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{{Motorcycle | {{Infobox Motorcycle | ||
|name = MZ / MuZ TS250 | |name = [[MZ / MuZ]] TS250 | ||
| | |image = [[File:MZ-TS-125-73.jpg|frameless|MZ / MuZ TS250]] | ||
|aka = | |aka = | ||
|manufacturer = MZ / MuZ | |manufacturer = MZ / MuZ | ||
Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
|dry_weight = 145 kg / 319.7 lbs | |dry_weight = 145 kg / 319.7 lbs | ||
|wet_weight = | |wet_weight = | ||
|fuel_capacity = 17.5 | |fuel_capacity = 17.5 Litres / 4.6 US gal | ||
|oil_capacity = | |oil_capacity = | ||
|fuel_consumption = | |fuel_consumption = | ||
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==Chassis== | ==Chassis== | ||
It came with a 3.00 -16 front [[tire]] and a 3.50 16 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Drum in the front and a Drum in the rear. The front suspension was a Telescopic forks while the rear was equipped with a Dual shocks. The TS250 was fitted with a 17.5 | It came with a 3.00 -16 front [[tire]] and a 3.50 16 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Drum in the front and a Drum in the rear. The front suspension was a Telescopic forks while the rear was equipped with a Dual shocks. The TS250 was fitted with a 17.5 Litres / 4.6 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 145 kg / 319.7 lbs. | ||
== Photos == | == Photos == | ||
[[File:MZ-TS-125-73.jpg|600px|MZ / MuZ TS250]] | [[File:MZ-TS-125-73.jpg|600px|MZ / MuZ TS250]] | ||
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consists of the aforesaid twin-cylinder motor cradled in a single loop frame, | consists of the aforesaid twin-cylinder motor cradled in a single loop frame, | ||
and driving through a four speed gearbox. It must be almost unique these days in | and driving through a four speed gearbox. It must be almost unique these days in | ||
being a twin with only a single | being a twin with only a single carburettor (a 24-mm Jikov). although that's | ||
entirely in keeping with the CZ's prosaic style. Lubrication is by messy old oil | entirely in keeping with the CZ's prosaic style. Lubrication is by messy old oil | ||
- in - the - fuel, and electrics are only six volt. | - in - the - fuel, and electrics are only six volt. | ||
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whistling floats from the door of the bike shop. The sunlight glints on the well | whistling floats from the door of the bike shop. The sunlight glints on the well | ||
greased hair of the boss as he makes his morning inspection of the assembled | greased hair of the boss as he makes his morning inspection of the assembled | ||
machinery, checking | machinery, checking tyre pressures with practised kicks. Enter a kid just turned | ||
17. Nuts on bikes, his FSlE is propped against the wall outside, its barrel | 17. Nuts on bikes, his FSlE is propped against the wall outside, its barrel | ||
glowing cherry red. | glowing cherry red. | ||
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the softest of five positions. It was mentally and physically exhausting | the softest of five positions. It was mentally and physically exhausting | ||
slipping in and out of six gears, picking a way through bumpy corners and | slipping in and out of six gears, picking a way through bumpy corners and | ||
praying to the Heavens that the still rather hopeless Japanese | praying to the Heavens that the still rather hopeless Japanese tyres wouldn't | ||
give up their task in protest at a normal day's work. The bike would buck and | give up their task in protest at a normal day's work. The bike would buck and | ||
leap ov'er bumps, wallow and skip and generally sap every ounce of confidence. | leap ov'er bumps, wallow and skip and generally sap every ounce of confidence. | ||
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side of Hackney or so the casual passer-by would imagine. | side of Hackney or so the casual passer-by would imagine. | ||
'Course I know different, because | 'Course I know different, because | ||
every once in a while one or more of these loonies squeals to a | every once in a while one or more of these loonies squeals to a tyre shredding | ||
halt right outside my front door to take in the latest machine propping up the | halt right outside my front door to take in the latest machine propping up the | ||
fence. Doubtless some of them think I'm an eccentric bike freak who buys a new | fence. Doubtless some of them think I'm an eccentric bike freak who buys a new | ||
cycle every other week, but those who know The Truth hang around prodding | cycle every other week, but those who know The Truth hang around prodding tyres, | ||
bouncing on dual seats, until I poke me nose around the door. | bouncing on dual seats, until I poke me nose around the door. | ||
Naturally, word of the up-coming | Naturally, word of the up-coming | ||
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There had to be some explanation, | There had to be some explanation, | ||
but I couldn't find one. According to the publicity blurb the only major change | but I couldn't find one. According to the publicity blurb the only major change | ||
for '75 is the | for '75 is the colour scheme. There's a new rider's handbook clip under the seat | ||
and a spare spark plug holder for three plugs. And one key now works all three | and a spare spark plug holder for three plugs. And one key now works all three | ||
steering, seat and fuel locks. Obviously nobody's giving away any secrets. | steering, seat and fuel locks. Obviously nobody's giving away any secrets. | ||
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At the rear of the engine is another | At the rear of the engine is another | ||
piece of extraneous equipment, the six-speed gearbox. Mechanically, that was the | piece of extraneous equipment, the six-speed gearbox. Mechanically, that was the | ||
only part of the bike I fell out of | only part of the bike I fell out of favour with. Apart from sixth being useless, | ||
had the ratio's been widened on five gears like any sensible design, far more | had the ratio's been widened on five gears like any sensible design, far more | ||
use could'vc been made of the nice little engine, including more top end. Well, | use could'vc been made of the nice little engine, including more top end. Well, | ||
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If the handling was so reasonable then, how, you may ask, did I fall off it | If the handling was so reasonable then, how, you may ask, did I fall off it | ||
twice in one day? Same reason everybody falls off 250 Suzukis, that's how. | twice in one day? Same reason everybody falls off 250 Suzukis, that's how. | ||
Pissing | Pissing tyres that arc made of nylon. I spoke to several guys who had the" same | ||
problem including the owner of a messenger firm who had six bikes crashed at | problem including the owner of a messenger firm who had six bikes crashed at | ||
least three times each before changing to rubber, so it ain't just me. Maybe the | least three times each before changing to rubber, so it ain't just me. Maybe the | ||
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of those things, and if it wasn't for one horrible, glaring error on the part of | of those things, and if it wasn't for one horrible, glaring error on the part of | ||
Yamaha (and all Jap factories, come to that) it would be a really good bike. The | Yamaha (and all Jap factories, come to that) it would be a really good bike. The | ||
error is the | error is the tyre chosen for the machine the Bridgestone Nylon. | ||
Having said this. I can hear the | Having said this. I can hear the | ||
chorus arising from tight-fisted geezers all over the nation. 'Knockin' | chorus arising from tight-fisted geezers all over the nation. 'Knockin' | ||
Bridgestones again are they? Nuffink wrong wiv 'em mate.' Satisfied of Bognor. | Bridgestones again are they? Nuffink wrong wiv 'em mate.' Satisfied of Bognor. | ||
All I can say. Satisfied, is that you must ride like a toad, and you don't go | All I can say. Satisfied, is that you must ride like a toad, and you don't go | ||
out in the wet. These | out in the wet. These tyres are really lethal. | ||
It wouldn't be so bad if they only | It wouldn't be so bad if they only | ||
put them on commuter style machines, although maybe that's cruel enough, but to | put them on commuter style machines, although maybe that's cruel enough, but to | ||
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Almost without exception, these kids | Almost without exception, these kids | ||
will act for a while like loonies, till they get to learn what biking's about. | will act for a while like loonies, till they get to learn what biking's about. | ||
And with a bike fitted with Bridgestone Nylon | And with a bike fitted with Bridgestone Nylon tyres, they'll not only drop it | ||
first time they brake hard in the wet, they'll also stand a good chance of | first time they brake hard in the wet, they'll also stand a good chance of | ||
losing it in the dry the first time they try braking late and deep for a corner, | losing it in the dry the first time they try braking late and deep for a corner, | ||
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isn't a subject likely to worry its potential owners, so this probably doesn't | isn't a subject likely to worry its potential owners, so this probably doesn't | ||
matter. Fuel consumption is average, I got 44mpg, ridden hard. It isn't going to | matter. Fuel consumption is average, I got 44mpg, ridden hard. It isn't going to | ||
be ridden any other way. Just change the bloody | be ridden any other way. Just change the bloody tyres first. | ||
Barnaby W | Barnaby W | ||
Summary | Summary | ||
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The Yamaha, for example, is the | The Yamaha, for example, is the | ||
ultimate hard charging 250cc street bike so why hasn't the job been finished | ultimate hard charging 250cc street bike so why hasn't the job been finished | ||
with the quirky high speed handling smoothed out. and decent | with the quirky high speed handling smoothed out. and decent tyres fitted to | ||
contain the power? Likewise, the MZ. with that amazingly refined specification, | contain the power? Likewise, the MZ. with that amazingly refined specification, | ||
is hardly a plodding economy bike. Yet the weirdo clutch and, again, the suspect | is hardly a plodding economy bike. Yet the weirdo clutch and, again, the suspect | ||
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their own guidelines and start with what should be the simple job of making | their own guidelines and start with what should be the simple job of making | ||
their lightweights handle predictably. Still more important, they should fit to | their lightweights handle predictably. Still more important, they should fit to | ||
their bikes | their bikes tyres that can live with some of the rather fine engines they | ||
produce. If only it were possible to statistically calculate how many motorcycle | produce. If only it were possible to statistically calculate how many motorcycle | ||
accidents might have been avoided over the years but for Japanese rubber, the | accidents might have been avoided over the years but for Japanese rubber, the | ||
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|- | |- | ||
!Fuel Capacity | !Fuel Capacity | ||
|17.5 | |17.5 Litres / 4.6 US gal | ||
|} | |} | ||
[[Category:MZ / MuZ motorcycles]] | [[Category:MZ / MuZ motorcycles]] |