First post, first off (gnjackal)

[superjackal]

I'm horrible, I found that story absolutely hilarious
Keep at it and I think you deserve a high five for locking up and binning a bike with the worst brakes in modern motorcycling

​I also have a GN

Thanks mate, I actually found your reply very encouraging. Glad you liked the post. :-)

[Mom]

I think you deserve a high five for locking up and binning a bike with the worst brakes in modern motorcycling

Not that difficult. If you try you can have some real fun compression locking the rear. I used to do it just as I was about to turn into my driveway. Always meant I arrived home with a bit of a grin

[ducatilover]

Not that difficult. If you try you can have some real fun compression locking the rear. I used to do it just as I was about to turn into my driveway. Always meant I arrived home with a bit of a grin

The rear is piss easy on mine, I may or may not have been locking it up in to round-abouts in Palmy last weekend I have trouble getting front lock up in the dry though

[GingerMidget]

The rear is piss easy on mine, I may or may not have been locking it up in to round-abouts in Palmy last weekend I have trouble getting front lock up in the dry though

Thats cos your doing it wrong Douglarse.

[ducatilover]

Thats cos your doing it wrong Douglarse.

My dear lady, you're welcome to come lock it up on the GN if you fall over I'm only going to laugh (and point)


Must be my mad ABS skills...

[GingerMidget]

My dear lady, you're welcome to come lock it up on the GN if you fall over I'm only going to laugh (and point)


Must be my mad ABS skills...

Sweet, I'm up that way this weekend. Lets see how badly I can break this thing. You haven't managed to yet, so clearly its bulletproof!

Onward good sir

[GrayWolf]

Hi

I got my licence about 3 years ago in Christchurch to make the daily commute to Auckland easier. A change in circumstances and a company car in Wellington meant the idea of a motorcycle was shelved for a few years. Lost already? Doesn't get much better!

I changed jobs a few months back and bought a motorcycle to make the Wellington commute a little easier on the wallet and hopefully save some time skipping through traffic. I commute daily from Lyall Bay to Petone.

Back 3 years ago I liked the look and reviews of the GN250 and tracked one down through Trademe a couple of months back. (Paid $1800 for a 2006 with 15K if anyone's keeping track of these things). I bought all my riding gear through Motomart in Lower Hutt for $800. So, I thought, for $2600 I was doing pretty well. I'm at the age when that's not that much money, when I was 18 that would have been about a years wages. Motomart seemed much cheaper than other local stores for gear. I could have bought a new bike but after today (more later....) I'm glad I went with a 2nd hand bike.

The bike seems very good for the commute, it struggles a bit in a head wind and won't do more than 120kph. I'm heavy (100kg) and am guessing this doesn't work in my favour with just 22hp on offer from the GN. Around town it doesn't seem that quick off the mark but I'm still driving gingerly as I learn. Forget weaving through traffic - I'm not there yet.

Anyway, I work up early this morning to go to work early/finish early for my daughters 5th birthday. The brakes had been a bit, uh, "iffy" the day before and I made a mental note to get it checked out. I probably wouldn't have ridden today in hindsight but, hey, my daughters only 5 once. I'd been reading posts about trying emergency braking out, so after I came off the motorway at Petone I thought I see what was going on. This was about 6.45am this morning and I double-checked to make sure no one was anywhere near me. So, I gave it a go and tried to stop as quickly as I could. Not exactly sure what happened even now, the front brake locked up and before I knew it I was on the ground having fallen off at about 50kph. My gear served me very well. The bike's damage limited to a crooked handlebar, rashed foot pedal, scraped exhaust and a little rash on the brake pedal/starter. What was surprising and the reason for my post is, even if no-one's behind you, testing your brakes should not be done on a public road if possible! Find somewhere quiet. By the time I stood up and got the bike up and out of the way I had 5 cars backed up. And no, no one stopped to check I was ok.

My sincere thanks to TSS Red Baron Alicetown for getting my bike back up and running today with no notice. I thank you and recommend them to all for their exemplary service. (BTW, apparently I had no brake fluid!)

I'm a little less confident and mostly relieved to get home in one piece. I'll probably be back on the bike tomorrow. My little fingy was a little sore and my hip flexor seems to have taken some kind of minor trauma. I'm in one piece and enjoying my daughters birthday.

I've had my "warning", best of luck to you all.

Happy, safe riding.

M

Mate,
you've just found the best shop in the hutt... I've dealt with all of the others,, they may not be the 'cheapest'.. but you'll be hard pressed to find better service