too, just open it up when you're waiting at lights or itnersections or whatever, and it'll soon clear up when you start driving. vents are really for keeping you cool.

Considering open road riding already? Good on yah! Err tips.. you won't listen (no one does) but ride at your own pace. Do push yourself more and more because it's the only way you'll learn but when you start fucking up continously I recommend you pull over and just start again in a relaxed frame of mind. Hopefully you realise you're making mistakes before you come round a 35 decreasing radius corner at 70k's an hour..

Good luck with your new riding mate! Good first choice of bike, the GN's have been the steed of choice for many a rider's beginning. I just recommend you don't try test riding other bikes.. or you'll honestly just sit on your GN and absolutely hate it. That happens alot to.. Happened with me.

I learnt on a 125 scooter/motorbike (it's complicated) and I used to absolutely adore it. Had a go on a 250 and bought a new bike with in a month :P

Good luck with the riding brother! You'll love it! Go meet up with the Christchurch crew when you get your license.

[Edit] Oh and for the gear thing.. I rode with neither a jacket nor leather pants for a good.. 3/4's of a year of riding. Absolutely stupid idea.. Jacket - bloody minimum. You'll see alot of riders commuting in a jacket and jeans, to me (I'm not much of a safety nazi..) that's acceptable. It's a risk, but an acceptable one. If you're talking about open road riding, then pants are essential. Wouldn't go out without 'em. Open road is unpredictable and the changing factors WILL catch you out.

[Gubb]

Gloves too. That's the usually the first part of your body you put towards the ground in a crash.

[Choco]

Awesome choice of bike!
Get the best gear your able to afford (if you can only afford $100 pants, it's better than nothing) and just take your first month or two on the bike nice and easy.

Try find a learner-friendly ride in your area or start a thread and organize your own!

Enjoy your bike (I Love mine to bits) and keep the rubber side down and the shiny side up!

Choco.

[karla]

welcome Sammy Just sold my GN today, they are the most beautiful bikes and I'm sure you will love it the way I've loved mine. If you really want to wear something casual try Draggin Jeans - a lot of the bikers you see might have had these on. I've worn mine comfortably all day at work, they wash easily and are reasonably wind-proof and warm.

[samnz]

-Nick.

Catcrap - added to shopping list. Thanks Nick

Take a moment to read through some of the entries in the links below.

Thanks heaps BuckBuck. Brilliant reading!!!

Jeans are better than shorts but proper gear offers much better protection.

Cheers Max. Am quickly coming to my senses after reading that. I live on a gravel road and aaahhhhh - I don't wanna be pulling stones outa my ass!

In terms of fogging keeping the visor open just a tiny crack usually does it for me.
If your's won't stay in a good position (and I mean just a tiny little opening) then you can stick a wad of tape in place so it can't close completley

I'll give it a try ... next time not whilst wearing it inside the car

Good luck with the riding brother! You'll love it! Go meet up with the Christchurch crew when you get your license.

Yeah thanks mate! I sooooo want to go out and meet other riders but - must be patient. By the way, do bikers wave / nod / finger point / indicate (like truckies do) - or are they too busy sussing out each other's ride?

Gloves too. That's the usually the first part of your body you put towards the ground in a crash.

Agree - I'm actually quite protective of my hands in general. I'm a pianist, photographer and have friends in the Deaf Community - so ultimately I'd be lost without fingers or hands

Thanks Choco for the welcome also. Meeting up with a mate of ours who used to be a 'road racer'??? Might have to try and recruit him into the forum

Hi Karla. Those Draggin jeans look awesome! Saw some on trademe and to be honest, I'd never heard of such a thing as reinforced jeans! So thanks for that.

[Nagash]

Cheers Max. Am quickly coming to my senses after reading that. I live on a gravel road and aaahhhhh - I don't wanna be pulling stones outa my ass!

Had that.. cept it was in my shoulder. Got them wire scrubbed out! Not as fun as it sounds..

Yeah thanks mate! I sooooo want to go out and meet other riders but - must be patient. By the way, do bikers wave / nod / finger point / indicate (like truckies do) - or are they too busy sussing out each other's ride?

And yep, bikers wave or nod to each other. Though some get quite picky on the whole thing.. just search 'wave' on the forums and they'll be heaps of posts about it. Sprotsbikes won't wave to cruisers - vice versa. Never wave to scooters. Commuters don't wave unless it's raining. It's just confusing..

10 characters.

[Spuds1234]

Yip the bike is definatly not stolen.

You will have to give me a yell some time on a clear saturday so I can show you all the good roads around the place.

You wont be able to have that beer though for a while yet. Im told it sucks getting used to be able to have a few beers and then drive a car, only then to get your L for a bike and being back to zero beers for a while (only when your on the bike of course).

I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have re motorcycling. Otherwise pop along to the Christchurch maintenance evening(s) when they get started up. Heaps of friendly bikers there to help you out with just about anything.

Have fun riding your new baby. You'll never forget your first bike.

[JMemonic]

As Spuds said come alone to the maintenance evenings if you can (once we get them started of course), you have had some brilliant suggestions made so far the most important of course being gear.

A wee tip head off to Trevor Pierce motorcycles, fast, if you are lucky they might still have some discounted jackets left and one in your size cant remember the name exactly BHM, BLM something like that, or have a shop around. Draggin Jeans are great for the summer unfortunately not so good in the winter months so a decent pair of pants would be the go, and yes I know it all costs (perhaps more than your bike). For gear go to some of the places you might not normally go, Street and Sport have a good range as do Budget Motorcycles so your options are pretty endless.

Not to sure what is happening yet but it looks like some folks are going to organise a regular weekend ride (anyone want to take the ball on this) so keep looking for that, its to take over from the Wednesday Night rides until summer rolls back around.

Lastly but not least welcome to the life enhancing experience that is motorcycles, like in all things there are some good bastards, and some just plain bastards out there, you get to work out who is who yourself.

Always keep that old joke in mind the one bout the bird in a pile of cow droppings and you will be right as rain, look forward to meeting you.

[chubby]

GN250... ahhhhhhh a great bike, good buy and happy riding.

Grasshopper, all of what is said above is priceless information. You have a head full of questions and thats great. The biggest answer to many though is to just get on that bike and ride.

Enjoy

[samnz]

And yep, bikers wave or nod to each other. Though some get quite picky on the whole thing.. just search 'wave' on the forums and they'll be heaps of posts about it. Sprotsbikes won't wave to cruisers - vice versa. Never wave to scooters. Commuters don't wave unless it's raining. It's just confusing..

Hmmmm that's pretty sad actually ... in a funny way. I think I'll practise up on the nod first - then work up to the wave.

Yip the bike is definatly not stolen.

You will have to give me a yell some time on a clear saturday so I can show you all the good roads around the place.

You wont be able to have that beer though for a while yet. Im told it sucks getting used to be able to have a few beers and then drive a car, only then to get your L for a bike and being back to zero beers for a while (only when your on the bike of course).

I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have re motorcycling. Otherwise pop along to the Christchurch maintenance evening(s) when they get started up. Heaps of friendly bikers there to help you out with just about anything.

Have fun riding your new baby. You'll never forget your first bike.

Gidday Alex! Yeah part of me was totally wrapped it wasn't your bro's - but the other part of me feels ill to think there are losers out there who don't give a rats about other peoples' property.

Guess I'll be havin a beer when I get home But then again I'll probably be freezin my butt off on the rides so a 'chino will do me fine!

As Spuds said come alone to the maintenance evenings if you can (once we get them started of course), you have had some brilliant suggestions made so far the most important of course being gear.

A wee tip head off to Trevor Pierce motorcycles, fast, if you are lucky they might still have some discounted jackets left and one in your size cant remember the name exactly BHM, BLM something like that, or have a shop around. Draggin Jeans are great for the summer unfortunately not so good in the winter months so a decent pair of pants would be the go, and yes I know it all costs (perhaps more than your bike). For gear go to some of the places you might not normally go, Street and Sport have a good range as do Budget Motorcycles so your options are pretty endless.

Not to sure what is happening yet but it looks like some folks are going to organise a regular weekend ride (anyone want to take the ball on this) so keep looking for that, its to take over from the Wednesday Night rides until summer rolls back around.

Lastly but not least welcome to the life enhancing experience that is motorcycles, like in all things there are some good bastards, and some just plain bastards out there, you get to work out who is who yourself.

Always keep that old joke in mind the one bout the bird in a pile of cow droppings and you will be right as rain, look forward to meeting you.

Thanks for the tips mate. I'll definitely be gettin pants. Just went for a quiet dabble up the road in a pair of jeans and MAN IT'S COLD!@! I'd like to get a cruiser style jacket (Cordura - I think).

That Maintenance evening sounds awesome. Where do you guys come up with these ideas!? They're GREAT!!!

GN250... ahhhhhhh a great bike, good buy and happy riding.

Grasshopper, all of what is said above is priceless information. You have a head full of questions and thats great. The biggest answer to many though is to just get on that bike and ride.

Enjoy

Thanks Chubby. I'm heading out again soon to practise gear changing (up and down)...I suck - especially if I'm coming up to a corner.

Earlier today I went passed a dairy-crossing, where the cows cross the road and leave crap all over the road. I was only doing about 60 and when I hit just a small patch of mud. The bike gave a very subtle "whoop-whoop" as it tried to gain traction. Totally childs play for you guys probably, but I nearly SHAT myself!!! I can only imagine what blackice is like. So what's the trick? Button off, maintain revs, or apply revs for traction?



CHEERS EVRYONE! Sun's out again so I'm off!