Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello all,

I have been reading the forum for a little while now and have found it too be a GREAT resource. My wife and I took the MSF course in early May this year and we both passed. I am now riding a yamaha V-star 1100 custom and really loving it. We have been looking for a bike for my wife for a little while now. She is short and wants a 250cc cruiser to learn on. She prefers a used one so she wont feel as bad if she drops it. We went to look at a used 2006 Suzuki GZ 250 today and she felt pretty comfortable on it. She has sat on the rebel (not as comfortable) and the Virago (about equal in comfort)

Anyway, I took the Suzuki for a little test spin around the block and although I expected it to not have too much zip it really seemed to put-put around. I have never driven a bike this small before and I was just curious -- is that normal? Do these bikes really put-put that much. I am just not sure if that is normal or if there is something wrong with the bike.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!!

Yep, they put-put quite a bit! We've got them in some of our classes and that's how they sound to us too. Keep in mind they're a single cylinder, so that's probably the reason they sound like that.
(Yes it has dual exhausts, it has dual exhaust valves.)
Wrider

Thanks for the info!!!
I feel a bit better now. I was a bit concerned since the bike was a little beat up. At least now I know they put-out no matter what.
Thanks again!!!

Those little bikes out out nicely Once I learned I could wind the engine up on my little Rebel, I was able to haul my ample portions around at 75-80 mph on the Interstate. I've been told the Suzuki may have a little more oomph than the Rebel...she'll probably have a blast on it.

Thanks for the replies. We actually went and looked at a used Virago last night and it was WAY better than the Suzuki. It was very clean, looked almost brand new, and did not put-put nearly as much as the suzuki. It looks like that is the bike we are going to go with. My wife is EXTREMELY excited about it.

Well we closed the deal last night and now there is a 2005 Virago sitting in the garage next to my 2006 V star 1100 custom.

My wife is so excited. It is a super clean bike and she should have a blast on it. We also got some riding buddies for when are skills are up to par for group riding as the couple who owned it were super nice and were only selling since they upgraded to a bigger bike.

Very exciting time

Awesome I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about the little Viragos; a little more leg room than the Rebel, which I wish I'd known when I was starting out.

Y'all are going to have fun...I enjoyed riding by myself, but liked it a whole lot more once the Spouse Thingy started riding with me.