Suzuki GN250 or Yamaha Scorpio 225 ?

**Mental Trousers** · 2nd June 2007, 21:39

Get the Scorpio. The new GN's are Chinese made under contract and more crap than the original GN's (although less crap than anything Chinese branded). In fact Suzuki announced last week that they're not renewing the contract for the GN's so there definitely won't be any more in the foreseeable future.

**McJim** · 2nd June 2007, 23:35

Get a Spada - see hXc for details.

**kensuem** · 3rd June 2007, 00:58

There is nothing wrong with a Gn,dont believe all the crap you see written about them.mine will be a year old on Wednesday,and i have done 12000klm in the first year.

**Lucy** · 3rd June 2007, 01:12

My GN cruises at 100 fine, I think you should ride both and see what you feel about them. I can't imagine there is a lot between them as far as build quality and the like goes, brand new bikes under $4k, made in Asia. people scoff at the made in China, but the Scorpio is made in Indonesia I think. Why that makes things bad i don't know, but there you have it.

**Gizzit** · 3rd June 2007, 09:02

Originally Posted by kensuem

There is nothing wrong with a Gn, don't believe all the crap you see written about them.mine will be a year old on Wednesday,and i have done 12000klm in the first year.

Yes I have heard lots of good things about GN's, and don't doubt they are a good bike. They have been around since mid or early 80's I believe,so that must count for something.

As far as being built in China .... I think if people did enough research around small bikes and scooters, they may find that the Big name brands are all getting bikes made in China or Indonesia to save costs.

Where they are made, doesn't really bother me. We all believed in the theory that "Jap Crap" was exactly that ..... until we found we were wrong.
China and Indonesia have been making engines for yonks !! no problem, and they make good stuff.
Glad to hear you are enjoying your GN !!

**Gizzit** · 3rd June 2007, 09:09

Originally Posted by Lucy

My GN cruises at 100 fine, I think you should ride both and see what you feel about them. I can't imagine there is a lot between them as far as build quality and the like goes, brand new bikes under $4k, made in Asia. people scoff at the made in China, but the Scorpio is made in Indonesia I think. Why that makes things bad i don't know, but there you have it.

I quite agree Lucy. I doesn't bother me that bikes are made in Indonesia or China. Both have been making engines for a long time, very successfully, and supplying the Big Name's with cheaper alternatives to "made in Japan".

I have ridden the Scorpio for a short distance, and was reasonably impressed. It got to 100kmh fairly quickly, and I stopped accelerating as I was running out of road to try it on, so am sure it would go a bit faster. I think a small 250 should be able to at least cruise at the speed limit, or just above, so you can stay in a stream of traffic safely, thats all.
Thanks for your input

**Gizzit** · 3rd June 2007, 09:11

Originally Posted by McJim

Get a Spada - see hXc for details.

What the hell's a "Spada" excuse my ignorance !! lol

.... and who what is "hXc" ? Sorry mate, I'm not up with the play !!

**Mystery** · 3rd June 2007, 09:34

PM The Stranger, he owns the Scorpio 225 that I have learnt to ride on. Being a learner, I am a real nana rider but I know that The Stranger has taken it through its paces and was suitably impressed with both speed and handling.

**Mental Trousers** · 3rd June 2007, 11:48

Originally Posted by Gizzit

Yes I have heard lots of good things about GN's, and don't doubt they are a good bike. They have been around since mid or early 80's I believe,so that must count for something.

As far as being built in China .... I think if people did enough research around small bikes and scooters, they may find that the Big name brands are all getting bikes made in China or Indonesia to save costs.

Where they are made, doesn't really bother me. We all believed in the theory that "Jap Crap" was exactly that ..... until we found we were wrong.
China and Indonesia have been making engines for yonks !! no problem, and they make good stuff.
Glad to hear you are enjoying your GN !!

You're right, the GN has been around for a long time. And has only had minor changes since it was 1st designed. So you're buying a 20 something year old design.

As for where they're built - the quality of the GN's being produced convinced Suzuki not to renew the contract for them.

**xwhatsit** · 3rd June 2007, 14:15

Originally Posted by Gizzit

What the hell's a "Spada" excuse my ignorance !! lol

.... and who what is "hXc" ? Sorry mate, I'm not up with the play !!

A Spada is a Honda Spada -- a naked V-twin bike, it's very fast for a 250, just as fast as the 250 race replicas, like the CBR250RR et al. Problem is, they're hard to get hold of, and command quite high prices (can't remember when they're made, but they would be 10yrs old at least, and you'll pay a higher price for a 10yr old bike than you would for a GN/Scorpio new). hXc is a member here. He's suggesting you PM (private message) hXc and ask him about the Spada, because he owned/owns one.

Either the GN or Scorpio, both of them are great. People take the piss out of the GN250 from time to time, because they are the bread and butter of the Leaner NZ rider; but they are solid bikes. I rode one for my basic handling test, and a couple of times more recently, and they give you a lot of confidence, such a planted feeling. The Scorpio, on the other hand, looks like it would be a lot more exciting once you've come to grips with it. There's one locally, it gets along on the motorway quite nicely, and I followed it around some local streets and it seemed quite chuckable; going around 90 degree corners into side-streets with just as much aplomb as my famed `mountain bike' CB250RS.

I'm firmly on the fence. Either bike you could choose and enjoy.

**R6_kid:Me** · 4th June 2007, 13:30

Get a scorpio, you won't regret it, there are a couple of 'demo' bikes on trademe that you can get for $500 or so less than a new one. Comes with a 2yr warranty so you can't really go wrong.

I've had a spin on one, damn good fun, and perfect for commuting. Get some sticky tyres and go for a longer spin on the weekend. It will do 140kmh+ so in terms of cruising and not shaking to bits, it beats the GN hands down - and it looks a lot cooler, is made better, and it's a YAMAHA!

**marty** · 4th June 2007, 14:18

if you've had a licence for 38 years, and it's a full, how about a GB400/500?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Cate...24=0&51=0&51=0

**Gizzit** · 5th June 2007, 07:43

Originally Posted by marty

if you've had a licence for 38 years, and it's a full, how about a GB400/500?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Cate...24=0&51=0&51=0

Hi Marty, no .... they aren't quite my idea of a bike, ... bit to old style for my taste, but thanks for the idea and I'm going to be looking at mid size bikes ... 400 to 650cc probably.
Cheers,
Grant.

**sels1** · 5th June 2007, 08:12

As has been suggested, test ride both of them and see what one you feel fits you best - both will do the job you want, although personally, I would go for the Scorpio out of the 2.
But if you have a full licence already, I suggest having a look around the 400-650cc second hand market, where you are not paying a premium for a "learner rated" 250.

**Gizzit** · 5th June 2007, 18:19

Originally Posted by sels1

As has been suggested, test ride both of them and see what one you feel fits you best - both will do the job you want, although personally, I would go for the Scorpio out of the 2.
But if you have a full licence already, I suggest having a look around the 400-650cc second hand market, where you are not paying a premium for a "learner rated" 250.

Yes I agree. The second hand market is the way to go. I will look around for something midrange.
Cheers