New to 250 GS

[Zyphlin]

Thanks in part to the good comments on this page, I ended up ordering a GS250 today from Scooter Dynasty, and am anxiously awaiting it. I was close to getting a Lifan 200-B but I liked the fact that the Zong seems to have a slightly higher top speed without suffering quite that much in MPG...plus I just really liked the look of this bike better.

I'm slightly worried as I am not extremely mechanically knowledgable, but should know enough to get it up and running. Beyond that, I guess it'll be a learning process I was mostly just looking for a bike to do my commute on, which is at most 55 MPH (and if I want to go the back way which only increases the trip by a few minutes, 45 MPH) and about 10 minutes. Gas is just killing me and I wanted a motorcycle more for practicality than fun and games, and a low CC one seemed perfect.

Will let you all know how it goes once I recieve it.

[Marc]

Congrats, Zyphlin! The GS250 is certainly a good bike as far as MPG goes, and imo, it's a great bike to learn on. Don't worry about not being mechanically savvy. I'm pretty dull when it comes to mechanics, and with the guidance of the people on this forum, and the included maintenance manual, doing work on the bike is fairly straight forward.

[ILL CLICK ENT]

Hello from Yorkville,

I just received a Zongshen 250 GS "Winner".  Assembly was pretty easy, with the exception of no instructions included.  Took it out for a short ride, and was relatively impressed.  Seemed to have decent power, kept up with traffic easily at 65mph.  

The bike does have a few shortcomings:
1. The side mirrors are pretty useless.
2. The seats are not on hinges, the passenger seat comes off completely, and the larger seat is bolted on.
3. I broke a bracket to the plastic cover trying to get to the battery.

The good though is that it is a pretty cool looking bike, has a decent sound, decent power, and it is unique.

The shortcomings u refer to are the way a motorcycle is supposed to be. This is not a scooter. The seat is supposed to come completely off and drivers seat is always bolted on any motorcycle.

[xanthmo]

All my other bikes had seats on hinges, with storage underneath.  I think it is hard to access the small storage under the Zongshen's passenger seat.  I had a scooter too, which had a trunk the size of my Honda's.

[Zyphlin]

That actually has me curious...are you able to buy those trunk attachments or something to carry things for the Zong? I'll rarely be having someone on the back of mine but I will likely need to carry things along with me at times, and something like that would be very useful.

[xanthmo]

I used to have a magnetic tank bag on my FZ1, it folded out like an accordion depending on how much stuff I had, and also had a clear map pouch on the top.   It was enough storage for an overnight trip.

I also carried bungees and a cargo net, which was great for strapping bags and stuff to the passenger seat - when I didn't need it, it lived in the tank bag.  I have some pictures of my former setup I will post later.  I sold it all with the bike just before my daughter was born, thinking I would never want to ride again - well I missed the second after I sold it, that's how I ended up with China bikes.

Also, I bought the Zongshen in March, and just got it registered yesterday.  I had tried registration at a small local DMV, and they were not too keen on the Moto Bravo  MSO for a Zongshen bike.  I finally got up to Woodstock - and had it registered within 10 minutes of walking in the door.

[ILL CLICK ENT]

All my other bikes had seats on hinges, with storage underneath.  I think it is hard to access the small storage under the Zongshen's passenger seat.  I had a scooter too, which had a trunk the size of my Honda's.

Any bike I have ever owned has been how I explained. There is more storage under the drivers seat u need a 8mm wrench to gain access. It takes a min or 2 but if u keep the wrench in tool pouch... piece of cake. This is my 4th bike now and always the same. Rite now I also own a gixxer 750 that I ride when I'm in the mood. The zongshen has been very good on gas so I ride it more now. I'm sure u can get some attachments for the back seat just have to look hard. I always carrry my backpack so I have no need for a trunk.

[xanthmo]

I have always stuck with the single seat - due to my "old lady" riding with me.  This is the first bike I have had with a split seat.[attachment=0:3laqiiwg]bikebags.jpg[/attachment:3laqiiwg]

[xanthmo]

There is a picture of the tank bag I was talking about.  I really liked that setup, I could carry everything I needed, with no permanent mods to the bike.

[Myth]

Yo X, it seems like that big A tank bag would be pretty obstructive...  Does something that big affect riding?  I'm like ILL CLICK ENT (ICE   ), I carry a backpack.  I can put a few changes of clothes in it or I normally keep my traditional leather jacket in there along with my Sugo MAX rainsuit and gloves.  And I keep two bungees strapped across my backseat for hauling other junk.

[xanthmo]

That pic has the bag completely full and ready for a week - long trip.  It was a little goofy at that size, on extreme turns the handlebars hit it.  It does accordion down to one small bag, and each section came off independently, and the top sipped right onto the minimal bag.  

You could certainly modify a scooter trunk off ebay.

[Myth]

So X, your sayin' the tank bag has zip on sections???  So you can control the size?

[ILL CLICK ENT]

So X, your sayin' the tank bag has zip on sections???  So you can control the size?

His bag does zip in different areas to make small or big. It's nice, I just don't like my gauges blocked. U can hold a lot in it.

[xanthmo]

[attachment=0:2m4voh2n]bikebags2.jpg[/attachment:2m4voh2n]

The top section and the bottom section could be used independently, so I would usually put the top in the bottom if I was not carrying too much.  both sections turned into a book bag type of setup when I would take them off the bike.  I got this from a Honda dealership, I think the brand was river road.

[xanthmo]

In addition to the comment on the bag being obstructive - I used to lean on it on long rides, take a little weight off the backside.  I am not saying that was a good idea, but depending on what I had in the bag, it could be pretty comfortable.