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pepperami |
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pepperami Super Spammer
Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 18:05 - 11 Feb 2018 Post subject: Am I wrong to like Eastern European? |
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A friend of mine was into oddball bikes and for a couple of years tried to keep a BSA c15 on the road (that didn’t go well).
He also had an MZ ts250 (four speed) that I liked.
I’ve had a couple of old CZ’s and a Jawa.
This has made me think about getting another Eastern European two-smoke.
Am I mad.
They’re not that hard to work on and 99% of the parts are still available.
Waddoya think oh mighty BCF? ____________________ I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now! |
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Polarbear |
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Polarbear Super Spammer
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :
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Posted: 18:32 - 11 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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If you were talking about women, no, they are on the whole, lush.
If you were talking about bikes, yes, they are on the whole crap.
Except for a 650 ural with sidecar, reverse gear and machine gun. ____________________ Triumph Trophy Launch Edition |
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 20:05 - 11 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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All bikes break eventually, recovery cover is decent these days, and life is finite. ____________________ Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike |
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struan80 |
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struan80 World Chat Champion
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RhynoCZ |
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RhynoCZ Super Spammer
Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 20:22 - 11 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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Well, that's a tough one.
But, here is what I think,
If you want a novelty motorcycle, go for it. MZ being the best of the trio (CZ/Jawa/MZ). But either way, all three manufacturers made motorcycles that are simple, easy to keep alive and very reliable, regardless of what Polarbear says.
Both CZ and Jawa may be upgraded with modern parts, especially modern/better ignition/charging system, to make them very reliable and pleasant to use. The old style contact-ignition requires some knowledge and fiddling with to get the best performance out of the engine. The modern contactless ignition however is hasslefree and gives you a bit better performance and you won't be touching the ignition ever again.
Speaking of other bits on the motorcycles, there are still tons of very, very cheap parts and there are still manufacturers who make new bits for these even today. These parts are so cheap, that you won't think twice replacing anything.
MZ (80's, 150ETZ experience), was a fairly modern motorcycle and it doesn't really need much to keep going. Spare parts are slightely more expensive than for a CZ/Jawa, but still way cheaper than for any Japanese motorcycle. Also, if combined with modern tyres and the whole suspension being fully functional (no dead bearings!) it feels suprisingly modern to ride, very comfortable as well.
And as always, if you buy a lemon, be prepared to do some serious work for which those three are perfect. Very simple machines, very cheap parts. ____________________ '87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor
Last edited by RhynoCZ on 20:46 - 11 Feb 2018; edited 1 time in total |
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pepperami |
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pepperami Super Spammer
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Evil Hans |
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Evil Hans World Chat Champion
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kgm |
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kgm World Chat Champion
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RhynoCZ |
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RhynoCZ Super Spammer
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redeem ouzzer |
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redeem ouzzer World Chat Champion
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temeluchus |
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temeluchus World Chat Champion
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pepperami |
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pepperami Super Spammer
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Posted: 22:26 - 11 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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TheSmiler |
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TheSmiler World Chat Champion
Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 23:04 - 11 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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Id have an ural/dnepr. But for some reason I've never liked 2 strokes. Which it seems a lot of eastern european bikes seem to be. ____________________ CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet |
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MCN |
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MCN Super Spammer
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Posted: 07:39 - 12 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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No.
(RhynoCZ needs a wee pal on here. ) ____________________ Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN. |
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- Super Spammer
Joined: 22 Oct 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 10:35 - 12 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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RhynoCZ wrote: | But either way, all three manufacturers made motorcycles that are simple, easy to keep alive and very reliable, regardless of what Polarbear says.
. |
Going by the 5 years I spent watching MZ riders frantically trying to bump start them around a race paddock, I disagree.
I never saw the appeal, even more so when a decent competitive MZ race bike package cost as much as, if not more than a proper 250 2T race bike. ____________________ TZR250 2MA road, TZR250 1KT road, TZR250 2MA race, TDR250, YZF-750R Boost colours.
Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 Sport R, VW Transporter T5 GP LWB Shuttle 140ps DSG. |
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Polarbear |
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Polarbear Super Spammer
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Posted: 10:58 - 12 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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RhynoCZ |
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RhynoCZ Super Spammer
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Posted: 11:08 - 12 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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mpd72 wrote: | RhynoCZ wrote: | But either way, all three manufacturers made motorcycles that are simple, easy to keep alive and very reliable, regardless of what Polarbear says.
. |
Going by the 5 years I spent watching MZ riders frantically trying to bump start them around a race paddock, I disagree. |
And I've got a 150 ETZ, that only requires petrol mixed with oil and a alright battery. All the job that was done was only to fix whatever the preivous owner thought was alright to do to a motorcycle (still not done yet, I even made a thread here) + the consumeables. It's been at my disposal for about 8 years now, in that time period it only needed some new wheel bearings, fixing a gearbox oil leak (previous owner's fault) and my mate rebuilt the front suspension.
I think it's a matter of proper tune up, maintenance and using (starting procedure), rather than the motorcycle being unreliable. So far, the 150 ETZ never had a problem to run, even after 2 years in storage. After those 2 years all I did was pour in some fresh petrol with oil and a new battery, as the old one was bone dry and then went right to the MOT place. The bike was running in just about 5 minutes from the moment I put the battery in. I'd say that's pretty good considering how difficult it was to start my GPz 550 after the winter break, which only takes about 3 months. Yes, we do have snow and ice here and yes, most of us are not that manly as you who ride all year long are and that's why you won the WW2 and we didn't.
I mean, if that isn't reliable then I don't know what is. It still runs the original (at least 8 years old) spark plug and air filter (even the chain and sprockets), having no issues to run at comfortable 90km/h. Truth to be told though, the MZ doesn't do more than about 4000km a year. I just don't have the time to cover more distance, but you know how it is on a slow motorcycle.
It'd be even more reliable if it had a battery-less ignition. Which is sort of my dream. To have a CZ 150, or a 477 with battery-less ignition. But, as pointed out, although GT200Fan79 was talking about MZ, proper CZ motorcycles got expensive and rather rare, especialy the 150 series.
EDIT: Have I mentioned prices of spare parts? ____________________ '87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor |
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thx1138 |
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thx1138 World Chat Champion
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Polarbear |
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Polarbear Super Spammer
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Posted: 16:02 - 12 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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I had a CZ back in the mists of time. The only thing (other than it's utter crappiness) that sticks in my mind is the the gear selector somehow twisted round to become the kickstart.
Even my RD250 never had that. ____________________ Triumph Trophy Launch Edition |
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 16:32 - 12 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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RhynoCZ wrote: | EDIT: Have I mentioned prices of spare parts? |
I dunno, but please go ahead, as it's one of my main considerations when considering a bike now.
Something to bear in mind is that if you're after a low powered but economical, primitive but surprisingly robust motorcycle, but you'd prefer one with reasonable used prices and a good supply of cheap parts, Royal Enfields do exist. ____________________ Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike |
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AshWebster |
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AshWebster Brolly Dolly
Joined: 05 Jan 2017 Karma :
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RhynoCZ |
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RhynoCZ Super Spammer
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Posted: 16:58 - 12 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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Rogerborg wrote: | RhynoCZ wrote: | EDIT: Have I mentioned prices of spare parts? |
I dunno, but please go ahead, as it's one of my main considerations when considering a bike now.
Something to bear in mind is that if you're after a low powered but economical, primitive but surprisingly robust motorcycle, but you'd prefer one with reasonable used prices and a good supply of cheap parts, Royal Enfields do exist. |
RE is a hipster machine where I live, prices are ridiculous.
The cheapest avalible one here is a 2010 EFI 500 for £3.5K. ____________________ '87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor |
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stevo as b4 |
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stevo as b4 World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :
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Posted: 19:16 - 12 Feb 2018 Post subject: |
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Sorry but I'd rather have a British stroker than an eastern Europe made one.
But what you really want is an Italian or a Spanish stroker, (I know prices have exploded), or if you are really flush with the cash you want a Big Swede or if your hard enough a big Maico.
But at the bottom end I'd take Bantam or a Villiers engined bike over a lump of eastern bloc crap every time. |
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ThatDippyTwat |
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ThatDippyTwat World Chat Champion
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Enduro Numpty |
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Enduro Numpty Could Be A Chat Bot
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 6 years, 77 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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