CZ125

[PotatoHead202...]

Just picked up a 1988 CZ125 as a bit of a project, maybe do some slow touring on it.

It needs new stanchions or the old ones rechroming (any ideas where?), a new front wheel and various small bits


Ant tips on what to look out for on these? Is it possible to just stick a 175 top end on?
____________________
Honda VFR1200F, Honda CBF500 ABS, CZ125 now CZ175

[pepperami]

[stinkwheel]

I doubt the 175 will be significantly faster than the 125 so you're probably just making work for yourself.

They are dog slow, cheapo communist era commuter bikes designed to cheaply and efficiently take factory workers to their jobs and back.

I quite like them because they are a bit different and have a bit of character but never loose sight of the fact that these things were often given away in good running order or swapped for beers/small bags of weed back in the day. It'll never be fast, it'll never be good, it can be fun.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WD Forte]

I had one for a while way back
As I recall you had to pull out the gear change and turn it backwards to use it as a kick start.
Crap electrics too.
Horrible thing, couldn't get rid of it fast enough.

If I was forced to have one now I'd stick a modern-ish 4t lump
with electric start in it
summat like an rs250 engine mebbe?
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[PotatoHead202...]

[PotatoHead202...]

[PotatoHead202...]

[gbrand42]

I had a 175 ooh around 40 years ago. It had a tiny bit more performance than a 125 (15bhp instead of 12 or something like that). Wouldn't you need to bore out the cases to get a 175 barrel on it? I seem to remember the bottom of the bore of the barrel on mine slid down into the crankcase. Very basic and agricultural, I wouldn't use one now for anything more than local pottering. I reckon something from MZ might be a better bet - completely weird-looking but better engineered.
____________________
Yamaha RD50M, Honda C90, Yamaha RS100, Yamaha RD125LC, Honda XL125 V9 Varadero, Honda NT700VA, Honda VFR800X, Honda CRF1000L, Honda ST1300 Pan European

[Zen Dog]

[stinkwheel]

[A100man]

[stinkwheel]

[WD Forte]

[blurredman]

Good luck! Never messed with a CZ myself unfortunately.

Neighbour has a 2016 registered Jawa 350 which was fun. The four speed box in that was definately nicer than the four speed in my MZ. But, always fancied a little go on a CZ for a period of time at least... They look fun to just potter about on and commute.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (bored to 295cc) - 38k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 49k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k.

[PotatoHead202...]

They're...worse than an MZ? Jesus Christ. [/quote]

One of my lads had an MZ ETZ 125 for a while and while I'm
not a fan of 2T's, I kinda liked it and rather enjoyed tootling about on it.
His mate had a CG125 of similar age and that felt like a slug in comparison.
Not much of a compliment to say it's better than a CG I know, but
the MZ was livelier plus handled and braked ( front disc) much better.[/quote]

Yeah I vaguely remember training on the CG125 about 14 years ago, wasn't particuarly impressed with them and they were common as muck back then. Haven't seen one in years though
____________________
Honda VFR1200F, Honda CBF500 ABS, CZ125 now CZ175

[PotatoHead202...]

[PotatoHead202...]

[PotatoHead202...]

[gbrand42]

Just had another thought about fitting a 175 top end on the 125. The 175 had a longer stroke, so a 175 top end would only give you about 150cc. Doesn't seem worth it to me, probably 1-2hp improvement at best.
____________________
Yamaha RD50M, Honda C90, Yamaha RS100, Yamaha RD125LC, Honda XL125 V9 Varadero, Honda NT700VA, Honda VFR800X, Honda CRF1000L, Honda ST1300 Pan European

[lingeringstin...]

I've never had a CZ but I have had a few MZ's

Might I suggest you throw away everything that's crap about the bike and replace them with something else? I did that. Hell, I'm still doing it on the same bike after like 30 years.

It's a madness.

[stinkwheel]

[PotatoHead202...]

Thanks guys.

Will just get it running for the meantime then.

What is incredibly weird is that the stanchions aren't chromed. Just seem to be steel.
____________________
Honda VFR1200F, Honda CBF500 ABS, CZ125 now CZ175

[stinkwheel]

Seems odd. That said, they did that with some BSAs just after WW2 because chrome was in short supply and if they are just steel, you can sand them smooth with fine grit. As long as the oil doesn't leak out, you're good.

Found this website, lists a few CZ parts: https://www.obsoletebikeparts.com
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[slowasyoulike]

I had a 125 about 35 years ago, when I was a penniless yoof. I swapped two shagged Suzuki A100s (my then current steed and spares bike) for it. It was about 10 years newer than the better of the two Suzukis and came with a year's ticket so naturally I thought I was onto a winner.

Obviously I wasn't, it was worse than the Suzuki in every department (which took some doing) but I quite dug it in a perverse sort of way. In the two years I had it it never left me stranded, and although ugly and horrible it had started to inspire a bit of loyalty in me. Then some scrote nicked and torched it... weirdly I found the ignition key in a big box of other keys when I was looking for something else the other day!

Hope you enjoy it, what was (rightly) deemed poorly made tat back in the day is now an interesting diversion from the modern world of biking where everything works just so.

[stinkwheel]