Old trusty GN may be dead. Possible replacements?

[husaberg]

I was involved in an accident last week, where someone pulled in front of me on the motorway and knocked me off. I am made of steel and managed to walk away, but my poor GN125 (that I bought brand new in 2009) bit the dust. The guys insurance is going to take care of the repairs, but from the state of the bike they may choose to write it off. I'm guessing this will mean I get a payout of $1500, although any further guesses on what I may get are welcome.

I've been riding for 4 years now, and use it exclusively as a commuter. When looking at possible replacements, I'm not looking for something fast or flashy. I need something which can putt away for 15kms a day, will be cheap as hell on petrol and reliable as the old GN. I realise this may be consigning me to getting another GN, but I would like something a bit more sturdy if possible. The recent wind conditions blew me around a bit, and something a bit more heavy would be more comfortable. I was looking at a 250 bandit, but I'm concerned about fuel costs compared to the GN, and any reliability issues.

Does anyone have a good suggestion for any replacement bikes I should look at? Under 3 grand would be ideal.

I never thought I would say this, but I have become a paid up member of the GN125 fan club. Great bike, reputedly, a little down on power compared to the CBR150 that won but the GN is the sort of bike I like. Home made, fast, handles, well developed engine with some interesting ideas and in the race it went the distance. Kick gave me one of his spare clutches which I intend using in my new engine for the Beast.

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I am surprised Kikaha hasn't showed up here yet

For basic transport keep to a single or twin.

[ducatilover]

Kawasaki ER-5 or Suzuki GS500 are nice sensible and dependable bikes.

[chasio]

Some good suggestions above for if it is written off.

Another possibility is to talk to the shop or assessor and find out whether the frame and forks are OK. If they are, it may just be written off due to having to use genuine Suzuki parts. If it is scratched and scraped but you can live with it and/or needs parts that can be replaced cheaply, you might ask them how much to buy it off them and just put it back on the road while you make your mind up.

Even if it is not written off, some of the above bikes would be very good replacements if you fancy a change

[BuzzardNZ]

Some good suggestions above for if it is written off.

Another possibility is to talk to the shop or assessor and find out whether the frame and forks are OK. If they are, it may just be written off due to having to use genuine Suzuki parts. If it is scratched and scraped but you can live with it and/or needs parts that can be replaced cheaply, you might ask them how much to buy it off them and just put it back on the road while you make your mind up.

Even if it is not written off, some of the above bikes would be very good replacements if you fancy a change

+1 on this. I had an old GB400 written off. I went to the assessor and bought it off them for half of what they paid out. Still got a warrant, so apart from a few new scraps and dents, it was still my main method of transport.

[LaggyGN]

Thanks guys, I might just do that actually. Only problem is 7 days later the insurance company has changed their mind. I had their final decision, but today I got a call saying 'sorry, the other person is disputing, so you'll have to wait again'. Sigh.

[husaberg]

Avoid the GN250

[tigertim20]

Kawasaki ER-5 or Suzuki GS500 are nice sensible and dependable bikes.

these are good aptions, as is a VTR250 if you want smaller cc options.

[ducatilover]

these are good aptions, as is a VTR250 if you want smaller cc options.

VTRs are brilliant. A mate just picked up a '99 for just under $2k

[LaggyGN]

A VTR definitely is on my watchlist. I always thought they were quite expensive for Japanese bikes, but if you say you can get one for 2 grand then does sound tempting.

[ducatilover]

A VTR definitely is on my watchlist. I always thought they were quite expensive for Japanese bikes, but if you say you can get one for 2 grand then does sound tempting.

It'd be a tatty one. But you can get 'em for reasonable coin. The v-twin are easy to live with and much nicer on the road than you GN125 would ever be.
If you're really set on the smaller bikes, why not a GPX250/EX250/ZZR250? good little bikes for relatively little money.
Don't worry about cost of fixing fairings, at their value they'll be written off if you hit a small pebble and scratch the muffler.

[mossy1200]

Thanks guys, I might just do that actually. Only problem is 7 days later the insurance company has changed their mind. I had their final decision, but today I got a call saying 'sorry, the other person is disputing, so you'll have to wait again'. Sigh.

Yep. I got hit by a 4wheel drive speeding in the wet down a hill who slid across the road hitting me head on in my lane while I had managed to stop and drove over my convertible writing it off. He admitted being at fault then changed his mind later so my insurance company asked for an excess due to accident be neither parties fault.

What I have learnt is have a small injury so the police have to attend and will lay blame. No injury and they wont attend just tell you to contact insurance company.

[LaggyGN]

It'd be a tatty one. But you can get 'em for reasonable coin. The v-twin are easy to live with and much nicer on the road than you GN125 would ever be.
If you're really set on the smaller bikes, why not a GPX250/EX250/ZZR250? good little bikes for relatively little money.
Don't worry about cost of fixing fairings, at their value they'll be written off if you hit a small pebble and scratch the muffler.

I wouldn't mind spending up to 2500,3000 if it will get me a more reliable bike. Cosmetics don't matter to me, as long as it runs as reliably as you can expect. I wouldn't mind a sports bike, but with the riding I do I would prefer something a bit more upright. I'd love an SRX250 if they were easy to get. Bandit 250 is another option I'm looking at.

Yep. I got hit by a 4wheel drive speeding in the wet down a hill who slid across the road hitting me head on in my lane while I had managed to stop and drove over my convertible writing it off. He admitted being at fault then changed his mind later so my insurance company asked for an excess due to accident be neither parties fault.

What I have learnt is have a small injury so the police have to attend and will lay blame. No injury and they wont attend just tell you to contact insurance company.

Yep, with hindsight I should have got the police to take a look at my foot or something, which was bruised badly but completely fine now. At least they could have sorted out the official record there and then.

EDIT: Repair bill definitely beyond any economic value. Will definitely be buying a new bike. Hopefully insurance gets sorted out.

[husaberg]

I wouldn't mind spending up to 2500,3000 if it will get me a more reliable bike. Cosmetics don't matter to me, as long as it runs as reliably as you can expect. I wouldn't mind a sports bike, but with the riding I do I would prefer something a bit more upright. I'd love an SRX250 if they were easy to get. Bandit 250 is another option I'm looking at.

I was going to mention the SRX250 but i have never seen one in NZ or the Kawa near equivalent BR250?. i always liked the look of them if the CB250RS was anything to go by they would have sold alright i'd have thought.
Aussie had the 250 (V twin XV250 engined) cafe racer styled bike, can't remember what it was called but it always looked kinda nice

[F5 Dave]

yeah there were a few SRX around here when I was rider training, a mate used one for a bucket. A lass I knew had a BR250, but they are all old as the hills now. You really can't go past a later VTR250, (just watch the shock isn't leaking on an older one)...Hondalicious.

. . .hey, whos been at my logon?

[LaggyGN]

Yeah VTR's are tempting, especially with the lack of SRX's around. I wonder how a bandit 250 compares to a VTR. Not many people seem to be raving about bandits, might be a sign.