Nobody home over there ... Last post 2021 .... Let's get this GZ 250 up and at it ....
What's the problem ....

 

No real problem. I bought the GZ250 non-running, and pushed it 1.5 miles to a friend's garage for further inspection. A new battery ($15 from Battery Sharks), and a replacement petcock ($12), and it was rideable. I spent a little more time fussing over cosmetics, but have been riding it to work all this week. Now that I'm a little bit used to the bike, I'm thinking it may be the best commuter bike I've had, so far. Light, narrow, and agile, with adequate power for the urban surface streets I ride. Not as great on gas as my 150 Stella scooter, but almost, and much quicker from the stop lights.

I'm just looking to explore options in a rear rack, (I need some cargo capacity) and will add an engine guard if I could get or adapt something that wasn't too expensive.

I am seeing a post on that GZ250bikes forum dated 7/5/23, so I don't think it's quite dead. But, stats for the most recent member says "Join Date: 05-01-2022", so it may have been over a year that their authentication gadget has been down.

 

Best to look on EBAY For most parts .. measure to be sure .... Rear rack for Yamaha fits most bikes with a little work .. Have them on mu Shadow .. longer bolts and spacers was all I needed ... looking for part number ..will post when I find it

 

Item number 134494831706 luggage rack ... Yamaha on EBAY ...

 

Thanks for the suggestions regarding a luggage rack. That particular auction you sent me to is for a rack that mounts to the sissy bar.

My GZ doesn't have a sissy bar, and I do not want one. I have no desire to carry a passenger on the GZ. If some poor soul insists I'll accommodate her, but there's no point in encouraging it.

With a scoot this low, I think it's really nice to be able to swing your leg over from the back instead of stepping awkwardly in from the side, in front of a sissy bar.

For about $85, I see a similar rack, also marketed for Yamaha that includes mounting rails, and the sissy bar. I could leave off the sissy bar, and mount over my existing rails, or perhaps instead of them.

But this design looks like it will end up with the platform quite a bit higher than required.

I have collected links of possible candidate racks, and took dimensions off my bike, and even found a rack available new, (or perhaps NOS?) that was designed for the GZ250. I think I'll start another thread with that specific info and more pictures.

Of the GZ250, the Yamaha XVS250, and the Honda Rebel 250, the GZ feels the biggest to me. It's definitely not spacious, but it's adequate. I'm 6'1", and about 230. The GZ has already shown considerable ability as a commuter, which are 20 minute jaunts for me. Still on the first tank of gas, and working out the niggles.

I like the simple design. So easy to service and maintain.

 

Nice rides for around the local area .. I prefer bigger bikes for extended highway use ....

 

That's thier problem ... Nobody cares about it ...

 

You have the GZ 250 ? How about pics ? Also of the scooter .. I have 3 Chinascoots , 2 Vitacci - 1 zenghing ... All 150 cc ...

 

Taken into consideration .. And resolved ... Thanks for the heads up ...

 

I'm just looking to explore options in a rear rack, (I need some cargo capacity) and will add an engine guard if I could get or adapt something that wasn't too expensive.

 

Thanks for your sign up .. Welcome to the forum ...Tell us about , You , your bikes , where you ride ... We coulb be of more help with description of your bike ..., Year , make , model , and size ,..... Most parts can be found on EBAY ... Tell us exactly what you need ....

 

So I'm having a a starting problem, everything is looks fine so far, like battery. When I start it, it makes a noise, then just stops. Anyone know what the issue could be?

 

Welcome to the forum .. Please introduce yourself ,... Tell us about . YOU , your bikes , where you ride ....
Sorry , your description leaves us with more questions than answers ....
You say , It runs ? Starts easy ? What kind of noise ?
Tell us about overall condition ... mileage , oil condition , clean tank ? Lots of ways to go here .... You are the mechanic , pick it apart and tell us what you find ......

 

Sorry, It doesn't run, Someone rented the bike and returned it this way (on a uhaul), I'm trying to get it working. the noise, it's like the engine wanting to start, but doesn't, I'll take a video of it tomorrow. It's late here. Overall condition - might need carbs cleaned, not sure how often the previous owner cleaned it. It has about 6000 miles. The battery is fully charged, Premium Gas (93). Choke is all the way on, kickstand up, Bike is in Neutral, kill switch is set to correct, and fuel valve is set to on. still won't start.

So I've been riding for about 6 years now. I own two motorcycles, Suzuki GZ250 and Honda VTX1300R. I ride in the great country of Texas

 

Great , rented ? Seriously ? Stupid move there ... Never a renter or renter be ...
Have you checked spark plugs ? Keep us posted .....

 

lol it's my 2nd bike I'm renting out, what's wrong with that? another way to make money on the side. I've replaced the spark plugs as well. Will keep you guys posted

 

Renting is really a quick way to go broke .... Look where you're at right now ..l Nobody is going to take care of your bike ... after you pay to get it fixed , calculate your time wasted , parts involved , and wear on bike ... Where's your profit ???

 

Good thinking, but i barely took the bike out, and it was just sitting there dusty and rusting. I think people out there renting would take good care of it, just like when I go to Florida and rent out a bike I take good care of their bike. (just my opinion)

 

I won't even let anybody ride my bikes .. Rental units are destroyed quickly ...People don't care .. they run them like a rented mule ... Ain't mine , I don't have to fix it ...
Fix it , then sell it .... Find some other way to waste money .... Drink it up , smoke it , enjoy it .. Like your bike , when they are running the xxit out of it ..... Wake up ....
.

 

You're lucky to even get it back .....

 

I won't even let anybody ride my bikes .. Rental units are destroyed quickly ...People don't care .. they run them like a rented mule ... Ain't mine , I don't have to fix it ...
Fix it , then sell it .... Find some other way to waste money .... Drink it up , smoke it , enjoy it .. Like your bike , when they are running the xxit out of it ..... Wake up ....

That's some tough love there!

Although I haven't participated personally, from either end, I'm understanding that this business of renting privately owned machines through a national web-based 3rd party, is an up and coming thing. Like this place:
EagleShare
According to the "blurb" on the front page, the average person makes $775 monthly. At that rate, my GZ250 would be paid off in 6 weeks. And they go on to claim this:

"Physical Damage Protection
All vehicles that qualify to be insured through EagleShare are covered for damage while on rent for up to $25,000, not to exceed the total replacement value."

Seems like there are worse ways to have one's bike reduced to parts, than doing it this way? And, what a great way to rationalize my collecting a whole bunch MORE motorcycles!

The only thing I can't understand, ..... WHO would want to RENT a GZ250?

 

Sorry, It doesn't run, Someone rented the bike and returned it this way (on a uhaul), I'm trying to get it working. the noise, it's like the engine wanting to start, but doesn't, I'll take a video of it tomorrow. It's late here. Overall condition - might need carbs cleaned, not sure how often the previous owner cleaned it. It has about 6000 miles. The battery is fully charged, Premium Gas (93). Choke is all the way on, kickstand up, Bike is in Neutral, kill switch is set to correct, and fuel valve is set to on. still won't start.

The most common issue I've had with my GZ250 in the few months that I've had it, is with the vacuum petcock. Try moving it to the "tickler", or "bypass" position, and see if that gets it going. If so, look at the connections on the ends of the vacuum line or the line itself. A small crack in that vacuum line means no fuel through the petcock.

If not, I'd remove the air cleaner and shoot a little starter fluid into the carb. to see if you can isolate the problem to the fuel system.

 

Sound a bit harsh ? Reality ,... I love my bikes , Thought about taking my son in law riding with the grandkids and me ,. Then heard him tell someone , Just don't use the clutch , jam shift it . He ain't riding my bikes .... I won't even ride for others at the flattrack races ... Not mine , ain/ racing for you ... Don't need your prize money , or your trophies ... Got my own ....

 

I'm not sure if we can upload videos here, but I put it on youtube. Please check and see if you realize what it could be.

 

I'm not sure if we can upload videos here, but I put it on youtube. Please check and see if you realize what it could be.

I guess what we are seeing/hearing in your video, is you pushing the start button with the bike in neutral and the clutch held in?

It sounds like every time you push the button, there's a loud clack, but the engine isn't turning over?

If you put the engine in 3rd or 4th gear, and push the bike with the clutch released, does the engine rotate while being driven by the rear wheel? If not, remove the spark plug, and try again. If liquid comes out the spark plug hole, the engine was hydrolocked. If the engine was hydrolocked, check the oil to make sure it's not diluted or contaminated. The most likely fluid to get into an engine is fuel, but when you rent them, who knows, it could be beer, or water, or pee, or god knows what.

Can I ask, how much $ you get for daily rental of your GZ, and what, if any, agency or website you rented through?

 

Hydraulic lock .

 

Correct, engine isnt turning over.
So I put it into 3rd/4th gear and moved it a little bit, it started making a little more noise, I'll try putting starter fluid in the carbs next:

 

Did fluid come out of the engine? If gas came out, give it plenty of time to evaporate before you try running it. Fuel in the exhaust could ignite and start a fire.

Now that you have the engine turning over, you can test with starter fluid, if it runs with starter fluid, I'd go back to suspecting the vacuum valve on the petcock.

Are you familiar with what the different positions on the fuel petcock do? It would be wise to make sure anyone renting your machine understands this, because the GZ is different than most of the other motorcycles that I have ever owned. For example, if a person leaves the petcock in what most people would assume is the CLOSED position, it will actually be in the "bypass" position, such that if the carb float valve is leaking, the engine could become hydrolocked.

FYI, I found a full service manual here: gz250-workshop-manual.pdf | Powered by Box