Is a GN250 an ok bike to start out on?

[jaffaonajappa]

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Rolling restoration has started. Getting clutch and brake levers tomorrow. Sat will be spent with a beer and a tube of autosol for the chrome. Then adjust brake and gear controls to suit me.

Grats man - and hope the weather gods turn it on for you on Sunday. (assume you are going to try out the new beasty after spending a saturday cleaning it...:P)

[ducatilover]

Good stuff mate, enjoy the bike and keep it safe

[nzspokes]

Grats man - and hope the weather gods turn it on for you on Sunday. (assume you are going to try out the new beasty after spending a saturday cleaning it...:P)

I wish I could but helmet wont be hear untill next week.

Also should really get my licence fisrt to.

[Sable]

HJC helmets are awesome. 4star safety ratings on most of them and you can get em for less than 160 new from a shop.

[Banditbandit]

Im so happy you didn't get the GN!!! Take one for a ride in about 3 weeks and you will be thanking your lucky stars to

I absolutely agree .. the Honda is a much better bike to learn on ...

Nothing against Trademe.....and some of the sellers on there are well known and respected KB members from what I can gather.

but for your first helmet - absolutely nothing is more important that making sure you get the 'correct' sized helmet. And although this seems odd...the different brands are suited to different shaped heads. Well sometimes.
So...highly recommend you visit some local retailers.
HEre in Auckland, the two most popular are:
www.cycletreads.co.nz just over the bridge / shore.
www.motomail.co.nz parnell area

actually....check out the SHARK helmet for $200...if the special is still on.

Heaps of threads on these forums...some research now could save you $$$ and/or pain later on.

YUP. Get a new helmet ... no guaruntees what one from trademe will be like ... and if you biff the bike it's the wrong time to find out the helmet you bought is crap ..

[nzspokes]

I absolutely agree .. the Honda is a much better bike to learn on ...



YUP. Get a new helmet ... no guaruntees what one from trademe will be like ... and if you biff the bike it's the wrong time to find out the helmet you bought is crap ..

The TM helmut is new old stock AGV. And i can return if fit is wrong but have tried one locally.

[nudemetalz]

The CBX's are great bikes, just keep the oil regularily changed. They have been known to poo the heads from lack of maintenance as the RFVC head doesn't like dirty oil.

[PrincessBandit]

They're a great learner bike. You should be able to get a reasonably tidy one for 2k. Try to get one that has had the tires replaced (The Cheng Shin tires they come with from factory are arse in the wet).

As Hayd3n said, plenty of parts around and it won't depreciate much (even if you give it a couple of war wounds).

They are a very forgiving little bike and I found it a great bike to start out on. Recently rode a loan one while my bandit was being serviced and had forgotten just how little it was! having said that, the fact that they're easy to ride, man handle and run on gas fumes makes them little gems in my book. (Oh, you'd probably want one that had been looked after though, not had it's neck wrung every day of its life...)

People recommend GN250's when they're being polite.

Pfffft!

I have looked at those, they look a little little for my 100kgs. love pies......

hehehe, Balu had to get an exemption while on his L to ride my bandit because he had the same problem (physically too big for it...)

[jazfender]

Pfffft!

You know it's truth...

[MikeD400]

I wish I could but helmet wont be hear untill next week.

Also should really get my licence fisrt to.

HEY! You borrowed my helmet! No excuses sunday is cruise day! Also saying "Should really" means deep down u dont care for getting your license before trying her out! <---- thats you tomorow! Have fun!

[jaffaonajappa]

unless it pissing down with rain......no excuses
But, learning or relearning to ride when the roads are wet = not fun.

[MikeD400]

unless it pissing down with rain......no excuses
But, learning or relearning to ride when the roads are wet = not fun.

Hah good point! Pretty nerve racking when you first get on ur new pride and joy wet or dry, tho wet + nerves = pain and bike repairs.

[The Lone Rider]

Sat will be spent with a beer and a tube of autosol for the chrome.

Don't use autosol on chrome. It is very mildly abrasive. It will eventually wear the chrome off. Autosol is good on non chromed metals to be polished.

[GrayWolf]

there are alot of bikes out there that are modestly powered, wont get you into trouble easily, are robust, economical and forgiving. heaps of them. Like a gpx, or a vt whether oler or newer, what about an older cb250/cb250rs, they come up often for very little coin, the list goes on, there are other options in cruisers as well, the GN is bandied about only because its been around forever, so everyone has seen one. there are better options.

Agreed TT, the RS/CBX etc are also good options, why do people say a GN? Yes it's been around since ages ago, and thats the advantage.... cheap spares, s/h bits in the event of an 'off'. They are robust little buggers. Yes a good VTR is an serious option, but again, the spares thing. Thats why I said 6 months on a ginny, get your money back on selling it, then go GPX/VTR/GTR etc. I do not put the GPX or VTR into the 'lower power' end of the 250's. What is called middle of the road now, is as fast or faster the the 'fast' 250's of my day. The bikes have improved, the learner on it hasnt!!!

[GrayWolf]

Got the CBX home. Road up and down the drive. First ride in 20 years. Nervous at first. But it goes well. No real battery problem apart from a lack of use, starts fine now.

Rolling restoration has started. Getting clutch and brake levers tomorrow. Sat will be spent with a beer and a tube of autosol for the chrome. Then adjust brake and gear controls to suit me.

Guess I better work on that licence thing.....

Good buy NZspokes, just change that oil regularly!!! The CBX is a good little bike, I remember it's grand pappy well from the 1980's, the CB250RS; they were a hoot for a wee single.