Ouch! sigh, grrr, sigh. GN woes

**superjackal** · 17th December 2012, 19:43

Couple of lessons here for newbies. I should have known better! Hopefully my experience may benefit others.

I bought my 2006 GN250 back in April and have only just taken it in for a service. It's my commuter, new job, just didn't have time to do it. The staff at Wellington Motorcycles were very good. But, I got given some bad news.

Firstly, it's my first motorcycle and I really like the GN250. It's comfortable, sips gas and I like looking at it. Would I have gone to a bigger bike had I known LAMs was coming? Nah, I wanted a GN250. When I bought the bike I couldn't even ride. The guy I bought it off was friendly enough and told me that he did his own servicing. Fair enough, right? So, I started it up, poked around a bit and bought it without having it inspected. Hell, it was cheap - what could go wrong, right? Back to Wellington Motorcycles and the conversation went something like, "How long have you had it? We haven't seen it in three years. Your engine is very noisy. We suspect... cams.... rockers... $2,000+ to rebuild...". For a bike that's only 6 years old, neglect can do wonders. The friendly seller probably thought he knew what he was doing but in the end just ended up ruining the engine. Lesson = mine. Get a bike inspected before you buy.

Now, $2,000 isn't that much to get the engine back good. But, it's more than I paid for the bike, more than I could buy another GN for, and, I only have 12 months left on my restricted, so I may as well wait. I'm a little attached to it now, so, I'll probably end up fixing it and keeping it.

The advice I got was to keep running the bike as is, apparently there are worse ones out there and it's not down on power. I'd feel "guilty as" flicking it off onto the next unsuspecting punter. Just bad luck it had a neglectful previous owner.

Wellington Motorcycles did a great job, it runs much better now. But they told me to listen out for when the sound of the engine changes!

Should I fix it or flick it?

Anyone else gone through this?

BTW, while I was in WM I LOVED the Harley Seventy-Two! Soon.....

**FJRider** · 17th December 2012, 20:01

Keep the oil level correct. REGULAR oil/filter changes. Keep riding.

**GrayWolf** · 17th December 2012, 20:29

Look through tardme or breakers// you'll pick one up complete, or a newish s/hand motor for a lot less.

**GSF** · 17th December 2012, 21:39

Originally Posted by GrayWolf

Look through tardme or breakers// you'll pick one up complete, or a newish s/hand motor for a lot less.

Pretty much this. You could buy a complete motor if your current one shits the bed.

Or Ducatilover will take it off your hands... he seems to have a perverse thing for GN250s.

**Sable** · 17th December 2012, 22:52

You WANTED a GN250? Do you have some sort of mental disorder?

**superjackal** · 18th December 2012, 11:22

Originally Posted by Sable

You WANTED a GN250? Do you have some sort of mental disorder?

Yep. Looking around at the time it seemed a decent cheap bike to learn on and it has been excellent. I think they're pretty (except for all the rust).

**ducatilover** · 18th December 2012, 13:09

Get another motor.
Or PM me details of what exactly is going wrong with it and exactly what your mechanic said

I can do a full engine rebuild for under half that, waaaaaaaaaaaay under half of that including shipping myself to Wellington to do it...and beer, and labour.
If it's just cam/rockers, I'll send you a complete top half of the head with a brand new cam in Feb? Can also order new rockers and rocker shafts too, under $100nz

Otherwise, do the valve clearances and keep the oil in it topped up and fresh
I can do cam/rockers in under an hour, incl time to do clearances, plug change and an oil change

**Flip** · 18th December 2012, 13:24

Originally Posted by ducatilover

Get another motor.
Or PM me details of what exactly is going wrong with it and exactly what your mechanic said

I can do a full engine rebuild for under half that, waaaaaaaaaaaay under half of that including shipping myself to Wellington to do it...and beer, and labour.
If it's just cam/rockers, I'll send you a complete top half of the head with a brand new cam in Feb? Can also order new rockers and rocker shafts too, under $100nz

Otherwise, do the valve clearances and keep the oil in it topped up and fresh
I can do cam/rockers in under an hour, incl time to do clearances, plug change and an oil change

You should change your name to GN250LOVER?

Good job.

**Drew** · 18th December 2012, 13:44

You know how I know you're gay?...

Originally Posted by ducatilover

Get another motor.
Or PM me details of what exactly is going wrong with it and exactly what your mechanic said

I can do a full engine rebuild for under half that, waaaaaaaaaaaay under half of that including shipping myself to Wellington to do it...and beer, and labour.
If it's just cam/rockers, I'll send you a complete top half of the head with a brand new cam in Feb? Can also order new rockers and rocker shafts too, under $100nz

Otherwise, do the valve clearances and keep the oil in it topped up and fresh
I can do cam/rockers in under an hour, incl time to do clearances, plug change and an oil change

**Kickaha** · 18th December 2012, 19:08

Originally Posted by Drew

You know how I know you're gay?...

Because you've fucked him?

**Drew** · 18th December 2012, 20:58

Originally Posted by Kickaha

Because you've fucked him?

That was only my first clue.

**ducatilover** · 18th December 2012, 21:48

Originally Posted by Kickaha

Because you've fucked him?

I swallow.

**Geeen** · 19th December 2012, 07:47

Originally Posted by ducatilover

I swallow.

Ah, you must be that mythical perfect woman then

Not sent from an iDevice

**ckai** · 19th December 2012, 11:18

Originally Posted by Geeen

Ah, you must be that mythical perfect woman then

Not sent from an iDevice

I'm soooooooo telling your wife. Personally I think it's just you

Originally Posted by ducatilover

Get another motor.
Or PM me details of what exactly is going wrong with it and exactly what your mechanic said

I can do a full engine rebuild for under half that, waaaaaaaaaaaay under half of that including shipping myself to Wellington to do it...and beer, and labour.
If it's just cam/rockers, I'll send you a complete top half of the head with a brand new cam in Feb? Can also order new rockers and rocker shafts too, under $100nz

Otherwise, do the valve clearances and keep the oil in it topped up and fresh
I can do cam/rockers in under an hour, incl time to do clearances, plug change and an oil change

Shit, this sounds like the best option if you don't want a guilty conscience.