Suzuki GW250 - Page 7

YJake · 12-18-2012, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stretchmoney

2nd trackday, get a chain link in my back tire. ask someone what to do, someone tells me a guy who owns a tire business is in the paddock, ask him. He gives me plug kit, says it will be all good, instead of selling me a tire from his truck at the track. If a nice guy like that tells me this over selling me a tire from his own business, then I trust his advice.
I plug tire, go back on track for 4 more sessions of tire frying action, tire lasted another 9 months or so just fine.

My Suzuki B12 is 2,000 miles into a plug on the rear tire after a rogue sheet metal screw decided to insert itself. I rode another 100 miles after before the rear end started to get squirrely from the lack of air. I have been commuting just like I always have and not a single issue. I do carry the compressor and plug kit with me everywhere now though.

-Jake

Davidc83 · 12-18-2012, 04:21 PM

Not having a centerstand or tubeless tires does not stop me from buying bikes or riding long distances. I currently have 3 bikes, all tubed tires, and only one has a center stand. I have ridden 90,000 miles in the past 5 years with only one flat, which was on a tubed tire, caused by a horse hoof nail. Pulled out the nail, used SLIME per directions, aired up the tire and rode another 200-300 miles before a new tire/innertube was deliverd. In most cases, if a plug can fix a tubeless tire, SLIME can fix a tubed tire.
JerryH also wont like this bike because of EFI, according to him on other websites, EFI is the worst thing man ever created (because being a mechanic, he cant fix EFI as easy as a carb, which I have never seen an EFI go bad during the 1,000,000+ miles I have driven such vehicles).
I like the looks of the gw250, just not interested in 250cc bikes anymore-one of my bikes is a klx250sf which is very fun to ride. I also like the nc700 and the nc500x (this one depends on the price). I also dont care where the bike is made, whatever country it is, Suzuki will have their own inspectors and there is a difference between Chinese engineered and built and other foreign country engineered and built in China.
One of my bikes is a 2009 BMW G650gs with the Chinese assembled motor, now with 31,000+ miles (bought new) and no hiccups on that great running motor.
I also have a 2007 Suzuki C50 Boulevard which now have 58,000 miles on it (bought with 1 mile on the odo).

Cortez · 12-19-2012, 01:45 AM

On the 500X subject.. if it helps, local dealers (EU) more or less expect the
same price for the GW250 and the basic Honda CB500F.

Exact prices would be of no use to you since bikes here are 40-80% more
expensive, but my math says that the CB500F will cost exactly 30% less
then the NC700X here, or 25% less then NC700S which is a huge difference,
and the NC is already cheap.

Grainbelt · 12-20-2012, 06:16 AM

Here's a review from the UK

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-...eet/21976.html

Apparently it is the cheapest of the Japanese offerings over there, will have to wait for US pricing.

Cortez · 12-20-2012, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Here's a review from the UK

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-...eet/21976.html

Apparently it is the cheapest of the Japanese offerings over there, will have to wait for US pricing.

NICE!
Thanks!

That's a great review and better pictures to put things into perspective
then most others I've seen. It looks a lot more "serious" then the
CBF250 and YBR250 singles.

If it had a round headlight I'd like it even more, and then it would look
just like a GS500.

I like it a lot more now.

Performance is probably on par with my 29hp scoot.

Davidc83 · 12-20-2012, 09:27 AM

It may be the cheapest in England, however, at 3,408 English pounds, that is $5500 US. If Suzuki tries to sell that for $5500, they will not sell any. The Honda NC500s are going to be in the mid $5000, range, from $5400 to $5900 (proably for the x). I had rather have a 500 cc than a 250 cc for the same money. Now, if Suzuki tries to sell it in the TU range: $4400 to $4600, they may have a hit, but with the Honda CBR250 (no abs) at $4199, Suzuki may have to sell it at $4100-$4200 to have a chance of selling, and there is the Ninja 300 at $4800. It will depend on the size of the rider and the ergonomics of the bike; however, I am glad we are getting more choices for the smaller bikes, standard, sport, and cruiser models.

Birdmove · 12-20-2012, 09:43 AM

Thanks for the link. Sounds like a good machine to me. I would bet on an easy 75 mpg (US). This bike would be fine for where I now live.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Here's a review from the UK

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-...eet/21976.html

Apparently it is the cheapest of the Japanese offerings over there, will have to wait for US pricing.

Grainbelt · 12-20-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davidc83

It may be the cheapest in England, however, at 3,408 English pounds, that is $5500 US.

Completely irrelevant. The CBR250R, without ABS, is 3,956 pounds. Over here, it is $3999.

US prices are not simply exchange rate calculations, there are taxes and market differences that driving actual retail pricing in different geographies.

We go thru this in every thread where a euro price is mentioned. I hesitated to even bring it up, for that reason.

Cortez · 12-20-2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Completely irrelevant. The CBR250R, without ABS, is 3,956 pounds. Over here, it is $3999.

US prices are not simply exchange rate calculations, there are taxes and market differences that driving actual retail pricing in different geographies.

We go thru this in every thread where a euro price is mentioned. I hesitated to even bring it up, for that reason.

+1

People never seem to catch on.

I remember back in 2007 that my Ninja 650R here was exactly the same
price as the ZX-14 / ZZR1400 in USA. In the end, with bank interest etc,
I ended up paying over $15k for that bike.

JerryH · 12-20-2012, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Here's a review from the UK

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-...eet/21976.html

Apparently it is the cheapest of the Japanese offerings over there, will have to wait for US pricing.

Now I like it even more. But I still did not see anything in there about ergonomics. The one thing that would stop me from buying this bike (unless it turns out to be low quality junk) is sportbike ergonomics. I realize it is not a cruiser, but if the bars are to low and the pegs are to high and to far back, that would be a deal killer. I was unable to ride an EX500 without pain. I'm hoping this will have a more upright riding position. The bars certainly look more upright, but I won't know until I actually sit on one.

I like the fact that it will do 70 mph all day, I would only need it to do 60. And hopefully the price will be lower in the U.S. I definitely would not pay the equivalent of UK prices for it. This bike will compete with the CBR and Ninja, so it will definitely have to be price competitive. I'm expecting it to fall in between somewhere. Local dealers are currently selling new 2012 CBR250s for $3600 OTD. 2013 ones will be priced at MSRP, at least for awhile. Around here the Ninja 250 has been outselling the CBR big time, so it doesn't get discounted much. Part of the reason is likely the more aggressive styling, it's 2 cylinder engine, and the Ninja name. I know a few non riders who refer to all sport bikes as "Ninjas" After all these years, they are still perceived as the original, the "real thing"

Süsser Tod · 12-21-2012, 09:20 AM

183kg... So it weights the same as my SV1000 but it has 1/5th the power?

Dunno, I still like the CBX250 better, 24hp and 40kg less...

http://www.crankmotoring.co.za/2010/...x-250-twister/

JerryH · 12-21-2012, 01:19 PM

I have had a couple of fast bikes (ZX11, YZF1000) and got bored with them. If you could actually use that power it might be different. But whacking the throttle open for a few seconds while watching for cops just isn't what I call fun. I want a bike that is fun on twisty roads but that can also be ridden long distances. It also has to be affordable, which eliminates almost everything. I have over 20,000 freeway miles on a Honda Rebel 250 with no problems, other than it was just physically to small for me and was not comfortable. Highway pegs and a Protac backrest helped a lot.

Klay · 12-21-2012, 01:25 PM

+1

I like bikes that are happy at legal speeds. I've owned many powerful bikes and am just plain tired of them.

Kommando · 12-22-2012, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Süsser Tod

183kg... So it weights the same as my SV1000 but it has 1/5th the power?

Dunno, I still like the CBX250 better, 24hp and 40kg less...

http://www.crankmotoring.co.za/2010/...x-250-twister/

Yup. That CBX250 seems to get it. The Nighthawk 250, updated to this century.

These other smaller bikes that weigh as much as, or more than, bikes with 2x or more displacement kind of defeat a lot of the purpose. Why wouldn't I just put my noob GF on a lowered DR650SE instead? It weighs 367lb and has less than 40WHP. I can find them all day long for less than $4K.

vicster · 12-23-2012, 09:45 PM

Those of you anxiously awaiting the arrival of the GW (GrossWeight?)250 may want to back it down a notch until you've actually seen one. This thing is by far the ugliest stock bike I have ever seen, and I am not a young man.It looks much worse in person, trust me. The pictures don't really capture the poor proportioning or the overwheming size of that front fender. When I saw it at the IMS I at first couldn't figure out what it was doing at the Suzuki stand as it really does look like a Kymco gone bad.
It's also heavier. longer, with more conservative geometry than its competition and is, according to Suzuki, tuned for low to mid rpm performance, so it's on road performance isn't likely to be much either.
Sorry, I don't normally comment on a bike's looks, as I know it's subjective and the least important bike quality to me personally, but...wow.

12-19-2012, 01:45 AM	#93
Cortez BAZINGA! Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Croatia Oddometer: 3,896	On the 500X subject.. if it helps, local dealers (EU) more or less expect the same price for the GW250 and the basic Honda CB500F. Exact prices would be of no use to you since bikes here are 40-80% more expensive, but my math says that the CB500F will cost exactly 30% less then the NC700X here, or 25% less then NC700S which is a huge difference, and the NC is already cheap. __________________ '12 Kymco Downtown 300i ABS, '08 Yamaha FZ6n S2 ABS SOLD: '03 Peugeot Speedfight2, '07 Kawasaki ER6F ABS, '06 Kymco Agility 125 My Flickr gallery

12-21-2012, 01:19 PM	#102
JerryH ^OP Vintage Rider Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ Oddometer: 1,681	I have had a couple of fast bikes (ZX11, YZF1000) and got bored with them. If you could actually use that power it might be different. But whacking the throttle open for a few seconds while watching for cops just isn't what I call fun. I want a bike that is fun on twisty roads but that can also be ridden long distances. It also has to be affordable, which eliminates almost everything. I have over 20,000 freeway miles on a Honda Rebel 250 with no problems, other than it was just physically to small for me and was not comfortable. Highway pegs and a Protac backrest helped a lot. __________________ "I refuse to give up the thrill of living for the relative safety of existing" Nick Ienatsch "Life is not a race. Don't treat it as such. If you don't believe me, just have a look at the finish line"

12-21-2012, 01:25 PM	#103
Klay plainsman Joined: Nov 2005 Location: out in the great wide open Oddometer: 89,128	+1 I like bikes that are happy at legal speeds. I've owned many powerful bikes and am just plain tired of them. __________________ _______

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12-18-2012, 04:21 PM	#92
Davidc83 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Southern Indiana Oddometer: 364	Not having a centerstand or tubeless tires does not stop me from buying bikes or riding long distances. I currently have 3 bikes, all tubed tires, and only one has a center stand. I have ridden 90,000 miles in the past 5 years with only one flat, which was on a tubed tire, caused by a horse hoof nail. Pulled out the nail, used SLIME per directions, aired up the tire and rode another 200-300 miles before a new tire/innertube was deliverd. In most cases, if a plug can fix a tubeless tire, SLIME can fix a tubed tire. JerryH also wont like this bike because of EFI, according to him on other websites, EFI is the worst thing man ever created (because being a mechanic, he cant fix EFI as easy as a carb, which I have never seen an EFI go bad during the 1,000,000+ miles I have driven such vehicles). I like the looks of the gw250, just not interested in 250cc bikes anymore-one of my bikes is a klx250sf which is very fun to ride. I also like the nc700 and the nc500x (this one depends on the price). I also dont care where the bike is made, whatever country it is, Suzuki will have their own inspectors and there is a difference between Chinese engineered and built and other foreign country engineered and built in China. One of my bikes is a 2009 BMW G650gs with the Chinese assembled motor, now with 31,000+ miles (bought new) and no hiccups on that great running motor. I also have a 2007 Suzuki C50 Boulevard which now have 58,000 miles on it (bought with 1 mile on the odo).

12-20-2012, 06:16 AM	#94
Grainbelt marginal adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Minnyhappiness Oddometer: 25,029	Here's a review from the UK http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-...eet/21976.html Apparently it is the cheapest of the Japanese offerings over there, will have to wait for US pricing.

12-20-2012, 09:27 AM	#96
Davidc83 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Southern Indiana Oddometer: 364	It may be the cheapest in England, however, at 3,408 English pounds, that is $5500 US. If Suzuki tries to sell that for $5500, they will not sell any. The Honda NC500s are going to be in the mid $5000, range, from $5400 to $5900 (proably for the x). I had rather have a 500 cc than a 250 cc for the same money. Now, if Suzuki tries to sell it in the TU range: $4400 to $4600, they may have a hit, but with the Honda CBR250 (no abs) at $4199, Suzuki may have to sell it at $4100-$4200 to have a chance of selling, and there is the Ninja 300 at $4800. It will depend on the size of the rider and the ergonomics of the bike; however, I am glad we are getting more choices for the smaller bikes, standard, sport, and cruiser models.

12-21-2012, 09:20 AM	#101
Süsser Tod Studly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Mexico City, Mexico Oddometer: 566	183kg... So it weights the same as my SV1000 but it has 1/5th the power? Dunno, I still like the CBX250 better, 24hp and 40kg less... http://www.crankmotoring.co.za/2010/...x-250-twister/

12-23-2012, 09:45 PM	#105
vicster Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Oddometer: 550	Those of you anxiously awaiting the arrival of the GW (GrossWeight?)250 may want to back it down a notch until you've actually seen one. This thing is by far the ugliest stock bike I have ever seen, and I am not a young man.It looks much worse in person, trust me. The pictures don't really capture the poor proportioning or the overwheming size of that front fender. When I saw it at the IMS I at first couldn't figure out what it was doing at the Suzuki stand as it really does look like a Kymco gone bad. It's also heavier. longer, with more conservative geometry than its competition and is, according to Suzuki, tuned for low to mid rpm performance, so it's on road performance isn't likely to be much either. Sorry, I don't normally comment on a bike's looks, as I know it's subjective and the least important bike quality to me personally, but...wow.