2005 Suzuki GZ250

[EclipseTurbno93]

I didn't mean for this to happen. It wasn't supposed to happen. But alas, it happened.

I bought Andrew Castro's old 250cc cruiser for fewer dollars than it has cc's 8)


It's not perfect, been dropped a few times, but really I think its about as perfect a starter bike as you could ask for. It's pretty slow, but still peppy and gets something like 75mpg. It burns some oil and apparently likes to shake itself to pieces on the highway, but has new tires and solid brakes. It runs well and will be easy to work on. I'm still trying to figure out what the long-term plan is to fix it up a bit. It came with a new tank to replace the dented/dipped one, but it's off a 2009 and needs a different gas cap which is apparently like a hundred bucks? ew. I'd like to repaint the fenders/tank/side covers, which Matthew has offered to design, but past that I'm just hoping to keep it running for cheap and get my license.

More pics:


He also threw in some saddlebags that look super cowboy and very cool.

[Senor_Taylor]

When you asked me if you should buy this, I told you to sleep on it because I feel like I was less sure than you. I still am...

If you had asked me a year ago if I thought you'd buy a motorcyle, I would have said no, but I guess that little red moped has made a mark on you. How much do your roomies hate you and your growing collection on the porch?

[Gordonovski]

Just want everyone to know that this bike was nicknamed "the kitty tickler" in my little motorcycle group.


Even if James doesn't like it, Haleigh will enjoy it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Senor_Taylor]

Even if James doesn't like it, Haleigh will enjoy it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dead

[JPolen01]

Even if James doesn't like it, Haleigh will enjoy it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is that a joke about the vibrations? Hats off to you sir for that one.

[*insertusernamehere*]

Can I turn it into a cafe racer, brown and white color scheme?

[EclipseTurbno93]

So I hurt my foot a few weeks ago, so I haven't been able to drive the Miata or ride the bike, so I've been roaring around in encierro. It has given me some time to get a good amount done on this though, mostly little fixes, missing bolts, sagging turn signals, bent brackets, oil change, fixed broken panels, adjusted the brakes and shifter and shined her up a bit.

I did decide to go ahead and do a color change because why not? So I dipped it white which looks decent from a distance but really emphasizes the dent in the tank so want to get that swapped sometime relatively soon. Here's some progress pics:

Saddlebags cleaned up and installed


Bike stripped down for painting/cleaning


I didn't do a great job on this dip, but luckily I can always try again! But then again, cheap bike so who cares

[JPolen01]

Holy dent

[EclipseTurbno93]

Holy dent batman

Yah, it big.

Have new tank, still need gas cap.

[EclipseTurbno93]

I've done a good bit of work to this thing since I last posted, got the new tank on w/ fancy new cap and switched the ignition and seat release over so everything runs off the same key. I also changed the handlebars to ones that are not bent and a good bit lower (big improvement) as well as some mirrors. Old vs new:

Also got the chain all cleaned up and did some general maintenance stuff, could still stand to have some seals replaced, but it goes A to B fabulously and gets the same number of miles per tank as the Miata does which is saving me a decent amount. Those savings are unfortunately cancelled by the sales tax I had to pay when I registered it ($75 for a $200 bike, wtf).

Found out that white plastidip loves fingerprints and generally gets messy hella quick. Got a great deal on some off brand plastidip at work though and did a way better job this time and this is the result:

[Jake]

That blue looks great!

[Senor_Taylor]

Never in a million years did I think you'd end up with a real bike, and here you are. You always seem to quietly get things done with no one noticing. Like how did you find the handle bars and all of the stuff to get the key to work everywhere?

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[JPolen01]

Blue looks killer