New MZ owner maybe

[icmacdo]

Hello all,
I have the opportunity to purchase a 1974 MZ 250 TS with little over 300 original miles on it. I did own an ETZ 250 back in the mid 80s but did not own it for long. My wife is thinking of learner to ride (and a new toy for me). Are these bikes reliable and easy to get parts for? Do they use autolube or do you use premix? Any other things I should know about?
Thanks very much for any assistance as I am sure that there is a wealth of info from guys in this forum.
Regards Ianh

[Puffs]

Maybe welcome Ianh...

'a 1974 MZ 250 TS with little over 300 original miles on it' ... So what happened?

[DAVID THOMPSON]

it is common to find 1974 models setting around with low miles
they seemed to have shipped boat loads that year to many places

in the USA 1974 is the most often year to find a used 2 smoker with low miles

[Puffs]

Sorry, that's date code, not data code.
So WWY. So '234' would be week 23 in '74. Or '84, or '94, or '64...?

Yes Dave, I heard many were shipped to the US in '74 (via Cuba?), but did they also ship boatloads to Australia that year?

[DAVID THOMPSON]

the rumor i heard was UK for rear end lighting and other upgrades and then to port of New Orleans LA

some but not that many mz in Cuba

but a big bunch in Miami FL

rick n billy home made motor bicycles by the hundreds

there are close to 100 rick n billy bikes here in Parkersburg WV

there are parts to one in my attic from 1962

[Puffs]

Via UK for mile counters could make sense, but not for lights: in the UK they ride on the other side... I had to change the headlight when I took my MZ from UK --> B.

If I remember correctly, Blurredman visited Cuba, and one of the things he mentioned was that there were quite a few MZ's. Which would make sense: countries of a similar persuasion, and obviously the DDR did not support that embargo. The abundance of MZ's in Miami, Florida, I thought could be the result of entrepreneurial spirits in Cuba, looking for $'s?

[DAVID THOMPSON]

the police over here hate these things
most of the guys that ride them have NO road manners
and ride in packs with no helmet and no drivers license
they got caught driving drunk too many times

and they use them on busy streets where there are a lot of cars
when there is an alley 1 block over that cuts there risk of getting ran over to almost zero

Dave

rick n billy

[Puffs]

Well, here you cannot ride anything like that on public roads. It has to comply with all sorts of rules, and be registered. So you don't see any, none at all. Notwithstanding the fact that you can easily buy kits for making such a bike on eBay & the like.

What you do see here, frequently, are E-bikes, bicycles with an electric motor for assisting you pedalling. The fastest of those can reach some 50km/h, and those too need to be registered and mandatory insured. And I think you also need a license for them.

A while back I happened to acquire a small (33cc? 43cc?) engine, and part of me still wants to make something along those lines. Maybe...