Hey there guys!

[spannermonkey91]

Just a lil introduction, I'm Alexander. 19 years old and the proud owner of a previously unloved Suzuki GN250.
Got a big love for thumpers and the way they deliver their power, and I get all the more tempted to pile more money into the 250 as my love grows.
My question to you guys which may be rhetorical seeing as you love thumpers... but my GN250 is becoming too expensive to repair as I keep having problem after problem and it's 75mph-on flat speed is a bit limiting sometimes... She is currently requiring new fork seals and new chain and sprockets... I've already replaced clutch plates, rear wheel and gear lever and certain instrument lights keep playing up but the motor seems strong and I must admit, I fancy something a bit lower-revving... Is it worth putting the money into to fix it up guys? =/

[beeman]

Always a good question, when to stop putting money into a deepening pit. trouble is the more you do the more you loose.
BUT remember the depreciation on a new bike is £1000s a year, so no transport is cheap.
If you like the bike and can live with it carry on. If you fall out of love with it, then perhaps its time to change.
You pays your money and takes yer choice.

[guest7]

A good question, but perhaps asked of the wrong people. We're all bloody daffy about bikes and most of us have kept on with a bike that we should have sold years ago... but our hearts said no. But that's not to say that it's wrong to keep on, it's just that most bikers seem to remove all economic considerations when dealing with bike issues 

GC

[spannermonkey91]

What I'm asking, is put in my situation of unemployment, Would you guys still pile your last pennies into it? because I want to... I'm just scared of it blowing up in my face with a financially terminal problem like the engine munching on itself.

[guest564]

You will always get problems with an old vehicle but you should consider why you are having some of yours. Fork seals - are the stanchions pitted? are you using poor quality seals. Chains and sprockets - usually short lifespans are due to poor maintenance, lack of lubrication, incorrect adjustment, tired cush drive rubbers.
A lot of electrical problems can be alleviated by cleaning all the connectors and then reassembling with a smear of vaseline or similar.
If you want more bottom end power or smoother bottom end power then maybe you do need to consider a different bike.

[beeman]

Well it has never stoped me pouring good money after bad. I am always the optomist and nowt will go wrong

[spannermonkey91]

In regards to your post Rhino, I've had the bike 3 months and the previous owner had already let the chain go stiff, I've done all I can to save it but it's definately dead.
Stanchions seem fine, no visible pitting.
As for the bottom end power, Maybe I'll have to wait and see if a GN400 turns up... Even though they put out 2bhp LESS than my 250 apparently, but I'd imagine torque in lower levels would be far superior

[themoudie]

Aye spannermonkey91,

REV IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whilst it may be a single and nicknamed a 'Thumper', it won't 'Thump' like a long stroke Brit single with a mag retarded will. If you give it some revs  (allowing the engine to spin freely, rather than feeling lumpy), the chain and sprockets will last longer, as will the clutch and just keep your riding smooth and forward looking (vanishing point of the road). The same goes for the GN400. Always change the oil and filter at the recommended intervals, use a semi-synth if you can afford it and allow the engine some miles to 'warm up' afore revving the goolies out of it.  (You will! )

I've never owned anything with more than a single pot (ignorance is bliss), but don't require more than one of anything to go wrong! 

Enjoy your single and I hope you find a job to fund your growing passion.

My regards, Bill.

[spannermonkey91]

Thanks for the warm welcome, I'm currently setting my sights on something bigger but I'm not sure what... I like the look of the SR500, as do I like the GB500 and XBR500... Problem is, I do want a low revving single with plenty of torque and low speed tractability. Does this mean I'm going to have to go for a long stroke brit? =/ I wouldnt mind if brit bikes didnt command such a high price

[themoudie]

Aye spannermonkey91,

With cash at an all time low your SR500, GB500 aspirations, may remain just that for a wee while.  However, if you keep it air cooled for simplicity, beasties like the Rotax 500 MoD, SRX400 &600, XBR500, XR250, 400 and if your lucky 650, plus the Spanish Honda SLR650 or older Dominator may come your way. The Suzuki DR series are also tough old nails, as you can read elsewhere on this site.

Water cooling is added complication and increases potential maintenance problems in my experience.

Finally, don't dismiss either Royal or Indian Enfields of 350 or 500cc. There is a wealth of experience with these on this site as well. A certain 'Merlin' type figure having tweaked and used a 350 to ride rings around multi cylinder whizz bangs in deepest darkest mid-Wales! He may reveal himself on this thread! 

Slainte, Bill.

[spannermonkey91]

Ironically... a 350/500 bullet is one of my aspirations in the motorcycling world... But they're all seeming to cost 1k plus, which I just cannot muster... =( Heck, Even 600 quid is dreaming money to me... =/

[guest40]

WTF??
http://www.bikepoint.com.au/Tig/UI/PagePopup.aspx?R=9654727&PhotoID=gc5343514095150808606&h_mid=4414099&f_mid=4414100&c_mid=5220305&pid=521967&tabID=2207443

I have not really followed the RE bikes and had always thought they would be cheap throwaways when they reached a certain age. I was hoping to pick one up really cheap to do up for the fun o0f it (like the gr650  5 years on and still not finished)

Looks like the owners keep them or sell them at ridiculous prices

[Andy M]

Hello SM91 and welcome to the nut house.

One of the suggestions I make, perhaps reading too much into your post, is try not to worry until things actually break. The fact you've had to replace the chain and fork seals just means they are new and should be good for a few years. This doesn't mean the big end is about to go and the swing arm fall off. What's the worst that can happen? It breaks to the point it'll cost too much to fix, you are on the bus until you can pick up another one. It's as easy to sell the good bits of the wreck as the whole bike on e-bay and there are always plenty of old but MOT'd bikes on e-bay. The whole advantage of old simple bikes over 18 month old BMW's is that push comes to shove you can just break it for parts at little loss compared to selling the whole bike.

Enfields are odd. Half the owners don't actually ride them, they dress them up to look like Goldstars or Triumph Trail bikes and they change the oil. They mess with the valves, change the oil, fit AMAL's, change the oil, rejet the AMAL, change the oil with the result that they have three year old bikes with 3000 miles on the clock that they've spend the equivalent of a Goldstar on but are still 18.2 HP and have run for hours trying to prime the oil circuit. The prices prices reflect what the next guy will pay to do something similar. I enjoyed mine when I had it and would have another, but when you only have space/cash for a limited number of bikes, these are pretty limited. You can take a Rotax engined whatever on the back roads and enjoy the power delivery, you can't ride an Enfield on the motorway to get places in a hurry.

Andy

[spannermonkey91]

I cant exactly enjoy the GN on the motorway either... =P

[johnr]

dont wait for a gn400, they arent that good, and as they only have 6v electrics, you might end up with a bike that is pretty useless in the dark as the lights on mine were pretty poor. if it were my money, id be looking for an xbr honda or an srx yam.