FXR vs GN

**Bonez** · 29th April 2007, 13:01

Originally Posted by dman

A real n00b? Well, kind of. Often I can guess at what is meant by stuff said here, but still.... I can not be 100% sure. So often I'll ask questions even when I think I know the answer, because I possibly I don't really know after all.

Thanks for the reply, that is roughly what I thought. (those wasn't thinking in quite that detail!)

Though still don't see why the GN250 is underpowered, I presume the design team was simply going for outright cheap. Or perhaps fuel economy. What is the design intention with a cruiser engine?

GN250s have been out since around 1981 or so, so the original design concept has probably been long forgotten and the tooling for them has long since paid for itself no dought. It is a model that seems to stood the test of time and will probably be produced for a wee while more.

The first paragraph in the '80s service manual reads-

"The SUZUKI GN250 was designed to offer superior performance though light weight design, four stroke power (TSCC) engine). The new GN250 represents another major advance by Suzuki in four stroke motorcycles."

Now some may snigger but what other Jap model, albeit made in China, has been in production for this long?

**Ixion** · 29th April 2007, 14:15

For a rela n00b, a GN250 is an excellent starting machine. They are very tough, even unwitting misuse or abuse will probably not break them. And if they do break they are cheap as chips to fix. And can be fixed by semi trained people. The village "fixit" man.

They were designed to be a simple, reliable transport machine, that could cope with almost anything in the way of roads, carry sizable loads, and keep going despite untrained (or no) maintainance.

The design brief was "tough and simple; keep running no matter what". No necessarily cheap. the reason they a re cheap, as Mr Bonez has said, is because all the original capital costs are long since amoritised. They paid their way long ago.

The measur eof a good bike is that it does well what it sets out to do. On that measure the GN250 is a very good motorcycle indeed.

**dman** · 29th April 2007, 19:28

arrrgghhh..... now I'm reading a bunch of very good reasons for why I should starting considering the GN250 again! But I think I'm going to stick with having changed my mind away from it, because of its very low levels of performances (which means it struggles with merely going on the motorway at legal speeds etc...).

**merv** · 29th April 2007, 19:40

dman it all gets down to how much money you want to spend and what sort of riding you want to do. GNs are cheap, but if you want something faster you got to buy a twin or a four.

If you want to do road and trail and want a dirt bike they are probably similar top speed to a GN on the highway, but they aren't cheap. My 250 Honda for example was $9,000 new damn near three times the price of a GN at the time and once of course GNs were only $2,995 new.

**kensuem** · 30th April 2007, 18:19

Originally Posted by dman

arrrgghhh..... now I'm reading a bunch of very good reasons for why I should starting considering the GN250 again! But I think I'm going to stick with having changed my mind away from it, because of its very low levels of performances (which means it struggles with merely going on the motorway at legal speeds etc...).

Dont believe all those that knock the GN,they only do it because it is a recognized sport,like duck shooting but all year round ,no closed season!The Gn easily cruises at 110,and on the flat will make 120!

**dman** · 30th April 2007, 20:06

Originally Posted by merv

dman it all gets down to how much money you want to spend and what sort of riding you want to do. GNs are cheap, but if you want something faster you got to buy a twin or a four.

My riding would be to and from work. A little less than 100k per day. Plus whenever I go around NZ on holiday, a few times per year.

Not sure how much I'm willing to spend, which probably doesn't help much. But obviously less is better! And certainly not more than 5k. Half that amount sounds much better.

I've other things at the moment I'd much rather send my (not even yet earned...) money on. Though the likelihood I'm going to get hooked to this motorbike thing is very high...

**Nasty** · 30th April 2007, 20:10

Originally Posted by dman

My riding would be to and from work. A little less than 100k per day. Plus whenever I go around NZ on holiday, a few times per year.

Not sure how much I'm willing to spend, which probably doesn't help much. But obviously less is better! And certainly not more than 5k. Half that amount sounds much better.

I have now ridden both the GN and the FXR ... I love the FXR .. riding position was great, really comfortable and a lovely wee blat machine, but with limited speed particularly on hills and the Gorge in Wellington ... with someone my size, which is not small. The GN I rode today .... was an interesting ride ... the riding position was great .. seat was slippery (it felt waxed!) ... the speed was constant, it didn't really blat but would go 100 easy and stay there on the flat .. it also didn't have issues with the Gorge ...

just my thoughts to add to the others.

**dman** · 30th April 2007, 20:26

Over all.... you prefer which bike? The FXR had better performance I presume?

**Ixion** · 30th April 2007, 20:32

Have you considered the new Yamaha Scorpio. Only a few hundred more than a GN, within your budget, and a very nice bike. I have now had the chance to ride one (thanks to The Stranger) and I was VERY impressed.

**McJim** · 30th April 2007, 20:38

There's a good suggestion for you dman. The Scorpio..since you are a n00b I will advise that Ixion is a veritable font of knowledge - in short he knows his shit and is well worth paying good heed to.

It will be unlikely to kick you in the arse the way the RG did if you abuse the throttle and clutch.

They are actually quite good looking for the money too.

**dman** · 30th April 2007, 20:41

Yup, saw that once in a shop. Haven't yet looked closely at it though. If I am to buy new then that would be one of only a few that I'd have to consider, but I'd gradually deciding getting a bike 2nd hand would be a better idea?

There are none 2nd hand on trademe at the moment though.

**elle-f** · 30th April 2007, 20:42

The RG150 is fun BUT if you are gonna ride about 100kms a day you might be better off getting a 250. I havent ridden a GN but a good mate of mine had one and I think its a great commuter BUT i wouldnt buy one *hiding*....but thats because I dont think they have the speed to get out of trouble *hiding again*

**xwhatsit** · 30th April 2007, 21:26

Originally Posted by dman

Yup, saw that once in a shop. Haven't yet looked closely at it though. If I am to buy new then that would be one of only a few that I'd have to consider, but I'd gradually deciding getting a bike 2nd hand would be a better idea?

There are none 2nd hand on trademe at the moment though.

No, they've only recently been released onto the market here in NZ, although they've been around for a few years overseas.

2nd hand is cool, because you can get a better bike for your money (with the money I had I'd be lucky to get a scooter new), but mine blew up not long after I'd bought it. Better off paying a little more and buying 2nd hand from a dealer, as that way you have some recompense if (like many 250s have) it's been abused and goes bang.

I suppose I sound like a scaremonger, and my bike was made more than 20 years ago and had 8 owners, so take my words with a grain of salt. But you being a n00b like me, it's better to have some sort of backup in case something bad happens.

GNs have adequate poke, I think. You just need to work the engine a bit, use more throttle, pick the right gear. They (IMHO) look ugly as shit, though. See if you can find a Yammie SR/SRV/SRX for a good price.

**orange dog** · 2nd May 2007, 22:17

GO THE GN !
Got so excited the day after I brought my first 'real' bike (GN) I bungeed a raincoat on to the back and rode from Nelson to Hokitika then back up and over to Christchurch on sat, then from Chch back up to Nelson on Sun (over 1000km). Met some cool people, saw the country and had a blast, you can't BUY memories like that !
Ended up putting 50,000 k on that bike for the cost of a few tyres, an exhaust cam & frik-all petrol.
Had my first 2-3 crashes, my first 'bike sex' and ended up selling it for the same price I paid for it...

Having said that, nearly brought the wife an FXR as a first bike, so either way just get out and ride !