Glad I Got the GS

[GSnoober]

Glad to know that it WAS the starter motor; the BEST motorcycle engineers and mechanics I've met over the last ~ 25 years ALL use the word "engine" when they talk about the actual ENGINE, and the word "motor" when they're referring to something electrical. The guys at OCC ("choppers" make me want to VOMIT) and the general public tend to use the words interchangeably, so it can cause some confusion. Again, don't blame your wife for that; she heard "motor", and got worried that you were being screwed, which is understandable.

Have an INDEPENDENT mechanic (NOT someone at the stealership) check your chain AND sprockets. They can show you how to tell the difference between good and bad chains and sprockets. After seeing the photos of that chain, I get the feeling that it will need replacing at YOUR expense if the dealership can get away with blowing you off... I've seen enough crapped out chains in my life, and that one was pretty nasty. You need an independent opinion from a real MECHANIC; the dealership might not have been trying to screw you on this, but a worn chain (and sprockets) are bad news for an EXPERIENCED rider, so don't ignore this. The dealership earned your trust for THE SALE; now, they need to earn it with their SERVICE for you to justify continuing to do business with them.

Good luck; I really am glad to know that this wasn't a nightmare scenario for you...

[ohgood]

Glad to know that it WAS the starter motor; the BEST motorcycle engineers and mechanics I've met over the last ~ 25 years ALL use the word "engine" when they talk about the actual ENGINE, and the word "motor" when they're referring to something electrical. The guys at OCC ("choppers" make me want to VOMIT) and the general public tend to use the words interchangeably, so it can cause some confusion. Again, don't blame your wife for that; she heard "motor", and got worried that you were being screwed, which is understandable.

Have an INDEPENDENT mechanic (NOT someone at the stealership) check your chain AND sprockets. They can show you how to tell the difference between good and bad chains and sprockets. After seeing the photos of that chain, I get the feeling that it will need replacing at YOUR expense if the dealership can get away with blowing you off... I've seen enough crapped out chains in my life, and that one was pretty nasty. You need an independent opinion from a real MECHANIC; the dealership might not have been trying to screw you on this, but a worn chain (and sprockets) are bad news for an EXPERIENCED rider, so don't ignore this. The dealership earned your trust for THE SALE; now, they need to earn it with their SERVICE for you to justify continuing to do business with them.

Good luck; I really am glad to know that this wasn't a nightmare scenario for you...

Mmm, OCC, ya, that's entertainment. I like how they test ride the bikes and say "it really rides nice, lots of power ! ya ya ya !" and never actually show them duck walking it, or moving forward/back a million times to turn around. Someday, they'll be old news.

[MikeNW]

Nice bike, I like the black and yellow scheme (some might think of Pittsburgh Steelers) 

I am considering one of the following:

GS500F
Wee Strom
Ninjette 250 in frog green (2008) 

I think the GS has the edge, it is air-cooled.  And 500 cc.
How do you like the wife's Ninjette?  How does it handle highway speeds?

Ride safe!

[GSnoober]

Nice bike, I like the black and yellow scheme (some might think of Pittsburgh Steelers) 

I am considering one of the following:

GS500F
Wee Strom
Ninjette 250 in frog green (2008) 

I think the GS has the edge, it is air-cooled.  And 500 cc.
How do you like the wife's Ninjette?  How does it handle highway speeds?

Ride safe!

One might also think of the Boston Bruins, or the Pittsburgh Pirates, or the Pittsburgh Penguins... though ALL of those teams actually wear black and GOLD, as someone is bound to remind us...

Since you live in such a hot environment (I like Kingman; I used to visit an elderly relative there every "winter"), you might want to consider a liquid-cooled engine. Any one of those would be a good choice, as long as you fit OK on the Ninja. If you plan to carry a passenger (my girlfriend complains LOUDLY if I ride without her), you might want to drop the Ninja from the list. It is an excellent motorcycle, but not the best one if you tend to wear XXL sizes. In that case, get one of the Suzuki models, and ride the hell out of it.

Let us know what you choose; I'd like to know which factors influence you the most (liquid or air cooling, room for a passenger, whatever).

[galahs]

I rode my GS through the middle of Australia's outback in the middle of summer. 40+ degree celcius temp[eratures in the shade, and 60 + degrees celcius on the road and she did fine.

Just use a good synthetic oil (they can withstand higher heats better)

optional: You might want to rejet the carbs to richen up the fuel/air mixture. Richer mixtures allow the engine to run cooler than the lean settings from the factory.

[SeqArtMark]

Nice bike, I like the black and yellow scheme (some might think of Pittsburgh Steelers) 

I am considering one of the following:

GS500F
Wee Strom
Ninjette 250 in frog green (2008) 

I think the GS has the edge, it is air-cooled.  And 500 cc.
How do you like the wife's Ninjette?  How does it handle highway speeds?

Ride safe!

I haven't ridden either bike on the highway yet but the Ninjette feels very unstable at 50 mph in the high winds we have here.  I remember the first few times riding it and being buffeted by the wind.  I can't say that the GS is great for wind protection but I don't recall thinking about the wind at all.

It's fun to ride my wife's bike because it revs so high, but it feels lacking in power now that I've been on the GS.  I was amazed at how easy the GS is to ride, even easier than the Ninjette IMO because it shifts smoothly.  My wife feels intimidated by the weight of the GS, but as a guy it's a non-issue (I'm just glad I didn't get the YZF 600 from Yamaha!).

When we only had the Ninjette it was okay, but I wouldn't want it as an only bike because it doesn't inspire confidence at speed.  My vote is for the GS but good luck with whatever decision you make.

[GSnoober]

Just a quick update for everyone.  I got the GS on Saturday!  It turns out the part actually was a starter motor, not the engine (my apologies for the miscommunication).  They also replaced the rear tire and cleaned and lubed the chain but didn't replace it.  The chain doesn't seem in bad condition but I'm a newb so what do I know?

I was starting get a little worried that I was buying a lemon but they seem like great people and haven't had any complaints via the BBB.  Not to mention that when I first looked at the bike it wasn't fully inspected (which was when they took the pics).  He informed me that they don't let bikes go without fully inspecting them and replacing whatever parts are needed.

The bike runs like a dream and I can't help telling everyone who will listen that it's so easy to ride (easier than my wife's Ninja!).  Anyways, thanks for all the great advice and concern for my well-being but it turned out alright.

Ride Safely,

Mark

P.S. Just for the record I paid $2500 OTD for it.  It's a bit high but I'm happy with the purchase.

Just an FYI...

If the chain is worn out, and it jumps the sprocket and gets jammed, there's an excellent chance that you're going to go down HARD. Who is going to pay for the damage to the GS? Who will cover your medical bills? I'm worried that you're not seeing the big picture here; this is NOT simply a matter of who pays for a new chain (assuming you need one at all). JUNK CHAINS ARE DANGEROUS; some VERY bad things can happen to you if ignore this. WORN SPROCKETS ARE DANGEROUS for the same reason. I can't make you OR the dealership do the right thing here; all I can do is try to make you aware of the consequences that you might otherwise overlook.

Whatever else you do, do NOT lube the chain while the engine is running, unless you think jamming your hand into a chainsaw would be fun. It seems that just about every forum online has at least one horror story about how some shmuck  decided to wipe his chain with a rag while the engine was running, with the bike in gear. Of course, each time it happens, someone loses some fingers, and they don't understand why it happened to them. Learn from their mistakes, OK?

Once you get this issue dealt with, you should be able to ride safely and work on developing your riding skills without worrying about the condition of your GS. Have the chain and sprockets checked, and replace whatever hardware is needed, regardless of who pays for it, so that you and your wife can focus on becoming better riders.

If you haven't seen it already, this is an excellent resource for Ninja 250 owners:

http://forums.ninja250.org

Best of luck; let us know how this turns out.

[SeqArtMark]

Just a quick update for everyone.  I got the GS on Saturday!  It turns out the part actually was a starter motor, not the engine (my apologies for the miscommunication).  They also replaced the rear tire and cleaned and lubed the chain but didn't replace it.  The chain doesn't seem in bad condition but I'm a newb so what do I know?

I was starting get a little worried that I was buying a lemon but they seem like great people and haven't had any complaints via the BBB.  Not to mention that when I first looked at the bike it wasn't fully inspected (which was when they took the pics).  He informed me that they don't let bikes go without fully inspecting them and replacing whatever parts are needed.

The bike runs like a dream and I can't help telling everyone who will listen that it's so easy to ride (easier than my wife's Ninja!).  Anyways, thanks for all the great advice and concern for my well-being but it turned out alright.

Ride Safely,

Mark

P.S. Just for the record I paid $2500 OTD for it.  It's a bit high but I'm happy with the purchase.

Just an FYI...

If the chain is worn out, and it jumps the sprocket and gets jammed, there's an excellent chance that you're going to go down HARD. Who is going to pay for the damage to the GS? Who will cover your medical bills? I'm worried that you're not seeing the big picture here; this is NOT simply a matter of who pays for a new chain (assuming you need one at all). JUNK CHAINS ARE DANGEROUS; some VERY bad things can happen to you if ignore this. WORN SPROCKETS ARE DANGEROUS for the same reason. I can't make you OR the dealership do the right thing here; all I can do is try to make you aware of the consequences that you might otherwise overlook.

Whatever else you do, do NOT lube the chain while the engine is running, unless you think jamming your hand into a chainsaw would be fun. It seems that just about every forum online has at least one horror story about how some shmuck  decided to wipe his chain with a rag while the engine was running, with the bike in gear. Of course, each time it happens, someone loses some fingers, and they don't understand why it happened to them. Learn from their mistakes, OK?

Once you get this issue dealt with, you should be able to ride safely and work on developing your riding skills without worrying about the condition of your GS. Have the chain and sprockets checked, and replace whatever hardware is needed, regardless of who pays for it, so that you and your wife can focus on becoming better riders.

If you haven't seen it already, this is an excellent resource for Ninja 250 owners:

http://forums.ninja250.org

Best of luck; let us know how this turns out.

Thanks for the heads up because I wasn't really aware of the dangers of a bad chain.  I'll definitely get it checked out ASAP.  By "independent mechanic" do you mean another dealership (which is where I would have to go anyway b/c I got the bike out of state) or any mechanic who is certified?  Thanks for looking out.

[GSnoober]

Thanks for the heads up because I wasn't really aware of the dangers of a bad chain.  I'll definitely get it checked out ASAP.  By "independent mechanic" do you mean another dealership (which is where I would have to go anyway b/c I got the bike out of state) or any mechanic who is certified?  Thanks for looking out.

We're all in this together, Mark, and I imagine everyone here wants to help you and your wife enjoy riding as much as we do, but new riders aren't always aware of the dangers they might encounter. You have to ALWAYS put safety first; failure to do so can be disatrous. You write well, and seem to want to learn, so hopefully you realize that I'm not just an old crank giving you shaZam! for no reason. I want you to be SAFE, so you and Mrs. Mark can have as much fun on two wheels as I do, and be able to enjoy one another after the ride...

OK, enough of that stuff; call the local shops and ask how much they would charge to inspect your chain and sprockets. Chances are, they'll do it for free. Ask IN ADVANCE if they can show YOU what to look for; if you're lucky, they'll have a worn sprocket to show you, so you can compare it to a new one. Learn how to inspect your own chain and sprockets, since you have TWO motorcycles in the family. Spending a few bucks on a can of chain lube won't break you, and though they won't get rich on the profit, it will help you to start a relationship with the people there. Ask for advice on which chain lube they recommend for your motorcycles; knowing just one guy to call at a local dealership / repair shop can really help when you've got a problem you need help with right away.

This is up to you now; my best to you and Mrs. Mark. Support your local shops; you're establishing relationships in this forum, so now do the same in your actual community. If any of your local shops have organized rides (usually a monthly thing during riding season), sign up and learn how to ride in a group; you're sure to make new friends.

Last bit of advice I can offer is to get a repair manual for your GS. The Clymer manual can be ordered through here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0892878339/ref=nosim/gstwincom

Buying it through that link will help GSTwins, and give you a good reference for any problems / maintenance questions you might have.

Ride safely, and keep us "posted"...

[MikeNW]

My main concerns are:
Can cruise on the highway, long trips once in a while.
No need for a passenger, I don't ride 2-up anymore since I ate it Nov. 06
Good mileage
Easy to fix- the valve adjust seems straightforward.
Parts reasonable and available
Low initial cost- $5K is acceptable. 
Can strap on a duffle bag as luggage.
Regular gas
Decent wind protection

The GS seems to hit the mark, also it doesn't have a radiator and associated parts.  I would certainly use synth oil, that doesn't bother me.
And I don't think I would be staying in NW AZ anyway.

But the Ninjette is attractive- cheaper cost, I like the frog green color of the 2008 and also the full fairing it has.

I suppose either would work. 

Another advantage of the GS is 500 cc compared to 250.   

Actually, having so many choices is kind of cool.

This forum is also a + 

[SeqArtMark]

One last thing before I let this thread slip into "Do A Search, Newb," Oblivion.  I went out and took some pics of my chain and sprocket in the hope that maybe someone can give me a diagnosis.  I'm not looking for free advice (well, I am) but I wanted to be informed before I haul by bike to the local shop.

I've decided to ix-nay on the iding-ray until I get my ducks in row (i.e. registration, jacket/gloves, MOM, and maintenance).  So I figure that now would be a good time to take it into the shop since it'll probably be a week before everything is good to go.  Anyway, here's a pic of the chain and of the sprocket.

And thanks to everyone who has (and continues to) help me out.  I really appreciate it.

Ride Safely,

Mark

P.S. I can't quite size down the image so if you want to see, just check out...

http://drawingamerican.blogspot.com/

[wreckhog]

Some people like to get as much as possible out of a chain. To me is is a wear item, an not all that expensive. A name brand (RK, Tsubaki, Regina, etc) X ring or O ring chain on Ebay is 70-90. Don't buy a no name Oring chain.