My own GZ250

Ok, I had motorcycle license for very long time. Almost equally long time I had many reasons not to ride motorcycle. After some what a heck moment I got my motorcycle licence back. Since I started, some things changed and some not. GZ250 is one thing which did not, until 2016 model year.

It is back to the bases small bike. Carburetor, drum in the rear, light, easy and small displacement. “Like they used to be”.

Sentiments aside let talk numbers. It weights around 140 kg. Tank is actually generous 12 l (they say 13 but it looses a liter when it on side stand). 250cc displacement, carburetor, air cooled single cylinder.  

Very low seat height and nearly classical straight seating (apart from legs, but it comes with low seat). It actually ok for someone around 185 cm tall. GZ is not a girls only small bike. Handlebars are comfortable laid out for me with no tiring in 2 hour rides.  I do have windshield which I put when temperature dropped below 20. Apart from that it open to the elements. It nice and comfortable.

Personally I don’t like word nice because it lacks descriptive flavour. When car salesmen say this car is nice… it like yeah I want to sell it but not much to say. In case of little Suzuki it should be: padded comfortable, easy to hop in, don need to be J-C Wan-Dam in terms of leg stretching abilities and overall I feel right in. Rear shocks can be adjusted within 5 gradations making it softer of firmer.

Instrumentation is Spartan but not as frugal as it can be. You have neutral, high beam, turn  and ability to measure trips, which lacking on Suzuki’s S40 for example. You can’t see speedometer can while wearing full face helmet and looking on the road , non the less it much better than on the tank thing.

You can put two saddlebags and it will be nice go around package.

Ride … Let start it. You have choke to pull, than it electric start to give it few turns and it on. Bike have some times troubles  starting on high ethanol petrol, but it never was build for that. While it depends on the temperature usually after two minutes of warming up, bike it fully ready to go. It has 5 gears, it more than sufficient mach for a power and intended use. Gears after 16 years are not perfect, but in general it all predictable with occasional falls neutral. Acceleration is predictably not a thrilling event. Not all gears allow comfortable wind to the high torque zone. Bike is more than adequate in the city and give you relaxed ride on par with the traffic. You never going to suffer much from overturned gas lever. Also bike is bit slow while carrying two riders. Than again it expected. I personally ride it 110 km a day to work and it goes fine. I can get in and out through both back roads and right lane on highway.

 Several times I was doing left lane while keeping with traffic, but it not the right place for this bike if you like it to stay with you longer. Handling is decent, light, predictable and nimble. Tires on my bike are so so, therefore I have not seen best of it. Weakest point on the bike is rear drum brake. Rear brakes are inadequate for highway speeds. Keep it in mind while driving and leave extra distance. Front brake is doing most of the job. You can’t go bottom up with hard press on front brake (may be you can… never tried it), braking pace and motorcycle balance keep you safe. 

Fuel efficiency is little star of the show. You get 3.1-3.2 l/100km in the city if you not running high RPM. Highway is closer to 3.5 l/100 km. It more of the scooter numbers than a bike ones.

What good about this bike? It nice to start on: it really comfortable and non intimidating character give it pleasure to ride quality. Bike is stylish in my opinion. It has, in the used form, some inexpensive window of I like it but I don’t mind it scratching . Cheap on gas and insurance. You can go long time between fuel stations comparing to bigger ones like 300-310 km on highway before you start reaching for reserve. It works on regular fuel. Handling is adequate ,though  not for a quick sport twists. Bike is good fit for both taller and shorter riders.

What is not good? Bike is light and you know you feel wind much closer to your skin. Brake could be better. Bit more power won’t heart anyone (it has 20 hp… 25-28 would be much better).

Why you should buy this bike? You like style, you looking for good inexpensive way to enjoy biking, to commute or start to ride without much of sacrifice. You want to ride and don’t mind to be on a simple pure bike with not much power but whole biking experience to bag.

Why you should not? You riding on highway 100-120 km/h, you like pure raw acceleration or everything from sport bike table. Or just you don’t like it.

So would I recommend this bike? Yes!

Best place to ride it? Maui! No hurry , t-shirt, shirts and a lot of fun!